“No, there were no problems.”

“That’s good. You looked gloomy. I’ve arranged a week’s vacation for you next week, so check it.”

“Thank you.”

Then Padrid quickly left.

Jin looks gloomy?

Rodi tilted her head and looked at Jin.

“Jin, this one! The biggest one.”

Having finally opened the snack box, Rodi first offered a snack to Jin.

She also boasted that it was a gift she earned by getting a perfect score.

Now Rodi no longer indulged her appetite unless she was really hungry.

She could eat whenever she wanted anyway, and these days she was full much more often.

And when she was with the boss and the senior staff, snacks constantly entered her mouth, so there was no time to be hungry.

“I’m honored. Rodi should eat too.”

“Jin, are you going on vacation next week?”

“It’s the anniversary of my mother’s death. I only need one day, but they seem to have been considerate.”

“I see.”

The two amicably shared the snack container placed between them.

Without any conversation, only the crunching sound of snacks breaking could be heard.

Glance.

Even Rodi, who didn’t usually worry about Eclise’s reactions, somehow felt conscious of Jin.

Jin always looked spaced out, but his good mood was usually apparent; now he seemed so unhappy that his eyes looked dark.

“I’m sorry, Rodi.”

Jin, who had been quietly accepting snacks, spoke.

“Why?”

Jin reached out and carefully brushed away the many crumbs stuck to the side of Rodi’s cheek.

“About saying I’m not siblings with the imperial princess. Actually, we are siblings.”

“Ah.”

“The imperial princess and I share the same father.”

The imperial princess’s father and Jin’s father are the same.

The imperial princess’s father is the Emperor…

Rodi’s eyes widened.

“His Imperial Majesty?”

Though her voice wasn’t loud, it squeaked with surprise.

Jin nodded with a slight smile.

“Then were you also in the imperial palace?”

“Until I was ten years old.”

“You ignorant thing, you look just like your mother. Let me show you what happens if you catch my eye again.”

“More, more! More!! Try harder. You need to do well for His Imperial Majesty to notice you. For your mother’s sake.”

“Why not now?”

The hand-feeding Rodi snacks paused.

“There were many people there who were uncomfortable with me.”

“Now, watch carefully. See how your mother ends up. Don’t you dare close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“I seem to have made some mistake.”

“…I see.”

“After my mother passed away, I left that place, so today is the first time I’ve seen the imperial princess again. I said that because we’ve had no contact at all.”

Jin neatly cleaned up the crumbs that had fallen on Rodi’s clothes.

Jin had heard that Lili had come to make requests here several times.

He had always checked the visitor list and avoided her, but today he had been outside since early morning and hadn’t been able to check.

Even after facing her, he thought she wouldn’t acknowledge him since they were living completely different lives, but Lili greeted him first.

“Is Jin older? Or younger?”

Rodi whispered softly, even though the door was closed.

“The imperial princess is two years younger.”

“Oh, the boss is also two years older than the imperial princess.”

Rodi showed two fingers in a V shape.

“Yes, I know.”

Rodi stared intensely at Jin with a serious face.

“Rodi, why are you looking at me like that?”

“I think the boss is lying to us about his age. He seems older…”

When she said this seriously, Jin’s expression suddenly relaxed, and he bit his lip slightly.

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Still, I’m glad the imperial palace people were uncomfortable with Jin.”

Rodi mumbled with her cheeks full of snacks.

“Why do you think so?”

Rodi offered Jin a snack.

Watching Jin accept it readily, Rodi smiled brightly.

“Because Jin is a warm adult!”

“Pardon?”

Jin’s pupils wavered briefly.

“The imperial palace people didn’t know at all how warm Jin is. If they had known, they wouldn’t have let you go, and you wouldn’t be in Cheiles. Padrid said so too. He said it’s fortunate that you’re here. I think so too.”

Rodi smiled, showing her teeth with a “hee.”

