Chapter 19
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Crown Prince's Visit
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Overall, Eloise had a cute, rounded impression, but her words and actions danced right on the boundary between courtesy and rudeness.
But it wasn't annoying at all.
‘Unlike her seemingly sloppy exterior, she apparently handles her work incredibly well.’
Noah recalled the reports on Eloise's attendance and performance evaluations he'd received before arriving.
“She's diligent. Handles tasks incredibly quickly too. She got passed over for promotion due to some initial complaint responses, but purely in terms of ability, she's the top.”
“She was the top scorer on the Magic Management Bureau entrance exam. Perfect scores across all training evaluations as well. That's why they assigned her to the toughest Support Team.”
“It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Miss Eloise Rubelia established the Support Team's entire workflow within just a year of joining. The healer reservation system too. She brawled with the mages to make it stick. Now the mages are up in arms about it. The Magic Tower even calls her their ‘dead end.’”
No stubbornness on her face, but she pushes hard when it comes to work?
Brawling with mages, no less.
A fragile thing that'd turn to ash under one spell from a mage, charging in without a shred of fear.
Of course, using offensive magic on civilians was strictly forbidden by law, but would those mages give a damn once they lost their tempers?
Eloise surviving in the Support Team had to be chalked up to sheer luck.
Or maybe that pretty face of hers softened the mages up.
“Interesting. Definitely interesting.”
He burst out laughing.
Eloise's long eyelashes fluttered rapidly up and down.
‘Why's he acting like that?’
She wasn't curious about the reason for his laughter, but it grated on her all the same.
She just wished he'd hurry up and give her an answer.
“You'll have some tea, right? What kind would you like?”
Noah's laughter grew even louder.
‘I was going to ask what her deal was with Gerard, but no need now.’
She was entertaining enough regardless of Gerard. He'd stick around and watch a bit longer.
And if she grew on him?
He could just take her. Simple as that.
“His Highness the Crown Prince went to the Forecast Team?”
Morgana Raven, who'd put the Blue Hole out of her mind upon arriving at work, heard the unpleasant news right away.
Her already sharp eyes narrowed even further.
Yesterday, she'd confirmed with her own eyes that Eloise's forecast hadn't been empty talk.
Just as the Rainbow Hole had appeared along with mages and healers, now a forecaster had emerged.
This was divine providence.
Before she could even rejoice in it, an intruder with clearly impure motives had barged into her front yard.
“Why would His Highness the Crown Prince come here? What's his purpose?”
“He's not the type to tell us outright.”
Morgana rubbed her forehead and let out a sigh.
She'd forgotten how Noah did whatever he pleased.
“To the Forecast Team. Now.”
“Yes, ma'am. I'll escort you.”
“And Gerard?”
“He's at the Magic Tower.”
To prepare for a sudden Rainbow Hole outbreak, the vice director's secretaries kept a close eye on the Tower Master's movements.
“Contact the Magic Tower. Tell him to come to my office.”
She planned to grill Gerard about yesterday.
About teleporting her right into the middle of the Magic Management Bureau grounds!
She'd been a total mess back then—frozen, thawed, repeat—her appearance wrecked and her condition poor.
Any decent human would've at least sent her to the infirmary, right?
Of course, Morgana, who'd known Gerard for years, was well aware.
Expecting basic humanity from him was absurd.
But he'd taken Eloise home and nursed her with utmost care?
The whole Bureau had been abuzz about it all night.
‘No way—is Gerard trying to poach Rubelia to the Magic Tower?’
Morgana gritted her teeth.
Not wanting to lose a talent was secondary; the Forecast Team rightfully belonged under the Bureau.
‘That's just how they operate!’
She didn't like the Crown Prince or the Tower Master one bit.
‘This is exactly why you can't entrust big responsibilities to men. They can't see the bigger picture!’
Vowing not to let Eloise Rubelia slip away no matter what, she picked up the communicator.
“Reinforce the Forecast Team. At least two people. Who? Ask Miss Eloise Rubelia. Issue transfers for whoever she wants as fast as possible. No exceptions—do exactly as she says.”
Eloise Rubelia was a prize catch they couldn't afford to lose.
