# 4
---
After Paul left, a new desk and chair entered the office.
Even though there were empty spots, Edwin chose to sit next to Dana.
Lighten, his face pale, was still loitering next to Dana.
'Is that why he came here? 'To introduce us to a new employee?'
The disappointment made him resent Paul even more.
Then his hip hit the edge of the desk.
“Aye, aye!”
He felt embarrassed, so he started giving Dana angry looks for no reason.
"Hey, Dana Hartwin! Did you finish the report I asked you to do last time?"
“What you asked of me is a lot, which ones are you talking about?”
Layton wasn't interested in the business, so how would he know?
“You should understand without being told! You always… faint!”
He stopped talking suddenly.
Edwin pushed him from his face with his big hand.
Lighten rushed into the middle of the office in a pathetic manner.
Like a withered leaf blowing in the wind.
He looked at the new employee with incredulous amazement.
As for Edwin, he gave him a reassuring look as if nothing had happened.
“You were standing in my place.”
Edwin said quietly, as he stared at Dana endlessly.
“We meet again.”
His voice had an excited tone for some reason.
"Has he been involved with Lighten since day one? It's going to be annoying…"
Dana whispered worriedly to Edwin.
“You should apologize to Aten first...”
“I didn't hear very well.”
Edwin moved closer to her, leaning his body toward her.
Is it appropriate for him to approach like this...?
When he approached her ear, Dana blinked in surprise.
A fresh, masculine fragrance emanated from his breath.
“So...”
Dana stared absently at his clean cheeks.
Even his long eyelashes were beautiful.
"if?"
Edwin repeated her words, smiling.
“First, tell him you're sorry...”
“Oh, do you care about me?”
He shrugged indifferently, as if it was a simple matter.
Then he smiled slightly, close enough for you to feel his breathing.
“I'm happy.”
Is this something worthy of joy?
Signs of astonishment appeared in Dana's blue eyes.
Then Layton's loud voice rang out.
“What are you two whispering over there instead of working?”
"sorry."
Dana quickly distanced herf and approached her desk.
Lighten continued, pointing at her with his finger.
“You seem to be getting along with the new employee? Then you will be his supervisor!”
"Good."
Dana nodded.
She remembered how much she suffered when Layton didn't teach her anything when she joined.
She didn't want the new employee to suffer like she did.
“Please take care of me, miss.”
Despite his boss's rebuke, Edwin was not affected at all.
Instead, he handed Dana a bottle of apple juice while smiling kindly.
'This is my favorite juice!'
Is it a coincidence?
Dana happily took the bottle.
Edwin watched her with a satisfied look.
'Wow, what is this? Why does it taste so good?'
Dana's eyes widened in surprise.
I've tasted many apple juices, but such a flavor? no.
“Do you like it? I’ll bring more tomorrow.”
Edwin smiled contentedly at seeing her happy expression.
It was fresh juice that the imperial palace chef himf had squeezed at dawn.
Apples intended for the emperor's table ended up in Dana's mouth.
“Thanks, it was delicious.”
“Speak at ease, miss.”
said Edwin kindly.
Dana smiled sweetly at his kindness.
“Okay, Edwin.”
At that moment, Edwin's eyes shook.
Hearing his name in Dana's voice aroused strange feelings in his heart.
A feeling of warmth and fullness….
“Edwin, are you okay?”
Dana called after him, and Edwin regained his focus.
“Ah, yes. It’s better than I expected...”
better? What does he mean?
Dana stood up.
“It's time to go to the stock room. I'll show you how we check the quantities.”
“Yes, miss.”
He answered her in a gentle voice.
As they walked down the hallway, Dana began explaining the assignments.
“Most of our work involves verifying quantities, or reviewing dosage usage reports.”
Edwin listened to her voice as if enchanted.
Despite the passage of time, her voice remained clear and clear.
He began to slow his steps to match hers.
He'd never done that to anyone before.
'That's okay.'
If Dana was someone he cared about, he was willing to adapt.
At the end of the hallway, they opened the door on the right, revealing the inventory room.
It was as cold as a warehouse.
This is to maintain stable doses.
'Oh, it's cold as usual.'
Dana shivered and closed the collar of her jacket.
