IATAOTHK | CHAPTER 04

chapter 4.

“Assistant. That’s you, isn’t it?”

Mayna looked briefly at the woman who had stopped right in front of her.

Jiji Berririch.

A figure no Imperial citizen could fail to recognize.

[“Fifth richest man’s youngest daughter, Lady J: ‘Appointment powers? I’ll just buy them with money.’”]

Six months ago, she was the one who dominated every newspaper’s front page.

Because she was close to the Empress, often enjoying meals and tea parties together, she had flexed her specialty in political scheming by pushing the son of a certain Baron into the Imperial Land Management Department, which caused controversy.

“Yes.

It is an honor to meet you, Lady Berririch.

Thanks to you, the guild’s management has received great help.”

On top of that, she had also been sending massive sponsorship funds for three months straight to the guild 928, run by Kalif.

(Many reporters asked what the guild name “928” meant, but it was simply the date Kalif had founded it, September 28.

“Seriously, you look pathetic.”

That was Kurden’s opinion, and ever since, for nine years now, they kept silent about the meaning of 928 to make it seem like there was some deep story behind it.)

“Thanks to you, we were able to buy plenty of expensive Red Potions.”

“What are Red Potions?”

“It’s a type of medicine.

If knights get hurt or sick, they take it and it restores their stamina quickly.”

“Oh really?”

Jiji raised the pitch of her voice brightly at the end of her words.

Her tone, rising and falling like singing, carried a carefree rhythm that reminded Mayna of her own childhood.

In a word, the ignorant brightness of a noble young lady.

Her appearance was also the textbook example of one.

An expensive velvet dress that highlighted her voluptuous figure, jewelry so dazzling it looked heavy, and glossy skin and hair.

Her flawless makeup must have taken at least five hours.

“Then Sir Lennox must be taking those potions too, right?”

“Of course.”

Even at the sudden mention of Kalif, Mayna showed no hint of being shaken.

But Jiji looked Mayna up and down with sharp eyes.

As if trying to read her true thoughts.

“By the way, Assistant.”

“Because of the scandal, you must be worried, aren’t you?

The Empire was turned upside down over your rumored affair with Princess Parker.”

“It was nothing but a false report, so it was resolved without much difficulty.”

Mayna calmly added once again.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Jiji smiled widely with her mouth, but her cold eyes bored into Mayna like facing off against an equal opponent.

“Actually, I heard directly from Sir Lennox at the party today.

He said it was just a rumor.”

“He told you that himself, my lady?”

“Yes.

He said he has nothing whatsoever to do with Princess Parker.”

“I see.”

Mayna closed her lips with an unreadable expression.

Sensing that something had changed, Jiji folded her arms with a snap.

The political scheming skills of a spoiled noble lady activated.

Never miss the moment when your opponent shows a weakness, and push through.

“Sir Lennox says he’s been thinking about marriage lately.”

“Marriage?”

Jiji nodded leisurely.

“Whether knight or mage, he has no intention of marrying someone who goes into dangerous dungeons.”

“……”

“So it seems he’s planning to choose a partner from among noble ladies whose families could help with guild operations.”

For the first time, Mayna’s expression clearly changed.

Jiji smiled with triumph.

“I felt sorry hearing it.

What a lonely life.

A top star who lives under everyone’s eyes, but can’t confide in anyone.”

With a languid sigh, Jiji looked dramatically up at the sky like a stage actress.

Then she whipped her head back and stared directly at Mayna.

“People describe the two of you as a perfect duo.”

“……”

“But I guess it’s just a business relationship, not close enough to share real thoughts.”

Mayna lowered her gaze.

“Perhaps so.”

“……”

“I didn’t know he was even thinking about marriage.”

Mayna rubbed her arms as if struck by a sudden chill.

She looked a little lonely.

Jiji didn’t bother to hide her victorious smile.

Though she had been lazy in her studies since childhood, knowing nothing of business or worldly affairs, she had an uncanny intuition when it came to relationships between men and women.

