episode_0036

As time passed, John, who had recovered, went to work as a civil servant as usual.

When he showed up after a long time, the inside of the office brightened as if it was waiting for John’s return.

“Oh, you’re here!”

As soon as he opened the door and stepped in, many eyes turned to him. Even the lighting seemed to have become brighter.

Some female officers waved cautiously, and some male officers nodded slightly in greeting.

“Harsen Special Wizard. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Long time no see!”

“Are you taking care of yourself?”

The officers welcoming him included both men and women, but the proportion of women was much higher.

It’s not that he wasn’t close with the male officers. It’s just that the female officers were more interested in him.

“Nice to meet you all. It’s been a while since I’ve had my eye stamp done, but you still remembered me. It’s an honor.”

As John spoke with a sly smile, the female officers burst into laughter.

“What is it!”

“Did you sense a prank while I wasn’t looking?”

Their hands touched John’s body, creating a small physical contact.

John didn’t really mean to be playful when he greeted her like that. He just said it more gently because he knew it would be awkward if he did it stiffly.

“I’m glad everyone is healthy.”

“Oh my, now you’re worried about us too.”

“Hoohoo, you’re so healthy!”

Let’s laugh again, their reaction becomes more intense.

Is this what women mean when they say that a fun man (a handsome man) is like?

If it were the past, I would have been happy right away, but it was a familiar feeling since 21 years had passed since my reincarnation.

“Then that’s it… … .”

As Johan returned to his seat with an awkward smile, Francia was watching him closely.

“Francia… ?”

“John.”

Her voice was cold. She didn’t seem to like the fact that he was giggling with other women right in front of her.

“Why is Francia here?”

John, realizing that the atmosphere was not good, quickly changed the subject.

“The seats were rearranged when John wasn’t there. I manipulated them a little bit then, right?”

Francia winked one eye. Judging from the line drawn at the corner of her mouth, she didn’t notice that Johan had intentionally changed the subject.

“That’s great. I can be with Francia while I work.”

“Haha. I think Yohan is really good at sugarcoating words.”

She sat down and sorted out the various documents on the table. Then she secretly closed the distance between them and pressed her pelvis against John’s.

“We’re working together today.”

“Yes.”

Francia and Johan stared at each other for a few seconds before bursting into small laughter. It was a good time to just watch.

“Let me look over the documents for a moment.”

“Oh, yes. Don’t worry about me and focus on your work.”

Francia smiled bashfully and looked through the papers to catch up on the piling up work.

The Civil Service is an asymmetrical force knight unit of the Empire with many duties, but for now, this is all they have to do.

First, write a surveillance report.

The civil servant monitors the activities of each noble family, compiles them into documents, and reports them to the imperial family.

The aim is to analyze the political movements, secret alliances, and rivalries of the nobles in order to ensure stability in the empire.

Second, records of magic and weapon management.

As an organization comprised of wizards and knights, they need to manage and record the special weapons and magical artifacts they use.

Regular inspections and documentation for this purpose are part of the paperwork.

Third, document military strategy and defense plans.

Document your empire’s major defensive strategies or troop deployment plans for specific areas, so they can be quickly deployed when needed.

Record and edit important diplomatic matters or military responses.

It was the biggest task at the moment, as a strange atmosphere was being created with Sanburg.

Aside from that, there were also things like tax evasion by the nobles, but it wasn’t a problem that needed to be dealt with right away. It wasn’t even John’s responsibility.

‘Now… … is it a military document?’

Although the Emperor had personally declared that there would be no war, it was possible that the Sandburg side, which had been demanding territory, might strike first.

It would be impossible to do something like that without going crazy, but you never know what will happen in this world, so you have to prepare in advance.

“… … .”

While John was filling out the paperwork.

Sararak.

A warm hand caressed his thigh. Startled, Johan looked in Francia’s direction.

She turned the pages of the papers with an indifferent expression, while gently brushing John’s thigh with her soft fingertips.

He passed it by lightly scratching it with his fingernails. Slowly skimming over his skin, he secretly stimulated John’s nerves.

“… Francia?”

John whispered and looked at her cautiously. He felt his heart beating fast. His head stopped spinning for a moment, not knowing how to take this situation.

“John, was it nice to meet the female officers after such a long time?”

I guess the reason I passed over it so easily earlier was to talk about it later.

“… What good could there be? We just exchanged greetings.”

John’s dry voice emphasized that the greeting he had just given had no meaning.

“You seem pretty friendly for something like that? You even joke around lightly. It’s rare for the always serious Yohan to make such jokes. Oh, that’s not an insult.”

