Chapter 11
"Mulia?"
Flora stared at her with wide, round eyes full of surprise.
She seemed quite startled by Mulia suddenly speaking up at such an unexpected moment.
And it wasn't just me who felt that way.
"Hmm?"
Only then did Cecilia, who had been walking ahead, stop in her tracks and turn around.
"Is there a problem?"
Her crimson eyes shifted between me, Mulia, and Flora. The one who cleared up the empress's confusion was none other than Flora.
"It seems Mulia has something she wants to say to Luke."
"Oh? That's unexpected."
Cecilia showed the same reaction as Flora.
Maybe it was because all three of us had turned our attention to her at once, but a faint blush rose to Mulia's cheeks.
After watching her for nearly a month, I could tell her personality matched the original story almost perfectly. She was extremely businesslike and rigid with anyone she didn't consider truly close.
And behind that blunt exterior hid a timid personality.
Thanks to that, I felt it all over again.
It's exactly like she was in the original novel.
Well, the same went for Flora and Cecilia.
"What did you want to talk about?"
A hint of curiosity subtly showed on Cecilia's face as she asked so directly.
"It's merely something I wish to discuss in private."
"Hmm. It would look strange if I interfered too much. Your break lasts until two o'clock, so don't be late."
Mulia and I bowed to Cecilia at the same time.
Once Cecilia and Flora had left the dining hall together, Mulia immediately whipped her head toward me.
"Follow me."
Her voice carried a strangely sharp edge.
Had I done something to earn her hostility?
I tilted my head in confusion and followed after her. Mulia strode forward without uttering a single word.
Before long we had stepped outside the imperial palace.
Mulia stopped near a quiet flower bed where few people passed by. Then she spun around to face me.
"Um, what exactly did you want to say that you brought me all the way out here?"
I asked out of genuine curiosity, but Mulia slightly furrowed her brow.
"Chief Personal Secretary. Don't get cocky just because you've earned a little favor from Her Majesty."
What?
I hadn't done anything like that.
As I blinked in bewilderment, Mulia let out a quiet sigh. Her amethyst eyes, fixed on my face, held a subtle trace of displeasure.
"...Well? Your answer?"
"I honestly don't understand why you're suddenly saying this to me."
I answered with complete sincerity.
I wasn't spineless enough to just agree without knowing the reason.
Mulia wore an expression of pure disbelief.
"You're slower to catch on than I expected."
"You already know this. I've only been in the palace for a single month as a complete newcomer."
"......"
When I shrugged, Mulia shot me a piercing glare.
Would it kill her to just explain at this point?
I wanted to say it, but she was the eldest daughter of Count Fordward.
Someone like me—the second son of a mere baron's family—couldn't speak carelessly to her.
It felt unfair, but considering the potential consequences later, holding my tongue was the smart move.
"I don't trust you. No, I cannot trust you."
Hmm. How was I supposed to take that?
To be honest, it was rather shocking. For someone who rarely showed her emotions to openly express disapproval toward me.
"What's the reason?"
"I have no desire to tell you."
Mulia cut me off firmly.
Had I made some mistake with her without realizing it?
While I frantically searched my memory, Mulia spoke again.
"In any case, do not try to get close to Her Majesty Cecilia or Flora. I will be watching you."
She glared at me for several seconds, then turned on her heel and headed back toward the palace.
Only then did I begin to understand why Mulia had issued that warning.
Cecilia, Flora, and Mulia had been childhood friends who grew up together from a very young age. But suddenly a man their own age had been appointed as chief personal secretary and now shared the same office with them. It was only natural for her to feel wary.
"Okay. Situation understood."
So what was I going to do about it?
Nothing. I'd simply ignore it.
I'd focus on my own duties and make proper preparations to leave the Eckhart Empire.
There was still over an hour before afternoon duties began.
I had lost about twenty minutes on that pointless conversation with Mulia, but I had already decided not to care.
There was no reason to try to impress someone who had bluntly declared that I displeased her.
Cecilia had personally chosen me as her chief personal secretary and now held a favorable impression of me after the previous incident.
Flora had taken a liking to me from the very first moment we met.
Among the three, Mulia was the only one who didn't like me.
Besides, there was that saying.
In this world, there will always be people who dislike you for no reason at all.
There was no point wasting my energy trying to change the mind of someone like that.
Of course it would be ideal to get along well with everyone in the office. But how likely was such a perfect scenario?
Above all, I had less than zero intention of working here for more than a year.
The moment I left this place, I would never see Mulia again.
The same went for Cecilia and Flora.
I rolled around on the bed in my room for a while before suddenly sitting upright.
"That's right. I meant to write a letter to Emma last time."
Muttering to myself, I climbed off the bed. Better to do it the moment I remembered, or I'd forget and keep putting it off. I could already see it happening.
I sat down at the desk and took out paper and a pen.
What should I write about?
Should I describe the recent events?
No. There was no need to deliberately bring up gloomy topics.
