That Night
Despite his fatigue, Kiaros was still receiving reports from his aide.
“Baron Roafi’s case has gone through the auction process as expected. Juan Roafi had a long eting with the Finance Minister this afternoon.”
“Hm.”
“A disciplinary committee was convened imdiately after, and the outco will likely be announced tomorrow.”
There was nothing more to see.
It was embezzlent, no less. Imdiate dismissal.
“Next, regarding Howard Olten and the Olten Trading Company.”
Howard Olten.
The old man who had grabbed Namia by the wrist and made a ridiculous scene proposing to her.
The eldest son of the Olten Trading Company, wasn't he?
“As you instructed, we secured testimony from intern Kibon Altess and punished him under charges of public official misconduct.”
Kiaros had already t with the aide while disguised as Kibon, saying a few lines under the pretense of testimony.
The aide had listened diligently, with a polite and sincere face.
“I was worried since he’s a foreigner, but even though the brat was cocky, he spoke clearly and logically.”
Mm.
So he did think Kibon was cocky inside.
“A restraining order has been issued, and the Olten Trading Company reassigned him to a remote province.”
Anyway, the Howard Olten issue had been resolved neatly.
Namia had insisted she would take care of it herself, but Kiaros had wanted to send him away first.
He was quietly satisfied, smiling to himself, when the aide continued.
“Oh, and you also ordered an urgent investigation into Victor Arwin.”
Kiaros cleared his throat.
Victor Arwin. That na stuck in his throat like a fishbone.
Earlier, when Luka said, “If it were Victor-sunbae, maybe...” Namia hadn’t responded.
She had just changed the subject.
[Actually, I was planning to see you. Do you still have a room open in your boarding house? How much is it?]
[Huh? Boarding house?]
[Yeah. I moved out.]
[Ha. So you really took my words to heart that night when it was just the two of us, huh.]
He understood that Luka and Namia had no relationship.
But if Namia were to move into the sa boarding house as Luka...
He had a feeling Luka would never shut up about “that night in the boarding house, just the two of us.”
It irked him in a strange way.
“Wait. About that Baron Roafi’s house.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Wasn’t that house originally bought with Namia’s biological father’s money? Draw up the proper paperwork and transfer the property to Namia. There should be a clause for it.”
“Understood.”
The aide responded briskly.
Then picked up a report.
“Now, regarding Victor Arwin.”
Kiaros laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them, watching the aide.
With a steady voice, the aide began reading the report.
“Victor Arwin, age twenty-seven, is currently on long-term assignnt with the Foreign Affairs Departnt of the Principality of Martam.”
“Mhm.”
“His term is nearly complete. The Scroll Departnt Minister has requested his early return.”
That much, Kiaros already knew.
He had personally seen Namia drafting that damn recall docunt today.
Though, of course, it was just one of many things that woman had done.
‘...Namia Roafi is insane.’
She was still working overti.
Tirelessly going through stacks of docunts with obsessive attention, all while taking on new tasks as if she were possessed.
‘She’s truly mad.’
Kiaros had thought of himself as a workaholic. But in front of Namia, he felt humbled.
[Not leaving yet?]
[What’s the point? It’s not like anyone’s waiting for at ho.]
[...]
[Better to work in my spacious and fancy Minister’s office. You, who have no money, no status, no honor, and no office, can go ho.]
In the end, Kiaros had simply gone ho first.
“He was an excellent student, but his parents died around the ti of the palace entry exam, causing his scores to plumt. As a result, he entered the Scroll Managent Departnt...”
The aide kept reporting quickly.
“He was a collateral relative of a baron’s family, but was adopted by Marquis Arwin, a distant relative and godfather. The adoption seems genuine, as they had known each other for a long ti and the marquis has no heir.”
Kiaros, who had been silently listening, asked in a low voice,
“His relationship with Namia Roafi.”
“Ah...”
“What, do you think I’m being petty?”
“Not at all.”
“Do I look like I’m digging into her past?”
“N-no, sir.”
“I am.”
“...”
The aide looked slightly confused.
Then he shuffled through the docunts and continued speaking.
“Victor Arwin served as student council president during his ti at the Academy. He appears to have interacted with Miss Namia, who was four years his junior, during that ti.”
“And?”
“This was a rushed report, so that’s as far as it goes. Uh... judging by the photo, he’s quite handso.”
“...”
“And to be adopted by Marquis Arwin directly, he must be very capable.”
“...”
“Being student council president... he must have a good personality, too.”
“...”
“Next is the Crows’ report.”
The aide smiled innocently, not sensing any tension.
“They’ve begun tracking the whereabouts of Namia Roafi’s biological father, Cedric Roafi.”
“Did you do a preliminary check on Baron Roafi and his wife?”
“Yes.”
According to what Namia had told the Empress, the Baron and his wife had information about her real father.
And they had used that to blackmail her.
“They spilled everything after the slightest pressure. But the organization they ntioned seems to be a ghost group. Further tracking is necessary. The Crows say the results should be in soon.”
Kiaros nodded.
‘In any case... I’ll have to keep showing up to the Scroll Departnt as Kibon.’
Just one day of working there had worn him out completely.
And even then, Namia had said this behind his back as he left:
[It was a little boring today, huh? Just review work. Tomorrow we’ll really start working.]
That was terrifying.
Namia had bead at him while his eyes visibly shook.
[We have to prepare for the soon-returning Finance Minister, after all.]
...Prepare what, exactly?
And from the next day on, Kiaros would begin those “preparations” in earnest.
***
It’s been a little while since I took office as Minister.
Since then, all the departnt’s docunt formats had been cleaned up. The once-ssy office was now tidy.
“Please be mindful of security from now on. Shred any docunts containing personal information imdiately.”
I was the Minister, but everyone in the departnt—except the intern—was older than .
So I always used honorifics. But I still stuck to principles.
“Follow proper docuntation protocol. If you’re unsure, ask or ask the intern here.”
And the important thing.
The intern... the intern was good at his job!
‘Crazy. He’s seriously good... it’s like he was born for this.’
Honestly, I hadn’t expected much.
But his speed and instinct for the work were unmatched.
‘I’m never letting this intern go. Ever.’
He still wasn’t great at reading the room or sensing the mood, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ but when it ca to work and paperwork, he was unmatched.
No matter how much I piled onto him, he never once complained.
[If the Minister orders it, I’ll obey unconditionally. So stop overthinking and just give the command.]
Kibon hadn’t once gone back on those words.
Sure, his face sotis looked sour, but whenever I hesitated, he’d raise an eyebrow at like he was telling not to hold back.
‘Seriously, who’s in charge here?’
Maybe it was because he refused my request to move boxes the first ti we t.
Ever since then, he had worked like a machine—expressionless, but completing massive tasks without a peep.
‘So this is the joy of having a competent subordinate.’
Giving Kibon tasks had beco as natural as breathing.
And the darker his under-eye circles got, the more natural it felt.
And then, exactly one week after I took office...
“Ahem.”
Finally. Anastasia was the first to stand and greet the visitor as usual.
“F-Finance Minister? W-Would you like so coffee—?”
“Get rid of that damn instant powder. I’m here to see the Scroll Departnt Minister.”
The Finance Minister looked visibly gaunt.
“Welco, Minister.”
I greeted him brightly and walked out to et him personally.
Beside , Kibon flinched.
These days, every ti he saw smiling like that, he looked startled.
“It’s been exactly one week. I’ve been waiting.”
Truly, sincerely waiting.
Seeing the healthy color in my face, the Finance Minister instinctively took a step back.
Behind , Kibon shot him a pitying look.
Reviews
All reviews (0)