Unable to bear my embarrassment any longer, I arch my back as hard as I can to get away from him. Yet still he smiles, and this time doesn’t try pulling me back. So he did hear what I said after all! But more importantly, what did he say just now? I rack my brains far and wide to try and make sense of what sounds my ears just heard.
Every job—and every love—has its own joys and difficulties.
As I look down at the man beneath me, I understand that these ups and downs (and downs and ups) will likely go on happening for the foreseeable future.
“You did it, Nanalie!”
“But if you marry a Marquess, you’ll be a Marquise! Are you going to quit your job?”
Hm? Was that Zozo and the Director talking to me just now?
“Oh but my dear, they haven’t said a word about marriage, now have they?”
“Nah, that’s totally obvious that that’s where this is going. Premier Querohli wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble just so that they could date each other.”
“Your Highness! What in the world are you trying to imply? Nanalie, are you all right?”
“Looks like Alois can really get it with the ladies, can’t he folks? Really, who needs a job when you’ve secured permanent employment, huh Nanalie?”
“Naru? Shouldn’t you be more concerned about making me your bride before you start commenting on other people’s marriages?”
All around are friends—or actually, maybe I don’t know these people at all—flat out gawking at the two of us. Please. Where’s the nearest hole. I would very much like to crawl into a hole right now. What in the world is going on?! How can my friends be saying those things, so nonchalantly? Sure, have all the fun you want at my expense! But I can’t just leave the Director hanging like that.
I raise my voice high and loud to answer her question about “quitting my job:”
“I want—I want to be a receptionist lady!”
This is a story that no one knows; this is a story that someone knows.
This is a story of a receptionist lady.