Chapter 4
After Paul left, the office got new desks and chairs.
Instead of taking a more spacious seat, Edwin chose to sit right next to Dana.
Leighton, still looking dejected, lingered awkwardly by Dana’s side.
“…All this way just to introduce one new employee?”
His empty expectations only fueled his resentment toward Paul.
Then, he accidentally jabbed his thigh on the desk corner.
“Ouch!”
Embarrassed, he glared at Dana nearby.
“Hey, Dana Hartwin! Have you finished that report I gave you last time?”
“You gave me dozens. Which one do you mean?”
Leighton, uninterested in work, of course had no idea.
“You should know without me telling you! You really are… ugh!”
His chattering stopped abruptly.
Edwin had pushed Leighton aside with his large hand.
Leighton was sent sliding ungracefully to the middle of the office, like a withered leaf.
He stared at the newcomer in disbelief.
Edwin, with a calm expression, tilted his long eyes at him, as if asking, “What’s the problem?”
“You were just standing in my way,” Edwin explained.
Ignoring the dumbfounded Leighton, Edwin looked quietly at Dana.
“Good to see you again.”
He sounded strangely cheerful.
Did he just get marked by Leighton on his first day? That could be troublesome…
Dana whispered to herself, worried for no reason.
“First, we should apologize to Leighton…”
“I can’t hear you very well.”
Edwin leaned closer, bringing his upper body near her.
Is it okay to be this close…?
When his face came near her ear, Dana blinked in surprise.
A cool, masculine scent hit her nose.
“So…?”
Dana stared blankly at his flawless cheeks, and even at the delicate eyelashes resting above.
“So…?”
Edwin repeated her words with a smile.
“First, we should say we’re sorry…”
“Oh, you’re thinking about me?”
He shrugged casually, as if it was nothing.
So close that she could feel his breath, Edwin chuckled softly.
“I’m glad.”
“…Glad?”
Dana’s blue eyes showed her confusion.
At that moment, Leighton’s angry voice carried from nearby.
“What are you two whispering about instead of working?”
“Sorry about that.”
Dana quickly stepped away and returned to her desk.
Leighton pointed at her and continued.
“So you get along well with the new employee? Then you’ll be his mentor!”
“Understood.”
Dana nodded.
When she first joined, she’d suffered because Leighton hadn’t properly handed over tasks.
She didn’t want the new employee to endure the same hardship.
“Please take care of him, senior.”
Despite Leighton’s scolding, Edwin showed no intimidation.
Instead, he flashed a charming smile and offered Dana some apple juice.
“My favorite juice!”
Coincidence? Dana accepted the bottle gratefully.
Edwin looked satisfied as she did.
“Wow… what is this? Why does it taste so good?”
Dana’s eyes widened.
She had tried countless apple juices, but never one so fragrant and flavorful.
“Does it suit your taste? I’ll bring more tomorrow.”
Edwin smiled as Dana’s satisfied expression brightened his day.
The juice had been carefully pressed by the palace chefs early in the morning.
The apples meant for the emperor’s breakfast had ended up in Dana’s hands.
“Thank you. It was delicious.”
“Please, call me by my name, senior.”
The polite tone of the new employee made Dana smile.
“Shall I, Edwin?”
“….”
At that moment, Edwin’s eyes flickered.
Hearing his name from Dana stirred an unfamiliar, warm emotion in him.
His chest felt full, strangely cozy…
“Edwin, are you okay?”
Dana’s call brought his dazed eyes back into focus.
“Ah, I’m fine. It’s better than I expected…”
Better… at what? Dana got up.
“It’s time to go to the stockroom now. I’ll show you how to check the inventory.”
“Yes, senior.”
His soft voice answered.
As they walked down the corridor, Dana explained the tasks ahead.
“You’ll mainly check inventory and summarize potion usage reports.”
Edwin listened to her voice, almost entranced.
Even after all this time, it was clear and bright.
He walked slowly to match Dana’s pace.
It was the first time he had adjusted his speed for someone else.
