# 5
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For the potion administration staff, Lighten's lunch period was a time of true freedom.
Although most of the employees were taking a nap at their desks or resting, Tony was using that time to chatter.
He doesn't know where he heard that rumor today either, but he was talking very enthusiastically about the Third Prince, and his saliva was spreading everywhere.
"Crazy?! That's a harsh word."
Kira, who only spoke polite and kind words, furrowed her eyebrows.
But Tony didn't care and continued talking.
“Not just me, everyone calls him crazy!”
When no one showed any interest, Tony looked annoyed.
He always had a thirst to attract the attention of others.
“What is so special about him?”
And now what he wished for has come to him. Someone threw a question.
Tony's face lit up with a smile, he dragged his chair to the center of the office and sat down.
“Well, you know that members of the imperial family have the blood of dragons, right? So they are born with special abilities.”
“The Third Prince has the ability to control fire, and it is said that he blew down the door when he was six because the playroom was not open!”
What a naughty child.
Dana was playing with her pen as she heard him speak in passing.
Tony continued talking.
“It is said that at ten, when the high priest’s sermon was long, he set his beard on fire!”
Edwin was silently listening to the lies being told about him.
In fact, the door he smashed was not the door to the playroom, but the door to the Emperor's Audience Hall.
One of the venal ministers had been ing for pardon for three days, and this upset him.
As for his father, the Emperor, he was too weak to expel him, so he set the fire in his place.
As for the high priest’s sermon... Isn't six hours of preaching a huge exaggeration?
He intervened on behalf of others who were just bored.
'I was smart even when I was young.'
Even when he remembered now, he felt no remorse for what he had done.
Tony continued talking about the Third Prince as he lamented the end of lunchtime.
“Then there is the Rune Knights, which is said to gather the greatest madmen in the empire! And the Third Prince is its leader!”
“The Rune Knights… isn’t it the one that protects the northern border from monsters?”
Tony was happy with Kira's attention and responded by saying.
“Yes! It is said that the state sends to it everyone who cannot be controlled!”
Was that so? Edwin remembered his subordinates.
'They weren't that bad, I guess.'
They were foolish and aggressive, but they were also obedient.
“Anyway, it's said to be terrifying and cruel, so everyone be careful!”
Tony said and went back to his place.
But Dana didn't understand the point.
'I won't run into him anyway, so what's all the fuss about?'
Then Edwin turned to her and asked her.
“What do you think, Senpai? I mean about the Third Prince.”
"I don't know."
Edwin's face was very serious as he asked.
Dana watched his serious expression, then burst out laughing.
“Are you afraid of him?”
Dana mistakenly thought that his large physical size masked a cowardly personality.
Laughing, she joked with him.
“Don’t worry, if we ever run into him, hide behind me.”
“So, will you stay by my side?”
“Yes, why not.”
When the atmosphere became closer than before, Edwin's eyes sparkled.
He wouldn't miss an opportunity like this.
“I'm naturally shy, senpai.”
“You seem so.”
Dana patted his back while smiling.
Edwin accepted her touch happily.
Then he realized something.
Dana is weak in front of the weakness of others.
***
“Dana, you're going to work late today too, right?”
“Yes, see you tomorrow!”
So she said goodbye to Kira, and Dana started her night shift.
Once again, in the dark office, she was relying on a dim magic lamp to do her work in solitude…
“Senpai.”
...That's what she thought, but whose voice was this?!
Dana looked at the source of the sound in horror.
Inside was Edwin, holding a picnic basket in his hand.
Dana opened her mouth in confusion at this unexpected situation.
“I'll be working overtime, too.”
He said while smiling and looking around.
“It's just the two of us, right?”
He was stressing the word “we”... for a reason.
When Dana nodded, he sat next to her.
On her desk he placed some cookies and apple juice.
"What is this?"
“When we work, we need something to occupy our mouth.”
“Are you working late too?”
“Yes, and I would like to learn from Senpai too.”
He pushed a piece of cake into her mouth, encouraging her to taste.
Dana took the piece of it unconsciously, and her eyes widened.
Very delicious...!
