MCPTD 12

Chapter – 12

The morning after meeting Aldehyde, I received a message to report to the palace.

It was earlier than I had expected, but that was still within the bounds of what I anticipated.

However, on the day I reported as a Stability Mage, I encountered a rather peculiar scene.

“Whoa, whoa-oh!”

“……?”

“Your name is the great Ririe Simon, isn’t it?”

A man with bizarre ornaments and flowers covering his head stood before me.

He had blue hair and blue eyes, like someone who had been shaped from water itself.

He was reasonably handsome, but the way his mouth stretched into a wide grin ruined the effect.

I gave him a suspicious look.

“……Who are you?”

“Oh, I’m Paul, aide and deputy commander serving under Aldehyde. Thank you, thank you so much for saving my knight, Lord Rend!”

Deputy commander, really? This clumsy-looking man?

But judging by the insignias covering his uniform shoulders, he clearly was.

Since I somewhat expected the gratitude, I cautiously replied,

“Yes… well… I just did my best.”

“Great! Welcome! You’re now assigned to our Knight Corps’ Special Stability Office!”

Paul grinned ear to ear and gestured like he was escorting me.

Then he showed me around the Knight Corps’ building.

The training hall included a practice arena, an armory, and a small infirmary, along with the knights’ dormitories and the administrative offices for the staff.

The place I would be working in was the command hall, where the Knight Commander and Deputy Commander resided. More specifically…

“This is your workplace: the Special Stability Office. You’ll help maintain the stability of all knights, so give it your all!”

Currently, there were only two personnel permanently assigned to the Special Stability Office, including me.

Most knights previously assigned had gone to the battlefield, and others took leave to treat external traumas.

Since Aldehyde had only recently returned, most positions were filled by external personnel recruited from the palace.

‘I thought everyone would be proud to serve the world’s strongest, but…’

“Hello.”

“Oh, a newbie?”

Who is this panda-eyed person with those deep dark circles?

“Nice to meet you. My name is Pendida.”

“Fitting name.”

“I hear that a lot.”

“I’m Ririe, a mid-level mage assigned to help stabilize the knights.”

Pendida gave a sinister chuckle.

“Looking forward to working with you. Though, you’ll probably leave soon anyway…”

He pointed to a massive trolley by the filing cabinet. On it was a stack of papers as tall as a ten-year-old child.

“Is one person responsible for all these documents? And also taking care of the knights’ stability?”

“Exactly why we urgently needed someone.”

Ugh… I was beginning to regret joining… but well, it was too late.

Once the introductions were over, Deputy Commander Paul immediately handed me a sword.

I glanced at it reluctantly—its scabbard studded with sparkling gems—and muttered,

“Um, what is this?”

“Oh, don’t worry too much. It’s a family heirloom, intended as a gift for the savior who rescued Lord Rend.”

A family heirloom… How could I not pay attention?

“The Corps has high expectations for you. But don’t feel too pressured.”

How could I not feel pressured when everyone was counting on me?

“Uh, I’ll… just take it easy, I guess.”

It had only been a day since I entered the Special Stability Office, and I was already facing things that didn’t make sense—but I had to accept them.

At that moment, Paul clapped his hands to lighten the mood.

“Alright, let’s get started. Aldehyde has already sealed more than ten small rifts today alone.”

Aldehyde was overworking himself… suspicious.

‘Why go this far?’

What was his goal in obsessing over closing rifts?

On my first day at the palace, I had already noticed something strange about Aldehyde.

Seeing my bewildered expression, Paul whispered ominously,

“You can say Aldehyde is obsessed with rifts. He hates all the rifts in the world.”

Ah, that makes sense.

‘I should probably investigate the reason first.’

My eyes sparkled.

Perhaps I could understand Aldehyde’s psyche sooner than expected.

Meanwhile, inside the palace Knight Commander’s office.

A decadent-looking handsome man was gnawing on a quill, which seemed extremely dangerous.

Summarizing Aldehyde’s state of mind with keywords:

Melancholy, worry, extreme anxiety.

His first worry was how to observe “Ririe Simon,” which he solved simply by placing her near him.

But the second worry was harder to resolve.

Because…

“What should I write for the next sentence?”

The agony of creation struck him.

With a dark under-eye shadow giving him an oddly ascetic air, he muttered,

“How can I make it cute? I have no idea.”

『I really really want to see my sister』

“No, this won’t do. Not cute at all.”

He couldn’t risk missing this precious opportunity.

He only had one chance to send the “heartbeat letter” to his sister at the start of each season when birds flew.

So Aldehyde was being extremely careful with every word he wrote.

『I went to the sea and met a cute squid!』

Then, at that moment, a dangerous intrusion appeared, disturbing his precious letter-writing time.

“Aldehyde!”

It was Paul, the aide. Clueless but bold, he ran to him in a single step.

“What is it? Go away.”

Peeking over his shoulder, Paul muttered ominously,

“You’re writing a diary? But why lie…? You didn’t just meet a squid; you instantly incinerated a kraken with your power.”

“What?”

“Yes, a hundred of them.”

“I have to manage my image. A man who kills krakens… disgusting.”

Quickly chastising himself, Aldehyde added briefly,

“Not charming.”

“Writing a diary like that seems less charming, too…”

The version of Aldehyde adorably scolding over his sister suddenly froze.

‘No. I won’t let anyone know about my sister.’

If he fell for her even slightly…

‘Absolutely not.’

He endured the agony of creation and checked the D-day button on the table.

[D-10]

Only ten days left until the day he could send the “heartbeat letter” to his beloved sister.

With his heart fluttering, he put the letter into the drawer and asked,

“You said you had a report? What is it?”

The moment of affection toward “my beloved Nyunya♥” vanished, replaced by his indifferent, cold gaze directed at Paul.

Paul trembled as he responded.

“Ah! As you instructed, Ririe has been assigned to the Knight Corps’ Special Stability Office.”

Normally, Stability Mages, after being recruited, would scatter throughout the palace. Some would be assigned directly to assist royal powers, others to the infirmary.

But Aldehyde had literally “planted” Ririe inside the Special Stability Office—his direct subordinate unit.

This meant he could observe her properly.

Hiding his intimate intention, Aldehyde smiled faintly and said,

“I’ll be keeping her with me all the time.”

“Excuse me, do you mean… harm her?”

Aldehyde smiled.

“Of course not. I’ll treat her well.”

He meant it sincerely.

If there was even the slightest chance that she was my sister, he would do his utmost.

But Paul went pale at his words.

“W-what exactly do you mean by… treat her well?”