Not bad.
If the person was Dana, he could easily slow his pace.
At the end of the corridor, Dana opened the right door, revealing the stockroom.
Like a warehouse, it was extremely cool, maintaining potion conditions.
Ugh, it’s always cold here.
Dana shivered, tugging her collar.
Edwin’s hand touched her back.
“Something’s on you here.”
He gently brushed her back.
“Oh? Thank you.”
Later, as Dana handed him the documents, she tilted her head.
‘That feels oddly warm…’
She checked the temperature, but it hadn’t changed.
Probably just her imagination, Dana shrugged it off.
For now, she needed to teach the junior.
“Edwin, see this table? It’s always the same format, so once you get it, it’ll be easy.”
“I see.”
“First, enter the quantities for the stamina potions, then the regeneration potions…”
As Dana explained, Edwin felt a strange gaze beside him.
“Focus on the papers, not me.”
“Yes, understood.”
Edwin’s eyes returned to the documents.
Dana’s explanations flowed without interruption.
Her dedication and thoroughness were evident.
“And for items with a long shelf life, I put them on the top shelves…”
Dana climbed a small ladder to reach.
‘Tony senior, I told you not to put them deep in the box…’
Flailing her hands in the air, Dana misstepped.
Closing her eyes, she braced for impact.
Then, a low voice echoed in her ear.
“Be careful.”
Unexpectedly, she didn’t hit the floor, but a strong chest instead.
Edwin had lifted her gently, placing her safely on the ground.
It was as delicate as handling a precious statue.
“…Thank you.”
Dana looked up and smiled her gratitude.
Edwin smiled back.
Meanwhile, Dana tilted her head in curiosity.
‘What just happened?’
Hearing his warning felt strangely familiar.
“Be careful.”
A voice of concern she felt she’d heard before…
Before she could ponder, the stockroom door burst open.
It was Kira.
“Dana, it’s lunchtime!”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
Kind Kira left for lunch with the others.
Dana’s thoughts of her usual cheap sandwich made her lose her appetite.
She forced a smile and spoke to Edwin.
“Thanks for sticking through my boring explanations. Enjoy your lunch…”
“Senior, I brought my own lunch.”
“Oh?”
“There’s plenty.”
Edwin’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.
“Shall we eat together?”
“…Sure.”
His smile was impossible to refuse.
“You brought all of this?”
Dana asked, astonished.
“Yes. Is it not enough?”
Edwin’s face looked slightly dissatisfied.
They sat on the bench near the fountain, Dana’s usual lunch spot.
Edwin had surprisingly noble manners.
Before sitting, he laid a handkerchief for her and checked if she was comfortable.
When she said yes, he opened the meal, which was magnificent.
Convenient meat pies and salad, dried apricots for dessert.
For Dana, surviving on cheap sandwiches, this was heavenly.
Everything gleamed, suggesting top-quality ingredients.
Edwin cut the meat pie into bite-sized pieces and offered it to Dana.
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
Finally, a special meal! Dana happily dug in.
Edwin watched, clearly pleased.
“It was worth preparing this.”
Earlier that morning, the Third Prince had suddenly stormed the palace, throwing the kitchen into chaos.
His cookbooks had amazed the palace chefs.
Regardless, Edwin had prepared food personally for Dana.
He even used warming magic to prevent spoilage.
Dana admired sincerely.
“This is delicious. You cook really well?”
Crazy… why does it taste this good?
When her eyes lit up, Edwin said gently:
“Senior, I have a habit of preparing two servings at a time.”
“Oh? That’s an unusual habit.”
“So, from now on, lunch will always be just the two of us.”
Alone.
Dana nodded with a puffed cheek, excited.
Whether it was a true habit or not, escaping cheap sandwiches was worth anything.
After lunch, back in the office, their supervisor Tony gathered everyone.
He was Leighton’s right-hand man, notorious for being a gossip.
“Did you hear? The crazy Third Prince has returned!”
His excited voice reached everyone, including Edwin, who had just arrived.
