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“IF I knew you needed more help, I would’ve put in for a transfer to the Director’s Office… I’m really good at serving tea. I’m sure I would’ve been much more helpful to everyone…”
Miranda from the General Affairs Division swayed her body cutely as she spoke, really turning on the charm. Her golden hair, which was styled in a rolled-under bob, was set off by a frilly blouse and prettily manicured nails.
It certainly must take a lot of skill to make tea with such long nails… Ophelia thought sarcastically, hiding her hands under her desk to conceal their faint shaking.
Miranda was a member of the General Affairs Division who’d come to the Director’s Office on an errand to deliver some document or other. Ever since Ophelia had been transferred here, she had gone out of her way to individually deliver a suspiciously large number of documents that could’ve been delivered all together at a later date.
“You’re just as cute as ever, Miranda,” Samael called out from where he sat at his desk with his chin leaning on his hand, wearing a devilish smile. Normally, he’d be shouted at by Claudio if he were caught wearing such an unprofessional expression, but the boss was currently absent. …Leaving the guys free to gawk at the adorable Miss Miranda as much as they liked.
“You look splendid today as well, Lord Samael.”
“Thanks! You’re always so cheerful that I feel energized whenever I see you.”
“Tee-hee! I’m so happy to hear that. I’m just so excited about working here; it fills me with energy! …Oh, I’d better be getting back soon, or I’ll get yelled at. The next time you need more help, please let me know. I promise I’ll be very, very helpful to have around!”
With an exaggerated wave, Miranda finally exited the Director’s Office. Samael and Angelo gazed longingly at the door long after it closed behind her.
“Miranda really is cute…”
“Assistant Director, you’re going to get in trouble with your wife.”
“It’s fine to look as long as you don’t touch, right?”
Bruno, noticing Ophelia rifling around in her bag beneath her desk, peered over at her with a worried expression. “Lady Narve, that girl is lively, but that’s all she has going for her. Everyone here knows that you are a hundred times more useful than she could ever be, so don’t take it to heart, okay?”
“I’ll be right back!”
Ophelia stood and ran from the room. Out in the hall, she looked left and right, searching for Miranda.
“Um, Miss Miranda!”
When she turned to face Ophelia, Miranda’s eyes were cold, completely at odds with her behavior just a moment ago.
“What do you want?”
Although her voice was steady and calm, Miranda tapped her foot irritably. The entire time Miranda had been talking in the Director’s Office, Ophelia’s hands hadn’t stopped shaking. Given that Miranda’s entire persona was a carefully cultivated act, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
“Um, I was wondering… Perhaps you’re not feeling very well today?”
“Huh?”
“If you’d like, please take this.”
Ophelia stuffed her hand into her pouch and pulled out an energy-replenishing candy with the distinctive circled-M logo on it that she’d purchased at the shop the other day. She’d squirreled away a few extras before giving the rest to her father and brother as souvenirs. Miranda opened her eyes so wide that her curled eyelashes fluttered dramatically and looked back and forth between Ophelia’s face and the candy several times.
“It has the Ministry of the Magical Arts’ logo, so it must be the genuine article. …But how did you know that I’m not feeling well?”
“I, uh… just thought you looked a bit pale…”
The truth was that when Miranda had described herself as “full of energy,” Ophelia’s hands had shaken dramatically.
“Hmm, you’re sharper than I gave you credit for. Okay, I’ll take it. Thanks! See you.” Miranda snatched the candy out of Ophelia’s hand, then just as quickly turned and flounced down the stairs.
It seemed her annoying ability had actually turned out to be helpful for once.
Ophelia watched Miranda’s retreating figure, which never once turned to look back, until she was out of sight.
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“A notification about construction on the western staircase? We don’t even use that staircase.” After glancing at the page Miranda had brought over, Angelo tossed it into the trash can with obvious disinterest and began cleaning his ear cuff. “General Affairs sure has a lot of free time on their hands, huh?” he remarked.
“Well, it’s not strange for girls around that age to be gung-ho about searching for a marriage partner. It seems she’s got her sights set on Bruno,” Samael responded, seemingly equally disinterested, given the fact that he didn’t even look up from his paperwork.
“No thanks.”
Critical Strike against Miranda! Even Bruno seemed entirely uninterested as he flat-out rejected the idea of courting the young lady. In response, Angelo paused in the middle of polishing his ear cuff and turned abruptly to look at Bruno.
“You have some nerve saying things like that after receiving a present from Miranda just the other day!”
This perked Samael right up when he’d seemed about ready to fall asleep at his desk. Now interest was written all over his face.
“That was simply a thank-you present. And I didn’t accept it.”
“A thank-you present?”
“A man was bothering her outside the entrance to the Ministry. I was worried she would be late for work, so I called out to her; that’s all. It seems the man was a higher-ranked noble, so she was having a hard time getting rid of him. Well, I suspect the entire situation was the result of her flirtatious behavior, so in a way it was her own fault, but…”
“Yeah, a lot of men probably get the wrong idea.”
Samael resumed his napping position, and Bruno returned to looking over the papers in front of him. Only Angelo looked up at the ceiling idly, bored.
“Ophie’s gonna get married someday, too, huh?”
Bruno’s head snapped up with a disturbed expression, and Samael opened one eye to stare at Angelo.
“Frankly, I think finding a suitable marriage partner might prove difficult for her,” Samael muttered, and Bruno nodded his agreement.
“I think you’re right. It would need to be someone who doesn’t lie and always acts according to their true feelings.”
“It seems that whenever she’s at home, they keep the number of servants in the Narve household to the bare minimum. In that case, her husband would also need to have keen discernment about a person’s character in order to select servants with the right temperament.”
Angelo, who’d been listening quietly to their conversation, suddenly raised his hand. “…I know someone who fits those requirements exactly.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah… You’re right. There’s someone who never lies and is both a good judge of character and has the authority to get things done…” Bruno said almost to himself, a frown marring his brow.
“Are you guys referring to Claudio?” Samael asked, and the others nodded. “But he has a fiancée!” Samael insisted, waving his arms back and forth in front of him.
“Oh, that’s right. The director’s so surly that I’d completely forgotten,” Bruno said.
“Er, well… I suppose you have a point there,” Samael agreed. “He showed absolutely no interest in the idea of marriage, just putting it off for as long as possible until the king essentially ordered him to get engaged. But, whatever. If it comes to it, I’ll take responsibility for searching for a good match for Lady Narve.”
“If you can’t find anyone, I’ll take her, so don’t worry,” Bruno said, entirely straight-faced, one hand dipping his pen into the inkwell while he flipped to the next page in the stack of documents on the desk in front of him with his other hand. Samael and Angelo could only silently stare at each other, incredulous at Bruno’s casual demeanor while making such a monumental declaration.