episode_0009

On the first day that John arrived at the civil service as a temporary special wizard, a welcoming party was held.

A party hall rented from the Imperial Official Residence.

On the marble floor covered with colorful carpets. The ceiling is high and majestic, seeming to pierce the sky.

A candle-lit chandelier hangs from the ceiling, its light reflecting softly on the walls.

On the table, splendid dishes made with rare ingredients, wine in crystal glasses, and various fruits tempted people’s taste buds.

And with sumptuous food and strong but clean drinks, it could be said to be the perfect party venue.

‘It’s just as good as the party held at the Marquis’ house.’

Is it because it is a second-tier public office run by the royal family? Or is it because it is influenced by the crown prince?

Well, whatever it is, it’s fine. Whatever it is, it’s clear that they have great financial resources.

“Aren’t you familiar with parties like this?”

At that moment, Deputy Commander Tersis asked John with a glass of wine in his hand. His face was already hot, as if he was quite drunk.

“I’m not familiar with it. As you know, I’m only the third son of a writer.”

“Hehe, with that kind of face, have you never been invited to a party like this?”

“… I’ve been invited before, but I can’t attend every time.”

“Hahaha! This guy is quite a cautious guy!”

Tersis tapped John on the shoulder and took a sip of wine. The glassful disappeared in an instant.

“Today is your welcome party, Yohan, so you can play as much as you want. We’re not in a very formal atmosphere.”

“I felt that too. Thank you for your consideration.”

“You’re a careful friend. I’ll go get another glass of wine. Hope you have a great party.”

After saying this, Tersis walked towards the servant who was walking around with wine.

John’s eyes softened and he became lost in thought.

‘Be careful, La.’

They had no choice but to be cautious and careful. The modern way of thinking was unable to adapt to this world, and the nobles, who thought they could just play and eat, had to take on more responsibility than they thought.

What if his appearance was outstanding despite the subject? To others, it might have been an enviable life, but to Yohan, it was like a sheet of thin ice.

‘If you get caught by the daughters of a Marquis or Count, you’ll die.’

Didn’t you almost get killed by Duke Perbace a little while ago for being a little lax?

That’s why John had no choice but to always be cautious.

“John?”

At that moment, a woman’s voice was heard from behind. John turned his body toward the direction of the sound.

“Ah, Ratalen 1st class wizard.”

Violet Rataleen tilted her head slightly and looked at Johan.

She smiled with sticky eyes and patted John’s shoulder.

“You can call me Violet. If you keep your distance from me like that, I’ll misunderstand and think you don’t like me?”

“… I didn’t think so. I’m not used to civil servant life yet. ”

In the civil service, people are treated according to their rank regardless of their title. This is because it is public and private.

“Don’t you drink alcohol?”

“I don’t really like it.”

“Huh. That’s surprising. I don’t think they’d stop women from drinking.”

Violet kept smiling, her eyes glued to his as if she found him curious.

“How about we get a separate room so we can drink alone?”

“This is my welcome party, but is it okay for the main character of the party to leave?”

“You’re really good at turning a rejection around. Well, it’s not bad. Hehe.”

Violet’s hand, which was resting on John’s shoulder, slowly moved down the line and touched his chest.

“… … .”

His expression became cold and sank.

‘Didn’t you like cassis?’

A question arose in John’s mind. There must be a man he likes who is flirting with him.

‘Is this a jealousy operation?’

This is sometimes the case among women.

If appealing doesn’t work, she pretends to change her mind and uses other men.

I guess the reason he’s throwing such petty flirtations at me is similar.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m still a newbie in the civil service so I’m not used to it yet.”

John smiled faintly. Just now, he had drawn a line between a senior and junior, not a relationship between a man and a woman.

“Ugh.”

Violet furrowed her eyebrows subtly, then returned to her seductive smile.

“Okay. Not bad.”

And then, he continued talking, laughing as he walked.

“I’m the star of the party, so I shouldn’t keep holding on, right? I’m going to go now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your attention.”

Violet shrugged her shoulders and walked past John.

She didn’t look back, just turned her gaze back and thought about John.

