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chapter 6
“W-Will you stay here?”
“Not at all. It’s just right next door.”
He said that, withdrew his hand, and turned around to walk toward the door.
When he pulled his hand away, a sense of disappointment crept in, but I brushed it off and followed him.
However, he suddenly stopped, and I ended up bumping my face into his broad back.
Rudels turned his head and looked at me in surprise.
“Ah… sorry. I should have opened the door first… I… was trying to escort you…”
He stammered, unable to meet my eyes, and mumbled.
Clearly startled, the wolf ears and tail that he had hidden so cleverly earlier popped out.
Seeing the black tail drooping weakly and the ears flopping, I couldn’t help but think of a black puppy being scolded by its owner.
It felt a little guilty to call the man, who was a head and a half taller than me, cute, but I quickly suppressed those thoughts.
Not wanting to let my personal feelings show, I cleared my throat and said to him.
“Well… it’s fine. I’m not hurt or anything. I’m more eager to see my quarters!”
He looked at me apologetically and said sorry once more before leading the way.
We went outside, turned right, and a small room greeted me.
Rudels personally opened the door, and upon seeing the inside, I was once again taken aback.
This… is supposed to be my quarters?
I looked at him in confusion, then pointed toward the room.
“Is this… really my quarters?”
“Yep.”
“Uhm… but anyone can see that this room is…”
It looks more like a luxurious suite room, not a regular staff quarter!
I couldn’t finish my sentence and just blinked in bewilderment.
The room, like the nearby workplace and research lab, was incredibly luxurious.
It looked almost like the most expensive suite at a hotel.
It seemed like they had spent far too much on staff welfare. Why does it feel like there’s something shady going on here?
I scratched my head absentmindedly and surveyed the room.
A high-end bed, a vanity, a desk and chair, and even a nightstand!
Even someone like me, who knows nothing about interior design, could tell that everything was extremely expensive.
“Our family has always put a lot of effort into employee welfare.”
“But… still, this is too expensive…”
“Heh, Iriel. Doesn’t it feel a little unreal how rich our family is?”
Not that rich, is it? I took a small step back, distancing myself from him.
He took a calm step forward and spoke.
“Not only in the beast kingdom of Ipink, but our family is also one of the wealthiest in the entire continent. Do you know why?”
“I-I don’t know… But, wait, hold on…!”
“Because,”
He leaned forward eagerly, his voice excited, and gave me the answer.
“Our Ipink family owns most of the popular gemstone mines.”
“G-Gemstones?”
“Yep, gemstones. And we also own magical stones used to make high-quality gemstones and artifacts.”
He hummed as he swiftly stepped behind me, hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.
Looking at his relaxed posture, I understood how they could spend money like water.
So, they were rich from gemstones. And if they also had magical stones, they must be swimming in money. No, they could probably build a fortress with the money alone.
I thought about this while wondering if other employees had rooms like this one.
“So, do other employees…”
“If someone works for the Ipink family, they should enjoy their benefits, of course. That’s how we maintain our family’s prestige.”
He said with a meaningful glance.
His mysterious tone made me suspicious, but I reached out to touch the bed nearby.
It felt warm and soft, like it was filled with cotton, and it made me feel strangely comforted.
It was my first time touching such soft bedding, so I kept pressing down with my hands, then sat down to feel the bed’s squishy softness.
And just as I was enjoying it, I heard a chuckle.
While I was doing this, Rudels was grinning, biting his lip to suppress his laughter.
“Ugh…”
I tried to cover my face with my fist, but it seemed my lips were still pulled into a grin I couldn’t hide.
As I began to feel an embarrassing sense of shame, there was a knock at the door from outside.
“Lord, are you inside?”
He opened the door and asked, in a cold voice that I had never heard before.
“What is it?”
“The Lady has called for you.”
“I’m busy today. Tell her that.”
“It’s not that… she… she wants to meet with the White Mage… or rather, the Healing Mage.”
The brown-haired boy spoke in a quiet voice, looking at me.
His words made my breath catch in my throat.
“W-Who…? Who wants to see me?”
I trembled and looked at Rudels, who was supposed to be in charge of my safety, with pleading eyes.
Rudels seemed just as surprised by this turn of events, blinking rapidly as he looked back at me.
Seeing my anxious expression, he spoke to the servant.
“Why does she want to see her?”
“Well… Her Majesty, the Grand Duchess, wanted to offer the Healing Mage a cup of tea.”
Oh my god. What kind of bizarre death sentence is this? Why would she want to have tea with a witch!?
I gaped in disbelief, staring at the servant and Rudels.
I gazed at him with desperation, but he avoided my eyes and sighed deeply.
“…Let it be.”
This is ridiculous! You promised to keep me safe!
I looked at him with a face full of frustration.
But Rudels avoided my gaze, squeezing his eyes shut.
‘Betrayer!’
Seeing him turn away made my frustration grow.
