41

“I didn’t expect you to contact me first.”

We’d only met again after a few days, but it felt a little awkward. The Minister of Finance wore a calm, gentle smile just as he had when I first met him.

“Isn’t it the thirsty man who digs the well first? I had the tea ordered in advance.”

“Thank you.”

After a brief awkward silence, when the tea was served, the Minister of Finance took a sip and began to speak.

“I admit my offer was hasty. I didn’t consider your position. I’m sorry.”

I was surprised; I hadn’t expected to hear an apology from him.

How would a high noble apologize to a bright, young girl from a family he didn’t even know the name of? Seeing my face mixed with surprise and embarrassment, he let out a small breath. It sounded like relief.

“To be honest, at first I didn’t understand why you refused my offer. I thought I was giving a good opportunity until I met Lady Kiara.”

“My lady didn’t know of the offer. It was honestly embarrassing to find out from her too.”

“Honestly, after being turned down, I wondered what I could do.”

“Pardon?”

The Minister of Finance pouted.

“I came confident, believing you’d join me, and I was rejected; do you think I’d feel good about that? So I blurted it out to at least hear the reason.”

‘What a childish old man!’

I’m a fool to expect nobles to have any sense of honor toward their inferiors.

“Ahem, looking back now, that was too much—I apologize. How many times have I apologized to you… Anyway, when I first mentioned the scout offer, Lady Kiara, who had been making a fuss, heard me and burst into laughter.”

“She did?”

“Yes. She said you could live comfortably without becoming an Imperial Palace official. The idea of doing it for me, the Minister of Finance, or for the empire wasn’t appealing to you at all. She went on to talk about the conditions you demanded when you became her aide—she said you refused even a residence?”

“I’m slightly regretting it now.”

At my joke, the Minister of Finance chuckled softly.

“I’ve never seen someone set such specific working conditions. At first I thought it was absurd. But Lady Kiara said you told her to think about ‘work efficiency.’ And didn’t that yield results? I had no response to that. So I went home and reconsidered what I could do. I asked myself what attractive benefit I could offer you. I realized telling you to work for me wouldn’t carry any weight.”

The Minister of Finance stopped there and gestured to me as if asking if I had anything to say.

I gave an appropriate smile and nodded, indicating he should continue. I’d be a fool to show willingness right now. Basic rule of changing jobs: always listen first, then decide.

The Minister of Finance seemed pleased with my reaction.

“As I suspected, my eye wasn’t wrong.”

He picked up the papers and handed them to me.

“These are the hiring terms. Read them and tell me if you want to negotiate. If you want, I’ll draw up a separate employment contract. Since Chancellery staff have suddenly left, in my capacity as acting chancellor I can recommend hires without exams. There’s also someone already working as an assistant clerk. So don’t worry about that part.”

The document listed conditions such as five-day workweeks with minimal overtime, salary, and avoiding contact after work. As I read through, my eyes stopped on one item.

‘Admission to the academy for family members and tuition support.’

The Minister of Finance saw that and elaborated.

“That means I’ll personally sponsor your family. It would be hard to cover three people’s tuition on salary alone, and if I provide solid backing, it will be easier for them to stay at the academy.”

Rio’s condition had improved considerably, so as long as he took his medicine properly, attending the academy should be fine. I let out a hollow laugh. It was ridiculous to be swayed by such terms for people who weren’t even my real family.

‘The world is rough. We need at least an education so we can comfortably be independent.’

I glanced through the listed conditions and returned the papers to the Minister of Finance. He studied my expression and asked.

“Why, don’t you like it? Feel free to tell me what you feel.”

I shook my head, not in dissatisfaction.

“Please make the conditions the same as other officials, except for the salary. At the Marquis’s residence I was the only one serving the lady, so such terms were offered, but here everyone works as a group. If I alone received different treatment, it would only sour the atmosphere. I’ll manage the adjustment myself. And… I gratefully accept the academy support.”

The Minister of Finance blinked as if surprised.

“I thought you’d be picky. Have you changed your mind?”

At that moment the advice from Pinea, Nicola, Young Master Aidan, and Lady Kiara flashed through my mind.

My confused feelings came together into one. I felt relieved.

“I want to try something new. I will work for myself. If I think the orders from the Minister of Finance are wrong, I’ll protest without hesitation. Is that alright?”