‘No matter how you look at it, it’s the best.’

Something that doesn’t come easily, something that’s easy to talk to, and something that’s quite pretty.

‘Haha. This is going to be fun.’

A plan was quickly formulated, and she smiled and walked towards where the others were gathered.

* * *

In a corner of the party hall, Francia was watching Johan closely and biting her fingernails.

‘Violet Ratalene.’

She approached John, made some physical contact with him, and then leisurely left.

I knew he wouldn’t fall for such a flirtation.

‘How dare you, to my man.’

The problem was that he had touched John’s chest, where he was supposed to bury his face.

It’s not just Violet Latalen who approaches him and takes on the task.

‘Seriously, I’m getting pissed.’

The female officers of the 2nd Civil Service Office cling to me, secretly caressing my chest, putting a hand on my shoulder, and breathing close to me.

Some tried to seduce John with foxy smiles, while others tried to steal his gaze with clothes that revealed too much of their bodies.

John faced them with his eyes half-open from drunkenness, and because he was not of sound mind, he allowed contact without any attempts.

The female officers seemed pleased that he didn’t refuse their touch, and they started to touch John’s body, making silly glances as they worked.

A situation where you can’t help but get angry.

‘It won’t work.’

Just as she was about to get up from her seat to shake off the scent of other women that had come into her mind, John…

“There you are, Princess Perbache.”

Crown Prince Fedelian Rosino spoke to me. He had his blond hair swept back, which was unusually swaying, and he was holding a glass of wine in one hand.

“She is not Princess Perbache, but a Perbache Special Magician.”

“Haha, you don’t have to be so stiff at a party like this.”

Fedelian shrugged his shoulders and sat down naturally next to Francia.

“But who have you been looking at like that since a while ago?”

“This is not a problem that the captain should be concerned about.”

“Hmm.”

A prickly appearance, with a lot of vigilance.

Fedelian glanced away and looked at the table. Even though she had had quite a bit to drink, her attitude toward him had not changed from before.

“Well, if you follow the direction of your gaze, you can see who you saw.”

He turned his head in the direction of Francia’s gaze. A man with a dazzling appearance was surrounded by other female officers, chattering away.

“Huh?”

Fedelian opened his eyes shallowly. This time, the special wizard who was supposed to come in was Johan Harsen.

‘He has a perfect face, but he’s a lower noble. That’s for sure. He’s a new recruit that the female officers are paying a lot of attention to.’

It wouldn’t be strange for a writer’s third son to just play around with it and then throw it away.

Even if you have to spend a forbidden night, you can just make them write a memorandum of understanding to keep their mouths shut.

Of course, the first experience of a woman with visibility should be protected as much as possible.

However, most of the lower-ranking female officers who enter here are abandoned by their families.

Anyway, it didn’t matter since she was marrying a nobleman like the third son of a suitable count’s family.

Of course, even though he is only the third son of a writer, his job won’t be easy because he has the title of special magician.

Fedelian asked.

“Were you interested in that newbie too?”

“No work.”

“I don’t think I saw your face.”

The smile on his lips grew deeper.

“You’re rejecting me, that’s what I’m saying.”

“… … .”

Francia’s eyebrows twitched when she saw that.

‘Disgusting man.’

Does he think he’s handsome? Compared to Yohan, he’s just a pumpkin, but his self-consciousness is unusual.

“It’s a rare party, how about having a drink together?”

Fedelian smiled brightly and pushed the glass towards Francia.

“No work.”

“Haha, another rejection.”

Despite the stubborn rejection, Fedelian just smiled and let it go.

“What, you─”

“There you are, Francia.”

“… ?”

Fedelian turned his head in surprise to the man who was calmly calling Francia’s name. It was the new recruit, Johan Harsen.

“Ah, John!”

Francia’s face, which had been dark all along, suddenly brightened. She quickly got up from her seat and walked towards John.

“Are you done with the story?”

“Yes. They were all nice people.”

John smiled lightly and turned his head to look at Fedelian.

“Nice to meet you, Commander. I am Johan Harsen, who has decided to take the Special Wizard Exam.”

