Chapter: 05
For the potion management department staff, lunchtime without Leyton was the true freedom they enjoyed.
Most of the employees either napped at their desks or took a break, but Tony spent the entire time gossiping loudly.
Today, somehow he had gathered more rumors and was eagerly babbling about the Third Prince.
“Calling him crazy is harsh,” Kira said, frowning, always careful to use proper words.
Tony ignored her and continued talking.
“Everyone calls him crazy, not just me!”
When no one seemed interested, Tony pouted. He was always thirsty for others’ attention.
“What’s so unusual about him?”
Finally, someone asked a question. Tony, thrilled, dragged a chair to the center of the office and sat down.
“Well, you know the royal family has dragon blood, right? So they’re born with unique abilities.”
“……”
“The Third Prince has fire magic. When he was six, the playroom wouldn’t open, so he exploded the door.”
Quite a handful as a baby.
Dana, half-listening, idly twirled her pen.
Tony kept going.
“When he was ten, a minister’s sermon went on too long, so he set fire to the minister’s beard!”
Edwin sat quietly, listening to the nonsense being said about him.
In reality, the door he destroyed wasn’t the playroom—it was the emperor’s audience chamber.
One bribed official was crying for three days, begging for forgiveness, and it annoyed him. His father, the emperor, was too weak to chase him out, so he, the dutiful son, lit the fire.
As for the minister’s sermon… six hours of preaching seems extreme. He only acted on behalf of the bored attendees.
‘Even as a child, I was clever.’
Looking back, he had no regrets.
Tony lamented the shortening lunch break but continued talking about the Third Prince.
“And the Rune Knights—only the craziest people in the empire gather there! And the leader is the Third Prince!”
“The Rune Knights…? The ones responsible for guarding the northern monsters?”
Tony, pleased with Kira’s interest, nodded vigorously.
“Yes! The ones the kingdom can’t handle, they send there!”
Is that so? Edwin thought of his subordinates.
‘They weren’t too bad, I guess.’
They were foolish and aggressive, but obedient.
“Anyway, he’s super scary and cruel, so everyone should be careful!”
With that, Tony returned to his seat.
Dana couldn’t understand it.
‘We won’t even meet him, so why make such a fuss?’
At that moment, Edwin asked her:
“Senpai, what do you think? About the Third Prince?”
“Well…”
Edwin’s face looked unusually serious as he asked. Watching his serious expression, Dana couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
“……”
Dana misjudged him, thinking that despite his large frame, he was timid. She smiled and teased him.
“Don’t worry. If you meet him, hide behind me.”
“……So you’ll stay with me?”
“Of course. Why not?”
The closer atmosphere made Edwin’s eyes sparkle. He wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip.
“I’m really scared, Senpai.”
“You look like it.”
Dana smiled and patted his back. Edwin happily accepted her gesture and realized something.
Dana had a weakness for the vulnerability of others.
…
“Dana, working late again today?”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”
After saying goodbye to Kira, Dana started her overtime work.
Once again, in the dimly lit office relying on the faint glow of magical lamps, she worked alone…
“Senpai.”
She had expected to be alone—so whose voice was that?!
Startled, Dana turned to the sound.
Edwin had entered, carrying a picnic basket.
Caught off guard, Dana opened her mouth in surprise.
“I’m working late too.”
Edwin looked around and smiled.
“It’s just the two of us here, right?”
He emphasized “us” in a way that felt deliberate…
Dana nodded, and he sat beside her. Soon after, he placed several cookies and apple juice on her desk.
“What’s this?”
“Your mouth gets bored when you work, doesn’t it?”
“You’re working late too?”
“Yes, and I also want to learn from you, Senpai.”
He broke a cookie into pieces and offered it toward her mouth.
Dana, taken aback, accepted a piece and her eyes widened.
Delicious…!
Had it been so long since she last had one?
No, even considering that, it was far superior to the cookies she had eaten as a child.
The crispy yet chewy texture and rich flavor made her eyes sparkle.
Before she realized it, Dana had eaten three cookies, and Edwin offered the juice bottle to her.
“Take it slow. Drink some juice too.”
Dana nodded to his gentle gesture.
‘This… feels like being pampered.’
Still, she couldn’t refuse his kindness. The sweetness she hadn’t had in a long time brought her life back.
“Thank you, Edwin. Really delicious. Where did you get these?”
“I brought them from home.”
Seeing her cheeks move while chewing, Edwin smiled in satisfaction.
Once she had eaten enough, Dana opened the documents and asked:
“Isn’t it hard working overtime from your first day?”
“…I get overtime pay.”
Hearing that, Dana’s expression turned serious.
‘Could his family situation be difficult like mine…?’
It would be rude to ask directly.
Dana smiled and changed the topic.
“Still, your family must be waiting for you.”
“Well… they don’t really welcome me.”
“……”
Perhaps Edwin was in a similar situation as her. Dana’s expression grew more serious.
‘No, it’s rude to even think that.’
She tried to shake off the thought, but it lingered. If he was in the same situation… she wanted to comfort him warmly.
Instead of showing her concern, Dana decided to treat him more kindly.
“Then today, while working late, I’ll teach you. See these potion reports from various knight orders?”
“Yes, Senpai.”
“Sort them by category. If there are side effects or unusual points, put them in the center here.”
“Understood.”
Edwin was intelligent. He categorized everything correctly without needing to ask his senior about the unclear parts.
Having a competent newcomer made Dana’s work much easier.
Hours passed as they sorted the reports. Feeling full, Dana began to feel drowsy.
“……”
Her eyes kept closing. Her head kept dropping.
No, this can’t happen! Dana shook her head vigorously.
Edwin, observing, fetched a blanket from somewhere.
“How about resting for ten minutes? I’ll wake you up.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Hearing this, Dana gratefully laid her head on the desk.
Edwin gently covered her with the blanket. Soon, even breaths became steady.
“You must be very tired.”
He brushed her hair behind her ear.
After parting from Dana on the battlefield, Edwin had imagined her countless times, never able to fully picture her.
What color were her eyes? How was her hair?
On the day of her magic department interview, seeing her finally behind the curtain, Edwin would never forget it.
Dana was more beautiful than any image he had drawn in his mind.
Her jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes were etched into Edwin’s heart. Even her unforgettable voice.
‘If I had known, I would have thought of you every time I looked at the night sky.’
Edwin smiled silently.
Meanwhile…
‘Dana, working late again today?’
From what the employee Kira said, Dana seemed to always work late.
‘This can’t be good for her health.’
Why was she so devoted to overtime? Did she have reasons he didn’t know about?
He had thought she was safe while he fought monsters.
‘I need to find out for sure.’
With that thought, Edwin pulled the blanket higher over Dana. She drifted into a sweet, deep sleep.
At the same time, in the imperial palace…
“Where did my cookies go? I always eat orange jam cookies when I handle state affairs!”
The emperor looked upset.
The flustered servant bowed.
“Uh, that… the Third Prince took them.”
“Edwin?”
“Yes…”
“Ugh.”
Other snacks were offered to the gloomy emperor, but his mood did not improve.
Unable to bear it, a servant suggested:
“Shall we tell the Third Prince, Your Highness?”
“To my youngest? No, no!”
He’s too scary, the emperor shook his head.
“Ugh.”