I like the fact that he added something while questioning her, just in case she was worried. Yohan burst into laughter without realizing it.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Francia asked curiously. There was a hint of wariness in her eyes.

“Because Francia is so cute.”

“What the… !”

As John’s usual polite tone changed to an informal tone, mixed with a low laugh, Francia’s eyes widened and then her face turned red.

“Ah… !”

Only then did she realize that she had made a strange noise and looked around in surprise. Fortunately, no one had heard the noise.

“If you suddenly come in like that, even I would be flustered.”

“Aren’t we in a position where we can’t say things like that?”

“Ugh… … .”

When John smiled slyly, the momentum changed in an instant. Francia was trembling as if she was angry, but her ears were red from joy at his words.

“I like that side of John.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you always tell me you like me.”

“… I feel like I lose every time.”

As he said that, John met Francia’s gaze and smiled brightly. Then she flinched and shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“… Don’t give that smile to just anyone.”

“Why?”

“It’s a smile that captivates women.”

“Then I have to remain expressionless.”

“You can laugh when you’re with me.”

“… … I see.”

“You understand what I mean, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh, really!”

“Okay.”

John, judging that there would be no end to the talk, smiled wryly.

Francia said it out of jealousy, so it’s okay to ignore it.

“Ah! You just listened to what I said with one ear and let it go out the other, right?”

“That’s never happened.”

“Your face was just like that… … .”

“Don’t worry, that’s never happened.”

Johan stroked Francia’s head, who was pouting. She closed her eyes slightly like a cat that had surrendered itself to his touch.

“I hate myself for always passing it off like this.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“… … Like.”

Francia whispered softly and turned her head away to hide her heated face.

But does she know that her ears are red and flushed with fever? Probably not.

* * *

Topaz Palace at night with soft moonlight rising.

Rudel, who always stays here, was carrying out official duties as usual today.

Even though she was the future crown princess, she had a lot of work to do, and it was so much work that if she didn’t set a strict time limit, she would have to work late into the night.

“Hoo.”

Rudel took a deep breath and clenched her hands on the desk. Her mind was in disarray.

It wasn’t a matter of work. She was captivated by the sight of Johan Harsen, his voice, his touch that engulfed her mind.

I tried to concentrate on my work, but his thoughts were lingering in my mind and I couldn’t go any further.

So she was handling official business late into the night.

A momentary impulse is on the verge of turning into an eternal longing.

I felt a sense of crisis and held on to my work, but I couldn’t concentrate.

Feeling thirsty, Rudella picked up her teacup. As the faint scent of the new tea tickled her nose, Rudella hesitated without realizing it.

I wondered how John would evaluate this fragrance when he smelled it, whether he would say it smelled like the lilies blooming near him.

‘… This is a disease.’

I put down my teacup and looked out the window. I could see the lily garden she had created herself, in full bloom.

Rudella paused again as she saw the lilies in the garden sparkling silver under the moonlight. His voice seemed to drift among the fluttering petals.

Her thoughts turned to him again.

Only then did Rudel realize the seriousness of the situation.

This was a very serious and vicious disease.

As the Bismarck family intended, she was destined to become the crown princess and eventually the empress who would look after the empire.

But after meeting that man, everything went wrong. To be exact, the problem was Rudela herself who fell for that man.

“Sigh.”

Rudel, who couldn’t concentrate on her daily life, put her finger between her eyebrows.

I keep thinking of him.

‘… If I’m going to just think like this, I might as well just call.’

I didn’t think it was a nuisance. Didn’t he say that? To use tricks to get some rest. To call him every time.

Rudel was only fulfilling him, so this was by no means a nuisance or a petty obsession.

Rudella pushed the papers to the corner of the desk and left the office to go to the bedroom.

Through the window in the hallway, I could see the deep night sky filled with stars. Looking at the vast and quiet appearance, I wondered what it would be like to look up at the night with John.

“Ugh… !”

At the thought that occurred to her, Rudella was startled once again. No matter what she did or what she saw, it was quite difficult for him to pop out.

‘… If we continue like this, my feelings will only deepen. We should meet again tomorrow.’

Rudella was more wary of the nature of love than anyone else, for she knew that the more she longed for it, the weaker it became.

But. Her longing for him did not stop. The longing to be held by John and stay by his side was squeezing her heart and breaking her down.

‘It’s a serious illness.’

As winter approached, the air grew colder, but the shiver that weighed on my chest grew hotter.

Under the moonlight streaming in through the window, Rudelah tried hard to suppress her longing for Johan as she walked to her bedroom.

I plan to meet him in person tomorrow.