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Chapter 6 …
“Ah, hello. Senior Lupesque.”
“Hm, good afternoon. Lowell.”
“Um, how much… did you hear?”
The male lead awkwardly shifted his gaze before muttering quietly.
“You were good at comforting her.”
“…….”
Ah, I’m screwed. He heard everything.
‘So he definitely heard me insulting Allison too.’
Seeing my expression darken, the male lead nodded.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about what happened today.”
“Ah…”
“Not even Team Leader Capres.”
“Eek, thank you!”
“Ahem. In any case, there isn’t much time left, so endure it a little longer. You won’t be formally assigned to this team anyway, so don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
It sounded like he was trying to reassure me in his own way.
But the nuance felt strange, so I tilted my head.
“You mean… no one will be assigned to the diplomacy team at all?”
“It’s already notorious.”
“Ah. Haha. I see.”
That meant even higher-ups knew about the state of this place.
‘Well, there were barely any team members around while working…’
They must’ve all quit because it was unbearable.
And the only psycho left was probably using this chance to dump all her accumulated stress on rookies.
Then the male lead stared down at my face.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Huh?”
“You’re smiling oddly.”
I touched the corners of my mouth.
“No, I’m not smili—”
But like he said, my lips were slightly twisted upward.
Because I wanted to laugh at what he was saying.
‘Hold it in, me. This is the imperial palace, but it’s still a company.’
I was just a low-level intern starting from the bottom of the pyramid again.
I really had to stop showing it on my face…
“If you have something to say, say it, Lowell.”
“I don’t.”
“You look like you do.”
Wow, he’s persistent.
He’s not even comforting the heroine, and now he’s interrogating someone from another department?
“My thoughts are making you curious?”
Why are you using that handsome face to interrogate people?
I had never met a handsome person at work before, so I didn’t know—
With a face like that, even seasoned professionals lose their defenses.
“If you say there won’t be any assignments, then why…?”
“Why?”
“Why are you letting rookies be subjected to unfair treatment in the first place?”
“I know that team is notorious. But it serves as a place where newcomers experience trials at the start of their careers.”
“……”
“If they can’t endure even that, what can they do elsewhere?”
As much as I hated to admit it, it was true.
The harassment Allison inflicted was, in reality, pretty average by real-world standards.
But…
I muttered, suppressing my irritation.
“Trials don’t make people strong.”
“…Huh?”
“They just mess up people’s minds…”
Especially when the ‘trial’ comes from someone in a higher position, it just sends people to psychiatry.
“Lowell…”
“Ah, sorry. I just came from work, so I’ll excuse myself.”
And so the trainee who had thrown etiquette out the window left the male lead behind and turned away.
‘Hmm, he was cool in the novel. Calm, dependable.’
But in reality, he’s just a worn-down corporate slave.
‘Whatever. I’ll just do well in the next department.’
The next place I was heading was, as far as I could guess…
‘A land flowing with milk and honey!’
The gentle nerdy second male lead, Marquis Theodore Wordsworth, and his “Magic Medicinal Research Lab” were waiting for me!
In the story
The heroine mostly stayed in the “Black Spoon Department.”
But even a kind-hearted heroine would sometimes be hurt by the horrors of black magic.
‘So she probably came here to heal.’
The brown-haired, glasses-wearing gentle male, Theodore, always comforted her warmly.
【“Miss Crosswell. If things are difficult… you can always come see me.”
“N-no, I couldn’t impose like that…”
“It’s not an imposition.”
Theodore murmured shyly while serving fragrant tea.
“I just want to ease Miss Crosswell’s heart. Even if that’s all I can do…”
“Ah…”
Yuriana quietly lowered her head at those warm words.
Just being here felt like her tangled thoughts were gently unraveling.
Theodore’s space was always peaceful, like a paradise without a single shadow.】
After finishing the original flashback, I scanned the office.
As described in the novel, I immediately felt at peace.
‘With this much phytoncide, of course.’
The people working here also looked gentle.
‘And Theodore himself leaves early, so no one has to walk on eggshells!’
So was this golden situation only temporary?
‘Hehe, no! Of course I checked that too!’
I bribed someone who had worked in the lab for a long time with coffee and subtly investigated.
[We don’t really have anything like peak seasons.]
[Really?]
[Yep! The director brings in plenty of budget and never yells at anyone. It’s a great place.]
Good.
As my golden future flashed through my mind, my resolve strengthened.
No matter what, I had to stick to this place.
On the last day of my observation, I learned that the imperial palace, being massive, had “coffee time” cafés for officials scattered everywhere.
Usually at 9 AM, 1 PM, and 8 PM, bureaucrats gathered there like walking corpses.
But Theodore and I were enjoying a sweet break at 3 PM.
“Miss Lowell. Are you getting used to the palace?”
“Of course! Thanks to you, Director!”
I forced out the brightness I had lost after becoming a deputy before.
“I actually already want to settle here. The next department is fine too, but I’m really sad my trainee period is ending.”
“Huh? Hahaha! Really?”
“Yes. I’m serious. I’ve realized again how magical medicinal research contributes to the health of imperial citizens. Even though I lack expertise, I want to help senior colleagues and contribute to the empire in any small way I can.”
“Haha, breathe, Miss Lowell…”
Theodore looked overwhelmed by my speech.
But this kind of enthusiasm only fits when you’re a newbie.
More importantly, Theodore seemed pleased.
“I’d be really happy if you joined us too, Miss Lowell.”
“Oh, really…?”
“Yes. Everyone in our lab likes you.”
“Ah, thank you so much!”
“Then just endure the rest of your schedule well.”
Director Theodore, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses, whispered.
“After your trainee period ends, let’s do well together.”
Huh.
Wait, isn’t this basically a done deal?
‘Director Theodore! I love you!’
As expected, my exemplary work attitude and rookie enthusiasm must have synergized and overwritten Leila’s original performance!
Now I would become a peaceful, rule-abiding salary thief in a comfortable place!
My steps became light as if I could fly.
So much so that even on my way home, Grape Head flinched when he saw me.
“Why do you look so happy…?”
“Oh. The weather is just so nice today?”
“It looks like it’s going to rain.”
“Perfect weather for not getting sunburned!”
Grape Head stared at me like he was looking at a crazy person.
A bit annoying, that gaze…
‘Hmm. Your buttons are neatly fastened.’
I’ll be generous since you accepted my feedback.
I was in such a good mood that I practically felt I had already been accepted into the research lab.
‘Ah, but…’
What bothered me a little was that I had lost the male lead’s first flag.
I had been hoping, while reading the novel, that he would end up with the heroine.
He had given me comfort before I died, so I did want them to be happy…
‘But the male lead is a corporate slave crushed by society’s injustice.’
What good is being the most handsome in the world if you’re a corporate slave?
What good is being max-level competent if you’re still a corporate slave?
I silently cheered for the heroine.
‘Even if he’s like that, please be happy together.’
This exhausted office worker would be going somewhere comfortable!
“By the way, Pinley, where’s Yuriana?”
Did she leave first?
Was she waiting outside?
As I headed toward the plaza just in case, I stopped in my tracks at what I saw.
Because Allison and the heroine were facing each other.