He threw back his head and laughed, stood up, and extended his hand.

“That’s why I hired you.”

After that, the schedule went by very quickly.

There were many tasks to do, from handing over duties before leaving to preparing for entering the palace.

“Coco, this isn’t a dream, is it?”

Pinea pinched her cheek and asked.

The lady asked to be told who had worked with her during the Black Dia launch and immediately held interviews. Right after, she appointed Pinea as my successor, and Nicola was put in charge of handling communications with the Daijo merchant house and the Marquis’s family.

It all happened so fast after my resignation was decided that I could hardly keep up.

I asked the lady why she hadn’t picked a noble’s child.

“She said you’re close to each other. If she helped prepare even Black Dia, she must have the basic skills, and at least she won’t be sinister like that guy. And… come visit often.”

The lady’s cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment—it was cute.

“Yes. I’ll visit often.”

“I’ll make sure you get a good severance.”

“My lady is the best, as always.”

Aidan, who told me to come say goodbye when I moved jobs, was packing his things in his room.

“Since the most fun person in this house is leaving, I should go back too.”

“What’s fun about me?”

“Coco, didn’t you know? Just watching you is entertaining.”

“Eek?”

When I frowned as if that was nonsense, Aidan giggled.

“See? It’s already fun.”

He tapped his right chest.

“Keep the brooch safe. We’ll see each other again soon, so keep it safe until then!”

Aidan left those words promising a next time, then vanished in an instant with teleportation magic.

“Wow… amazing.”

His request was overwhelmed by the magic and forgotten.

Afterwards, I said goodbye to the servants, including Meloni and Butler Penel, and finished my duties as an aide. As I left and looked back at the Marquis’s residence, even though the time had been short, it felt like many things had happened.

‘Still, I’m moving forward, I suppose.’

It was my first day at the Imperial Palace.

I left home accompanied by Marcella, Juliana, and Rio, who fussed over me more than I did from the morning.

‘What would they possibly be happier about than me?’

The three were so delighted they said it was a celebration and ran around the house all night. I hadn’t even brought up the academy. I was glad we weren’t in an apartment and didn’t have to worry about noise between floors.

The carriage stopped in front of the Imperial Palace gate, and after showing my identification, I went inside. Unless you were a high noble, you had to park your carriage at the palace gate and walk.

‘A filthy class society.’

It was a moment that made me keenly feel the power of the Marquis’s family. Being late on the first day was unthinkable, so I hurried toward the central bureau.

‘The Chancellery is on the second floor.’

Since it was official work rather than an errand, I was admittedly nervous. I had no idea what environment, what people, or what tasks I would face. The one consolation was that the Minister of Finance had said small nobles often become officials to help their families, so I would likely not be discriminated against because of my family’s status.

Knock.

I stood in front of the door bearing the Chancellery nameplate, took a deep breath, and knocked.

“Yes.”

I heard the reply and slowly opened the door.

An unexpected space unfolded before my eyes.

Desks, bookshelves, chairs, and columns all made of warm-toned wood gave the impression of a grand, venerable library. Green plants brought color throughout, and a cherry blossom tree in full bloom beside the stairs leading to a two-story collection dominated the view. It felt like there was a garden inside a library. There was even a small pond beside it, making me doubt that this was an office.

‘The Ministry of Finance had a cold, metallic impression, but this place could be straight out of a fairytale.’

When Duke Seraf made a fuss, I’d missed seeing this beautiful office again. My motivation to work surged. The atmosphere was noisy, unlike the Ministry of Finance. I liked that—it felt free.

‘But it’s too noisy, isn’t it?’

I pricked up my ears and slipped toward where the Chancellery staff were.

But they weren’t discussing work or engaging in small talk. As my mind slowly returned, I let my gaze wander around the office. Papers, fountain pens, and quills were tossed here and there on the floor; some employees turned their backs on their desks engrossed in chatter, others were reading novels, and there were even empty seats.

‘Wait, isn’t that the chancellor’s seat over there?’

Someone was sitting in the seat labeled for the Chancellor, and it wasn’t the Minister of Finance. Moreover, they were dozing.

The nerves of my first day had long since vanished. At the awful sight, I squeezed my eyes shut. The brooch Aidan had given me had turned red. I should have checked it earlier.

‘Minister of Finance, you didn’t mention anything like this, did you?’