The Beaming Fair - 3
Karl had told me to treat his subordinate casually, but how could I possibly do that with someone I'd only just met? Unlike the foreigners who'd come at Karl's request to help out, this one seemed to have been grabbed while simply passing by, which made the whole thing even more awkward.
So I leaned in and whispered to the unnie—his subordinate—that she should just relax and take it easy. She nodded vigorously as if deeply moved, then pulled a single skewer from the bag she was clutching tight so Karl couldn't snatch it. Those sparkling, starry eyes of hers were a little overwhelming.
"Want some?"
"I'm fine. I've been snacking a bit while making all sorts of things."
"Really? It's good, though."
"Then I'll eat it."
Before I knew it, Karl had slipped up behind her and taken the entire bag instead of the skewer she was holding. Watching her stare forlornly as it left her arms was honestly a little pitiful.
"I brought you here to work, so what do you think you're doing?"
"Chief. Giving orders outside of work is a really bad thing, you know."
"If you're bitter about it, you should've gotten promoted before me."
"Hiiing..."
Unfazed by her dejected look, Karl simply grabbed her head with one hand and pressed down hard. The more he did, the more her expression melted and her body trembled.
"Ow, oww, it huuurts..."
"Luise. Don't hold back—just put her to work without hesitation. If you leave her alone, she'll go poking around everywhere."
"Got it, Brother."
I answered with an awkward smile. Seeing the pitiful way she looked at me, as if betrayed by someone she'd trusted, made my heart ache a little.
We only just met today...
How she'd formed that kind of trust with me, a complete stranger, was a mystery.
"If you find it hard to boss her around, I'll use her myself. That okay?"
"Yes, of course. She's the one you brought, Brother."
I watched Karl's back as he hauled her off toward a corner—him scolding without pause, her shoulders slumped.
They look close.
At the same time, a deep intimacy was visible between them. Karl scowled and scolded on the surface, but underneath it there was ease. A buddy-like side I'd never seen at the club. And she, beyond that teary face, showed playfulness and familiarity.
I'd never seen this side of Brother Karl. At the club he was kind and caring, but there was still a bit of restraint, a line he kept. Now he'd dropped the restraint and the lines, showing himself as he truly was.
This was the real Karl. The side he never showed me.
First time seeing it.
I bit my lip lightly. The thought that I didn't really know this person I was so grateful to—this person I owed so much—made a corner of my heart feel tight and stuffy.
It had been the same when I met the princess the other day. Karl seemed to draw a bit of a line with her, but at least she really seemed to like him. Before coming to the Academy, Karl had been someone high-ranking, unlike me, so of course he'd gotten close with the princess.
Thinking there were more sides of Karl I didn't know made that stuffiness grow bit by bit. Karl was such a kind person, the club's precious advisor, my own...
"Ah."
I shook my head hard to shake off the thoughts drifting in a weird direction. What on earth am I thinking right now? Of course he has people he's close to. He has no obligation to tell me everything.
I must have had those strange thoughts for a moment because I wanted him to rely on me—to repay the kindness he'd shown me.
Really... weird.
Why was that? The stuffiness seemed to turn into a throb. I forced myself to look away from him.
Even I thought I was grilling the 1st Division Chief harder than usual, but establishing discipline between superior and subordinate is a department chief's duty. Considering how the division chiefs might have gotten slack while I was away from the Audit Department, this much was necessary.
Besides, no matter what I say, this one only half-listens and lets the rest go in one ear and out the other. So to inject 100, I've got to pound in 200 just to break even.
"Hey, Chief."
"What now."
I frowned as I answered Eri's words. Just her calling my name makes me anxious these days. Earlier it was about the Third Prince—what's it this time?
"Who's that kid? Don't remember her."
Following her gaze, I turned to see Luise cutting bread and handing it to Villar.
"The club president here."
"I know that. But compared to the members, she's way too ordinary."
Eri's constant head-tilting was understandable in a way. Even the weakest member, Erich, was the second son of an Imperial Count family. As Audit Department executives, we at least grasp basic personal details.
Whereas the president Luise was actually the daughter of a run-of-the-mill minor Baron family. Even the Audit Department has trouble tracking Baron daughters. I wouldn't have known the Naiard Baron family even existed if not for the original story.
"She is ordinary. Nothing to dig up, so drop it."
"I'm not the 2nd Division Chief—why would I do that?"
As far as I can see, that guy and you are birds of a feather.
But despite my piercing stare, Eri kept glancing at Luise and letting out soft gasps of admiration.
