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Chapter 31
The Imperial Palace Conference Room
I entered the conference room together with Killian. The mages were already gathered around the table, waiting for us.
From elderly mages to young ones, all of them wore solemn, serious expressions.
But… was it just my imagination?
Their flushed cheeks, somehow—
They look exactly like couples who’ve just started a fresh romance.
Every single one of them looked like an awkward teenage boy.
When Killian took his seat, the mages also sat down in unison, unable to hide their excitement.
Nathan, the chief aide, began his report in a voice noticeably higher than usual.
“Your Majesty, while working overtime we analyzed the data, and after narrowing it down to—”
“Too long, Nathan. Just give me the conclusion.”
At the emperor calling his name in a low voice, Nathan cleared his throat and straightened up.
“Your Majesty, after bone-grinding effort and sweat and blood from the mages, the waterway design has finally been completed. We finished it two full weeks earlier than the one-month deadline you set.”
Nathan raised two fingers to emphasize the “two weeks,” his face glowing with excitement.
He looks like a puppy begging for praise.
As I barely held back my laughter, Killian gave me a brief wink before nodding at Nathan.
“Good work, everyone.”
Looks like Killian was thinking the same thing as me. They’re in terrible shape.
Though they wore proud, accomplished expressions, it was obvious they had been working late nights—dark circles under their eyes, rough skin, exhaustion written all over their faces.
“I will grant a reward for what the mages have achieved. However, it can only be considered complete once the waterways are actually installed. How soon can they be set up in the Grikendal region? This is an urgent matter.”
“We’re thinking of using logs together with stone. Grikendal has vast forests, so we plan to use large trees to construct the waterways.”
“Logs?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! We hollow out the inside of the logs and connect them so water flows through them. We’ll seal the joints with pitch to prevent leakage. However—”
“However?”
“They must be installed along the Sendeo River in Grikendal. The current there is known to be the fastest in the empire, so whether the logs can withstand it is the key issue.”
The current? That’s something I can handle!
I immediately turned and locked eyes with Killian.
Killian rested his chin on his hand—the one that had been tapping the table—and gazed at me steadily.
I can help! Killian! Me!
I nodded vigorously, widened my eyes, and silently mouthed words at him. Killian narrowed his eyes in response.
Why? I really can do it!
Huh? What’s with that look?
Killian deliberately avoided my desperate gaze, as if he were absolutely refusing.
“Everyone has worked hard. Mages, mobilize all available magic and shorten the schedule as much as possible. I will spare no support.”
After the meeting ended, I hurried after Killian as he headed for his office.
“Your Majesty—hey, Your Majesty?”
Why is he walking so fast?! He’s usually slow when he’s next to me!
Afraid I’d lose him, I forgot all palace etiquette and quickened my pace, eventually breaking into a run.
Did he put wheels on his feet or something?! Slow down already!
“Your Majesty! Let’s go together! Please?”
Killian ignored me completely and slipped into his office in an instant. I sprinted with all my might and barely managed to wedge my foot into the door just as it was closing.
“Ow!”
As I cried out and grabbed my foot, Killian startled and flung the door open, immediately dropping to his knees in front of me.
“R-Red? Are you hurt? I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were there.”
Didn’t realize? You were pretending not to notice me the whole time!
I scrunched up my face and put on an expression of genuine pain.
Heh. How’s my acting?
Startled by my performance, Killian scooped me up without hesitation and sat me on the long sofa.
“Call the personal physician immediately!”
I hurriedly grabbed Killian’s arm, which had gone pale.
“Killian, I’m actually fine. I just pretended to be hurt because I wanted to talk to you.”
When I smiled sheepishly at him, Killian stiffened.
“Red, that kind of joke isn’t funny. My heart almost stopped.”
This was no time to beat around the bush. I had to overwhelm him before he could recover.
“Killian, I’ll help. If I do, the installation will be finished quickly.”
