CHAPTER:1.6

By the way you’re dressed, you look like you’re going on a picnic.”

“…….”

Audrey gave him a ‘why do you care’ look as if the sudden snipe hadn’t surprised her.

“Why is she always dressed like a sissy?

I asked. As usual, ignorance was the answer, as the old man could not understand the charms of adorably puffed sleeves and flounced skirts.

But the wicked Hans persisted in his insistence that only Audrey could hear.

“It must look very strange to you, too.”

“……!”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

her stride came to a screeching halt. Audrey glanced down at her outfit.

“Is it that weird?

The cream color that stood out in the dimly lit, neutral crowd, the ridiculously puffed sleeves, the ribbons and lace, the five-tiered cake at the wedding……. When I looked at her again, I realized how different she looked from everyone else’s neat attire.

“You idiot!

An indescribable feeling of embarrassment washed over her. She just wanted to look good for her crush today……. She began to feel unnecessarily self-conscious about the way people were looking at her. More precisely, Claude’s gaze.

I wonder if he thinks she’s some kind of dandy who doesn’t know the right place at the wrong time. Yes, he must think she’s pathetic.

“It’s only a few minutes past here-, Audrey?”

“…….”

“Are you hurt?”

Audrey shook her head, looking like she was going to cry.

Her tiny hands clutched tightly at her dress, and Hans whimpered softly behind her.

Claude realized what was happening at once.

“Hans.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“…….”

“It’s true.”

Claude’s stern glare scared hans.

By now, the three of them had arrived at the city gates, and it was time for Claude, who was assigned to the Ministry of Finance, to part ways with his two temporarily assigned people.

“I know it’s a little strange today, but you’ll get used to it. I’ll see you later.”

But as Claude started up the stairs after his final goodbye, he stopped halfway up.

“…….”

Audrey’s sullen face was troubling him. Without hesitation, Claude turned around and began to make his way back down the stairs through the crowd.

It wasn’t hard to spot a head of curly pink hair in the crowd. Catching up quickly, he tugged surreptitiously at the sleeve of Audrey’s robe.

“Your brother?”

“Shh.”

The first thing that caught Audrey’s attention was the mischievous twinkle in his eye. The next was the small nibble of his lips, spoken only to her so Hans wouldn’t hear.

“You look pretty today.”

“……!”

“So don’t be a dick. Okay?”

It was as if they were whispering a code word between them. The words were warm and tickling as they drifted into her ears on the breeze.

Audrey stood mesmerized, not knowing what to say.

“Ah…….”

“See you later.”

Claude said a quick goodbye and walked away.

Audrey stood in the middle of the busy traffic and stared at his back for a long time, feeling like her heart would explode if she didn’t…….

＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

“You can wait over here.”

“Yes!”

“…….”

The temps were led to a separate area. Two of them were uncharacteristically cold as a group. Hans sat stiffly, jaw clenched, wondering what was so wrong with him, while Audrey bounced on her toes in anticipation, as if her mood had just been lifted. The stares at her outfit didn’t seem to bother her anymore.

“I can’t wait to get you to your department.”

“……No thanks.”

“Oh, I can’t believe I’m working with Claude’s brother!”

“I’m crazy. What do you think you’re doing following me all the way here?”

“I’m sure we’re going to work together, right? Hehe.”

“Crazy girl. You look like you’re having the love of the century, man.”

“I’m sure Claude’s brother looks great at work. Aww…….”

“You’re lucky he’s not crying his eyes out because I’m trying to comfort him.”

It was like a collective monologue, each person talking to themselves even though they were sitting right next to each other. It was impossible to communicate.

Just then, the quiet parlor was disturbed by a commotion, and an elderly gentleman appeared.

“Now that everyone seems to be here, can I explain something?”

It was the temp-to-hire department assignor.

The man looked down at his papers and scratched his head in confusion. His wrinkled face was filled with embarrassment. It was no easy task to place aristocratic scions without a single resume in the right place at the right time. Get it wrong, and he’d be inundated with protest letters.

