Chapter 77
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Chapter 77
Victor stood beside Anastasia's desk, sipping coffee.
Anastasia was tidying up a book titled "If That's How a Subordinate Looks at Their Boss, Then I Don't Need One" while brushing away coffee grounds.
The coffee still looked hot, suggesting he hadn't arrived long ago.
"It's been ages, Namia Loapi."
He grinned and extended his hand with a flourish.
"Yes, it really has been a while."
I took his offered hand and replied.
"I thought you'd arrive tomorrow at the earliest."
"Well, I rushed over to see you."
Victor answered with a playful raise of his eyebrows.
"Ah, of course I'm not starting work today—I just came to pay my respects."
"You came on a non-work day? Is something wrong? Are you ill?"
"Namia Loapi as a minister? I couldn't bear the curiosity. If this is an illness, it's already terminal."
He held my hand and shook it while laughing cheerfully.
"I mean, who could have predicted such turbulence in the upper ranks during my absence? You must have had a rough time, right? But wait...."
Victor continued the conversation with evident pleasure, but suddenly stiffened and shifted his gaze behind me.
Kibon was staring intently at our clasped hands.
Victor awkwardly released my hand and asked with a forced laugh.
"...Who is this guy? Namia Loapi, do ministers these days bring along bodyguard knights? Did he receive orders to sever the part of your hand that touched mine?"
"He certainly has the look of someone who'd cut off a senior's hand, but that's not quite it."
I glanced back at Kibon and explained.
"He's an Intern, but he's my Secretary now."
"An Intern? We have an Intern in our department?"
Victor looked surprised as he scanned Kibon, then chuckled.
"Nice to meet you, Intern. Since our young minister uses you as a Secretary, you must be younger than Namia Loapi, right? I'll speak casually with you. That's more comfortable for you, isn't it?"
"It's not."
The atmosphere instantly froze. I jabbed Kibon in the ribs and spoke.
"Kibon, everyone in this department speaks casually to you—why are you like this?"
"I didn't say it wasn't allowed."
I finally sighed and turned to Victor with an explanation.
"I'm sorry, Senior. Kibon is a foreigner, so his Imperial language is a bit rough. He doesn't read situations well, and his culture is quite different...."
"Ah, I see? So he's a lacking fellow who requires considerable attention from us. And I happen to be quite good at giving attention to types like that."
"That said, he's not lacking in other ways.... He completes every task assigned to him without fail, and, well, that's about it."
Victor rolled his eyes and nodded slowly.
"I see. So he's a madman worth using."
Sensing Kibon was about to respond, I quickly silenced him.
At least no problems arise when he stays quiet. Even in the Empress's Chamber, he remained silent—halfway acceptable.
He simply gazed at me quietly....
'Honestly, what Intern looks at their superior with eyes like that?'
I sighed inwardly and pondered the matter.
I hadn't noticed it while drowning myself in work, but after visiting that new space together, it became crystal clear.
When the Empress said "that man is hiding something from you," could she have meant romantic feelings? At the very least, I couldn't dismiss the Empress's intuition.
In that moment, my imagination took flight.
[Get yourself together, Kibon. You're an Intern, and I'm a Minister.]
[Is there a law that says an Intern can't have feelings for a Minister?]
[Of course not. Who would regulate personal emotions with law?]
In my fantasy, Kibon remained expressionless throughout, yet he only looked at me.
Ever since I met him, it had always been that way.
It was while I was lost in such thoughts.
"Anyway, Namia Loapi."
Victor winked and smiled warmly.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll come to work and address you formally as Minister, but until today, let's stay as close seniors and juniors. I'd like to hear some of your stories."
His sky-blue eyes curved playfully.
Unlike Kibon, who had a somewhat sharp appearance, his round and gentle features seemed utterly harmless.
"I wanted to hear directly from you, so I didn't even ask Anastasia. I've just been waiting for you all this time."
"Ah... so how it all started was..."
I was just beginning to speak slowly.
When suddenly, the area outside the Scroll Department Office grew loud.
"Hey, Victor! You're back in the country?"
"Victoooor! You should've said something if you were coming!"
"Aren't you going to greet your seniors? Huh?"
A flood of civil servants poured in.
And immediately surrounded Victor.
"Come on, everyone, don't make such a fuss. I came in secretly, you know? Just to make an impression on the Minister?"
Victor chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
Of course, the civil servants around Victor's age pretended not to hear him.
"This guy's changed? After getting a taste of foreign life, he acts like he doesn't know us anymore."
"Shouldn't you have gathered us first? I'm hurt?"
I rolled my eyes and kept my mouth shut.
Right.
This kind of situation... I'd been familiar with it since the Academy.
* * *
Victor was popular with everyone.
He had excellent grades, was athletic, had an outgoing personality, and possessed an appealing appearance. It was only natural that he became Student Council President with an unprecedented vote count.
"Hmm, Namia Loapi?"
Among countless students, he noticed me—four years his junior—for an official reason.
"Your parents have never attended a parent-teacher conference. Is there perhaps some problem?"
As befitted a Student Council President, he had a list of students with certain issues.
I was summoned to the Student Council President's Office because my parents had never come to a single conference.
"Huan Loapi visits every year, so I was wondering if there's anything the Academy could help with?"
Victor asked with genuine concern in his eyes.
I shook my head firmly.
"There isn't."
"Hmm."
Victor's expression grew serious.
"I suppose so. If someone suddenly called me in and started asking personal questions, I wouldn't want to talk either. Right?"
"That's right."
"I thought you'd say that."
He chuckled softly as he spoke.
"I see you topped the entrance exam?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Something seems off, definitely."
Victor smiled gently.
I deliberately avoided his pale sky-blue eyes, as if they held the heavens themselves.
"I can't let this go. Namia, let's become friends."
"Okay."
"...Aren't you going to ask why?"
"Because we won't become friends anyway."
"Ahahaha... you're quite an interesting junior, aren't you?"
Victor laughed with amusement.
Then he met my gaze and smiled brightly.
"I've made a decision just now."
"Yes."
"I'll become your friend and wait until you tell me what's troubling you."
"Yes."
"And if I can solve it, I will. After all, I'm the Student Council President responsible for the welfare of all Academy students."
Without waiting for my response, Victor stood up.
He put on his jacket as he spoke.
"Let's go get lunch."
"Pardon?"
"Let's eat lunch together. We need to become friends, don't we?"
"Well..."
"I might not be able to solve your problem. But... I can listen, can't I? And who knows—it might help ease your heart a little."
"..."
"So let's become friends until then. Which means we go to the Dining Hall together today, and next time too."
I reluctantly stood up. I couldn't refuse when my senior was asking to share a meal. Yet as I watched his retreating figure, I found myself thinking.
'Ah, this person... is truly kind.'
As we walked down the Corridor together, I'm not exaggerating when I say everyone we passed greeted Victor.
"Hey, Victor! Want to shoot some hoops later?"
"Victor, Senior? Could you take a look at this when you have a moment?"
"Oh, isn't it Victor? You've been neglecting us lately, haven't you?"
Victor walked through the Corridor, responding kindly and cheerfully to everyone who approached him.
Watching him, I found myself thinking anew.
'Ah, this person is... someone who is kind to everyone.'
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org