85

“No—how… Does Nicola know?”

“What’s the point of telling a kid who’s busy working in the capital?”

“Pardon? What do you mean. Of course Nicola should know. His father’s leg is that bad.”

“It’s already too late. If he knows he’ll only worry. Don’t go up there saying useless things.”

No. Am I supposed to turn his son, who faithfully sends living expenses, into an unfilial child?

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll tell him as soon as I get to the capital.”

My chest tightened at the thought of my friend drowning in sorrow.

Then I delivered my regards at Pinea’s house. Pinea had lost her mother early and lived with her father and younger brother—just the three of them. Her father was glad to hear the news, but he looked very lonely, perhaps because Pinea wasn’t there.

‘I wonder if they’re both missing something important while living so frantically in the capital.’

Loss comes without warning. I hoped the first friend I’d made in this place, where I never thought I’d form attachments, wouldn’t have to go through that. I decided to go to the capital first and deliver the news, and walked slowly through the streets. As I walked I saw a familiar shop.

“What if it hadn’t sold?”

It was the wig shop that gave me my current bob haircut.

I’d been desperately searching for Rio’s medicine money, and they’d generously bought my hair at a good price. Wondering who needed black hair, I stood in front of the shop and remembered that day. I had been truly desperate. Thanks to that, Rio could now attend the academy in Rusera.

‘I’ll repay you if I ever find out later. Thank you so much.’

The owner hurried out, perhaps annoyed I was lingering, and surprisingly he remembered me.

“You remember me even though some time has passed?”

“How could I forget? In my whole life I’ve never paid so much for black hair!”

“Hehe, I was surprised too. I didn’t expect my hair would sell for so much.”

The shop owner beamed and rattled off a story I hadn’t asked for, spitting as he spoke.

“It’s still amazing to think about. A very handsome man suddenly came and gave me money, saying if anyone sells black hair I should pay top price!”

“Really?”

It was the first I’d heard of it. I suspected a noble house urgently needed hair. Hoping for more information, I asked questions.

“He came at closing time so I wondered what was going on, but then you showed up at just that moment! Thanks to you we both made a tidy sum!”

Closing time… that was almost right before I arrived, wasn’t it?

“Do you know who that man was?”

The owner shook his head.

“I wouldn’t know. He was wrapped up tight in a robe, and buying a wig doesn’t require ID! He definitely wasn’t from Opel—you can tell even if someone tries to hide it! Tall like this, broad shoulders! His eyes were jewel-like red, something like that… he was extraordinary! Um… yes, a wolf. He looked like a handsome wolf! A snow-white wolf!”

“Pardon?”

“Like the king of wolves, he said!”

The owner’s description matched the one person I knew.

“Could it be?”

On the way back from Opel to Rusera the question nagged at me. After long thought, only one answer came to mind: it was a coincidence. His timing had very coincidentally matched mine when I went to sell my hair. If not, it would mean he knew my situation back then, which made no sense.

Since the Soul transmigration and my time working at Opel Daijo, I had never once spoken about family.

I was being overly self-conscious. That’s just me.

The Opel business trip I’d taken to rest had only unsettled me. Deciding to rest at home, I headed to Daijo headquarters as soon as I arrived in the capital.

‘Nicola would be surprised if he knew.’

But I couldn’t delay telling the news. As my uncle said, telling won’t magically heal someone, but there might be other ways to help. Besides, thinking of Nicola finding out late made me feel worse.

“Long time no see, Cornelia. Did the trip go well?”

I met Soledad the aide at the entrance. He still looked worn from overtime, dark circles under his eyes.

“Yes. I brought what you asked me to check at the Opel branch, and I also have hometown news to share with friends.”

“You’re not a Daijo employee anymore, but thanks. Come on in.”

“I handled it while I was going anyway. It wasn’t difficult.”

I stopped by the third-floor administration department, greeted Manager Samora, and handed over the documents. For some reason the building felt chaotic—things seemed pulled out everywhere. A big cleaning?

The reason became clear quickly.

“We’re moving!”

Pinea and Nicola shouted with joy.

“I forgot to mention. Daijo’s recent sales are insane. Thanks to Black Dia they went up fivefold! The young lady was so pleased.”

Pinea grinned, holding up five fingers. Five times… insane.

“So the business has expanded a lot and they need more staff, so we’re moving to a bigger building!”

They said they even built a new building from scratch.

They said Lady Kiara pushed Aidan hard and finished it quickly using manpower and magical power. Who else but our young lady would put the next Magic Tower Master to work like that? Though whether he’s the next Mage Tower Master or not, he’s still a younger brother. Anyway, the two of them were cheerfully packing and moving things.

“Coco, did you return home well? Are my parents doing fine?”

Pinea and Nicola asked brightly. I hesitated, then steeled myself.

“Well, I have some news to tell.”

I told them about Nicola’s father’s leg injury and that Pinea’s family missed her. The two who had been smiling a moment ago went instantly pale with worry, guilt, and unease. I was especially concerned for Nicola.

“Nicola, how about bringing him to the capital for treatment first? I’ll introduce you to physicians I met while looking into Rio’s treatment. If the medical fees are expensive I’ll help, so don’t worry. Health comes first.”

Nicola forced a smile but kept tensing as if holding back tears.

“Thank you. I’ll ask permission upstairs and then I should probably go down to Opel for a bit.”

Nicola hurried off after saying goodbye. Pinea pretended she was fine but her face was tense. I draped my arm over her shoulder and rubbed it to comfort her.

“Just go home often from now on. It’ll be fine.”

Pinea’s expression eased a little.

“You’re right. Ever since I came to Rusera I’ve been all over the place. Still, I hope Nicola ends up okay more than I do.”

I couldn’t be sure of that either, so I didn’t dare speak hope aloud.

After Pinea returned to the Marquis’s residence and I was left alone, I wandered the building aimlessly. I watched people greeting those who had helped with the brief but hectic Black Dia launch. Maybe because they were moving to a better place, everyone was sweaty but smiling.

‘This is what working for feels like.’

Rewards from achievement and the motivation that follows—a virtuous cycle. Daijo was running well. Hoping my Chancellery would be like this someday, I headed back to administration to say goodbye. The place was empty, items pulled out onto the floor; everyone seemed to have gone for drinks. Expecting they’d return soon, I slowly started organizing things at hand. Being from administration, I could quickly identify and sort them.

‘Oh, this.’

It was a box where I’d previously gathered “Letters of Praise” found while tidying a filing cabinet. Before moving, I wanted to reread the letter that recommended me, so I opened the box and found it quickly—probably because I’d seen it before.

When I unfolded the paper, the handwriting was familiar; I knew the wording by heart.

‘Wait, this is familiar…’

I examined it again; something hovered at the edge of my memory.

Where had I seen this handwriting? When…?

I gasped.

It matched the neat script on the documents Lucius had given me to take to Opel—the handwriting of the head of the Ministry of Justice.

“…Duke?”

A concise sentence in tidy, orderly handwriting. It was definitely his.

Shocked, I dropped the letter. My mind replayed the past and stopped at one moment: the day I dealt with the problematic customer—the one I’d served just before. A tall man wearing a robe.

“It was the Duke.”

The author of the Letter of Praise and the man who bought my hair were one and the same.