Today, even though she herself had tried to tempt him, Kalif Lennox had not batted an eye.

And the one who had monopolized his attention throughout the party was none other than Mayna Winslet, the only daughter of a ruined house.

It wasn’t just petty jealousy driving her childish scheming.

Jiji’s goal was to become Kalif’s wife.

The first step was to get rid of the obstacle clinging to his side and take her place.

“Imperial superstar X-rank knight’s new assistant.”

Even the title was enough to give chills, but if that assistant happened to be none other than Jiji Berririch, wealthy and beautiful?

Ha. Jackpot.

It made her dizzy with excitement.

I’ll have you, Kalif Lennox.

“I should go now. My carriage is waiting.”

Humming like she had already cleared step one toward becoming Kalif’s wife, Jiji spoke cheerfully.

“Lady Berririch.

If it’s not too much trouble, may I give you a small gift?”

Mayna stopped her in her tracks.

“A gift? For me? Why?”

“As a token of thanks for sponsoring guild 928.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Jiji’s eyes gleamed with suspicion and curiosity.

“It’s nothing much, just a lipstick.”

Mayna pulled a small lipstick from the inner pocket of her dress.

“Ha.”

At such a trivial gift, Jiji let out a mocking laugh.

“I already have about fifty-eight thousand lipsticks at home.”

“……”

“You should use it yourself, Assistant.

Looks like you need it more than I do.”

The clear intent to mock was there, but Mayna didn’t waver.

“It’s the final product released by the brand Cutie Pretty Sexy.”

“……”

***

30 minutes later.

“Then please take care, my lady.”

“You too, Assistant. Sniff.”

Jiji wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Her lips, painted with a blood-red lipstick, trembled faintly.

Her carriage sped away.

Left alone, Mayna sat by the shimmering lakeside for a while.

She was so drained that she had no strength left to head to her bedroom.

That was when a head popped up from the far end of the garden.

It was Kalif.

“……”

“……”

They spotted each other immediately, but neither spoke.

Still, Mayna knew Kalif had come looking for her.

He was heading straight toward her like a charging bull toward its prey.

She could almost hear his furious breathing.

“Where did they go?”

The first thing he said was completely out of nowhere.

“Who…”

“I already heard everything. Where did those two bastards go?”

Two bastards?

What was he even talking about?

Mayna blinked in confusion, then let out a short, awkward laugh a beat late.

“Do you mean the reporters?”

“What, reporters?”

“Yes.

Two reporters came into the party hall saying they wanted to cover the event.”

“……”

Kalif narrowed his eyes.

Suspicion glinted sharply as he glared at Mayna.

“You stayed here this whole time? It’s nearly midnight.”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t they say a word to me?”

Kalif found it hard to believe her story.

If they were reporters, wouldn’t they have swarmed him?

But those two had hovered near Mayna the entire party, whispering things he couldn’t catch.

“Why did the reporters hang around you instead of me?”

“They weren’t hanging around me.”

“What kind of scoop could they possibly get from an assistant?”

Mayna started to answer but stopped.

All night, she had put in every effort to block the reporters each time they tried to approach Kalif.

And this was all she got in return.

“I even heard you stole a lipstick from the dressing room.”

“……?”

“A red lipstick, no less?”

Mayna was struck speechless.

Unfortunately, Kalif’s suspicion only grew stronger at her silence.

He was convinced he had caught his assistant sneaking around with two strange men, wearing makeup she never used—lipstick, of all things—while enjoying some secret tryst.

“I gave that lipstick to Lady Berririch as a gift.”

“What are you talking about? Explain properly.”

Mayna let out a long sigh and began her story.

All night, she had been aware of it.

That Jiji was watching her blatantly.

As someone who had spent day and night beside Kalif, Mayna had grown used to the looks of countless women who had fallen for him.

Sometimes, she even encountered those who eyed her with hostility, treating her as a rival.

Jiji was exactly that.

Why else would she, a woman with no interest in guilds or dungeons, send such an absurd amount of sponsorship money?

When Mayna saw Jiji’s carriage still parked outside even after the party ended, she instantly knew.

