# Chapter 13
Ah, I stayed up all night.
Was that foreigner really sir? Or is it just sincere compliments on my appearance?
Without answering, I got out of bed. I couldn't sleep anymore anyway. I decided to go to work early and left the temple.
The light blue sky, the fresh breeze, the sounds of birds that have just woken up, and the exotic scent of dawn. I felt a sense of freshness that I had never felt in Seoul, and I entered the office excitedly.
But that sound I heard as soon as the door opened made me wish I hadn't heard anything.
“You came early today too.”
Who comes to the office at this time? Edmund, of course. When he saw me, he frowned as if I was an intruder.
Is it forbidden to come early? Isn't this your office?
Oh, right, it's his office. She quickly bowed.
Since I lost that doctor, I have to focus on the candidate in front of me now.
She looked at Edmund's seat. He wrote with frightening focus.
Is he a workaholic and not an overachiever?
"Your Highness, I love you! Will you go out on a date with me?"
I smiled innocently at Edmund, who looked at me in surprise.
They say a smile is irresistible!
“I thought you were smart, but apparently I was wrong.”
Edmund rose slowly and approached. I have to admit, his body is amazing.
There is no one who suits a black suit better than him.
His body was slim with taut muscles, and in the morning sunlight, his features—his sharp nose, long eyelashes, and distinctive jaw—became more pronounced.
“Just clever...”
Edmund muttered, running a finger near his temple, as if to say I had lost my mind.
“No, I'm not!”
“If you're not crazy, why do you keep asking me out when you know I'll say no? Usually, girls run away from me after my first rejection.”
“Maybe they weren't desperate.”
Arrogant noblewomen might give up after rejection, but I don't.
I'm desperate. If there is a possibility that he is my master, I will cling to him.
I want to live again. I want to live and see my mother.
“I confessed today, I won’t do anymore. Don’t worry!”
She continued smiling. I am desperate, and desperate people are always in a vulnerable position.
“Did you really decide to order that once a day?”
Edmund frowned.
"Of course! You said once was okay!"
“When did I say it was acceptable?”
“Isn’t silence consent?”
“Since when did silence become consent?”
I shrugged and got up.
“Do you want coffee?”
Edmund returned to his seat without replying. Is he ignoring me on purpose?
I passed by him while he was sitting like a statue reviewing papers, and I started making coffee.
The morning sunlight began to filter into the office. Thin threads of light illuminated the floor, then permeated the entire office.
The scent of coffee spread with the light.
“There she is.”
When she set the cup down, Edmund raised his eyes lightly and held the cup with his elegant fingers.
"See? Silence is consent, right?"
He frowned slightly, as if angry at his inability to respond, then changed the subject.
“Hmm, are you coming early every day?”
“Is that prohibited?”
“Coming early doesn't mean extra pay.”
"I know that."
Of course, I want to impress Edmund, but I'll keep coming early so I can do my job well.
After today's confession, I got to work while drinking my coffee.
After processing some papers, my colleagues began arriving as work approached.
“Olivia, are you okay?”
“You were very shocked, weren't you?”
Everyone asked me how I was because I fainted. Really nice.
“As you can see, I'm completely fine!”
While we were laughing, a cold voice passed by.
“Everyone seems to be idle? They only worry about others.”
There was an awkward silence.
“Stop gossiping and start working. If someone is unemployed, I will double their work today.”
With Edmund's harsh words, all that was heard was the sound of pens and papers turning.
This place was full of elites, their concentration incomparable.
She looked at Dante, sitting next to Edmund.
One day, sooner rather than later, I must get to that seat.
This way Edmund will look at me a little, and I'll have a chance to live.
After some time, lunchtime approached.
“Hey, the new employee.”
"Yes?"
Campbell and I raised our heads at the same time, but Edmund frowned and looked at me.
“Nikita, I will prepare a contract with Aryan.”
Before he could finish, I took out the papers I had prepared earlier.
“There she is!”
"… What is this?"
“A contract with Nikita and Aryan, right?”
Edmund took the papers from my hand in amazement.
"how…?"
“I knew you were going to ask for it, so I prepared it in advance!”
I was translating for the delegation, so I knew the terms of trade well. Since the festival was over, I was expecting us to write the contract, so I prepared it since the morning.
"decent."
Edmund gave a half smile. Ah, praise!
“So, will you go out on a date with me?”
They looked at me in shock again. Shouldn't they get used to it by now?
“Confess or ask out, why not just once a day?”
“Ah, my mistake!”
I smiled. Fortunately, Edmund only frowned slightly without commenting.
He seems to have gotten used to my random attacks.
“...I will amend this. It has not been decided yet.”
"Good!"
I seem to have gotten used to ignoring him too.
“Then let's have lunch and continue.”
At lunchtime, we gathered together as usual to eat.
Of course, Edmund wasn't there, which made the atmosphere even quieter.
“Okay, I'll go first.”
“Are you finished already?”
Dante quickly got up after eating.
“In fact, my younger sister recently obtained a teaching license.”
Dante spoke in a tired tone.
"But she said she didn't have time to register at the licensing office, and asked me to do it. I'll go now. I don't know when I'll finish work."
“Fortunately, the licensing office employees take lunch on a rotating basis.”
Campbell spoke in a cheerful tone.
Licensing office...licenses? Doctor's license?!
“Olivia, where are you going?!”
“I...I'm going to the licensing office for a moment!”
In the Empire, you must register your license if you want to practice medicine or teach, otherwise it is illegal.
If that man was a doctor, especially if he was a doctor in the empire, even if he was a foreigner, he should be registered.
“Olivia, do you have an order here too?”
I did not answer Dante and insisted to the licensing office employee: “All lists of doctors’ license holders, no, lists of foreign doctors!”
“All of it?”
The clerk looked at my ID and handed over the papers without hesitation.
Being Edmund's office worker seemed to make it easy.
I have Edmund's "crazy" reputation to thank.
I was worried that the list would be long, but the number of foreign doctors was less than I expected. But…
“None! None!”
There were about 50 foreign doctors licensed in the empire.
“He looked close to my age.”
But the youngest person on the list is thirteen years older than me.
“But he said he was a doctor.”
Did I mishear? I was disoriented by the fireworks...
“Does he look much smaller?”
Or is he an unlicensed doctor? Not impossible. It is difficult for foreigners in the empire to obtain an education. Free instruction in the imperial language was the only thing available.
If he is unlicensed, he may be working in the UMFA area.
Going to Umpha after work is late and dangerous, as it is known as the Chaos Zone of the Empire.
Maybe on the weekend? If I ask Mr. Ruan to accompany me?
“What are you looking for?”