"Hmm..."
No matter how hard I thought, only things that had happened inside the palace came to mind.
Well, that was inevitable.
Since entering the imperial palace, I hadn't stepped outside even once.
Unlike regular staff, the chief personal secretary needed to submit a separate request for any weekend outings. The one who reviewed and approved those requests was, naturally, the most exalted Empress Cecilia.
I should go out soon.
Not because I wanted to enjoy the capital of Deleson. Since my salary would arrive before long, I planned to open an account at the secret bank so I could divert the funds.
That could wait until next week.
For now, the priority was deciding what to fill this blank sheet of paper with.
I sat with my arms crossed, pondering, but it didn't take long. I was certain that Emma would be happy simply hearing about my daily life in the imperial palace.
I dipped the quill into the black ink and quickly wrote the letter. Thanks to a month's worth of paperwork, my writing speed had improved enough that I filled the entire page in no time.
When I checked it over, though, more than eighty percent was about work.
Would this even be interesting to her?
Still, I didn't feel like going through the hassle of rewriting it.
My dilemma didn't last long.
"Let's send it. It might be interesting to Emma."
Muttering to myself, I folded the letter, slipped it into an envelope, and handed it to one of the imperial postmen.
After warning Luke, Mulia headed straight for Flora's room. Flora greeted her with a bright, sunny smile.
"That was quick."
"Yes."
Mulia naturally took a seat at the round tea table.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please."
Flora immediately tugged the bell cord to summon a maid and requested two cups of black tea along with some simple finger foods.
Before long, the tea table was set with black tea and biscuits.
"What did you talk about with Luke?"
Mulia, who had been about to take a sip, flinched. She carefully set her cup down.
"You're asking very directly."
"Well, I'm curious. And it bothers me a little."
A sly smile spread across Flora's face.
"......"
Mulia only moved her lips without producing any sound. Seeing this, Flora decided to tease her a bit more.
"Did you ask him to go out with you?"
"O-of course not!"
Mulia normally spoke in a calm tone, but not this time. And that was exactly what Flora had been aiming for.
"Oh my! Your cheeks are turning pink."
"N-no, they're not..."
Seeing Mulia fumble for words, Flora burst into laughter.
"Do you live just to tease me, Flora?"
Mulia puffed out her cheeks in protest, but Flora only laughed harder, saying how adorable she looked.
"Stop laughing already."
"But your reactions are just too funny. What can I do?"
Only then did Flora stop laughing. She stared straight at Mulia's face and spoke.
"So what did you talk about with Luke?"
"We're right back where we started."
"Tell me. I'll keep it a secret from Her Majesty."
Flora winked.
Flora really is quite adorable herself.
Mulia thought so inwardly but didn't say it aloud. Unlike Flora, saying such things felt awkward to her, as if her tongue had gotten stuck.
She let out a short sigh.
"It wasn't a pleasant conversation."
"Oh, really?"
Flora looked surprised. Mulia nodded once and recounted the exchange she'd had with Luke.
Even if she tried to keep it secret, the friend sitting in front of her would find a way to pry her mouth open somehow—by tickling her side, for instance.
"The truth is..."
Flora listened with a serious expression.
"Huh? Why would you say something like that?"
The moment the story ended, Flora fired back. Telling a colleague you'd be working with for a long time that you couldn't trust him and that he shouldn't try to get close... wasn't that too harsh?
"Count Millord was fine. He was older than us and had served as chief personal secretary for a long time, so he was someone we could trust."
"Hmmm..."
"But that man is different. He's barely been here any time at all, yet he's already interfered with the palace's traditions."
"But it's true that there were people committing embezzlement, isn't it?"
"That is... well..."
Since she couldn't deny the facts, Mulia trailed off.
Why is she so wary of him?
Flora stared at Mulia for a moment before realizing something.
Mulia had always been extremely cautious by nature and rarely trusted others. The only people she trusted were herself, Cecilia, and a handful of others within the palace.
Yet suddenly a complete stranger—a man their own age—had been appointed chief personal secretary. Since it had been Cecilia's decision, she couldn't openly complain.
But anxiety must have taken root in a corner of Mulia's heart.
The fear that the moment this man stepped into their flower garden, the whole place would become tainted.
That anxiety had finally burst out today after being held back for so long.
In short, Mulia had judged Luke to be a threat.
She's so stubborn about the strangest things.
Flora rose from her chair and moved to Mulia's side. Then she lightly ruffled her friend's deep navy hair.
"W-what are you doing all of a sudden?"
Flora smiled at the flustered Mulia.
"My cute friend just seems to be raising her thorns too high."
"Th-thorns? I only said what needed to be—eep!"
Flora suddenly tickled Mulia's side. Mulia toppled backward, and the two of them ended up tangled together, giggling.
"It'll be all right, Mulia."
"That's not something we can know for sure."
She's so much like Cecilia.
Flora gave a faint smile as she looked at Mulia's pouty face.