74

“Did the Crown Prince cause trouble again?”

He was usually expressionless, but to me that was clearly annoyance.

“Um, Supreme Justice? Are you all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“You looked very displeased…”

“No. It’s the same as always. The event’s over, so I’ll head back first.”

“Yes. Please be careful on your way in.”

He gave a small nod and trudged toward the palace. He was hardly someone I could confide in, so I hoped I might hear some details at Those Who Can’t Resign.

What awaited me at Those Who Can’t Resign wasn’t the reason the Duke’s expression had hardened but unexpected news.

Our shop’s VIP client Mr. Bull, who was also the Supreme Justice’s aide Iliya Bern, spilled it with unusual energy.

“Since the banquet and the royal exchange event, the central ministries are in such a pink mood. It’s autumn, but instead of feeling lonely, it feels like spring — the atmosphere is no joke.”

I remembered the female officials shouting at the Duke as he showed off his riding skills, hair flying.

“Really? So Mr. Bull’s trouble today is a romance… issue?”

This was awkward. I’d never dated and had barely flirted. Working to make a living left no time or headspace for romance; my knowledge came from novels or YouTube, hardly enough to counsel someone.

“No. I just enjoy chatting with Master Quokka about work lately. It’s comfortable, and we poke fun at bosses too, you know.”

I wanted to tell him to make a close friend instead of coming here, but I couldn’t give up such a valuable customer, so I nodded and smiled.

“Always welcome.”

“Do you know who the Supreme Justice’s partner was at the recent banquet? It was the very Chancellery secretary who made the Supreme Justice gloomy! I heard the Minister of Finance introduced them — I’d never seen that person so awkwardly frozen before! Puhaha! But seeing them converse smoothly, it looks like they’ve reconciled.”

I was embarrassed they were talking about me, but Mr. Bull was a precious source of court information, almost as good as Lukan.

“That’s a relief.”

“I haven’t seen the Supreme Justice in a strange state either, so it’s as if that person solved it for him. Like Master Quokka!”

“Haha, is that so? I’m grateful to have helped our client with his problem.”

“Actually, that’s not what I wanted to say. At the banquet that secretary wore a dress I’d never seen before. Even to an outsider like me, it was a novel design. A blue dress with flowers embroidered in an unusual way — it seems to have become quietly talked-about. Orders are flooding in to the designer Laurent right now.”

“Really?”

Busy with work, I’d missed this hot news. I should tell Pinea that Daijo should release matching accessories and cosmetics.

Mr. Bull didn’t stop. After all, standing next to that Duke, one could guess how many coherent words he managed per day.

“To me too, the person and the dress matched wonderfully. She pinned a small floral pin into her short hair and it was completely different from her usual crisp, businesslike appearance. Like a fairy, perhaps?”

I choked on the water I was drinking.

“Cough cough! Fa-fairy?”

“Even someone like me who only knows studying noticed it — other men must have noticed more. Since the banquet, the number of men showing interest in Cornelia has increased a lot. Men all have similar tastes. As you’d expect, at the royal exchange event the deputy commander of the Royal First Knight Order swooped in! He presented the top-caught quarry to her and asked her out on a date! When people heard that and said they’d lost their chance, they were so disappointed.”

So that’s how it turned out.

The behind-the-scenes of my unintentional rise to being a lady of the royal exchange was fascinating.

Yeah, I honestly thought I looked a bit pretty that day.

With a proven modern design, top designer Laurent’s skill, and the young lady’s accessories, it would be unreasonable to call it ugly.

Mr. Bull’s description made me unconsciously puff up with pride. So that’s why people put so much into banquet dresses.

“Anyway, it’s going to be wild from now on. By His Majesty’s decree her status was fully restored, and she became the youngest first-rank secretary. She’s a new dark horse in the marriage market.”

It was completely unexpected. Honestly, I never thought I’d date or marry anyone in this world. Regardless of who originally owned this body, my soul had been dropped here suddenly, and it could return to the original world at any time.

Marcella and my two younger siblings are enough.

There were people who would certainly be sad no matter who I was. Living together, I felt that more and more. Others will naturally live their own lives in time.

“Invitations to salons and social events will probably come soon. But I’ve heard the Chancellery has a lot going on lately, so she might find it hard to attend.”

That was for the best. One forced social scene at Princess Seref’s salon was more than enough for me.

Mr. Bull’s words proved prophetic. From the next day, invitations began arriving at the house.

“Sister, are you going?”

“No, I don’t have the time. I’m not a young lady who goes to society events — I’m someone who works at the office. It’s too early for you all, so don’t accept invitations on impulse. If you want to go, you must check with me or our brother first.”

“Don’t worry, Sister! Studying is more fun for me right now!”

Julie had been getting perfect scores at the academy. She lived with a book as if making up for all the studying she’d wanted to do but couldn’t.

I stroked Julie’s hair fondly.

“If I want to help you, Sister, I’ll have to study hard!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“When the estate is granted, you’ll become the head of the family, right? His Majesty bestowed the title and the estate on you, didn’t he?”

This wasn’t trivial academy chatter — the topic sounded rather profound.

“I want to help you by your side! That’s why Rio and I will study hard! Brother, swing your sword hard too!”

Julie made a gesture as if striking with a sword.

Me, the head of the family?

Why hadn’t I thought of it? Naturally I assumed Marcella or our eldest brother who left home would be the head. But the imperial decree clearly granted the estate to me.

I need to…rework the plan.

Somehow independence felt farther away.

But the restoration of the noble title meant there was a chance Rio could receive clerical treatment. I considered transferring the title straight to Marcella, but I couldn’t predict how the Emperor would react.

“How is any of this supposed to work.”

It all seemed like a good thing, yet my head ached.

I barely slept the night before.

The problem was resolved, but my mind was troubled. Mr. Bull and Julie’s conversations reminded me of things I, as someone experiencing a soul transmigration, hadn’t considered.

After thinking all night, I reached this conclusion.

Don’t marry; live as the head of the family, and if I suddenly return to the original world, Marcella will inherit the title.

So simple. There was no better option right now.

Even though it felt clear, my heart wasn’t light. It hung heavy like a clouded sky. I comforted myself that other departments had been piling work on me lately.

“Hello.”

I went to work as usual, opened the Chancellery door and sat at my desk. Lukan slid his chair right up next to mine.

“Look over there, Cornelia.”

“…!”

When I turned my head, an unbelievable sight awaited.

“…This much?”

Elysia, who sat nearby, rolled her chair over.

“Am I still half asleep? I drank tea twice.”

The head secretary — Tom Hank — the one with the very American name — had completely transformed.

“When he asked for a hair salon recommendation, I never imagined this.”

Lukan couldn’t take his eyes off him. Tom’s greasy, messy hair was gone, replaced by neat, glossy, perfectly set hair. The rumpled suit had been swapped for a well-pressed, perfectly fitting one. His beard was clean-shaven.

“No way, did he lose weight already?”

His formerly generous belly looked slightly smaller.

“Did he starve himself for a few days?”

Elysia murmured.

Now that I thought about it…

“Nothing has happened these past few days, right?”

Lukan and Elysia covered their mouths. Senior Lucius and Senior Victor, who had been sneaking over to my desk, also stared at Tom in surprise. Regardless, Tom was busy checking himself with a hand mirror.

“No nail clipping, no burping, no farting.”

Was this really… the power of love?

I ran straight to the Ministry of Finance.