Ch.180Episode 10 – Turn Your Course to the North-Northwest

“So, what you’re saying is…”

I fumbled through a summary of the situation while sitting across from my sister Adela.

“That there are rumors going around about me having… that kind of relationship with Camil—no, the Hero, the Saint, and the Administrator?”

“That’s right.”

Sister Adela nodded and began to explain.

“It’s been mentioned a few times among international journalists and diplomats. Just gossip level, of course.”

“What exactly are they saying?”

Episode 10 – Change Course to North-Northwest

It all started at the Abas Embassy of the Episcopal Order.

At the request of the Order’s State Council, which was busy dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attack, Camilla’s safety was being protected by the Abas government, and the Order’s Abas Embassy was the location.

At that time, I was in charge of her protocol.

On the surface, it seemed like a parachute assignment without much to do, and the other embassy staff were too busy. Since I already knew her and had the justification of being a colleague, they dumped everything on me.

Perhaps because of the aftermath of that incident, even as time passed, Camilla’s security management remained my responsibility. And that wasn’t all. I ended up managing not just Camilla but Lucia as well.

I don’t know how things got to this point. I can only explain that it just happened somehow.

Of course, it wasn’t particularly difficult or challenging work, and both of them were good at handling themselves, so there weren’t any inconveniences.

Above all, compared to the busy days of the past, I enjoyed having more time to spend with Camilla and Lucia.

But it seems I’ve been too friendly.

“Ah.”

“You idiot. The rumors about you going in and out of the Hero’s room at all hours of the night have spread everywhere.”

Apparently, there’s gossip circulating among diplomats.

My sister Adela, a career diplomat, smirked as her lips twitched.

“Let’s put that aside for now. What’s this about the Saint?”

“You went with the Saint to the Magic Tower slums for relief work several times until a few months ago, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“The day before, the Magic Tower leaked to the foreign press club that you and the Saint would be working together in the slums. They even said you were making time in your busy schedule to accompany the Saint.”

Foreign Press Club.

It seems the Magic Tower’s Foreign Ministry had spilled the beans to the community of foreign press correspondents. And they did it before Lucia and I even went out for relief activities.

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Shit…”

I’m not usually one to curse like this. A scandal involving Camilla, Lucia, and me?

Honestly, this feels wrong.

It’s true that I made time in my busy schedule, but I never neglected my military duties. And what? That I voluntarily followed Lucia? Complete nonsense.

“I didn’t volunteer for it. The Order proposed it first.”

To be precise, Lucia proposed it and the Military Intelligence Agency approved it, but that’s basically the same thing.

The professional diplomat added to my half-baked explanation:

“No one’s going to believe that. Even Academy kids know how prideful the clergy are. It’s more credible that you tagged along for volunteer work.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Appearances are important in diplomacy. You should understand that. By the way, you need to practice diplomatic rhetoric. The diplomats say you speak well but lack subtlety in being vague. Maybe it’s because you’re a soldier.”

Sister Adela tilted her head.

“Didn’t you get training from the intelligence department? I asked before, and they said they do that before deployment.”

“Where would they find time for training when I had to pack and leave right away?”

“Anyway.”

Sister Adela leaned back on the sofa and continued.

“Don’t take it too seriously. It’s not so much a scandal or rumor, but more like talk that you’re closer than people thought.”

“I don’t think people will see it that way.”

“Well, that depends on how the articles are written.”

It all depends on how those vultures wield their pens.

If they publish a scene of me smiling face-to-face with Camilla or Lucia while performing official duties, it might be dismissed as just friendship.

But if a photo of us embracing tightly at a landmark far from the hotel on a Sunday morning were to be published, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson would lose handfuls of hair daily. I might even end up swimming in a drum barrel 150 meters underwater.

While I sat on the sofa with a frown, my sister Adela, half-lying beside me, asked:

“Why so serious? Relax your face, kid. Getting all worked up over a little joke…”

“……”

My gloomy face wrinkled. The playful expression on Adela’s face clouded over.

“Hey, don’t tell me it’s true?”

“……”

“Oh my goodness… Well, at least you’re not married yet. Affairs while single aren’t a big deal, but be careful not to commit bigamy.”

She’s been saying irritating things since earlier.

I glared at my sister, who was muttering to herself.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Stop mumbling to yourself, it’s annoying.”

