Chapter 46: Making the First Move
Ascal was experiencing an unprecedented level of pain.
Lia placed a stack of documents on the desk with a thud.
These documents contained the inauguration speech that Ascal must memorize, the laws of the empire, and other critical matters he must adhere to.
"Memorize all of it."
Ascal calmly picked up the documents.
The densely packed text was so small, it was nearly impossible to tell if they were letters or ants.
"Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Lia's expression subtly shifted. She untied her always neatly tied hair and spoke firmly.
"Can't you memorize it right now?"
It was a command from the princess.
Ascal began memorizing the documents, crying inwardly.
'Where do I report workplace harassment? Oh right, I'm the minister.'
"Director-nim, no, now you are the Minister! Everything is ready for the team dinner! Let's go to The Whale's Breath!"
Sushia entered the office with a beaming smile.
Lia, who had retied her hair, looked at Ascal as if asking, "Are we really doing this?"
Ascal spoke with solemn authority, befitting a minister.
"A team dinner is also part of our duties."
Ascal had successfully escaped the emergency situation.
****
The Whale's Breath.
Ascal was filled with new emotions. When he first came here, he was just a low-level official, but now he was visiting again as a minister.
<Welcome, Minister Ascal Debrue!>
Still, this seemed a bit much.
Ascal was speechless at the huge banner hanging prominently.
"It's an honor to meet you, Minister. Please, this way."
"Very well."
Ascal followed the staff member's lead and ascended to the second floor.
Due to the place being rented out for the entire day, it was empty.
As expected, the sight of officials dressed in formal attire crowding together brought to mind an organized gang, a thought he couldn't shake off.
And there he was, sitting at the head table, seemingly the boss of this gang.
"Please, have a drink."
Kane, the head of department 1, poured the drink. Ever since Ascal became a minister, Kane seemed to think he could no longer speak informally to him, always using honorifics.
Ascal felt a tinge of sadness at the growing distance between them.
"Thank you."
After taking a sip of the expensive liquor, Ascal looked up. Numerous employees from the evaluation department were looking at him.
When he thought about it, it had been a year full of work and troubles.
'So much has happened.'
A con artist who actually improved magic stones, a hot spring erupting in the wasteland, the third princess Yulia becoming his secretary, a restaurant on the brink of closure hitting it big, almost getting kidnapped by natives...
'Really tough.'
How did he even become a minister?
"Minister-nim, you should give a toast. A toast."
Sushia, slightly tipsy, whined.
All the evaluation department officials were waiting for Ascal's toast.
"I hope everyone here can retire safely."
"Ahahaha. What are you saying, Minister-nim?"
"Seriously."
It wasn't a joke.
"For retirement! For the Minister-nim! For the Empire!"
The atmosphere of the team dinner warmed up.
Seeing everyone laughing and enjoying themselves, Ascal thought it was about time to leave. It was the duty of a superior to mingle just enough, then quietly slip away after settling the bill.
As Ascal was about to get up,
A commotion arose near the stairs.
"Please, you shouldn't come up here. Today this place is..."
"How dare you not recognize who this person is!"
"…?"
A young man, clearly of noble descent from his attire, forcefully made his way up the stairs with his entourage.
Everyone's attention turned to the nobleman.
"Such a noisy place. Everyone, be quiet!"
The man had a knack for capturing people's attention. His commanding presence quickly silenced the crowd.
"Show me to a seat."
"Uh..."
"Hmm. That side looks good."
The man brusquely sat down, directly across from Ascal, the most prestigious seat.
"…!"
"What's good here?"
"Lamb is quite delicious here."
"Then bring that."
Ascal, intrigued, ordered the lamb. Nobody dared to confront the man, his confidence suggesting he might be foreign royalty.
"Hmm. Quite edible. The food in the capital isn't as bad as I thought."
"Is this your first time in the capital?"
"Yes, it is."
Could this man be a high-ranking noble or royalty from abroad?
"Hey, girl, bring me some water."
"Gasp... Yes!"
The Lady of the Senestia dukedom obediently brought water.
