35

The reason the brooch turned red was revealed quickly.

“Deliver this document to the Minister of Finance and come back.”

It was an extra task crisis. Aidan, who had followed me in surprise all the way to the Marquis Aurelius’s study, inspected the brooch intently and said.

“From the wearer’s perspective, it might be considered a crisis?”

“If you look at it that way, the brooch would change several times a day.”

It was utterly useless. I wanted to throw the brooch away immediately, but remembering that the gift-giver was the next Magic Tower head made me awkwardly tuck it into my bosom.

It wasn’t some grand errand that would change the brooch’s color. It was just delivering a single document, yet it had needlessly startled people.

“Well then, I’ll be back.”

I listened to Butler Penel’s explanation, took the document, and boarded the Marquis’s carriage.

About thirty minutes later, an enormous main gate painted gold came into view. Seeing something like the Palace of Versailles from France in person made me slightly unsure whether this place was real or a dream. When the coachman showed something to the gatekeeper, the gate opened and we were able to enter without stopping.

‘The Marquis’s residence was vast, but the Imperial Palace is in another league entirely.’

If the Marquis’s residence felt like a castle made of several mansions, the Imperial Palace reminded me of a kingdom full of castles. I had heard that nobles’ house heights, numbers, and spaces were limited to uphold imperial dignity, but at this scale no one could imitate it even if they wanted to because of upkeep costs.

“We’ve arrived.”

We reached our destination while I gaped around in amazement. I took the hand of the knight from the Marquis’s residence who had been assigned to me because Lady Kiara had warned that I could be in danger wherever I went, and stepped down from the carriage.

‘This is the central ministry where imperial officials work.’

It wasn’t as tall as the palace buildings but boasted the largest scale. I showed my identity badge to the knight standing at the entrance and then, as Butler Penel had told me, headed to the Ministry of Finance on the third floor.

‘In modern terms, it’s like a civil servant job, right?’

People in neat uniforms, almost like school uniforms, wearing similarly styled suits bustled about. Most were men, but occasional women appeared. Still, I was relieved this world had female officials.

Apart from appearances, the grind of work looked the same. Feeling that office life wasn’t much different here, I went up to the third floor. A large plaque reading ‘Ministry of Finance’ caught my eye.

Knock knock.

There was no answer. I knocked again.

Knock knock.

Still no response.

‘Is nobody here?’

I pushed the door cautiously. Fortunately it was unlocked and opened easily.

The panorama of the finance department unfolded before me. The first thing I felt was how ‘cold’ it was.

Bluish walls with a chill to them and gilded columns stood up, and luxurious mahogany-colored office desks and chairs were neatly aligned on either side. In the center sat an oval table that looked meant for meetings.

Only the sound of pages being turned filled the room. Employees wearing monocles were buried in documents, feverishly writing with quills. No one seemed likely to respond kindly to a knock.

‘So this is what the brooch’s color change meant.’

But I had a mission. I quietly approached the employee who looked the friendliest.

“I’ve come on an errand for Marquis Aurelius. May I see the Minister of Finance?”

The employee didn’t even look at me and perfunctorily pointed to where the private offices were.

“Try over there.”

“Thank you.”

It reminded me so much of a modern office atmosphere that I felt like I might get PTSD.

I bowed slightly and headed to where the employee pointed. When I identified myself, I was immediately permitted to enter.

“You’ve had a long trip to get here. Sit.”

“Thank you.”

I sat calmly on the visitor’s sofa. The Minister of Finance took a seat as well.

“I am Nathan Harkot, head of the Ministry of Finance.”

Contrary to the cold atmosphere of the ministry, he gave off a warm, approachable impression and seemed like someone who would smile easily.

“They say you are the person who made the Black Dia that’s causing a fuss among noblewomen these days.”

I was a bit surprised that even an elderly high official knew of me. Having been asked that question many times, I deflected it naturally.

“You’re flattering me. Lady Kiara generously shared the credit with me. I—this document is for…”

I handed over the envelope that was the purpose of my visit.

“My apologies. I got excited to see the person I was curious about. I should get a hold of myself. Yes, tell the Marquis that I received these papers well.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“You look young—how old are you this year?”

“Twenty.”

The ritualistic interrogation questions adults ask young people when they first meet followed.

“Women with short hair are rare unless they’re knights—any particular reason?”

“Not really. I cut it for personal reasons, but I found it convenient and have kept it.”