‘I'll give her something better than whatever the Crown Prince is dangling.’
Regardless of Noah's intentions, his visit had just turned into a boon for Eloise.
Eloise heard about the team reinforcements around 10 a.m.
She accepted gladly, without a hint of refusal.
And her first pick was her friend, Merlin Pardel.
On top of that, she requested a promotion for Merlin, a salary increase, and a single-occupancy dorm room.
Requests she'd braced for rejection on, yet the vice director's direct subordinate approved them all.
Then asked,
“If there's anything else you need, by all means, let us know.”
“I'll think it over a bit more. The Forecast Team still needs sorting out.”
Eloise bought herself some time with a perfectly reasonable excuse.
In truth, the Forecast Team didn't have much work yet.
Nor would it have much forecast-related work going forward.
In their free office with like-minded company, Eloise had other plans entirely.
‘Time to go find her.’
Sara, the healer who'd become Eloise's lingering regret from her past life.
Eloise's gaze deepened as she thought of her.
This time, no regrets. Eloise resolved to handle what Sara had so desperately wanted.
Improving healers' working conditions.
First, she had to make the world aware of how abysmal those conditions were and build public sympathy for change.
To pull that off properly, she absolutely needed Merlin.
Merlin was on good terms with people all across the Bureau and commanded deep respect.
Eloise had managed to stick around the Support Team despite constant clashes with mages thanks to her.
Merlin had packaged Eloise perfectly for the mages.
‘I nearly got booted to the even worse Field Recovery Team, but she saved me from the worst of it.’
Eloise had always been grateful for that.
She'd been waiting for a chance to repay the favor, and now she'd settled it all at once.
Promotion, raise.
And a sunny office to boot.
“I pulled this off already?”
Eloise stood in the middle of the office and spread her arms wide to the sides.
Then she hugged herself tight and spun round and round.
“Amazing.”
“Cool.”
“Perfect.”
After lavishing praise on herself, she pushed down the overwhelming emotions and gazed out the window.
“Haven't even been back long, and I've already come this far. A little more effort and……”
She might reach the future she desired in no time.
Eloise brimmed with hope.
“Back already? From where?”
Eloise flinched, her shoulders jumping.
The voice came from her left, not behind her.
She whipped around to find Gerard standing there.
Eloise's eyes went wide.
“There's a door there too?”
A door partially obscured by the bookshelf.
It connected to Gerard's adjacent office.
“You didn't know? I thought you did. More importantly, may I come in?”
“You're asking awful early. Knock first from now on. What's that door even for?”
“Let's clear up the misunderstanding first. I did knock. No answer, and after yesterday, I got worried you might've collapsed, so I came in.”
“……How long were you watching?”
“What answer would make you happiest?”
“That you saw nothing.”
“We'll go with that. I'll erase the part where you hugged yourself and shouted how cool you are.”
“Gerard!”
Eloise yelled, her face flushing red.
In her excitement, she'd slipped and called him by name like in the old days.
For a moment, the corners of Gerard's mouth curved softly. Then he smoothed his expression and added seriously.
“Praising yourself is a good habit.”
“……You said you'd forget.”
“Right. Forgotten. I heard the Crown Prince dropped by. What did he want?”
Eloise blinked in surprise.
“How'd you know?”
“Our offices are next door.”
In truth, he'd rushed back from handling urgent business at the Magic Tower after Morgana's call.
Apparently, she'd dragged the Crown Prince off in the meantime.
But he skipped the details, eager for Eloise's answer.
“His Highness asked a few questions about yesterday's Blue Hole, said I'd done good work, and left.”
Gerard's brow furrowed faintly, and the air around them grew chill.
Eloise missed it entirely as she prepared the tea.
“He could've gotten that from a report.”
“Yeah.”
“No reason for His Highness to check on Eloise personally, right?”
“Exactly. Probably just curious about the forecasting ability?”
“Sounds like there's no reason for you two to meet again.”
Eloise sensed the conversation taking a strange turn as she turned back with two cups of tea.
It almost sounded like Gerard found her meeting with the Crown Prince deeply uncomfortable.
But why on earth would he?