“Hmmm. I don’t know you very well, so why don’t you pick a department that suits your skills?”

“……!”

Audrey alone began to glow militantly, and it was a good thing she did. She was going to go to the same department as her brother Claude no matter what.

“To…… First of all, the Duchy is composed of seven main departments. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Services, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Magic, and the Ministry of Knights. The Service Department is not applicable because the Butler is in charge of it, and if you subtract the Knights, you’ll be assigned to the other five departments.”

He then revealed the number of people assigned to each department.

“Let’s see. First, one for Finance, three for Culture, three for Social Affairs, two for Justice, and one for Magic.”

Audrey’s knuckles began to sweat.

“The Ministry of Finance is mine.

There’s only one spot in Treasury for Claude’s brother, isn’t there? Audrey waited nervously for the Ministry to be called, oblivious to Hans’s meaningful glance to the side of her head.

“Next up is Treasurer-”

“Me!”

A swift hand sliced through the air. Audrey pulled her mouth into a cheeky grin. Her eyes, blinking so fast there was no room for dust, stared straight at the representative.

But strangely, the representative’s gaze was off to the side.

“Huh?

Audrey turned her head in bewilderment, and there was Hans, his arm outstretched in a very straight line as if he were introducing …….

“Well, you’re a little quicker than the other guy. What’s your name?”

“Hans Emilton.”

“Ah, so you’re the younger brother of the Earl of Emilton, what more do you need to know, you’ll do great.”

“……!”

The lips that had been long drawn back shrank in an instant. The plump cheeks puffed out like a deflated balloon. Audrey stared at her friend’s sideways face in utter shock.

“You, why did you get out of there?

His eyes glowed with rage, and he spewed a stream of pointed words that were almost murderous.

But Hans never turned his head until the sound of the square pen ceased.

“Now, next-”

“Sure, raise your hand quickly.”

“……!”

The grin on Hans’s face was thin as their eyes met. It’s clear he’s trying to turn my stomach. It’s not like you can erase a name that’s already been carved in stone, and knowing that made me even more angry.

“I wanted to work with my brother, too. You could go to the Justice Department, right?”

“This……!”

Sociopath?

Audrey was genuinely outraged. If it weren’t for the fact that she was a peacock, she would have grabbed his jaw and shaken it until all his organs were sticking out of his mouth.

What, you want to work with your brother? You’ve been busy looking at Claude’s chest every chance you get! Since when have you been so special…….

Suddenly, blood rushed to my head, causing me to feel mildly dizzy.

My God! Your humanity, is it unbelievable, is it rubbish? Stop my somersault! Your verse makes the time happy.

“If you wanted to go that badly, why didn’t you use magic?”

“…….”

“I’m sorry about this.”

Hans fanned himself absentmindedly. No, that was intentional. He walked right up to me and left me, his face as hideously rotten as if he’d been dumped on his back……. I couldn’t stand the sight of his refreshed face.

Audrey gritted her teeth and vowed that she would never forget and repay him for today’s indiscretion. To that dastardly seat stealer.

＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

“Hello, I’m Audrey Kevelson. Hope you’re doing well!”

“……I’m Hans Emilton.”

The eyes of the people at the Treasury turned to the two. Claude also looked at them in surprise.

“Haha, what a brotherly love affair, a younger brother following his older brother to the Treasury!”

“That’s true. It’s great to have young people here, too.”

“Why don’t you take care of their training, Claude?”

“I’d be happy to.”

Claude smiled, not a hint of resentment at the new responsibilities he’d been thrust into in the blink of an eye. Hans frowned as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.

“Shit! Shit!

This wasn’t the original plan. Only a madman would have come into the Treasury to see his brother’s face every day until he vomited. He just didn’t want to imagine the two of them flirting when he wasn’t there, and what would happen if he worked overtime?

Everything was perfect until he intercepted Audrey’s order. But…….

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, you’re supposed to have two people assigned to Finance, not Justice.