“True, women’s hair doesn’t look easy to manage from where I stand. By the way, I’ve heard things have been chaotic inside the Marquis’s residence lately—who succeeded Bartolo as aide?”

As head of the ministry, he seemed to have considerable access to information.

‘Is he perhaps another spy for the Marquis’s residence?’

He seemed to notice my suspicious look and hurriedly waved his hand.

“I heard it directly from the Marquis, so don’t worry. He wanted to know if there was solid evidence of that person’s embezzlement, so I assisted. As Minister of Finance, my word carries weight. I was just curious what happened afterward.”

It was a convincing explanation, so I let my suspicion go.

“Until a new one is appointed, I’m acting on the Marquis’s behalf.”

“Is that so?”

The Minister of Finance fell silent for a while, as if deep in thought.

‘Did I make some mistake?’

As I tried to retrace my actions, he murmured quietly.

“That child?”

For a moment my eyes were drawn.

He said it would be nice to see me often and offered the Korean-style greeting of ‘let’s have a meal sometime.’ Then he offered to escort me to the building’s front and led the way.

“Minister of Finance, you don’t have to go this far.”

“I just wanted to get some fresh air after being stuck in the office. Don’t feel obliged.”

He led me with a gentle smile. As we walked down the long corridor he explained which departments were where and what they did, leaving no room for awkwardness. It felt like listening to a tour guide at a tourist site. I nodded repeatedly at his excellent explanations, and when we entered the first-floor corridor we suddenly encountered a grim-looking gentleman.

“Chancellor Marcus.”

The Minister of Finance waved cheerfully, but Marcus only barely nodded as if to ignore him and swept past.

‘Goodness, how rude for someone of his age…’

It was embarrassingly awkward enough to make me exclaim, but the Minister of Finance remained unperturbed and kept his soft smile. Experience really does matter.

But the feeling was off.

‘Is that man really the Chancellor?’

I thought I’d seen him at the launching party as well.

Having seen so many nobles, it was easy to get confused.

‘Something about him is unsettling.’

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was and it frustrated me. Before I knew it, we had reached the exit.

“Well then, see you next time.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries he went back into the building. Come to think of it, the Minister of Finance hadn’t said another word since meeting Chancellor Marcus.

‘Was something going on between those two? Well, with an organization this big, not everyone can get along.’

But based on today alone, I didn’t much like that Chancellor. As a chancellor, he’d be the top administrator under the emperor. I could easily imagine him abusing power.

“Ah, whatever. There’s no reason to come here again. Let’s go back.”

I walked slowly toward the area where the carriage was parked. The Minister of Finance’s many questions had taken longer than expected, so I quickened my pace.

Then I saw something so large I couldn’t possibly pass by.

“Hello, Your Grace the Duke.”

Leaning against the battlement lost in thought was Duke Vespera Ariadne, the empire’s top elite type. The normally invincible man somehow looked gloomy.

Note to self: if this goes wrong, it could blow up into something unnecessary. The status difference is large, and upsetting him would complicate things.

So I tried to leave quietly as if nothing had happened.

“Hey.”

Please, no.

“…Did you call me?”

The Duke gazed at me blankly, then suddenly shook his head to himself.

“No. Go on.”

Then he seemed to create a cloud of gloom all around him.

“Yes. Well then.”

As I tried to leave again, I couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling. It felt as though I’d seen something I wasn’t supposed to, and my chest ached. His normally cold, composed face today looked like a wet puppy.

‘Ugh, really.’

It was like hearing the lament of a charging bull.

Still, in a way he was a guest who prevented that murderous man’s violence. It wasn’t a professional relationship anyway.

I don’t know if I could fully understand the troubles of the high and mighty, but life is pretty much the same for everyone.

After some deliberation, I finally said something.

“Um… if you’re troubled, how about not bottling it up alone and sharing it with others? They might offer solutions you haven’t thought of. Just opening up can relieve some of the suffocation you are feeling. It may be presumptuous, but when everything stresses me out the same way, that’s how I handle it.”

“…”

I bowed politely and then hurried off toward the carriage.

My heart pounded from those few words I had said to him as I rode back to the Marquess’s residence carriage.

‘He’s not going to summon me saying he felt exposed or ashamed, is he…’

And the next day, I beat the ground with regret.

“…You’ve come again, Little Lamb.”

I never told him to pour his heart out to me, though.