Then, Edwin's hand touched her back.
“There's something on your back.”
Then wipe it gently.
“Oh? Thanks.”
After she handed him the files, she tilted her head in surprise.
'Feeling strangely warm?'
I checked the magic thermometer, but it didn't change.
It must be just an illusion.
Dana thought about it, then stopped thinking.
She is now teaching the new employee.
“Edwin, do you see this schedule? It's always the same, you'll get used to it quickly.”
“I understand.”
“Here we write the amount of strength restoration potions, and here we write the regeneration potions...”
She was explaining the tasks to him, but she felt strange looks from his side.
“Don't look at me, look at the papers.”
“Yes, yes.”
Edwin's eyes turned again to the papers.
Dana continued the explanation without any stuttering.
Her style clearly showed that she had been working hard throughout this period.
“As for those that have a long expiration date, we put them there at the top...”
Dana climbed a small ladder and extended her hand.
'That Tony, didn't I tell him not to put boxes too deep…'
Her hand was flailing in the air, and eventually Dana lost her balance.
She closed her eyes tightly, preparing for the coming pain.
At that moment, a very low sound rang out near her ear.
“Be careful.”
Unexpectedly, the fall did not fall to the ground, but rather into strong arms.
Edwin lifted her lightly and then gently lowered her to the ground.
His movement was gentle, as if he were handling a precious statue.
"…. Thank you."
Dana raised her head to thank him.
But Edwin merely smiled calmly instead of replying.
As for Dana, she tilted her head in confusion because of a strange feeling that came over her.
'What was that?'
When Edwin said, “Be careful,” I felt a strangely familiar feeling.
'Be careful...'
A tender voice as if she had heard it before...
What is this? While she was lost in thought, the door to the stock room suddenly opened.
It was Kira.
“Dana, it's lunch time!”
“Thank you for telling me.”
The friendly Kira left to eat with colleagues.
Dana thought about the cheap sandwich she would eat again, and lost her appetite.
She hid her frown with difficulty and said to Edwin:
“That must have been boring explaining, thanks for your patience. Enjoy your lunch...”
“Senpai, I brought a lunch box.”
"they?"
“The quantity is a bit much.”
Edwin's eyes turned with beautiful kindness.
“Shall we eat together?”
“…why not?”
His smile was irresistible.
***
“Did you prepare all this yourf?”
Dana asked in surprise.
“Yes, don’t you think the amount is a bit small?”
Edwin looked dissatisfied when he said that.
They were sitting on Dana's usual bench in front of the fountain.
Edwin seemed more polite than Dana had expected.
He placed a napkin on the seat before she sat down and asked her if it was comfortable for her.
When I reassured him, he opened the lunch box to reveal a veritable feast.
Meat pie, an easy-to-eat salad, and a perfect dessert of dried apricots.
For Dana, accustomed to cheap sandwiches, this was food from heaven.
The ingredients were so luxurious that the food shone.
Edwin cut the meat pie into small pieces and handed them to Dana.
“Thank you, I will take it gratefully.”
Finally a luxurious meal! Dana ate with apparent happiness.
Edwin looked at her with obvious satisfaction.
'My effort was not in vain.'
That morning, the Third Prince's sudden arrival caused complete chaos in the palace kitchen.
The cookbook he brought amazed the chefs there.
However, Edwin insisted on preparing the food himf for Dana.
He didn't even forget to cast a spell that would keep the food from spoiling.
Dana said with sincere admiration.
"Very delicious. You're a good cook, aren't you?"
'This is crazy. Why is it so delicious?'
When her eyes lit up, Edwin said softly.
“Senpai, I have a habit of preparing two meals every time I cook.”
"Really? Weird habit."
“So, from now on, only have lunch with me.”
Only with her.
Then, Dana nodded, her cheeks full of food.
Whether it's a weird habit or not, as long as she can ditch the cheap sandwiches, that's enough.
After lunch was over, they returned to the office where Tony, their boss, was calling everyone.
Tony was Layten's right-hand man, and was known for his sharp tongue.
“Did you hear? The crazy third prince is back!”
He said it in an excited voice that made everyone hear him clearly.
Even Edwin, who had just entered.