Chapter 45
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Chapter 45
The Emperor pressed his forehead and shook his head slowly.
"So, using that as an excuse, you're saying you'll stick right beside Namia Loapi even though you've already been rejected? I was quite clear—once you've been turned down, you absolutely must not burden her with your presence...."
The Emperor's measured words continued.
"If you keep hovering around her, Namia Loapi will surely let her guard down with you...."
"That's absolutely not the case, Your Majesty."
Crown Prince Kiaros answered immediately.
He was no fool. He understood perfectly well that if he, as Crown Prince, remained close to her, it would only spawn vicious rumors.
"That matter... I will handle discreetly. Your Majesty need only manage my absence from my duties for the time being."
"Well, that's... something I was planning to do anyway, since you're in your dark period...."
The Emperor replied with reluctant acceptance.
Crown Prince Kiaros resumed sipping his tea with elegant composure, as though the matter were settled.
'I'll simply rejoin the Scroll Management Department—or rather, the Scroll Department.'
Fortunately, even during a dark period, special abilities remained usable.
By re-entering as an Intern and working in the same department, I might discover something worthwhile.
[If Your Highness the Crown Prince finds anything suspicious and investigates, I will cooperate fully. I believe such actions serve the peace of the Empire.]
Hadn't Namia Loapi said exactly that?
If something seemed suspicious, investigate it.
'Even if Namia Loapi is innocent, the Scroll Management Department itself is definitely suspicious.'
According to the Tower Master, it was difficult to believe that Oson was the only spy who had infiltrated the Scroll Management Department.
There had to be other spies. Unlike Oson, they might have exercised caution and avoided dismissal.
'I could catch them myself.'
That was why he would undertake this undercover investigation personally.
Since the Emperor had arrived and his workload had decreased, spending time at the Scroll Management Department posed no problem.
'There doesn't seem to be much to do there anyway.'
Returning to that department as an Intern held no fear for me.
Namia Loapi had said something quite clear.
[Should that first Intern I ever received happen to return by some chance... I would make every effort to clear up any misunderstandings and ensure we could live together in genuine comfort.]
Even if I returned, she would ensure we could coexist peacefully.
Then I could enter that department and calmly root out the spies.
'And... if Namia Loapi is innocent, I could save her as well.'
If spies still remained in the Scroll Management Department, they would surely seek to harm Namia Loapi, who had protected the Royal Family by obstructing them.
With that reasoning, I had to continue staying close to Namia Loapi and protecting her.
'The Royal Family must protect civil servants, after all.'
Crown Prince Kiaros thought rationally.
'I am merely protecting a civil servant who protected me.'
There was absolutely, absolutely, absolutely no personal interest involved.
I was using my special abilities for the future of the Empire.
"Kiaros, I trust in your excellence. If our son suspects something, naturally we must investigate. Do as you see fit."
The Emperor spoke gently.
"But there is one thing—you must never cling to a woman who refuses you, nor conduct yourself in such a sordid manner. You cannot simply attach yourself to her through your authority or power and put her in an awkward position. Do you understand? Even if your long-cherished first love never came to fruition."
At that moment, the Empress, who had been watching carefully, interjected with caution.
"I respectfully disagree, Your Majesty! If there is something you desire, seize it and struggle for it—obtain it by any means necessary! If you use that face and body of yours actively and without reservation, I believe you can succeed in seduction!"
Crown Prince Kiaros sighed deeply to himself.
It seemed neither of them truly understood his sincere devotion to the Empire.
'It doesn't matter.'
Crown Prince Kiaros ignored the Emperor and Empress, who were looking at him with expressions of pity.
'I move only for the sake of the Empire.'
For the Empire, he would become Kibon Altes starting tomorrow.
And he would need to stay right beside Namia Loapi to monitor the Scroll Department.
Since he wouldn't assign the Intern any particular tasks, it was the optimal arrangement.
* * *
At that very moment.
The Tower Master and I headed toward the Scroll Management Department Office.
"Phew!"
It was past seven o'clock.
Naturally, all the staff had already left for the day.
The Tower Master clicked his tongue upon seeing all manner of security documents scattered across the desks.
"These absolute lunatics.... No wonder the Crown Prince is grinding his teeth and trying to dismantle this place. With the department in this state, spies crawl right in."
"Yes. In truth, this place was nothing but a spy's paradise and a haven for corruption."
I agreed immediately.
The Tower Master glanced at the parchment for scrolls and let out another bitter laugh.
"You've done quite the job here. They claimed to use S-grade materials, but this is clearly B-grade at best, isn't it? I'm sure the general staff don't know how to read scrolls, so they must have colluded with the suppliers behind the scenes."
As the Tower Master made his rounds through the office, similar discoveries kept surfacing.
"What is this? Why is the format like this? They don't even understand the incantations properly? And this ink—it's already expired. Scrolls won't even activate with this."
The issues came without end.
Visibly distressed by what he was finding, he finally burst out at me.
"You're cursing me out in your head right now, aren't you? Wondering why I've let things slide like this?"
"Yes, that's right."
At my answer, the Tower Master sighed heavily.
Then he flicked the nameplate of the now-dismissed minister, sending it clattering to the floor, and muttered irritably.
"I know. I know the Tower Master shouldn't be like this. The Crown Prince is right to view this department as an eyesore."
"Yes, that's right."
"But I can't help it. My daughter's situation is serious. I haven't had the time to pay attention to this."
"...."
"You think I'm pathetic for not doing my job well because of family troubles, don't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
The Tower Master pressed his forehead with one hand.
I watched him quietly for a moment, then added softly.
"But... I still think there's no helping it."
That was my true heart.
"...Even knowing that I'm pathetic, I still can't help it... I think...."
Someone would surely regard me as pathetic.
The old Luca Class certainly did. Why on earth did I live that way?
'But I couldn't help it. They were family....'
My memories were so full of loving and being loved—how could I let go?
In truth, I had little hope for this world and fewer regrets about it.
Nothing but terrible things had ever happened in this Scroll Management Department Office. I'd even harbored thoughts of wishing the entire world would collapse.
Yet here I was, a mere underling, struggling to prevent war itself....
'I miss you, Dad. I want to see you again.'
If only I didn't have that longing, if only I didn't have that wish.
'...Being alone is so lonely.'
I truly didn't want to admit it, but that was my genuine heart.
When the Baron and Baroness shared a delicious dinner with Huan Loapi—just the three of them.
When no one came to see me at the Academy parent observation classes.
When I passed the Imperial Palace civil service examination but had no one to boast to.
Each time, I thought of Dad and swallowed my loneliness. That was the only way I could endure.
'I'm an adult now, yet still....'
My memories of being loved had frozen at age eight.
I swallowed my tears like that eight-year-old child.
'I still need family....'
When I'd seen the Emperor cherishing Crown Prince Kiaros earlier.
My heart had ached a little then too.
Watching the Royal Family trust and rely on each other, I suddenly felt desolate. As if I alone were an outsider.
"...I can understand that pathetic life... Because I too have a missing family member...."
I suppressed my tears and murmured.
The Tower Master stared at me, then let out a single sigh.
Then he sat on the Minister's disheveled desk and opened his mouth.
"I have a daughter."
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