Is it because I haven't eaten something delicious in a long time?
No, even if it was, it would far outshine the cakes I ate as a kid.
The crunchy, chewy texture and luxurious flavor made her eyes water with joy.
While she had devoured three pieces, the bottle of juice approached her mouth.
"Take it easy. Drink the juice too."
Dana nodded resignedly at Edwin's gentle touch.
'This… I feel like I'm being cared for.'
But she couldn't refuse his kindness.
That rare sweet taste brought her life again.
"Thank you, Edwin. This is really delicious. Where did you get it?"
“I brought what was at home.”
Edwin smiled contentedly as he looked at her cheeks, puffy from chewing.
When she was a little satisfied, Dana opened the file of papers and asked him.
“Isn't it hard to work extra hours on the first day?”
“…As long as there is extra pay, it’s okay.”
When she heard that, Dana's features suddenly became serious.
'Is it possible that his financial situation is as difficult as mine...?'
It was inappropriate for her to ask him directly.
So I smiled and tried to change the subject.
“But your family, they must be waiting for you.”
“I don’t think...no one is very welcoming to me.”
Could he be in a similar situation to me?
Dana's features grew serious.
'No, I shouldn't think that...that's a rude thought too.'
She tried hard to get rid of those thoughts, but she couldn't.
If he was in the same position as her, she would like to offer him a warm condolences.
But instead of revealing it, she decided to show him her kindness.
“So, today I will teach you during night duty. See these comments from the knights of the different teams?”
“Yes, Senpai.”
“Arrange them by category. If you find any side effects or special conditions, put them here in the middle.”
"present."
Edwin was smart.
Although there were ambiguous matters, he did not need to ask much, but rather classified them carefully.
It was fortunate that a competent employee had come on board, allowing Dana to focus on her work comfortably.
After hours of reviewing the reports, drowsiness began to creep in due to satiety.
Her eyes kept closing.
Her head was falling heavily over and over again.
‘I shouldn’t sleep now!’ Dana shook her head vigorously.
But Edwin, who was watching her, brought a blanket from somewhere.
“How about you rest for ten minutes? I’ll wake you up myf.”
“Really? Thank you.”
They were beautiful words for her.
Dana thanked him from the bottom of her heart and lay down on the desk.
Edwin gently covered her with the blanket.
Soon the sound of her steady breathing took over the place.
'You seem very tired.'
Edwin gently brushed her black locks behind her ear.
After he was separated from Dana on the battlefield, he was repeatedly forced to imagine her features, which never left his mind.
What color are her eyes, and what is her hair like?
On the day of Dana's interview in the magic department, when Edwin finally saw her from behind the curtain, he knew that he would never forget her as long as he lived.
Dana was more beautiful than all the pictures he had of her in his mind all those years.
Her hair, as black as night, and her straight blue eyes sunk into his heart.
Even her voice would never be forgotten.
'If I had known that I would meet you, I would have thought of you whenever I looked at the sky.'
Edwin smiled silently.
But anyway...
“Dana, are you working overtime today too?”
Was her name Kira? Based on what this employee said, it seems like Dana is always working late.
'It's not good for her health.'
Why do you stick to overtime like that?
Is there something I don't know?
He thought Dana was fine the whole time he was fighting monsters.
'I have to check it carefully.'
While he was thinking this, Edwin gently pulled the blanket over Dana's body.
Thanks to that, Dana fell into a deep, sweet sleep.
***
And at that moment in the Imperial Palace...
“Where did my scones go?! Everyone knows that I eat orange scones with jam whenever I start reviewing state affairs!”
The Emperor was complaining with a sad face.
The terrified servant bowed his head.
“A-The thing is that… His Highness the Third Prince is the one who took it, it seems.”
“Edwin?!”
“N-yes...”
“Ah…”
The Emperor was offered other sweets in an attempt to ease his grief, but his mood did not improve.
The servant could not bear the silence any longer and opened his mouth cautiously.
“Do you wish me to inform His Highness the Third Prince of this?”
“To my youngest son?! No, never!”
That boy is so scary. The Emperor shook his head violently.
"Yes…"