[CHAPTER 71]
With a face like a mask carved from ice, he spoke.
“There is no need.”
His gaze was so cold it was hard to understand.
Pippin lost her words in the end.
It was as if her lips had fused together, and she couldnât say anything at all.
Kalif asked.
“Are there any notes left besides this one?”
Pippin slowly nodded.
“Yes. The aide left behind a lot of things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Everything from recipes for health juice and other dishes, to major schedules, methods for managing guild supplies, the list of patrons, and…”
“Everything from recipes for health juice and other dishes, to major schedules, methods for managing guild supplies, the list of patrons, and…”
“Where are the notes?”
Pointless questions and answers continued without a break.
Pippin steadied herself and answered calmly.
“I gathered them in my room.”
“Hand everything over through my secretary.”
She didnât understand the request, but she couldnât ask why.
“Understood, Lord Lennox. I willâ”
Before Pippin even finished speaking, Kalif turned his back and walked straight out of the dining room.
His quickly disappearing figure looked like a wooden doll that felt no emotion at all.
‘What on earth is in those notes to make him act like that?’
Pippin, who had wilted for a moment, shook her head vigorously.
“No. Donât lose confidence.”
The second daughter of a wealthy viscount family, Pippin Perpena.
She had a grand ambition.
To become the second and final aide of the Empireâs brightest star, Kalif Lennox.
A glimmer of ambition shone in her unusually round reddish-brown eyes.
* * *
Six days had passed since she left Lennox Castle.
During the past six days, Meyna had been staying at the hotel Banze arranged, and after hearing that the renovation of the new house was complete, she checked out.
When she stepped outside the building, it was dusk.
“Please get in.”
Axelt, who had been waiting early, gestured toward the carriage.
Her luggage that had been stored at the Agency and the clothes and personal items she kept at the hotel room.
She had gathered everything at an unbelievable speed.
“Thank you.”
“Please lower your speech, milady.”
“Ah…”
She had heard that repeatedly since the first day she met him, but dropping formal speech still wasnât easy.
She hadnât been able to speak casually even to Curden and Adonis, whom she had worked with for over five years, and she often mixed honorifics with them.
‘I wonder if those two are doing well.’
A memory pierced through her mind.
Before the faces of others resurfaced one by one, Meyna quickly shook her head.
Climbing into the carriage, she answered softly.
“Alright. No⌠okay, Axelt.”
Axelt gave a faint smile, as though satisfied for now.
When she stepped inside the carriage, Banze was unexpectedly already there.
“Maâam!”
Startled, Meyna brightened and greeted her, but Banze shouted loudly to the coachman.
“DepartâŚ!”
After passionately talking about how pretty the newly renovated house was, Banze brought up the topic of Biterion.
It was probably the real reason for todayâs meeting.
“There are twelve healers of S-class or above in the Empire, and eight of them are bound as exclusive healers to paladins. That leaves four.”
Meyna also knew of their existence.
“Our Ocean Agency has one.”
Banze handed her a profile.
“Heâs been preparing for the SS-class promotion exam for two years, but he failed three times.”
In the photo, a young man with a youthful face smiled faintly.
Kalifâs words from before came to mind.
“Being a healer is far harder than being a paladin. You have to use up all your mana to save someone else.”
Meyna stared quietly at the young manâs face in the profile.
He might become Biterionâs exclusive healer.
“Weâre also keeping a close eye on the other three. Unfortunately, theyâre not part of our Agency, but we can bring them in if needed.”
Meyna nodded.
“Important matter.”
Taking the profile back, Banze changed the topic.
“You know the Holy War Day event hosted in the capital of Bizangyo next month on the first, right?”
It was one of the biggest events led by the Empireâs state religion.
All approved ability users, the imperial family, and high nobles attended to pray for the Empireâs safety and prosperity.
“Of course I know.”
“Weâll be presenting His Highness to the citizens that day.”
Meyna looked at Banze with surprise.
She had been wondering about it already.
How Biterion Parker, the hidden imperial prince whose existence had been concealed, would debut as a paladin.
“And our aide will also appear.”
“Me?”
Banze nodded at Meyna, who asked back in confusion.
“Youâll dress nicely and look wonderful for everyone.”
Her bright green eyes shimmered with some unknown enthusiasm.
Wearing a triumphant smile, she brushed Meynaâs hair aside.
“Your new house is in the center of Kairiv.”
Banze shifted the subject in a cheerful tone.
Meyna nodded with a dazed expression.
The eastern city of Asirius, Kairiv.
It was also where the Ocean Agency was located, famous as a romantic coastal city near the sea.
“You can eat dinner in the nearby plaza and take a walk along the Idium Coast.”
It was the kind of life everyone in the Empire dreamed about.
Among the nobility, the especially wealthy or retired magnates who wanted to spend their final years away from the commercial centers often lived there.
“Thank you. Truly⌔
Meyna suddenly couldnât continue speaking.
She knew Banze planned to prepare her a new home, but she never expected her to care this much.
“Itâs much smaller than Lennox Castle, but itâll be just as pretty.”
The moment she heard the words Lennox Castle, her heart tightened painfully, and Meyna turned her gaze to the window.
Banze watched Meynaâs profile with an unreadable expression.
* * *
When they reached the front of the house, unexpected people were standing there side by side.
Magia and Pavbread.
Following Axelt after parting with Banze, Meyna jumped as if seeing ghosts.
“W-what?”
Seeing Meyna make a strange sound, Magia and Pavbread burst into cheerful laughter.
“We got fired, maâam.”
Magia said so.
“What?”
“Lord Lennox dismissed us.”
Pavbread added.
“Wait, what do you mean⌔
“So, we need you to hire us.”
Pavbread said.
He was speaking very seriously, but there was unmistakable amusement in his eyes.
“Iâm a great cook, by the way.”
Now with four of them together, they entered the house.
As soon as they stepped inside, an overwhelming amount of luggage was brought into the living room.
They were all kinds of kitchen tools used at Lennox Castle.
“Pavbread! What is this? Please explain!”
“Whereâs the kitchen, maâam?”
“This is my first time in the house, so⌔
“Okay. There it is.”
With a crisp clap, he walked toward the kitchen with dance-like steps.
People carrying luggage followed him in a line.
Still stunned, Meyna turned to Magia.
“Magia. Did you come because you were worried about me?”
“Worried? Not at all. I know our aide can live well anywhere.”
After a short hesitation, she spoke quietly.
“If I say this, itâll be a big problem, but⌔
Magia let out a small sigh as Meyna blinked at her blankly.
