29. Her Majesty the Empress must have intervened.

“Well, it couldn’t be helped. He was only an eight-year-old brat back then.”

Recalling a memory from a scorching summer day, Evelyn couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

* * *

Rashid gently stroked the handkerchief with his fingertips.

It was a handkerchief with a clearly visible ink stain on the corner.

Though worn, it felt soft to the touch.

Just like any well-maintained fabric, the handkerchief was immaculate, without a single thread out of place.

Rashid handled the ink-stained handkerchief with the utmost care, as if it were a precious object.

Then he leaned deeply into the back of his chair.

“Haa.”

Letting out a short sigh, Rashid ran a rough hand through his neatly arranged hair.

His platinum blond strands fell messily between his long and firm fingers.

“Damn it.”

Rashid muttered under his breath, thinking of the one person in this world who never seemed to understand his feelings.

Knock, knock.

At the light sound of knocking, Rashid swiftly opened a drawer and tucked the handkerchief inside.

He still wasn’t ready to return it to its owner.

As his secretary entered the office, Rashid asked in a low voice,

“Still not off work?”

“I was just about to leave after delivering this.”

Evelyn smiled brightly as she placed several documents on the table.

“What’s this?”

“One is the list of secretary candidates for next week’s interviews.”

At that, Rashid’s brows furrowed.

“And the one beside it is my vacation request. Turns out I haven’t used any of my annual leave yet.”

To think she hadn’t used her precious vacation days.

Why had she been working so hard?

Evelyn genuinely felt wronged.

“And this one?”

Rashid’s gaze shifted to the last document.

“My resignation. I’ll be working until the end of this month, Lord Rashid.”

No sooner had Evelyn finished her report than Rashid’s expression twisted.

But unlike the day before, he didn’t try to persistently talk her out of it.

Instead, he frowned and muttered,

“Stubborn as ever.”

Clearly displeased with her decision, Rashid shifted his gaze to another document.

“…The vacation request?”

“I’ll be taking time off from tomorrow until next weekend.”

“You expect me to go to Borten Port alone without a secretary?”

“Of course not. I already informed Adelio. He’ll be accompanying you this time, Lord Rashid.”

Caught off guard by Evelyn’s thorough preparation, Rashid looked briefly flustered.

“If you’re gone until next weekend… then there’ll only be four working days left until the end of the month.”

“I’ll do my utmost to support you in the time I have left, Lord Rashid.”

Evelyn answered with a bright, untroubled smile. Rashid said nothing more.

Instead, he picked up a pen and signed the documents.

His signature, unlike usual, was harsh and jagged—clearly reflecting his displeasure.

“What do you plan to do during your vacation?”

He asked in a blunt tone. After a moment’s thought, Evelyn replied,

“My aunt’s birthday is coming up, so I’m planning to visit and pay my respects. There’s a party being held at the mansion, and I was ordered to attend.”

“Your aunt… you mean the Marchioness of Seormiden?”

“Yes, come to think of it, Lord Rashid also stayed at the Seormiden estate with us before, didn’t you?”

“That nagging old woman.”

Evelyn pretended not to hear Rashid’s thoroughly disrespectful remark.

‘Well… Aunt Olivia is a little talkative.’

“So, are you being dragged back onto the marriage market by that old lady?”

“……”

“This time of year, most parties are held for that purpose, aren’t they?”

Rashid asked cynically, as if he already knew everything.

Evelyn shrugged lightly.

She had no particular reason to deny his assumption.

“At my age, these events happen often enough that I’ve grown thick-skinned. You don’t need to worry.”

“I’m not free enough to worry about a secretary who turned in her resignation without regard for her employer’s situation.”

Still cold in tone, Rashid signed the last of the documents and returned them to her.

“I don’t need to review it. You choose for me.”

“That’s cheating. The candidate will be working closely with the Duke, after all.”

“Exactly why I want you to choose. Lady Evelyn, there’s no one who knows me better than you. I trust you’ll pick someone suitable.”

Though his voice was indifferent and not scolding, Evelyn couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Then I’ll attend the secretary interviews as well.”

“Fine.”

“Oh, and…”

“Wasn’t that everything? You may go now, Lady Evelyn.”

Rashid had already turned his attention away, reading through the papers on the table.

Seeing his dismissive attitude, Evelyn simply shrugged.