“Well, why are you so seriously contemplating without saying anything?”

I have many concerns.

Embassy staff leaking to journalists about my visits to Camilla’s room, a foreign government official disclosing event information in a public community without consultation.

Of course, such information can’t be called classified, but since it involved Camilla and Lucia’s safety, it wasn’t something to gloss over.

But if I caution them, there might be gossip; if I protest, I lack grounds; and I worry that my sister Adela, who just relayed the information to me, might suffer for it.

Above all, the Military Intelligence Agency must already know about the rumors circulating among diplomats.

When I shared these concerns, Sister Adela said to me:

“Wow, is that really what you’re worried about?”

“Well, we’re not actually dating anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Why would I date those people?”

Me dating Camilla or Lucia? That would be the end of my career. Intelligence agencies prohibit dating foreigners.

Of course, dating a foreigner doesn’t result in such severe punishment that you can’t hold your head up for the rest of your life. The Military Intelligence Agency can’t do anything beyond firing me.

But leaving a stable job isn’t easy.

“If I break the internal rules, I’d have to resign. How could I date? This is all about making a living.”

I meant it quite seriously.

But Sister Adela dug her pinky into her ear, then grinned and tactlessly spouted nonsense:

“Just in case, make sure to use protection.”

“Please shut up, sis.”

*

After having a private (embarrassingly themed) conversation with Sister Adela, I returned to my room.

And I enjoyed a comfortable vacation for the first time in a long while.

I had dinner with family members I hadn’t seen in three years,

Gave a gift to the chef who had been responsible for our meals since my Academy days,

Paid respects to the head maid who had managed the mansion since my father’s childhood,

Met the new servants under their guidance,

Snuck into my brother and sister’s rooms to drink their hidden whiskey,

Nagged my lounging younger sister to repay me monthly,

Just in case, informed the company of my safe arrival through a secure line, and as the day was winding down.

The head of the Nostrum family arrived at the main house.

Sensing the bustling atmosphere in the mansion, I roughly assessed the situation and then grabbed a passing servant to confirm:

“Who’s arrived?”

“Oh, young master. We just got word from the train station. The head of the family has arrived.”

“I see.”

While the Nostrum family has produced civil servants for generations, we’re still nobility.

Like other families, we have a crest, and our accounts are flush with money from real estate built on western land granted by the royal family. Not to mention centuries of accumulated culture, achievements, honor, and prestige.

It’s not unusual for a high-ranking Treasury official who has frequented the palace since youth to act like a king at home, but the Nostrum family isn’t so rigid that all relatives and servants go out to greet the head of the family in such a spectacle.

But today was a meaningful occasion with all family members gathering for the first time in years, so the butler and head maid had put in some effort.

I put on the suit Francesca had given me. And hurried my steps while fastening the watch Veronica had given me on my left wrist.

“Welcome, young master.”

“It’s been a while, Butler.”

The elderly gentleman with neatly combed white hair gave me a genuine smile.

“I’ve watched you since you were taking your first steps, and today you look the most handsome.”

“Thank you. You still look like a gentleman yourself, Butler.”

“An old man like me can’t compare to you. Haha.”

While exchanging greetings with the butler, I turned my eyes toward the main gate. In the distance, the family carriage was arriving.

The carriage bearing the family crest passed through the tree-lined path and arrived in front of the mansion. As the door opened, a middle-aged man in a coat stepped out.

A middle-aged woman approached the man under the guidance of the head maid, carefully suppressing the corners of her mouth that threatened to rise high.

“Charles.”

“Grace.”

“Aren’t you too late?”

“I’m sorry. But I came as quickly as I could.”

That was the end of their conversation.

The moment they met, they embraced and kissed. Even after seeing it for 28 years, I still couldn’t get used to such passionate kissing.

While Jerry, my older brother, smiled awkwardly, and the butler and head maid smiled as if they couldn’t stop them, I nudged my sister who was staring blankly at the couple.

“Think they’ll have a fifth child at this rate?”

“No way.”

We looked at each other and chuckled.

After finishing their private greeting, the middle-aged man approached with his arm linked with his wife’s.

And slightly lifting his hat, he cheerfully called out:

“It’s been a while, children!”

The head of the Nostrum family, Baron Charles Nostrum.

The reunion with my father was quite dynamic.

The peaceful day was coming to an end like that.