'What is she up to now?'
"May I ask where you are from?"
"Hmm. So curious about who I am?"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the man as he spoke.
"I am Shures Nelron, the heir to the Nelron family, recently bestowed with the viscount title by His Majesty the Emperor."
"A Viscount...?"
"Yes. That's right. No need for formalities on such a pleasant day. No bowing needed."
Whoosh.
The aristocratic-born employees of the evaluation department began to rise. Their backgrounds were illustrious: from baronial, count, and duke families...
Finally, the Lady Senestia lifted a kettle.
'What is she planning?'
"Let's wish for good luck."
"...?"
Shures looked up, puzzled.
"Ever thought about joining the evaluation department?"
"Yes, it would be an honor."
Shortly thereafter, Shures Nelron joined the evaluation department. Ascal had secured another talented individual.
****
Serena was in high spirits.
She had finally found a way to locate the Prince of the Night.
It was a tracking doll, purchased from a swamp witch.
It was a considerable expense even for Princess Serena, but she was willing to pay for his sake.
'Place a part of the person you wish to locate inside this doll... and then infuse it with magic.'
The Prince of the Night left hardly any traces, but Serena was skilled in magic. Anticipating such a need, she had scoured the stage floor and managed to find one of his hairs in advance.
This wasn't creepy or unclean. It was simply a magician's foresight and preparedness.
As she infused the doll with magic, its eyes began to glow.
A sign that it was functioning correctly.
<Your destiny is near.>
"…!"
Serena stood frozen, shocked.
The Prince of the Night was still within the empire?
It felt like a blow to the head.
No wonder she hadn't found him until now.
Following the direction the doll was moving, Serena set out, her wig firmly in place.
.
.
.
"Hey, beautiful lady. You look lonely. Don’t you want to play with us?"
Walking alone on the night streets wasn't safe for a woman.
Serena easily fended off the thugs who bumped into her, following the doll's guidance.
Her feet were swollen.
The wind was cold, and her feet ached in her shoes.
Yet, she couldn't give up, seeing the doll's eyes glow even brighter.
"It's cold."
Perhaps she should have taken a carriage.
But the thought of a princess wandering the streets at night, searching for a man? If rumors started, she'd be unable to show her face.
<Your destiny is right here.>
Serena stopped in front of an upscale tavern.
The doll's eyes turned red.
"I've found him."
He was inside.
****
Ascal had lost his chance to leave because of Shures' unexpected arrival.
Consequently, he found himself stuck in the middle of the drinking party.
"Fondly~ crossing the hill~"
This was the kind of regrettable scene one stumbled upon.
Sushia, drunk, was singing enthusiastically. The equally spirited officials clapped and kept rhythm.
"Minister-nim, don't you have any special talent to show us?"
"Traditionally, superiors are supposed to observe, not perform."
"Oh, come on. Just once, to celebrate your inauguration."
Everyone looked at Ascal with anticipation. The atmosphere was such that he couldn't easily decline.
Ascal, perhaps due to the mood or the alcohol in his system, felt a rare surge of enthusiasm.
"Actually, I can recite some lines from a play."
"Please, show us!"
Ahem.
Ascal cleared his throat.
The lines he remembered were from a play frequently heard, featuring the characters Isolde and Jerron.
Lowering his voice, Ascal began to mimic Jerron's lines.
"Do you understand the meaning of a diamond?"
"Oh, that's quite good!"
This was something he wouldn't dare do in daylight, but late at night, when people's sensitivities were heightened, it seemed more acceptable.
Ascal's performance surprisingly resonated well with the audience.
Next was the highlight scene.
Ascal modulated his voice again.
"Run away with me, Isolde."
"I would love to. I've been waiting for those words."
“?”
The unexpected reply came from a woman who suddenly appeared. And her voice sounded familiar. Ascal felt his eyes starting to close.
But he couldn't succumb to sleep this time.
Because Seri, that was, Serena, had kissed him as soon as she finished her line.
Silence fell.
.....
.....
.....
"Kyaa! The Minister-nim has a lover!"
