# Chapter 40
An office without a boss is always quiet.
Edmund's office was also quiet in his absence.
Throughout the morning, the office was rarely free from the sounds of desk banging, papers being thrown, someone crying, or Edmund's shrill voice adding to that crying.
But thanks to his absence, we had time to chat comfortably.
Campbell opened the door slightly, glanced around the corridor left and right, and then muttered: “It seems like the meeting is going on for a long time.”
It was rare for the morning meeting to last until this time.
It usually ends within an hour or two.
“They are certainly clinging to the festival issue today.”
Natasha said, stretching her body lightly.
“Festival issue?”
“At the Peace Festival, were His Highness Edmund’s projects better or His Highness Lucid’s projects? Something like that, surely the nobles are discussing it enthusiastically.”
“But isn’t it obvious that His Highness Edmund won? His Highness Lucid’s projects were good in concept, but we heard that there were many impostors, right?”
Oh, I know this story from the newspapers. It was later discovered that the Baron and his wife, who pretended to be my parents, were not the only ones; There were many scammers who tried to take advantage of wealthy people by claiming to be relatives lost in the civil war.
Even Lucid didn't know there were so many imposters.
Paternity confirmation testing in this era is limited to blood type testing only.
This novel that I moved to does not contain magical tools, nor sacred powers that perform miracles. But the presence of a demon in this world seems a bit strange.
If I had known things would turn out like this, I would have taken biology seriously.
Even if I knew the laws of genetics, the technology in this world would not allow them to be applied.
“Huh, if they appointed His Highness Edmund as Crown Prince, that would be much better.”
“Right. It would have cut our work in half.”
“All this is because of the empire’s superiority.”
All the employees in the office sighed, and so did I.
Edmund, except for his slightly, if not often, bad temper, was undoubtedly an ideal prince.
In fact, if I were him, and I was qualified but my mother's background as a foreign dancer prevented me from assuming the throne, I would have a temperament as well.
Moreover, the Empress comes from an ancient family.
Empress Impates, Lucid's mother, is the spoiled only daughter of Duke Benfatul.
Since the Duke's family are fanatical nobles, the nobles are very supportive of Lucid, while poor Edmund struggles to stay in the competition.
If the Emperor had chosen a clear path, it would have been better. But, as an emperor installed with the support of the nobility, he lacks power.
If you look at it that way, Edmund is truly pitiful. But, since he's the main hero, he'll get a happy ending anyway.
Maybe with Ecla.
I glanced at Ecla, who was deep in calculations next to me.
How could her profile be so beautiful? No wonder Campbell looked at her fascinated.
Even I find her charming. She works quickly, if a little impulsive when it comes to the Voglisch people, but Edmund can calm her down...
'Yes, Edmund.'
Edmund the Rational and Eclat seem perfect together in this respect.
But why do I feel this discomfort? Maybe because Edmund is still a candidate to be my master.
I beat my chest for no reason, even though the pain no longer bothered me.
Will I be able to find my master before my birthday? Will I be able to win his heart?
“By the way, Olivia, how was your appointment yesterday?”
Becky looked at me with sparkling eyes as she talked to Margot.
“Have you already received a confession?”
“Olivia, you didn’t accept right away, did you? You should make him wait a little longer!”
At Becky's question, the other female colleagues gathered around me with sparkling eyes. Even Ecla, who seemed uninterested in these matters, looked at me curiously.
People seem to be the same everywhere. Even in the world of fantasy romance, love stories are the most exciting.
I smiled and pulled out a document I had been planning to write this afternoon.
“I intend to work harder!”
"What?"
The sparkling faces turned into disappointed looks, as if they didn't understand how I had come to this conclusion.
“Yesterday I felt that the discrimination against Voglich was worse than I thought.”
“Oh, so you figured you'd have to work harder for Mr. Gallerhead?”
Eclat covered her mouth in shock. Her positive outlook on the world befits the heroine of a romance novel.
“Olivia, did something happen?”
Natasha asked worriedly. Of course, everyone here knows better than I how the Voglich people are treated.
I was the only one who didn't know, because I'm surrounded by amazing people.
“No, it was fun!”
“Well, that's reassuring...”
Margot looked at me warily and said, “Sometimes, strange people can make trouble, so be careful.”
“But it seems that Master Gallerhead will protect you immediately!”
Ecla said, smiling innocently.
“True, with his size, no one would dare disturb him.”
I smiled embarrassedly and looked away. Of course, Galerhead is tall and muscular, so it's difficult to provoke him.
But this law only applies to individual confrontations.
In a situation like yesterday, where the majority were the Empire's citizens, they would likely ignore him indifferently.
The small fine is a problem, but so is his excessive kindness. Maybe because he was accustomed to insults since birth, his environment made him like this.
“By the way, it's time for lunch.”
Edmund hasn't returned yet.
“Let's go eat.”
“Olivia, won’t you come?”
“Oh, of course!”
After looking at Edmund's empty seat, I got up.
***
"That arrogant bastard! He says he's going to reduce luxury and use the money for what? A medical project?!"
Empress Impates nervously dropped her glass. The face of the maid who was massaging her feet was scratched, but that did not matter to the Empress.
“So, what did His Majesty say?”
The Empress spoke in a suppressed tone full of anger.
“He said that we should prepare a detailed draft law first. As you know, despite all of our opposition, His Majesty cares very much about the people of Voglisch...”
Count Rorald, one of the Empress's aides, stopped speaking.
Emperor Kai seeks to eliminate Vogelich discrimination for an obvious reason: the Empress he loves so much is a dancer of Vogelich descent.
“I wish our prince had a more qualified assistant.”
“But Mr. Bellovan, who works with His Highness Lucid, is also talented.”
“What good does that do? Nothing is going as it should!”
Rorald wanted to say it was Lucid's deficiency, but he couldn't, no matter how honest he was.
“If the project His Majesty wants is in the medical field, it would be better to appoint an assistant who works in this field. Is there no suitable person?”
“Are we trying to convince the Imperial Doctor?”
“Isn’t the imperial doctor one of His Majesty’s subordinates? Someone from civilian medicine knows something about Voglich… wait.”
The Empress shook the wine glass lightly and smiled.
“Isn’t the medical corps doctor, whom Edmund created for his staff, a Vogelich?”
“Oh, yeah, right…”
Rorald nodded without thinking, then understood the Empress's intention and opened his eyes in astonishment.
“A wonderful idea, ma'am! If we succeed in enlisting him in the service of His Highness Lucid, he can work as a spy, and him being a Fuglishi will help in understanding the situation and the medical system.”
“Right? Find it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Since he is Fuglisi, he must be poor. If we offer him an amount he has never seen in his life, he will easily join us.”
The Empress laughed in agreement with Rorald.
“Okay, then approach that doctor.”
The Empress smiled elegantly and filled Rorald's cup.
Rorald repeatedly bowed in gratitude as he received the cup. Soon the pure sound of cups clashing rang out.
"I'm excited. I'm looking forward to seeing Edmund lose his followers, and ultimately lose the crown prince's seat."
The Empress made a clear smile with her lips redder than wine. Rorald agreed with her, but a feeling of unease remained in his mind.