# 2
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Edwin kept humming melodiously until he entered the minister's office.
A light knock on the door preceded Paul's announcement of the visitor's arrival. Or at least, he intended to announce.
But Edwin suddenly opened the door and entered without any hesitation.
This wasn't the first time, so Paul silently went to get the tea.
Meanwhile, Minister Derek Childe, the Minister of Magic, doubted his ears.
'Is this idiot humming now?'
That moron? Why?
Whether he was or not, Edwin sat confidently on the main seat of the sofa.
“His Highness the Third Prince, we are honored by your arrival.”
Derek smiled fakely and took the seat across from him.
Edwin placed the wet book on the table and began to tap it with his fingers.
Derek looked at Paul because of the murmur that wouldn't stop.
'Is what I see now real?'
Paul nodded with a pale face as he carried the tea.
Derek looked at Edwin with an annoyed expression.
“I heard that you have returned safely. For you to come to me before you go to His Majesty the Emperor is a great honor for me.”
“Forget the empty compliments.”
“As you wish.”
They were friends for a long time.
Derek, the second son of the Duke Childe family, was the third prince's age, so they had become friends since childhood.
Although this was ordered by their parents.
Thanks to early education, Derek was the only one who could handle Edwin's unpredictable nature.
But Edwin himf did not seem so grateful.
“What about this book? Does it contain assassination secrets, for example?”
“It is a book of poetry.”
A book of poetry, and with Edwin... it was not a common sight. Derek had given up trying to understand him a long time ago.
“You don't seem sorry for making me see you so suddenly. You came without an appointment.”
"Oh? I was thinking about killing you."
Enough with the deadly threats… Derek looked at the clock. It's almost time for the general meeting.
“What is the reason for this sudden visit then?”
“It is very urgent.”
Is there something this urgent at the Ministry of Magic? It doesn't make sense...
Derek hid a mysterious smile and asked.
“Is he related to Miss Dana Hartwin?”
At that moment, Edwin shot him an ice-cold gaze.
“How do you know her?”
The Third Prince's prestige had always been amazing.
Derek smiled nervously and opened his mouth.
“How could I forget? While interviewing new employees, I suddenly came in and asked questions to Dana alone.”
Edwin, who doesn't show interest in anyone...came specifically to meet the employees? It was a rare thing.
It piqued Derek's dark curiosity.
“So what’s urgent?”
“I'm looking for a job.”
'Did I hear right? Just today, my ears are undergoing severe tests.'
Derek tilted his head in surprise.
'He spent years in the North fighting monsters, has he finally gone crazy?'
No. He was born crazy.
Edwin said, addressing the surprised Derek.
“Give me a position in the Potions Department. Only until the end of the week, no more.”
Derek stared blankly at his impudent request for a job.
But Edwin got up as if it didn't matter to him.
He carefully placed the wet book in his lap.
Despite his madness, his movements were neat and clean.
Even after he left the Minister's office, both Derek and Paul remained speechless.
The first to come back to reality was Derek.
“By the way, Dana Hartwin's workplace is…”
“Yes… Potions Administration Department.”
When Paul answered, a thoughtful look crossed Derek's face, then he smiled weakly.
'As I expected, their relationship is not ordinary.'
Derek smiled slyly. His eyes were sparkling with malice.
“Seeing the Third Prince suffering, it's not a bad thing.”
"Yes…?"
Don't say you'll do it...don't do it...! Paul shook his head unconsciously.
But Derek did not disappoint.
“Give him a job, entry-level.”
The corners of his mouth rose as if it was very amusing.
Paul looked at him warily.
Despite his light appearance, Derek had a mysterious and heavy heart.
'Nothing will happen...right?'
Worry was confined to Paul, the simple secretary.
***
“Dana, do you have extra work today too?”
Her colleague Kira looked at her worriedly.
“Today is a simple job, I think I will finish quickly.”
Despite Dana's bright smile, Kira couldn't leave easily.
“I know you need money, but your health is more important.”
