Chapter 64
“W-What?”
The room erupted into murmurs at the mention of hiring criminals.
Sevji raised the evidence she had prepared, as if no further explanation was needed.
The aristocratic faction had convened the emergency meeting to undermine them, but they had already gathered evidence beforehand.
“These are the items proving that the recent crimes in the capital were orchestrated by the aristocratic faction.”
“F-False accusations…!”
“Don’t deny it. The criminals are currently detained by the Imperial Knights, so you can verify it with them.”
The meeting, originally intended to dismantle the Welfare Department, turned into a session to interrogate the nobles who had hired criminals.
Knights who had been waiting outside stormed in and arrested the nobles involved in the crimes.
It was clear from their expressions that the nobles were desperately trying to figure out where their plan had gone wrong.
“Caught so easily, huh?”
Looking at the pale-faced nobles, she widened her eyes in mock surprise.
Being the kind-hearted person she was, she decided to personally enlighten them.
“Did you know that those criminals were secretly apprehended by the Security Force?”
Of all things, they had stolen her ring. Thanks to her usual good deeds, such fortune had come her way. Her luck was truly unbelievable.
Recalling that moment, she nodded.
If those pickpockets had been released by the Security Force and run to the aristocrats, the truth would have been buried forever.
And those aristocrats would no longer exist in this world by now.
“More importantly, you seem to have forgotten something… Never forget that two ducal families are tied to the Welfare Department.”
Of all people, they dared to provoke the most powerful figures in the empire.
Should one commend them for their audacity or click their tongue at their recklessness?
As the nobles who had committed crimes were dragged out, the meeting hall visibly emptied.
“In a few years, we might as well hold meetings in a closet.”
No one laughed at her joke about avoiding space waste.
It was supposed to be a witty remark, but she felt slightly embarrassed.
“Ahem. Then, let’s conclude this emergency meeting here.”
At times like this, a swift escape was the best course of action.
When she returned to the Grievance Counseling Office, practically fleeing, a familiar face was waiting for her.
***
“How have you been?”
The gentle eyes, red like rubies, curved into a soft smile. Since they had met only recently, there wasn’t much need to exchange pleasantries.
“Is today the ‘later’ you mentioned?”
She looked at the sudden visitor with a bewildered expression.
Even though they had met recently, she ignored Masetike’s grumbling about not even receiving a proper greeting.
“By the way, why has the Counseling Office changed so much?”
“There were various circumstances.”
A sorrowful tale that could not be told without tears.
“I don’t need to hear it to know. You became the Head of the Counseling Office, and the number of clients dropped, leading to this situation, right?”
“You’re absolutely correct.”
Pell even clapped in admiration of his perfection.
She glared at Pell. He was utterly infuriating. She then turned her gaze to Masetike with the same look.
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because you’re terrible at counseling?”
He hit the nail on the head, leaving her unable to refute.
Why couldn’t they learn to sugarcoat their words?
“So, why are you here?”
“I thought I’d return to work.”
“What?”
“I’m saying I came back to work because you’re so bad at counseling. As an employee, I’m returning.”
“Really? Is that true? Oh my goodness! Head of the Office!”
Pell jumped with joy at the news of Masetike’s return. Naturally, she also looked at him with wide eyes.
“Well, of course, I’d be happy if you came back… No, I’d be thrilled.”
The Counseling Office had recently become busier than ever. If someone as skilled at counseling as him returned, she’d welcome him with open arms.
But…
“But why so suddenly?”
Why, after two years, had he decided to return out of the blue?
“I’ve been relaxing too much, and I thought it was time to work again, but there wasn’t much to do. The only thing I’m good at is talking for a living, and as you know, counseling is my calling. After running into you recently, I thought about returning.”
“Well, it is easier to go back to what you’ve done before.”
His reasoning made sense, and she quickly agreed.
“But you’ll need Eched’s approval first. The Grievance Counseling Office is under the Knight Order.”
“Why is the Counseling Office…? No, how?”
Masetike’s gaze turned suspicious, and she avoided it as best as she could.
It wasn’t as if she wanted things to turn out this way. Circumstances had left her no choice.
“Don’t worry. I’ll win him over.”
“Head of the Office, good luck. I’m counting on you.”
Please send us a new employee!
Pell’s sparkling eyes looked at her with hope. After seeing his perpetually lifeless fish-like gaze, such enthusiasm was touching.
With determination, she left the Counseling Office and headed to the Knight Commander’s office. Riding her momentum, she flung open the door.
