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Chapter 12
Meanwhile, in the Northern Rune Knights…
“I miss the Captain.”
They were chatting as they shoveled snow like always.
“Yeah. Where did he suddenly disappear to?”
“He probably went to the Imperial Palace. He is a prince.”
“Is he?”
Just then, one of the knights standing guard came over, almost in tears.
He was a big, broad man with short hair.
In his hand, he was clutching a huge rabbit doll.
On the bottom of its foot was the name Merida engraved.
“I don’t miss the Captain at all.”
“What, are you sulking again?”
“The Captain said our Merida got fatter than last year!”
Hmm.
At those words, all the knights who were shoveling snow gathered around.
“Yeah… she did get fatter.”
“She totally did.”
And so, they spent the next three hours debating how Merida had ended up gaining weight.
Not a single one of them questioned whether a doll could even gain weight in the first place.
Peter Milo was a talented graduate who had finished the Academy with excellent grades.
He was appointed as an imperial aide the moment he graduated.
And not just any aide—the direct aide to the Third Prince!
It was an incredible honor for someone so young.
Amid cheers from his family and friends, he entered the palace and immediately went to meet the Third Prince.
But waiting for him wasn’t the prince—only a palace attendant.
‘Greetings! I am Peter Milo, the aide who will be serving His Highness the Third Prince from today!’
The attendant said flatly, without a hint of expression,
‘His Highness the Third Prince is not here. You probably won’t have much chance to see him in the future either.’
‘…Sorry?’
‘He has been away from the palace for a long time, and he prefers to handle everything on his own.’
The attendant wasn’t lying.
While the aides of other princes were constantly busy running around, Peter truly didn’t have to do anything.
The Third Prince didn’t give orders, didn’t spend his allocated budget…
He didn’t even give Peter a chance to meet him.
All Peter ever heard were terrifying rumors.
That he slaughtered northern monsters alone.
That the sight of him was gruesomely brutal.
He never attended festivals or events either.
The reason was simple:
Too bothersome.
Only a minimum number of servants even knew his face.
Because of that, Peter spent every day just killing time at his desk.
‘I want to work…’
Today was no different.
Even after returning from the North, the Third Prince immediately became the head of the Magic Department.
And he still never summoned his aide.
Peter opened a blank sheet of paper and began doodling.
‘Yesterday I drew a butterfly… maybe I’ll draw a bird today…’
The only thing improving with time was his drawing skills.
Then suddenly—
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on his door.
“What is it?”
Peter answered gloomily.
Then he heard something completely unexpected.
“His Highness the Third Prince is calling for you. Right now!”
“…Excuse me?”
This early in the morning…?
Peter asked blankly.
The attendant couldn’t wait and burst into his office.
“Hurry! He said it’s urgent!”
Peter jumped up.
He staggered so wildly he slammed his thigh against his desk, but he didn’t even feel pain.
His Highness is calling for me…!
Finally—his first job…!
Smiling brightly, he hurried after the attendant.
“Pay your respects. This is His Highness the Third Prince.”
This is the Third Prince…?
Peter stared blankly.
The tall man standing beneath the sunlight was dazzling.
With a face so gentle it seemed angelic, he was looking down at Peter.
He was nothing like the terrifying rumors—he was beautiful.
Ahem! Unable to watch any longer, the attendant cleared his throat.
Finally coming to his senses, Peter bowed quickly.
Having rushed over, he was panting hard.
“Your… Highness…! It’s an honor…! I… huff… Peter… huff… Milo!”
“Yes, Huff Milo. I called you because there’s something urgent I need investigated.”
“Anything…! Just say it…!”
Edwin nodded at the attendant.
Sensing it immediately, the attendant disappeared, leaving just the two of them.
“Look into the circumstances of House Hartwin, the Viscount family. Find out how much and in what way they are struggling.”
House Hartwin?
It was a weak, practically unknown family.
Catching his breath, Peter asked,
“Financially… Your Highness?”
“Yes. And if possible, investigate their sources of income as well.”
Why was the Third Prince curious about such a house?
But a true aide doesn’t question.
Peter answered with determination.
“I’ll report back within a week!”
“No.”
Edwin replied calmly.
“By the time I return from my trip.”
Peter’s eyes darted.
Was this a test of his abilities as an aide?
If so, he wanted to do exceptionally well.
Edwin added,
“Huff Milo, I care about results.”
“…Meaning you don’t care how I get them.”
The quick-witted Peter understood immediately.
Just then, a royal carriage stopped in front of Peter.
It was clearly a precious imperial carriage.
Edwin tilted his head slightly as if to say, What are you waiting for?
‘He’s telling me to ride this…?’
He was being treated with the highest level of privilege as an aide.
Deeply moved, Peter immediately departed from the palace.
‘I’ll investigate everything—down to the tiniest speck of dust!’
The obsessive thoroughness that once terrified his professors was blazing back to life.
Dana had to leave early in the morning for a business trip.
She packed thick clothes into her luggage and headed downstairs.
She quietly looked around.
The maids weren’t at work yet, and her family would still be fast asleep.
No doubt they’d been drinking in the dining room until dawn, after gambling and partying all night.
Dana took out a cloth pouch from her bag.
Inside was a crystal orb—an image-recording device powered by magic stone.
Thanks to Edwin, she had been able to get it easily.
Just as he’d instructed, she held the orb top and bottom and twisted it in opposite directions.
Click.
Recording began.
I need proof the unfair contract terms were discussed.
Dana wanted both her family and Viscount Hembern punished.
But even if she reported them, her family might back out under Hembern’s pressure.
So she needed evidence that they knew exactly what they were doing.
That’s why she borrowed the device.
To provoke them and capture their testimony.
She hid the orb deep inside the china cabinet.
It was where the Viscountess stored her most precious display-only dishes.
Dana checked one last time carefully.
Then she turned around—
“What do you think you’re doing?”
A sharp voice cut through the air.
“…”
Dana froze, completely shocked.
Her whole body went cold, sweat trickling down her back.
The voice belonged to Jamie.
He was leaning against the wall, rubbing his head.
He looked thirsty and hungover.
Dana forced herself to act calm.
“What do you mean ‘what am I doing?’ I’m getting ready to go to work.”
“Here?”
“Is it weird to drink water before work?”
“Then what did I see?”
“What you saw…?”
Her heart thudded again.
Dana frowned at him like it was nothing.
Jamie pointed at her luggage bag.
“Don’t tell me you’re running away? Because you don’t want to pay the debt?”
“…Wait. That’s what you saw? My luggage?”
“Yeah. You can’t fool these eyes!”
She barely stopped herself from sighing in relief.
He glared at her with bloodshot eyes.
Dana looked at him pityingly.
“I’m going on a business trip to the North starting today.”
Oh.
Jamie’s expression instantly softened.
He was always simple.
Easy to anger, easy to cheer up.
“Well yeah, you wouldn’t abandon your family.”
Ignoring him, Dana walked past with a crooked smile.
Why was he so certain she wouldn’t run?
Her family always treated her like property.
As if they’d caged her.
As if they knew she had nowhere to go.
Come to think of it… why did I always just endure it?
That lingering question resurfaced.
If she didn’t obey.
If she didn’t devote herself to them.
It always felt like something terrible would happen.
Even though she knew it was unfair, she endured it silently.
So why did my heart suddenly change?
Dana tilted her head slightly.
Lost in thought, she opened the mansion door.
And then her eyes widened.
“…Edwin?”