"Wow, but she's really pretty. First time seeing pink hair like that."
"Not a common color."
"Still, it wouldn't go well with red."
"……."
At that, I quietly closed my eyes. This bastard sees someone's hair color and thinks of that? Overcoming my complicated feelings, I opened my eyes again to see Eri still staring at Luise.
"Come closer."
"Yes?"
I poured out not 200 but 400 worth of nagging.
While I was re-educating Eri, the second rush began. Nothing much different about the second rush—just customers swarming in like before.
The only thing that had changed was that Eri was planted next to me like a totem.
"It's rare to see such distinguished people here."
"Haha, I didn't expect to meet you again at the Academy either."
The noble shaking my hand glanced at Eri beside me. She was smiling brightly but not opening her mouth. I'd strictly ordered her not to say a single word and stay still, and at least she was following that.
Stationing Eri next to me was a kind of advance notice. The Audit Department Chief being at the Academy had already spread enough that it wasn't strange, but on the day the Academy is open, the 1st Division Chief is standing with the Audit Chief? Clearly something's up.
Anyone who thinks the Audit Chief and 1st Division Chief standing side by side is pure coincidence can't survive in high society. Just standing next to each other is enough of a notice and warning to nobles that something will happen.
They'll be careful on their own.
If—just if—we fail to intercept the Third Glory and they succeed in entering the Academy, the nobles who already guessed something would happen would have strengthened their escorts. Then we can significantly reduce the attention turned on the nobles.
For now, the fact that the Third Glory is approaching the Academy is something hard to announce officially. If information leaks, the Third Glory might go underground, the Academy would fall into chaos, and as a bonus the Three Kingdoms side would likely raise a fuss. So we have to do this cumbersome roundabout notice.
Fortunately Eri is actually an Academy graduate, so there's the pretext that she came to enjoy the fair, not for official work. Anyway the external pretext is simple festival participation, so no need to fear.
And this pretext actually worked on Villar and the Three Kingdoms side. I didn't particularly aim for it, but Eri walking over carelessly loaded with food was decisive. It strongly planted the image that she really came to play.
Thanks, Villar.
I'm really glad you're a straightforward knight who doesn't overthink things in twisted ways. I feel a bit sorry for deceiving you, but it can't be helped. Civil servants prioritize national interest over loyalty, right?
While thinking that, the person in front changed. The noble who just left will tell other nobles that the 1st Division Chief came, and the news will spread quickly among them. A noble's mouth is the heaviest, and at the same time the lightest. In times like this it's usually the latter.
"Ah, long time no see. First time since we met at the Assembly."
This gentleman will also spread it well when he leaves.
Smiling face, one handshake with me, one meaningful glance at the 1st Division Chief. After sending off all the nobles who showed the same reaction, one last person remained.
Who's this?
But it was someone I'd truly never seen before. Face, name—nothing in my memory. If it was a first meeting it was fine, but if we'd exchanged greetings while passing it would be really awkward.
Whether he knew my feelings or not, the other party greeted me first with a smiling face.
"Chief, how have you been? I don't know how long it's been since I saw you at the cafe last time."
Ah, it's you.
At the word "cafe," something clicked and I felt relieved.
"Indeed. The cafe in the southern Imperial Capital, right? It was really nice."
"Haha. The cake there was quite good."
"If I get the chance I'd like to stop by again. Well, time is short."
"I should match my schedule to when you have time, Chief. Just let me know when it's convenient."
Then naturally a handshake and farewell. Watching the young man's back as he left, I looked down at the hand I'd shaken with. A small scrap of paper had settled in my palm. Small writing on it.
1 hour later, Main Building 2nd floor.
Cafe, southern Imperial Capital, cake, no time, match the time. A kind of periodically changing cipher. The code the Intelligence Department exchanges when making contact with someone.
How long are these guys going to keep doing this?
Even though times have changed, clinging to tradition is sometimes pitiful. It must be bothersome for them too to go around like this; the Intelligence Department has to be quite the conservative group.
Moreover the Intelligence Department still has many living elder officials with their eyes open, so even the Intelligence Department Chief can't casually abolish traditions. No matter how bothersome the tradition.
Poor guy.
Anyway the one who dies is always the Intelligence Department Chief. With condolences for the Intelligence Chief, I naturally put the paper scrap in my mouth and swallowed it.
Of course the contact counterpart also suffers from Intelligence Department traditions. If the Intelligence Chief succeeds in breaking bad customs, I can stop this nonsense too.
The texture is nasty.
At least use better paper, please.