Jin remained still for a moment before smiling slightly.

“You’re all too kind to me. Rodi, is there anything you want to learn today?”

“Something I want to learn?”

“Yes, since you already did dictation today.”

“Hmmmm.”

Rodi’s eyes sparkled.

“Self-defense!”

***

Tadadadadat.

“Yaap!”

“……”

Gemvil looked down blankly at Rodi clinging to his leg.

“Rookie, what are you doing?”

“Why doesn’t it work?”

Rodi backed away again, then quickly ran forward to grab Gemvil’s leg and attack the side of his knee.

But even with her whole body committed, Gemvil didn’t budge at all. There was no impact whatsoever.

“Rodi, it doesn’t work even when I try it on Gemvil. And self-defense isn’t meant for attacking innocent people.”

Jin approached from behind, speaking in a troubled tone.

“What is she doing?”

Gemvil asked Jin while walking with Rodi still attached to his leg.

With each step he took, Rodi’s body bounced.

“She learned self-defense today.”

“Self-defense?”

“Yeah, Jin taught me, but why are you so strong, Gemvil?”

Gemvil slowly scratched his head.

“Well, maybe because I eat a lot.”

“I eat a ton too!”

Gemvil, seeing that Rodi wouldn’t give up on his leg, lifted her up and settled her on one arm.

“You’re nowhere near heavy enough.”

“Hmph, I’ll succeed next time.”

Gemvil snorted.

“Come back after eating for at least 10 more years. Ah, Jin.”

“Yes.”

“It’s next week, right?”

“Yes, Padrid already arranged the vacation for me.”

Though none of the senior staff knew the deep details, they all knew about the anniversary of Jin’s mother’s death, perhaps thanks to the time they had spent together.

Even though Jin always said not to worry about it, everyone made sure to take care of him around this time.

They knew well that although his emotional changes weren’t usually prominent, he tended to get sick or appear somewhat down around this time.

“Right, give your mother my regards.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“No need for thanks. Rookie, have you had dinner? Jin, are you off work?”

“Not yet! I was on my way to eat with Jin. What about you, Gemvil?”

“Let’s go together.”

Gemvil continued walking while carrying Rodi.

In the evenings, unless one was on night duty, it was quitting time, so people rarely stayed to eat dinner.

Especially Gemvil, who often worked through the night or until dawn before coming back.

But since Rodi had arrived, without any coordination, at least one or two people always started having dinner before going home.

“Still, you play well by yourself, Rookie. I thought you’d be bored without Lord Lexiard.”

As soon as Gemvil mentioned Lexiard, Rodi’s cheeks puffed up and her lips protruded.

“The boss told him not to come.”

“He’s probably busy.”

“Why is he busy?”

“Because he’s Hikkerman’s only remaining heir.”

Not the only one, but the only remaining one?

“Yeah. There’s no one as big as me. With this much, he won’t be outmatched anywhere, and since he lives on pride, there won’t be any problems, and if he’s lucky, there’s a possibility he might receive a title, so it’s not bad.”

“Plus, the title of Hikkerman’s illegitimate child could also tarnish your father’s face.”

She remembered the boss speaking to the imperial princess.

“Then what about the boss?”

At that, Jin and Gemvil stopped walking and looked at each other for a moment. Gemvil spoke first.

“You mean is he an heir? Well, usually succession fights only end when someone dies.”

“Dies…?”

“Usually. But those two aren’t in a relationship to fight; they’d protect each other if anything.”

“Eclise also wants Lord Lexiard to succeed. That’s why he doesn’t want him coming here.”

“Then… he really can’t come?”

“I don’t think that’s the case. But he wasn’t a frequent visitor originally. Did he come once a month?”

“About that often.”

“A whole month…?”

It’s only been one day…

“…Then I’ll forget his face.”

She had been so happy thinking they could stay together here.

It was fun playing together.

Rodi became dejected and muttered.