Eched, as usual, was seated at his desk, but his gaze was fixed on her, unlike before.
His enigmatic silver-gray eyes met hers. A faint smile graced his lips.
To some, it might have seemed like an insignificant change, but to her, it felt monumental.
Every time Eched showed such a human side, her heart would leap uncontrollably.
She tried her best to calm her heart and approached him with a composed expression.
When Eched extended his hand toward her, she noticed he wasn’t wearing the gloves that came with the knight’s uniform.
As she naturally took his hand, a deep satisfaction spread across his face. It was so devastatingly charming that it almost overwhelmed her heart.
She deliberately averted her gaze. If she kept looking, she feared her heart wouldn’t survive.
“I’m thinking of hiring a new employee for the Grievance Counseling Office.”
“Do as you wish.”
Huh?
His permission was granted so readily that she was left speechless. Her mind, which had been preparing arguments in case of rejection, went blank.
In the meantime, Eched began to play with her hand, kneading it as if it were a toy.
Only then did she realize something was off.
Since when had I become so accustomed to holding his hand? And why did I no longer feel any resistance to it?
She decided to set aside her small curiosity for now and address her more pressing question.
“You’re not going to ask anything?”
“No.”
So do as you please, his trusting gaze seemed to say.
What the…? Excuse me, who is this person?
It felt like just yesterday that he was throwing documents at her and demanding results. She couldn’t get used to this abrupt change.
As she looked at Eched with disapproval and withdrew her hand, he gazed longingly at the empty space where her hand had been.
What was that? A hand-obsessed maniac?
Her heart, which had been leaping wildly, suddenly calmed down. The rapid transition was almost miraculous.
Having achieved her goal, she left the office with light steps.
As expected, those who’ve done the job before excel at it.
Experienced employees were the best.
Even in the now-cramped Counseling Office, Masetike quickly adapted and took on most of the counseling work.
While Pell had initially been overjoyed to see Masetike return, his complexion soon turned pale.
The news of the counseling expert Masetike’s return spread throughout the Imperial Palace in less than a day.
Clients began to swarm.
The influx of employees abandoning their work to seek counseling threatened to paralyze the entire Imperial administration.
“When will this end?”
Someone in line shouted loudly enough for those inside to hear.
“Can’t you let me go first? Please?”
Some even snuck into the office to bribe their way to an earlier spot.
After observing the chaos for two days, she decided enough was enough.
“This is going to kill us all.”
Throwing aside a pouch of gold coins, she stormed into the Counseling Office and flung open the door.
The people waiting outside looked up, but upon realizing it wasn’t Masetike, their disappointment was evident.
Swallowing their curses, she plastered the following notices on the door:
Reservations Required
Maximum of 12 clients per day, 30 minutes per session
Bribery or reservation manipulation will result in dismissal
Then she brought out a thick ledger labeled [Reservation List].
“From now on, the Counseling Office will operate on a reservation basis. Those who make reservations will be notified of their time the day before. If you’re late, your reservation will be canceled, and you’ll need to book again.”
“That’s too…!”
“No objections. If you don’t like it, don’t come for counseling.”
“Even as the Head of the Office, isn’t this too high-handed?”
“Coming here during your work hours instead of doing your job doesn’t exactly give you the moral high ground.”
These salary thieves.
Though she didn’t say it aloud, they probably understood. The noisy hallway fell silent.
“But isn’t dismissal for bribery too harsh? What authority do you have to enforce that?”
If they asked what authority she had, it was only polite to answer.
“Me? Shaterian, woman, human. Former Lady of the Melis Ducal Family, now the Duchess of Astrea.”
“…”
Despite her detailed explanation, they all looked dumbfounded.
Was that not what they wanted to know? In any case…
“Why would anyone trust someone who resorts to bribery just to get a counseling session to handle Imperial affairs? Integrity is the basic qualification for anyone receiving the Empire’s salary.”
While she might lack personal virtue, she never spoke untruths. That was her one source of pride. So…
“Before I say anything worse… Get out, all of you!”
Oops.
That was close. Almost ruined her dignity.
Before she could make another slip, she hurriedly went back inside and sat down. But the noise outside persisted. Eventually, she opened the door again.
The murmuring crowd fell silent as soon as they saw her. Ignoring them, she added one last notice:
Causing a disturbance in front of the Counseling Office will result in a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor.
Only then did peace return to the Counseling Office.
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