She was waiting for her.

And, as expected, Jiji approached her the moment she was alone, throwing out childish attempts to drive a wedge.

“She talked to you? What did she say?”

Her claims—that Kalif was considering marrying a wealthy noblewoman—were obvious lies.

There was no need to confirm with Kalif himself.

He was the last man on earth who would say such a thing.

But Mayna was an experienced assistant.

Rather than exposing Jiji’s lies, she chose to play along.

“Come on, Winslet. What exactly did Mustard say to you?”

“Mustard?”

“She was wearing a hideous dress. Better suited for dipping sausages than a party.”

Mayna pressed her forehead.

“Please, stop with the insults. Someone might overhear and spread rumors.”

“Whatever. What did she say?”

“You don’t need to know every word, my lord.”

She didn’t want to crush Jiji’s pride unnecessarily.

“She just seemed upset with me, so I tried to smooth things over.”

“With a mere lipstick?”

“It wasn’t just any lipstick.”

The real problem wasn’t tonight, but the future.

It was never wise to make an enemy of someone who was both a sponsor and a woman in love.

So Mayna chose a tactic: target the vulnerability of a spoiled noblewoman.

The brand Cutie Pretty Sexy had gone bankrupt quietly, but the company behind it was none other than Berririch Cosmetics.

It had been Jiji’s inheritance from her mother, who died of illness.

But within two years, Jiji had run it into the ground, earning ridicule.

“I knew it. What could she manage with that brain?”

“Why else would they call her head a hat stand?”

“To destroy a company her mother clung to even on her deathbed…”

“Changing the company’s name to that was the beginning of the end.”

“What noble lady would buy cosmetics from the Empire’s biggest fool?”

“The final product was a lipstick, wasn’t it? A gaudy, bright red one.”

That was why the lipstick happened to be stocked in the Lennox estate’s dressing room.

Kalif, who refused to waste time picking cosmetics or accessories, had ordered Head Maid Magia: “Buy everything produced in the Empire, and throw out what I don’t use.”

From the unused pile, Mayna had found the lipstick.

And thirty minutes ago, she handed it to Jiji, saying:

“I respect the bold spirit of Cutie Pretty Sexy.”

Stunned speechless, Jiji had even shed a tear.

“You actually bought this?

Everyone mocked it, saying who’d ever wear such a vulgar shade.”

To which Mayna’s reply left her shaken with countless emotions.

So much so, she dropped a single tear.

“Ridiculous. Crying over a lipstick?”

“Is lipstick the only thing you took away from all this?”

“What else?”

“It was her mother’s company. She bankrupted it with her own hands.”

“Then she ran it into the ground because she managed it like trash.

And that gown she wore, torn down to her chest…”

Kalif grimaced in disgust.

Mayna sighed.

“Anyway, please don’t treat Lady Berririch too rudely, no matter how she approaches you in the future.”

“Why should I?”

Because I’ll be the one cleaning up your mess!

But she bit her tongue.

“With one month of her sponsorship money, we bought three hundred Red Potions.”

“And?”

“What do you mean ‘and’? Don’t you care at all about guild affairs?”

“Do I have to track how much the sponsors give and what we buy with it?

That’s your job, isn’t it?”

“……”

Mayna fell silent at last.

“Anyway, I’ll let it slide this time, but watch yourself.”

Kalif added arrogantly.

“An X-rank knight’s assistant, sneaking around with strange men—unacceptable.”

That wasn’t it at all.

She wanted to protest her innocence, but held back again.

Like he said, bowing to reporters and smoothing things over with sponsors—that was her job, not his.

Without another word, Kalif turned on his heel and disappeared quickly from sight.

Drained to the core, Mayna sat by the lake for a long time.

Shivering, she finally returned to her room close to 1 a.m.

When she closed her eyes under the blanket, her lower stomach began to ache again.

But she brushed it off.

“7 a.m. tomorrow. Solodom region, AA-rank dungeon.”

Kalif’s schedule for the next day was more important.