"I know, I know! Thanks for your concern!"
Go quickly! Dana gently pushed her on the shoulder and pulled her out.
Dana looked at her colleague's back as she walked away and muttered.
“Thank you, Kira.”
Whenever she felt that simple warmth in the midst of harsh life, her soul felt at peace.
'Okay, let's start overtime tonight too!'
Dana stretched and sat in front of her desk. She seemed to be the only one working at this time.
In the dark office, she lit a magic lamp and began writing the report.
'Let's see, what are the tasks today…'
In recent years, with the development of medical technology, the use of potions has become limited to restoring energy only.
As a result, the number of applicants for the Department of Position Management decreased, and no one was hired after Dana.
This made the work easier, but it also made her anxious that the department might be canceled at any moment.
'There are no side effects.'
Healing potions were often sent to knights. From royal knights to border guards.
They were obligated to report the effect of doses and their side effects, and the department's task was to organize these reports.
Dana had done this work dozens, even hundreds of times. Reports were written smoothly.
Hours passed like this, until Dana lifted her tired body.
'Ah, what time is it?'
The sky outside the window was pitch black. Her whole body was aching from sitting for so long.
She turned off the magic lamp and left the office.
‘When I get home, I will soak my body in warm water… then sleep deeply…’
How many hours will you sleep? Dana smiled f-deprecatingly.
Although she was the daughter of a noble family, she did not have a carriage to transport her.
Fortunately, her workplace was close to the family home.
She pushed her tired body and opened the palace door.
“Wahahaha!”
As usual, her family's laughter was booming from the dining room. It was a familiar sight.
“Miss Dana, you are back...”
One of the maids approached her cautiously, observing her features.
While she was looking at the paper in the maid's hand, Dana felt that the sleep had suddenly fled from her eyes.
“Don't say that...”
“Yes, right...”
Dana took the collection order with a trembling hand.
“How many zeros are these...!”
The amount was so large that cold sweat ran down Dana's back.
She hurried towards the dining room where her family gathered.
As usual, the table was covered with fine wines.
Her family was so drunk that they did not notice her arrival.
Her brother Jimmy said, shrugging his shoulders, addressing his parents, the noble couple:
"Dad, Mom! This time I'm completely confident! The company I'm going to invest in is so amazing that…"
“Jimmy!”
The one who stopped him was Dana. She shouted in an almost unbelievable, angry voice.
"When did I borrow again?! This is crazy!"
“Oh, my ears hurt from your screaming.”
Jimmy scratched his ear annoyed.
Dana's mother, the noble lady, worried about her son with such feigned tenderness.
“Jimmy, son, are you okay?”
But her warm gaze quickly turned into fierce cruelty.
“By the way, why are you always so cruel? Girls don’t meddle in men’s affairs!”
There was also a look of anger in her father, Lord Hartwyn's eyes.
“Your only brother is doing a great job, and if you don’t help him, at least don’t hinder him...”
It's always been that way.
When Jimmy caused trouble or the family indulged in luxury, Dana was the only one who bore the burden of paying.
Because of this, they even had to hand over their lands to the state.
However, they could not give up the luxurious palace, expensive dresses, or servants.
“This is an amount I cannot pay with my work alone!”
Dana screamed, her anger reaching extremes, and anger was storming her head.
“True, your abilities have limits.”
Jimmy laughed sarcastically.
“But at least your face is okay.”
A terrible feeling of danger overwhelmed her. Dana felt her entire body grow cold with intuition.
“And that's why…”
Greed flashed in Jimmy's eyes.
“You should get married.”
"You have an investment from Lord Humbern. He wants you as his third wife."
Dana's tongue froze at his words, which simply meant that they had sold her.
Her parents nodded their heads in agreement.
“Haha…”
A goofy laugh escaped from Dana's lips.
The voices of her family in front of her gradually began to fade away.
I felt like everything was moving very slowly.
And at that moment, something snapped inside Dana.
She knew it instinctively.
Her love and sacrifices for this family...
It ended today.