‘He’s sulking. For real.’

But this time, Evelyn wasn’t going to back down either.

“Then please rest well, Lord Rashid. I’ll see you after the vacation.”

Evelyn bowed politely toward her employer, who remained absorbed in paperwork, ignoring even the final farewell.

***

Including the weekend, it was nearly a ten-day vacation. Having been hired as the Duke’s secretary, this was the first long break Evelyn would have. She worked frantically to finish all her remaining tasks.

After finally getting her leave application signed, Evelyn tidied her desk and left the office.

“Oh right! I almost forgot.”

As she walked down the Duke’s hallway, Evelyn muttered to herself and quickly changed direction toward the parlor. There was someone—no, something—she needed to visit before going home.

Around this time every day, Veronica could usually be found lounging in front of the fireplace in the parlor, enjoying a leisurely moment.

“For a cat, she really lives in luxury.”

Muttering, Evelyn opened the parlor door. As expected, the mystical creature was curled up in the warm spot in front of the fireplace.

“Veronica.”

Even as Evelyn approached, the creature didn’t turn to look, remaining sprawled on her plush cushion.

[What is it, human?]

Only after Evelyn crouched in front of the silk cushion did Veronica speak.

“Thanks for the other day. I brought you a gift in return.”

[A gift?]

At Evelyn’s words, Veronica’s tail perked up slightly and swayed side to side.

“Here, wear this around your neck.”

Evelyn pulled a ribbon from her pocket. It was a pink satin ribbon. The moment she saw it, Veronica’s fur bristled upward.

[Wait, human. I don’t need such a thing.]

“You’re already wearing a strap, aren’t you? You just look too aloof—that’s the problem. It’s time to change the mood a bit.”

The silver-furred creature was beautiful, but her sharp aura made it difficult for the mansion staff to approach. Evelyn removed the leather strap from Veronica’s neck and replaced it with the pink satin ribbon.

“See? Isn’t it adorable? With this on, even the maids won’t be scared of you.”

[I don’t need it. Take it off right now, human! And why pink, of all things?!]

“It’s a fresh and cute color, isn’t it?”

Veronica shook her head fiercely, but the ribbon tied around her neck wouldn’t come off easily.

“Veronica.”

Evelyn calmly looked into the creature’s trembling eyes. The unfamiliar red pupils were beautiful enough to steal a human’s soul.

“Think of it as a slightly early farewell gift.” 

At Evelyn’s words, which stopped Veronica mid-tantrum, the creature turned to look at her.

[Farewell? Where are you going, human?]

“I’m quitting the secretary job at the end of this month.”

[…]

“Even after I leave, please continue to protect Lord Rashid.”

Whispering that, Evelyn gently stroked Veronica’s soft fur.

“I’m counting on you, Veronica.”

***

In the silence of the Duke’s study, Veronica burst in with a fierce energy. She shouted harshly toward her master.

[Are you really going to let that woman leave, Dragon?]

Rashid’s eyes widened at Veronica’s sudden entrance. His blue-tinged eyes slowly scanned her figure before he frowned slightly.

“What’s with that look?”

A pink satin ribbon was tied around Veronica’s sleek fur. Though the magical creature and the ribbon matched surprisingly well, Veronica clearly didn’t think so.

[…That human, that woman Evelyn, did this to me.]

As Veronica flared up, her smooth fur trembled slightly, causing the ribbon around her neck to sway like it was dancing.

“Pink ribbon?”

At Rashid’s puzzled question, fire sparked in Veronica’s eyes.

[That human must think I’m a female!]

“Well…”

Rashid started to explain, but quickly gave up with a look of disinterest. By human standards, Veronica was indeed a feminine name.

Add to that the creature’s doll-like beauty, and it was understandable to mistake her for female.

Still, he had no desire to inform the creature of that. Rashid wasn’t a man inclined to such kindness.

[Allow me to shift forms. I’ll show that woman my true, valiant self.]

Veronica demanded fervently, tail swishing fiercely, but Rashid pretended not to hear, focusing instead on the card in his hand.

The card, printed on high-quality cream-colored paper and sealed with a golden emblem, had just arrived from the Imperial Palace.

“They’re postponing the imperial ball…?”

The card, sent under the order of the Grand Chamberlain, announced the delay of the upcoming imperial ball.

“It’s obvious—Her Majesty the Empress must have intervened.”