Fedelian looked a little embarrassed, but tried to control his expression and smiled kindly.

“You are the special wizard who has arrived this time, Johan Harsen. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Fedelian Rosino, the head of the Second Imperial Official Service.”

When Fedelian offered his hand, Johan took it with a silent smile.

Kwak.

A strangely strong handshake. The mouth is smiling, but the eyes are cold. Fedelian can sense Johan’s intentions.

‘Are you telling me not to touch it because it’s yours?’

Only then did he begin to understand why Francia had rejected him so much.

‘I didn’t know there was a man there.’

It’s an unexpected truth, but what if it’s something you can just take away?

If possible, it is possible to deal with this Johan Harsen in front of you without making a sound.

You have the title of Special Wizard, but what does that mean? Aren’t you still just an apprentice?

It might be difficult later, but at least not for now.

‘I don’t know how you can have the nerve to fight me.’

Fedelian chuckled.

“You two look close, so I’ll give you a seat. Let’s talk.”

“Thank you.”

Johan Harsen nodded and greeted me politely.

Fedelian smiled lightly, got up from his seat, and started walking.

‘I guess I’ll have to change my plans a bit.’

I was sure of it when I saw Princess Perbache’s honey-dripping eyes earlier.

If we don’t deal with that guy – Johan Harsen – we’re going to have a major problem getting her.

So, change the original plan and assassinate him during the next den reconnaissance mission.

‘There’s no problem. The magic practitioners have been recruited, and in a few days, they will have to go out on a mission to scout the den.’

Although he had never expected Francia to have a man, Fedelian’s face was filled with composure.

* * *

“What are you thinking?”

Francia asked with a worried face.

“You could have just let it go. Yohan might be in danger.”

“What could possibly be dangerous? You’ll become a top-class wizard sooner or later anyway.”

“That’s true, but that guy is willing to sell out his country─”

“Are you selling the country?”

“No, no.”

Francia cut him off abruptly.

“I guess I mistook the dream I had today for reality. Haha. It’s nothing.”

“… What a strange dream.”

John found her words somewhat puzzling, but since Francia was sometimes a talker, he paid her no great attention.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry about this. I have my own thoughts.”

The reason why John took such a great risk and provoked Crown Prince Fedelian.

‘You need to turn your gaze towards me.’

Once the reconnaissance mission begins, you will inevitably encounter Cassis. Then Francia will be caught in the middle and will be pushed around here and there.

In that case, it would be better for Johan to shoulder the burden. He would be able to handle it much better than Francia.

‘If only Cassis could turn his gaze towards me during the next reconnaissance mission, it would be perfect.’

It was a bit burdensome to deal with the struggle between the two alone, but Yohan wasn’t worried at all.

Because I was confident in my strength and worldly skills to overcome them no matter what tricks they played.

I won’t deny that I used somewhat extreme methods because I was drinking.

“The later will be fine. So don’t worry. Shall we have a drink together?”

John smiled faintly. Seeing that smile, Francia was able to let out a sigh.

“Okay. If John says so… … .”

She thought, clinking her glasses.

‘I must do everything in my power to help that damned crown prince get away with his tricks.’

That’s the natural thing for a woman to do as a wife, and it was something she was supposed to do.

Francia vowed to do everything she could to protect John and her life.

Even if it means touching the taboo that made you who you are today.

“For our future.”

Their glasses clinked.

“… How much alcohol did you drink today?”

“Two glasses? That’s about it.”

“Huh… ?”

Francia snickered as she looked at Johan, his eyes hazy from the alcohol.

‘I can do it today.’

Although she seemed like a bright woman, Francia couldn’t say it honestly, but she wanted to relive her first night with Johan.

‘When you become more conscious, we should take you to a hotel.’

Although the night I spent with John was the first time I accepted a man.

The love I shared with him that night was so special that it made me forget the pain of my first experience.

‘… But, am I the only one who wants to do this?’

It was like that the first night, and it is like that now.

It was a picture that seemed to be eating itself, but that didn’t matter.

Because Francia loved John that much.

She instinctively yearned for John, as if she were addicted to the feeling of her heart filling up because of her lover.