ITSM 23

Chapter 23

Hmm… muttering while stroking his chin, Bael looked at Liliana.

Was he thinking she just loved working so much, seeing her so focused?

“Could be.”

The king had played with Liliana too much. She had originally come to Winsphere for work, so it was understandable that she might be uncomfortable.

“She seems responsible, too.”

She was a very diligent person. That made sense.

Bael rested his chin, stared straight ahead with closed eyes, lost in thought. When he opened them again, he sighed.

“Hmm.”

Time had passed while he was worrying about Liliana, and it was well past dinner.

Thinking of the king, who reacted so sensitively to her meals, he felt like he should feed her something…

“Miss Liliana.”

When he turned his head, he saw Liliana fast asleep, breathing softly.

“If you’re sleepy, just go rest.”

She must be tired from working so hard after a long time. Bael shook his head and stood, approaching her side.

As he was about to shake her awake, his eyes fell on the desk—and he was startled.

“…That’s a week’s worth of work.”

While he had been lost in thought and not working, Liliana had apparently finished all the tasks he had handed her earlier.

“Is the king really planning to waste such a capable talent?”

He muttered this with a hint of lament.

‘I thought he’d show up in a day.’

Roan hadn’t appeared for a whole week.

And unfortunately, I had fully adapted to his absence. On top of that, today I was handling a terrifying amount of work, like a true aide.

“Mr. Bael, I finished this task too. What should I do next?”

The task he gave me at 7 a.m. was done before noon.

At first, he was pleased with my speed, but now he looked shocked and scowled.

“…Already?”
“It only took four hours.”

He scratched his head and frowned. I kept a nonchalant expression.

The past week working with Bael had been quite satisfying. He was unusually picky about work, which suited me well, and we coordinated smoothly.

‘No one understood how efficient it is when I don’t chat during work.’

Aside from his obsession with my meal times, he was the perfect partner.

Bael eyed me sharply, speaking in a cold tone.

“You slept here again yesterday.”
“I fell asleep while working.”
“Miss Liliana, didn’t I say you shouldn’t overwork?”
“I’m not overworking.”
“You look extremely tired.”
“Really? I feel alive and breathing.”

I shrugged, and he muttered as if exasperated:

“Crazy human…”
“I’ve often been called obsessed with work.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“Oh? I took it as a compliment.”

I felt strangely pleased seeing Bael’s expression as if he had just seen a more extreme monster than himself.

‘If he knew I do less than half the work I do outside… he’d faint.’

I smiled faintly, rifling through papers to see what task I should take next.

He muttered irritably:

“I’ve done all the work I could.”

I glanced at the stack of papers piled high on his desk and smiled.

“Mr. Bael, what’s with all these piled-up papers?”
“That’s my work! Don’t covet it! Why are you so greedy?”
“Thanks. I’ll handle this.”

I reached for the papers and took them. Bael’s expression shifted dramatically, but I shrugged and hummed a tune.

The devils, who reacted to every poke, now looked almost innocent.

I began reviewing the papers I received, humming to myself.

After some time, a soft voice interrupted:

“Do you know you two are making the same expression?”
“Basago.”

Bael handled the work in the morning, and Basago guarded the place in the afternoon. It had been our routine since day one. Bael said he couldn’t leave me alone while working.

“Is being a workaholic your dream?”

At first, Basago was cautious, but now he acted like he was just leaving. He no longer kept his guard up around me, almost like having a younger sibling.

‘Well… he’s lazy, thoughtless, dumb, and annoying every day.’

Still, the kid was kind…

I leaned against the door and glanced Basago up and down.

“Don’t look down on me, okay?”
“You noticed that, huh.”

Basago smirked without losing to me.

“You look colorful today too.”
“Did you check the mirror?”

Thanks to him, I had relaxed over the past couple of days. But now, I responded in kind to his flippant tone.

Since Basago came a bit early today, Bael saw this for the first time. He asked me, somewhat surprised:

“You two speaking casually now? You seem close.”
“Of course not!”
“Close with him?”

We yelled and glared at Bael. He looked awkward.

“Now that I see it, you two look alike. Like siblings…”
“Mr. Bael, you have a tendency to speak carelessly.”

Basago, not to be outdone, let out a bewildered laugh.

“I’ve never had a younger sibling like him!”

I chuckled, taking advantage of his vulnerability.

“Why am I the younger one? Can’t you think of yourself as the younger sibling?”
“Well, I’m older…!”
“You barely look eighteen, what are you saying?”

It wasn’t clear, but since Roan was deceiving me, we were all in the same boat. A devil was deceiving, but no human was being deceived—I intended to use that to my advantage.

I smirked and teased Basago, who grabbed the back of his neck in frustration. He couldn’t reveal he was a devil, so he was helpless.

“Ha! This tiny thing…”
“Did I add to being tiny?”
“I misspoke.”

Their heated exchange was interrupted by Bael, but we ignored him and continued.

“There’s something! What will you do if I have it?”
“Hey!”
“What!”
“I’m sorry…”

I glared at Basago and expressed how absurd I found his apology.

“If it bothers you, I should be the one upset. This is the worst thing I’ve heard all year.”
“Huh?”
“The conclusion is I dislike you more, Mr. Basago.”
“Don’t say it so disgustingly!”

Our banter continued. Bael kept sighing at us, but I pressed on.

After a while, Bael, pale, had returned to his spot.

“You haven’t left yet?”

Normally, he would have left quickly. Today, however, he was waiting.

“I have something to discuss with Basago.”
“If it’s troublesome, I’ll pass.”

Bael grabbed Basago by the ear and dragged him. Basago screamed, but couldn’t resist.

I watched quietly. When they left, the room fell silent.

“Huh. Alone.”

Feeling awkward, I moved my arms and glanced at the papers on the desk.

It was my first time spending time alone in a while.

The devils were always around. If I didn’t return to my room, Basago stayed here too.

‘After a few noisy days, it feels so strange.’

Just as I picked up my pen to resume work, the door swung open again. It was Bael, who had just taken Basago out.

He looked serious, and I found myself tense.

“Oh, and Miss Liliana.”
“Yes?”
“This isn’t a bedroom. Go inside and sleep.”

With those words, all my tension melted.

“Go outside and get some sun too. Do you want to become a ghost stuck here?”