Chapter 2: Transfer Orders
Notice of Personnel Transfer
The transfer of the following individual(s) to the designated post(s) has been ordered.
Ophelia Narve
To: Ministry of Justice, Director’s Office
From: Ministry of Ceremonies, Architectural Institute,
Repairs Division
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OPHELIA stood dejectedly by herself in front of the bulletin board located beside the entrance to the Architectural Institute.
In general, the Architectural Institute wasn’t very crowded, so few people actually viewed this bulletin board. Even so, it seemed that all of those who had seen it had an opinion about Ophelia’s reassignment, ranging from good-natured envy to concern and even bitter jealousy. So many people whom Ophelia had never so much as spoken with before had approached her in a single morning that she had long ago reached her limit for social interaction for the day.
“Ophie, it’s all done.”
“Bernard…”
Bernard came out of the office and called out to Ophelia. The Architectural Institute’s receptionist was a shameless gossip who loved to chatter on and on, and Ophelia found her difficult to be around. That’s why Bernard had acted in her stead to submit the necessary paperwork for her transfer.
“She confirmed that, just as Father said, this is only a temporary transfer, and you’ll be able to come back right after.”
“Really? Bernard…”
Tears welled in Ophelia’s eyes.
“Ophie…” Bernard reached out and wiped away Ophelia’s tears with the sleeve of his shirt.
“…Bernard, did you forget to change out your handkerchief for a clean one again?”
“No! …Today I forgot to bring one at all, dirty or otherwise.”
“I won’t always be around anymore, so make sure you keep a fresh handkerchief on you at all times, okay?”
“Okay, Ophie, I get it.”
Both of them had their shoulders slumped as low as they could go as they slowly made their way back to the Repairs Division.
✦ ✦ ✦
🌷 🌷 🌷
THE topic of Ophelia’s transfer first arose several days after she and Bernard were brought in to the Ministry of Justice for questioning.
Their father, who’d come home unusually late from work that night, called the siblings into his office and informed them there had been a request for Ophelia to transfer departments. Sigmond laid everything out in a rush to prevent a flustered Ophelia from getting a word in, wearing a cheerful expression that seemed a touch relieved.
“B-But…! I can’t possibly go off somewhere alone without the two of you… There’s no way!”
Ophelia was curled up, face-first, on the floor, crying. Beside her, Bernard wore a pinched expression, as if he’d just eaten something bitter.
“Damn it! So this is what that director’s irritating smirk was about!”
“Bernie, I’ve told you not to speak of the duke that way,” Sigmond sighed, exasperated, leaning his chin on his hand with his elbow propped up on the desk. “His Grace came to speak with me personally, asking for Ophelia to lend him her assistance. There’s no way I could refuse in that situation.”
“He probably intends to parade Ophelia out in front of a bunch of thugs and use her to gauge whether their testimonies are true or not. We can’t let her be subjected to that kind of thing!”
“I asked about that as well. I don’t know the details, but it seems Ophelia will not have to meet with the suspects directly. I’ve been told that this will be a temporary reassignment just until they resolve a case that’s currently giving them some trouble.”
“We can’t trust that he’ll keep his word about either of those things.”
With tears still rolling down her cheeks, Ophelia sniffled as she nodded emphatically in agreement with Bernard’s statement. Their father, seeing how opposed the two of them were to the idea, frowned and let out a sigh.
“Ophelia, it’s about time you learn to speak with other people properly. You think so too, don’t you, Bernie?”
With a strangled intake of air, Bernard cast his eyes about evasively, neither confirming nor denying it. “Regardless, the Ministry of Justice is certainly not the place for that…” he muttered.
“Ever since Duke Stolarni took over as Director of the Ministry of Justice, almost no one has been able to join using their connections as leverage. All employees have passed a stringent exam and interview process to get hired. And by its very nature, security at the Ministry of Justice is very tight. In short, it’s a perfectly safe and respectable place to work.”
Does that mean that airheaded guy, Angelo, passed this ‘stringent exam and interview process’?! Ophelia tilted her head to the side dubiously.
“Ophie, give it a try; that’s all I’m asking,” Sigmond said. “I made the duke promise that, if you really can’t stand it, he’ll let you return to the Architectural Institute.”
“Waaagh, I already know I won’t be able to stand it…!” she wailed.
“Stick it out for a little while. If you keep clinging on like this, Bernard will never be able to get married. It’s pathetic that he doesn’t so much as have a prospective fiancée at his age, don’t you think?”
“Urk!”
Honestly, Ophelia had also been worrying about this. However, she’d been pretending not to notice, given that she was unable to leave the house without her brother.
“He doesn’t have any prospects because he isn’t popular.”
“Ouch, talk about telling me how you really feel, Ophie…”
Seeing that Ophelia wasn’t trembling in the slightest after saying this dealt a heavy blow to Bernard, who covered his face with both hands.
“Bernie’s not the only one,” Sigmond said. “The same goes for you, too, Ophie. You’re going to have to marry sooner or later, my girl. I’m not going to live forever, you know.”
“Wagh! Father, don’t die!”
“I’m not dying anytime soon. But the fact remains that you’re certainly going to outlive me. I won’t be able to protect you, so you need to start trying to find your own way.” Sigmond gently wiped away Ophelia’s tears as she clung to his arm. “You too, Bernie. It’s time you start thinking seriously about your own future.”
“But—”
“But nothing. It’s already decided. The official transfer order will be published in a few days, so both of you start preparing.”
After that, Ophelia was chased out of her father’s study and spent the next few days crying and praying that the transfer would be cancelled, but just as her father had predicted, the official transfer order was posted on the bulletin board when she arrived at work one morning. The thought that this same document was also posted on the bulletin board in the Ministry of Justice made Ophelia’s stomach twist with anxiety.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll find you so useless that they’ll kick you out after the first day.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. That’s exactly what will happen.”
Bernard was being terribly rude, but at this point, Ophelia didn’t care. She would much rather be deemed useless than end up shaking until she collapsed and got all scraped up, over and over again.
The Ministry of Justice was close to the center of the Royal Palace complex. As usual, Ophelia rode over in the carriage with her father and brother, but starting today, she would get out first, and the men would continue on to the Architectural Institute on the far side of the complex.
From the carriage’s window, Bernard was looking down at Ophelia uneasily. It was hard being left here all alone while the two of them went to someplace so far away that they needed a carriage to get there. It was really, really hard. Already tears were welling in Ophelia’s eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
Ophelia stood in front of the gate until the carriage disappeared into the distance, but then she wiped away her tears and headed into the building. It wouldn’t do to be late on her very first day. Just before passing through the front door, Ophelia paused to check her outfit, straightening the collar and sleeves of her jacket.