Chapter: 13
Did I see that wrong?
But there was no way she could mistake that dazzling appearance.
Edwin stood there, shining clearly under the spring sunlight.
“Sunbae.”
Edwin, who had been standing in front of the mansion, strode toward her.
Then, as if it were only natural, he took Dana’s luggage.
“…Did you come to pick me up?”
Because my bag might be heavy?
Before Dana could even finish speaking, Edwin replied,
“I wanted to go to work with you, Sunbae.”
“……”
“Sorry for showing up so suddenly.”
He smiled softly as he said it.
He had come all this way purely of his own will—
He said it first in case Dana might feel sorry.
Realizing his intention, Dana smiled gently.
“Thanks for coming.”
“……”
At Dana’s smile, Edwin’s eyes wavered.
He turned his head, avoiding her gaze.
The tips of his ears seemed slightly red.
Edwin had never felt embarrassment in his life.
But whenever he was with Dana, unfamiliar emotions kept surfacing.
While Edwin was collecting himself, Dana began explaining the business trip.
“The good thing is, the Imperial Palace will open a gate for us. We won’t have to ride a train for days.”
“…I see.”
“And we’re not dealing with monsters, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Edwin looked down at her with an unreadable expression.
“You said you’ve been to the North before, right, Sunbae?”
“Yeah, I worked there for a year.”
“What did you think of the Rune Knights you saw there?”
Suddenly, Edwin became curious.
What did Dana think of the knights he used to lead?
She might call them crazy like Tony did.
Or maybe she’d brush it off casually, as usual.
Edwin waited for her small lips to part.
Soon, her clear voice answered:
“I don’t know.”
Caught off guard, Edwin fell silent.
Dana continued,
“I never really saw the Rune Knights directly. I mostly wrapped bandages or disinfected critically injured patients.”
“So you only get to see them if they’re badly hurt.”
“Basically, yes.”
Dana’s answers always defied expectations.
Edwin’s eyes sparkled with interest.
By then, they had arrived at the Magic Department.
They were given uniforms for external duties—
The kind worn during volunteer work or events.
Looking oddly pleased, Edwin asked,
“Are we the only ones wearing these clothes?”
“That’s right.”
Why is he smiling? Dana wondered, tilting her head.
Every department of the Empire had a gate installed underground.
The Magic Department was no exception.
When they went down, the Minister of Magic, Derek, greeted them.
Aside from the imperial family, only the minister could open the gate.
“You’re from the Potion Management Division. I wish you a safe trip.”
He said the imperial physicians had already gone ahead to the North, then reopened the gate.
Dana politely greeted Derek and walked toward it.
At that moment, Derek stopped Edwin.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? New recruit of the Potion Management Division.”
What is this?
Edwin looked at Derek with a mask-like smile.
Seeing how oddly familiar they seemed, Dana tilted her head in confusion.
Derek immediately read Edwin’s feelings—
Behind that smile was clear annoyance.
Derek smiled back, unfazed.
“How’s work these days? I was curious if you’ve been doing well.”
Then he gestured subtly toward Dana.
He seemed very interested in his friend’s romantic situation.
Edwin replied with the same fixed smile,
“It was quite dark downstairs on the way here. I could brighten it up.”
It meant: Stop prying before I blow it up with fire.
So you’re telling me to get lost.
Derek nodded and quickly disappeared.
Edwin was more than capable of actually doing it.
Watching the strange exchange and Derek’s abrupt exit, Dana looked puzzled.
“Are you close with the minister?”
“Of course not.”
Edwin answered with an innocent expression.
“He’s quite a strange person.”
“True.”
“We’ve delayed long enough. Shall we go?”
Edwin wrapped an arm around Dana’s shoulders and stepped into the gate.
* * *
They soon arrived at the northern gate.
As expected, the air was colder than in the capital.
“Are you cold?” Edwin asked, concerned.
“I’m fine. The uniform is thick.”
“But tell me if you feel cold.”
“What, will you start a fire for me?”
At her joke, Edwin simply smiled.
Then he scanned the surroundings.
Several cabins that looked like lodgings came into view.
After confirming they were all made of wood, Edwin nodded.
Plenty of firewood.
Unaware of his ominous thought, the imperial physicians began coming out of the cabins one by one.
Some of the faces were familiar to Dana from regular volunteer work.
They carefully walked through the snow and approached the two.
“You’re here—you’re from the Potion Management Division, right?”
“Yes, we look forward to working with you.”
“We arrived early and have been resting. The Rune Knights are having breakfast right now.”
“Then when should we come out?”
“In about two hours. Let’s meet at the training ground over there.”
The building they pointed to looked fairly large.
Dana gave a professional smile and headed toward the lodging.
Edwin followed beside her, carrying the luggage.
“Edwin, did you eat breakfast?”
“No. What about you, Sunbae?”
“I don’t usually eat breakfast.”
“No appetite?”
“No, just busy.”
Edwin stopped walking.
With a suspicious look, he asked,
“What about dinner?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Dana gave an awkward smile.
Only one meal a day?
Before he came, she had been surviving on cheap sandwiches for lunch.
Overwork and malnutrition…
She looked like she could collapse at any moment.
This won’t do.
He decided that taking care of her meals had to be his top priority.
Their lodging was on the top floor.
Since it was a remodeled attic, the space was small—there were only two rooms.
“Looks like it’s just the two of us on this floor.”
“Seems like it. Come visit if you get bored.”
Edwin smiled playfully.
Dana chuckled lightly.
After placing her luggage in the middle of her room, Edwin stepped out.
“See you in two hours.”
“Alright. You should rest too.”
Edwin smiled and closed her door.
Then he immediately entered his own room and tossed his bag aside.
Right after that, he headed downstairs.
Without hesitation, he strode forward.
This base was far too familiar to him.
Even the snow piled up to his ankles posed no obstacle.
Soon, Edwin encountered the guards at the perimeter.
The knights’ eyes widened in shock.
“Commander?”
“Open the gate. And follow me.”
Something about their commander felt off.
Half delighted, half afraid, the knights followed him.
The place Edwin headed to was unexpected.
BANG!!
He flung open the dining hall door.
Knights who had been stacking bread into a tower turned toward the noise.
“Commander!”
“Long time—”
Before they could finish, Edwin smiled brightly.
“Shall we play a game?”
At the word game, the knights’ faces turned pale.
Within the Rune Knights, “game” was not a word to be used lightly.
Edwin—the commander and third prince—had never once scolded his subordinates.
Even when others tried to intimidate new recruits with harsh initiation rituals, he abolished such useless traditions.
Instead, he occasionally suggested “games.”
Everyone would be given a fair chance—
And the loser would be punished.
At first, the Rune Knights welcomed it.
They were a group driven by excitement.
But after several rounds…
They began to learn what fear truly meant.
