Chapter 59
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Chapter 59
At his question, I jumped back in surprise and refuted him.
"G-good grief! Don't you know that level of self-consciousness is actually a disease?"
"Believe what you want."
He showed no particular disappointment or regret at my answer, simply beginning to tidy up his work.
'Tch, I'm always the one getting dragged into these situations.'
Pouting at this newly realized truth, I suddenly noticed that all the books scattered before me had vanished.
It was obvious who had organized them.
I was momentarily dazed by his thoughtfulness when Lahedis, having finished organizing, rose from his seat first.
"It's late. Let's call it a day and head back."
Only then did I remember what I'd wanted to tell him—words I'd been unable to speak due to poor timing.
'If I leave the Library like this, it might become difficult to broach the subject tomorrow.'
I reached out and grabbed Lahedis's arm as he passed by me.
"L-Lahedis."
Instead of answering, Lahedis looked at me and then at the hand gripping his arm.
Embarrassed, I averted my gaze and hastily released my grip.
"So, um...."
A single word of apology would suffice.
...But I couldn't bring myself to say it.
I don't understand why that one word is so difficult.
Yet Lahedis didn't rush me, simply waiting in silence.
After hesitating briefly, I finally managed to speak.
"...I'm sorry about what I said in the Dining Room earlier."
"In the Dining Room?"
"For speaking so coldly."
"Ah."
"I know you said it because you were worried about me. I should have thanked you first, but I'm sorry."
"...."
"Actually, that's why I called you over."
It had been difficult to speak the words, but now that I had, my heart felt lighter.
As if the heavy stone that had been pressing against my chest had finally disappeared.
Lahedis gazed at me for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
'Well, in any case, I can interpret it positively..., right?'
As the silence returned and I grew embarrassed,
the sound of a grandfather clock chiming midnight echoed from outside the Library.
My eyes widened in surprise at the sound.
"Goodness, is it already this late...? Why didn't you go back to your Room first since it's so late?"
"You asked me to stay beside you."
"Oh."
"I'm your Escort, after all."
He answered exactly as I had, as if asking something obvious, then left the Library first and called me to follow.
"Come on. A ghost might snatch you away."
"Ha! Ghosts don't scare me one bit, seriously."
I pouted at his teasing remark but followed him out of the Library nonetheless.
He escorted me all the way to my Room door, befitting his role as my Escort(?)
"You must have been busy, but thank you for helping me study. I'll make sure to memorize it well."
And just as I was about to bid him farewell, Roper handed me a small note.
It was what he'd been writing while I slept earlier.
"What is this?"
"A cheat sheet."
His large hand came to rest atop my head as I blinked in confusion.
"Sleep well."
With that gentle pat on my head, he turned to leave.
I stared blankly at his retreating figure before belatedly unfolding the note he'd given me.
The note was densely filled with the major houses, their symbols, and the distinctive characteristics of each territory.
Upon seeing it, I was left speechless.
A note written entirely for me.
What filled this note was his kindness.
'I really don't understand this person.'
And yet, that made me want to know him better.
Seemingly indifferent yet tender, mischievous yet attentive to everything I say... this man.
* * *
The next day.
I arrived ten minutes early at the Prime Minister's Study and waited for the Marquis and the Aide.
While memorizing the cheat sheet Roper had made for me.
By the time I'd finished reading through the cheat sheet a second time.
The bell marking the hour chimed, and the Marquis and Aide appeared from down the Corridor.
"Good morning, Marquis. And Aide."
"Good morning. But who is this?"
The Marquis's gaze was directed at Roper standing beside me.
Before I could explain anything, Roper stepped forward.
"I am Roper, assigned to escort Miss Vivian. I received orders from the Duke to escort Miss Vivian."
"An escort, no less, in the Imperial Palace where Knights are aplenty—hardly necessary."
The Aide looked at Roper with an expression suggesting it was excessive.
'In truth, I do agree with that perspective....'
However, because of the kidnapping incident from ten years ago, both the Duke and Roper were concerned about sending me to the Imperial Palace alone.
I tried to dissuade them, worried about Roper having to wait outside for long hours.
But with both the Duke and Roper strongly opposed, there was nothing I could do.
"Come inside. It would be better to wait in the Antechamber than to stand in the Corridor."
Fortunately, the Marquis offered the Antechamber to Roper without any sign of displeasure.
Passing through the Antechamber, I stepped into the Study.
The moment the Aide entered the Study, he began moving with crisp, methodical efficiency.
From the Marquis's tea to fountain pens, documents, and even the curtains!
'Wow....'
Before I could fully process what was happening, all the preparations were complete.
Having finished his flawless setup, the Aide approached me with a shrug of his shoulders.
"See? This is the absolute foundation of an Aide's duties. It's something you'll need to do every morning from now on."
"Huh."
Wait, what was that again?
I was mentally reviewing the tasks when the Marquis behind me interjected with a sidelong glance at the Aide.
"You don't need to do all that. He's just being dramatic—ignore him."
"Tsk."
The Aide clicked his tongue in disappointment, having lost the opportunity to put me to work.
The Marquis ignored the Aide and explained my duties going forward.
"From now on, you'll serve as a temporary Aide, assisting me alongside Roper."
"Yes, sir."
"An Aide's responsibilities are varied, but all of them share a single purpose: helping your superior work more efficiently."
I nodded slightly to show I was listening intently.
He continued his explanation.
"To do that, you must understand your superior's work better than he does himself."
It was the same thing Lahedis had told me last night.
"The fundamental duty of an Aide is document organization. You review documents that come to your superior first, then classify them by priority. That's why an Aide's judgment inevitably comes into play."
"...."
"And as you're aware, all documents reaching His Majesty currently pass through my hands."
According to the Duke, autumn is an ideal season for hunting, so the Emperor and Crown Prince delegate most state affairs to the Prime Minister and spend their time hunting.
A Prime Minister who supports an incompetent ruler and sustains the nation.
That was precisely the Marquis's role.
'And my role is to assist such a person.'
Only then did I truly realize how recklessly I'd thrown myself into learning under the Marquis.
"In other words, the fate of every matter in the Empire rests in my hands."
"...."
"Which means your responsibility as my Aide is considerable."
The Marquis spoke in an even tone, but I felt my resolve naturally strengthen.
'Can I... really do this well?'
As I swallowed nervously, the Marquis seemed to notice my unease and chuckled softly before adding,
"There's no need to be so tense. The responsibility expected of a temporary Aide isn't that great."
The Marquis lightly patted my shoulder, then gestured toward the Aide with a nod.
"Roper will teach you how to organize the documents."
Then he extended his hand to me.
"Well then, I look forward to working with you."
I stared blankly at that outstretched hand before breaking into a bright smile and grasping it firmly.
"Yes! I'll do my best as well!"
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Your Excellency, I'm entering."
The door opened, and an Imperial Palace attendant groaned under the weight of what could only be described as a mountain—no, an avalanche of documents as he struggled inside.
He deposited the towering stack of papers onto the Aide's desk, bowed respectfully to both of us, and departed.
My jaw dropped at the sight.
"S-surely you don't mean I have to review all of that in just one day...?"
At my question, the Marquis simply smiled knowingly.
Instead, the Aide responded in a cynical tone.
"You'll grow accustomed to it as you work. You'll become like me eventually."
I swallowed hard once more, staring at the mountain of documents before me.
Only then did it truly sink in that the Marquis's glasses were genuine, unlike Curtis Rohan's....
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