Chapter 21
Honestly, with her abilities, she could have gotten a job anywhere.
Yet she chose to work as a secretary, a post notorious for being undesirable, all because of our master’s terrible personality.
“Miss Violet must be a complete idiot!”
Aaron glanced at his master’s face.
He had always thought that with such a devilish personality, all the flashy packaging was pointless—and that the gods had a twisted sense of humor.
But now Aaron’s thoughts had completely changed.
“Thank goodness our master is at least good-looking!”
Honestly, when it comes to appearance, there’s no rival on the continent. Yep!
And thanks to that, they managed to get a genius newcomer like Violet.
Even now, Kaien’s lips carried a faint, mischievous smile, making him look even more dangerously beautiful.
“Come to think of it, you’ve been smiling all this time?!”
What on earth is he thinking?
Then Kaien spoke.
“Your hypothesis… doesn’t seem wrong.”
“Huh? My hypothesis?”
Kaien cleared his throat slightly and continued.
“The hypothesis that the newcomer had fallen for me.”
He recalled Freesia greeting him the previous night.
“Duke, thank you. I’ve learned so much thanks to you.”
Polite expressions of gratitude were something he had heard countless times.
But the true emotions conveyed through mana were usually filled with fear and discomfort.
‘Handling this… she’s a real monster. Did she use dark magic?’
‘This is serious. The Duke’s abilities are so outstanding that even the Crown Prince’s position…’
‘If her mana goes haywire again, this could really be a disaster… terrifying.’
Kaien was used to the duplicity of humans.
“Thank you so much!”
But the faint emotion transmitted through Freesia’s wrist at that moment was…
“I like you so, so much!”
So honest it was almost brazen.
Recalling that feeling made Kaien feel oddly suffocated.
Unlike her timid first impression in the interview room, the newcomer had a bold, assertive personality.
No matter what he did, her gaze followed him.
‘Her eyes stare at me so passionately it almost burns.’
And that wasn’t all.
She volunteered for night work simply because she wanted to be with him overnight.
If a working adult tolerates overtime for love, it can hardly be called anything but true affection.
Kaien brushed the corner of his eyes with a troubled expression.
‘What exactly did she see in me to be so captivated?’
Many women had thrown themselves at him for his looks and abilities, but he had never encountered such pure goodwill.
Perhaps that’s why the unconditional affection didn’t feel unpleasant.
Anyway, if she’s smitten with him, she won’t quit her secretary position easily.
For Kaien, who was often overwhelmed by the chatter of his monkey- and gorilla-like subordinates, he needed someone like Freesia who actually understood him.
Kaien unconsciously clenched and released the hand that had touched Freesia’s wrist the night before, and with a faint smile, he said:
“So there’s no need to worry about the newcomer quitting immediately. She even applied for my secretary position to stay by my side. She might even be willing to devote herself entirely to the Mage Tower.”
“Oh, right! About that hypothesis!”
Only then did Aaron remember why he had come rushing here.
He had been momentarily distracted by Kaien taking a nap.
And the shocking news he had just learned!
“Master, perhaps the hypothesis I mentioned earlier was wrong!”
“…What?”
Kaien’s brow twitched in displeasure.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“P-please take a look at this!”
Seeing is believing.
Aaron handed over a pamphlet splashed with pink.
Kaien frowned.
“What is this grotesque trash?”
“This is the pamphlet for the royal-sponsored group matchmaking program that Miss Violet applied to today!”
“What?!”
Kaien froze in place.
“What does this all of a sudden mean? Matchmaking?”
Matchmaking? She wants to get married?
Suddenly?
Why?
Wasn’t she in love with me?
Questions swirled violently in Kaien’s mind.
Even more bewildering than any magical problem he had faced recently.
“I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s confirmed! Miss Violet personally submitted the application.”
Aaron spoke urgently.
“Considering she’s participating in such a strange program, it seems she’s seriously decided about marriage.”
Marriage… all of a sudden?
What the…
Kaien imagined Freesia in a wedding dress, standing shyly.
And him, acting like a rogue, holding her waist.
“….”
Suddenly, irritation surged.
What is this feeling? Kaien furrowed his brows.
“This is a serious problem. Female mages usually quit the Tower once they marry and have children!”
“…!”
Hearing Aaron’s words, Kaien realized the reason for his irritation.
The Empire—and especially the magical world—remained extremely conservative.
Female mages were rare, and if they did exist, marriage often meant leaving the Mage Tower.
It was considered more important to teach magic to their children and raise talented successors than to further their own magical abilities.
Thus, marriage for a female mage at the Tower meant…
‘It’s basically resignation.’
“No!”
Bang!
Kaien slammed his desk.
“Yes… sir?”
“Absolutely no marriage. Go, and bring the newcomer back immediately.”
“Eh? H-how am I supposed to just—!”
“Tell her it’s an urgent duty.”
Seriously?
Aaron’s jaw dropped.
Even if it’s your boss, invading someone’s private life is overstepping!
While Aaron hesitated, Kaien roughly swept his hair back.
Recently, he had met a subordinate who, for the first time, could understand Imperial speech and actually do numbers.
He couldn’t let this competent biological calculator be snatched away by some unknown delinquent.
Kaien tapped the pamphlet.
“When does this start?”
“Oh, they said this afternoon…”
“What?!”
Kaien’s face twisted.
Aaron shrank back in fear.
‘I thought Master wouldn’t be happy hearing about Miss Violet… but such an intense reaction!’
It seemed his master had come to trust Violet greatly.
Judging by her work so far, it wasn’t surprising.
“This afternoon? That’s now!”
Kaien glanced at the clock and roughly slung his coat over his shoulder.
He looked ready to dash out, and Aaron asked in shock:
“Master? Are you really going to… go after Miss Violet?”
Bang!
Instead of answering, Kaien slammed the office door shut.
Left alone in the quiet office, Aaron clenched his fists.
‘Master, go get her!’
Please save Miss Violet from the clutches of marriage!
‘And don’t let her quit after finally getting such a capable subordinate…!’
Sitting in the waiting room, I clenched and unclenched my palms.
Today was the day after applying for the group matchmaking program—and the day it would begin.
I’d heard that there were so few applicants that they had extended the deadline until the very last moment.
Perhaps that’s why there were fewer than ten people in the spacious waiting room.
Glancing at the women’s attire, I lowered my head to check my own outfit.
It was clothes I had hastily bought with my advance salary.
Even if it was a temporary husband, a contract was a contract—I had chosen something that would give off a reliable impression.
This should be fine, right?
After checking for wrinkles, I waited endlessly, a faint sweat forming on my palms.
‘This is unexpectedly nerve-wracking.’
I had undergone a major transformation for today.
I even cut a little of my bangs.
With my bangs no longer stabbing my eyes, I could see clearly ahead.
And knowing that others could now see my face so clearly made me instinctively shrink my neck.
