TPHT 08

Chapter 08

Are you Deputy Director Tessa Harrington?”

It was common for local lords to requisition imperial officials who had come on holiday.

Of course, now that I was a deputy director rather than a low-level bureaucrat, they couldn’t exactly force me—but I still hated getting dragged into troublesome affairs.

‘I’ll play dumb as much as possible.’

Without even looking up, I answered dryly.

“You’ve got the wrong person.”

“I know you’re the Deputy Director.”

What?

Was there something that required calling the Deputy Director of the Child Protection Bureau…?

Reluctantly, I raised my head. A soldier in a sharply tailored uniform stared down at me with a blank expression.

‘I didn’t expect this.’

Not a minor noble, but a soldier?

That changed things a bit.

‘He can’t be a grand duke.’

Imperial law strictly prohibited private armies. Of course, grand duchies were autonomous and maintained their own military, but those soldiers were never allowed to leave the northern territories.

So he definitely wasn’t a local lord either.

Whoever had summoned me was clearly a high-ranking officer of the Imperial Army.

“Follow me. The Commander is waiting.”

I didn’t stand up.

“First, tell me which unit you belong to.”

“I cannot disclose that.”

“Then I’m not going.”

“If you persist, I will have no choice but to detain you.”

I scoffed.

This man’s “Commander” was at most the same rank as me, or possibly even lower.

“By what authority?”

“……”

Instead of answering, the soldier pulled a document from his breast pocket and showed it to me.

‘Insane.’

My body instinctively stiffened. I recognized that handwriting.

A bizarre, intricate script that no one dared to forge because the price was death itself.

It was an unlimited arrest warrant, stamped with the Emperor’s own handwriting.

In theory, it granted the power to arrest even high-ranking nobles.

And a commoner would stand no chance.

I stood up.

Taking another look at the soldier, I saw he wore no rank insignia on his shoulders, but it was clear he held a considerable position.

And the “Commander” he spoke of…

I bit my lip.

‘…The Army Commander.’

Only someone of that caliber would be granted unlimited arrest power.

‘What the hell could this be about… Wait.’

A sudden thought chilled my blood.

Had the Grand Duke of Karditsa’s plan been exposed? Was I being framed for treason simply because I’d recently developed a connection with him?

My head began to spin, but the soldier gave me no more time to think.

“I have orders to escort you respectfully, Deputy Director.”

“……“

Having received what was essentially a veiled threat, I silently followed him.

The soldier put me into a carriage that had been waiting, and after dozens of minutes, we stopped in front of an inn with an unremarkable exterior.

Inside the empty inn, someone greeted me.

“Long time no see, Tessa.”

So this was what it felt like for one’s eyes to bulge out.

Completely lost for words, I could only stare at the man before me.

Short-cropped black hair, military style. Beneath it, amber-colored eyes. A strongly defined nose and a sharp jawline. He gave an intense impression yet exuded a languid air—like a captivating black panther with sleek, glossy fur.

This man’s identity was…

Kain Incaris, the Imperial Commander-in-Chief.

Why would someone like him be acting familiar with me?

Well, that’s because Kain and I were classmates at the academy.

Not that we’d exchanged a single word since I graduated first!

“Sorry for calling you out like this. I can’t have it known that I’m here.”

“……Have you lost your mind, Kain?”

I finally regained my composure and spoke.

“Blackmailing someone to drag them here? Just because you’ve sat in the Commander-in-Chief’s chair for a while, you’ve become the kind of snob you used to hate, haven’t you?”

Kain didn’t even blink.

“Your personality hasn’t changed at all. Still, it seems you’re doing better than I thought? Deputy Director, huh. You’ve really risen in the world.”

“……“

I didn’t bother telling him that it was effectively a demotion.

Kain Incaris was like a great white shark.

If I showed him any weakness, he’d tear into it.

“As you can see, I’m doing quite well.”

“I’m glad.”

Kain tilted his head slightly.

“I was really worried about you. After we… parted ways.”

To be clear, Kain was never my ex-boyfriend or anything like that.

We were just a little close for a while, and then naturally drifted apart.

Still, to an outsider, that line would be more than enough to cause misunderstandings.

‘At least there’s no one here who knows me.’

…His subordinates’ eyes did go wide, but the military and imperial bureaucrats rarely mingled, so it should be fine.

“I’m busy, so just tell me what you want.”

“You don’t look busy at all.”

“Compared to you, is anything ever not busy?”

And nothing is ever as urgent as when you’re reading a good mystery novel.

Especially when the culprit is about to be revealed.

Fortunately, Kain got straight to the point.

“I need an heir, Tessa. Can you recommend me a suitable child?”

……Is this bastard out of his mind?

And why is he asking me?

If he were any other noble, I would have thought twice—or three times—before speaking.

But this was Kain Incaris.

There was no need to watch my tongue.

I twisted my lips and shot back immediately.

“Why are you asking me that?”

If he wants to adopt, the proper place to go is an orphanage.

If he wants a talented person as his heir, he can go to the academy and pick one.

As if reading my mind, Kain rejected both options.

“I can’t go around to every orphanage in the capital, can I? And if I showed up at the academy, it would cause a huge stir. So I thought asking you for help would be best.”

Then he added,

“You’re the Deputy Director of the Child Protection Bureau, aren’t you?”

What does that have to do with recommending an heir?

And this bastard clearly knows I was demoted!

I flatly refused.

“No. I don’t have anyone to recommend.”

“Please, Tessa…”

Look at him drawing out his words like that.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Why the sudden need for an heir? You’re young enough. Even if you had a child and raised them from now, you’d still have a perfectly good heir.”

Surprisingly, the position of Imperial Commander-in-Chief was hereditary.

Otherwise, there’s no way Kain could have become Commander-in-Chief at such a young age.

It was possible because the Army Commander and Navy Commander handled the actual work, while the Commander-in-Chief served as a kind of totem—a role that simply required showing off that handsome face.

Of course, being completely incompetent would still be a problem.

And regardless of my personal feelings toward Kain, his talent was remarkable enough that rumors of him as a Commander-in-Chief who held real power had reached even the distant Ministry of Finance.

“……That’s exactly the problem.”

Kain sighed.

“Both my father and mother are pressuring me to get married.”

Oh.

Frown lines naturally formed on my brow.

Kain’s parents…

They were certainly capable people, but they would never make good in-laws.

“It’s not that I don’t have any prospects, but they say I need to marry for the sake of the succession… If I bring in an heir, then the marriage talk will die down, and the problem will be solved.”

So, because he doesn’t want to get married, he’s going to raise a child?

That’s completely insane.

“You want to raise a child for a reason like that?”

“Yeah.”

Kain nodded.

“Is that not okay? Or how about you marry me, Tessa? I wouldn’t mind you.”

Hey, I would mind?