“No, Red. I already told you. I can’t put you in danger.”
“No, Your Majesty! The longer we delay, the more the people will suffer. I can solve this. And even if I’m in danger, you’re a sword master and a great ice mage—what is there to worry about?”
Perhaps annoyed by my fake injury, Killian rejected me firmly.
As if that’s enough to make me give up.
From that moment on, for two whole days, every time I saw Killian, I tried to persuade him nonstop.
***
I especially lingered near his office, waiting for moments when Killian was alone.
“To think my abilities are being wasted on nothing but cleaning water… Your Majesty, strictly speaking, isn’t this negligence of duty? I think I deserve confinement or disciplinary action.”
When Killian responded with cold indifference, my stubbornness only grew.
“Your Majesty, no matter how I think about it, this is a serious waste of talent.”
Use me already!
“If I could contribute even a tiny bit to Your Majesty’s glorious reign, it would be an honor to my family—even if that glory doesn’t actually exist.”
Hah. Still not moving?
“Records of the Laoten Empire’s waterways will remain for thousands of years, you know? I want to become one of those nameless people recorded in history. There’s that saying—names may fade, but history remembers.”
Since Killian didn’t even pretend to listen, I couldn’t stay quiet.
If teeth don’t work, use gums!
“Killiiiaaan. Just think about it one more time. This is pure profit, you know? Hm?”
I emphasized how advantageous it would be for him to use me.
“Excellent control over water, outstanding abilities—how could you just leave someone like that unused? Hmm? Your Majesty?”
[Red, men always fall for cuteness. The secret I used to seduce Tom was exactly that—acting cute.]
I even tried aegyo, the secret technique Anna taught me.
From the look on Killian’s face, I could tell exactly what he was thinking.
That bewildered expression.
You… acting cute?
That was written all over his face.
Ah. I’m doomed.
I stopped all the failed methods and decided to use my final card.
***
Watching Red trail after him relentlessly, trying to persuade him, Killian’s smile kept creeping up uncontrollably.
When persuasion still didn’t work, Red began performing all sorts of water-related tricks in front of him whenever they were alone in the office.
She moved hot water from the teapot directly into the teacup on his desk, struck all kinds of poses, and desperately tried to show off her abilities.
Ridiculously cute.
It was a sight only Killian could see.
And it was a side of her he had never seen before. Just watching her lifted his mood, making his chest itch pleasantly.
Seeing her blush while emphasizing her abilities was beyond cute—it was maddeningly adorable.
I want to keep you where only I can see you.
If the reports from the south hadn’t been growing more serious by the day, he would have honestly wanted to keep Red by his side all day and simply watch her.
But in the end, after two days, Killian had no choice but to reject her request decisively.
“Red, while I’m away in the south with the mages, never use your water powers. I won’t be by your side.”
<Never use your abilities in front of others.>
He made her promise to obey that rule without exception.
“Killian, Nathan is your chief aide, right? And he’s also a mage.”
“Yes. So?”
“If you’re not here, we don’t know what might happen in this huge palace. Wouldn’t it be okay to tell the chief aide who’ll remain in the palace that I’m a water mage? Then, even if I’m discovered by accident, there’ll be someone who can protect me…”
“I don’t like that.”
“You said you were worried about me. You’ll be traveling far away whenever waterways are installed across the empire. If I can get help from Chief Aide Nathan, I’ll be doubly, triply safe. Oh! And shouldn’t Sir Lloyd, who’s now my guard, know too? Those two are the only people you truly trust. If you’re not around… I need people I can rely on.”
Killian didn’t like that suggestion at all.
Just imagining Red relying on the two of them with her fragile body when he wasn’t there—especially them knowing her secret and her asking them for help—made a surge of irritation rise inside him.
Killian strode up to Red, gently stroked her red hair, and said firmly,
“I’m always here. Why would you need them? I’m enough to protect you. You’ll only have me by your side.”
