On a weekend, I bowed to my father at my parents’ house after a long absence.

“I want to find a new job immediately. Please introduce me to someone!”

“What happened, so sudden? Did you finally quarrel with your boss?”

“Well, that’s…”

My father kindly called out to me. I was embarrassed at having to quit from my workplace after less than two years and couldn’t meet his gaze.

“I heard that Dusseldorf is a difficult person. You did your best. If you want to be an office worker with the knights, I can introduce you to someone right away. Everyone hates deskwork, we’ve been on of manpower for many years!”

“Thank you, Dad…”

Due to my dependable father’s words, I became a little teary. The knights really did seem understaffed. As soon as my dad talked to them, they asked me to come.

He arranged for a replacement civil officer and a maid to be added to Dusseldorf’s laboratory. I left my former workplace a week later.

The knights’ station was also built on the premise of the royal castle, just like the magic division. That said, it was far from Dusseldorf’s laboratory. Unless it was urgent, we probably wouldn’t meet because he rarely went out.

I didn’t mention anything. Dusseldor, too, acted as usual until my last day.

While tracing the beautiful letters which spelled his name, I laughed at my foolishness at hoping that he’d stop me.

…

That day, dressed in a brand-new uniform, I was celebrating my first day working with the knights. The jacket, which had the same design as the knights, was made of thick fabric and had a tall collar.

Led by my new superior, I walked down the long hallway. Naturally, there were many people. While bowing to the knights, whom I passed one after another, I once again realized how different the environment was.

I was guided to the office located at the back of the station, and the moment I tried to pass through the double door, the entire building trembled with a roar.

As soon as I looked around to see what was happening, I saw knights running for the training ground.

“I shall confirm the situation. Please remain here.”

My only reliance, my boss, took off after leaving me with such a brief statement.

My anxiety started to rise. When I returned to the hallway and looked out the window, I met his angry black eyes despite the considerable distance.

Towards such an incredible sight, my eyes widened reflexively.

Dusseldorf was standing at the center of a tornado, one which suddenly appeared in the training ground.

“Return Hera Cannas.”

His voice swept across the ground.

The raging gust around me made a roared as it flipped everything around it.

Dieter once said, “When he was a kid, his magical power was unstable. So, whenever Rey cried, storms would erupt inside the room. Sometimes, servants even got injured. Therefore, Rey became an emotionless child.”

Then, as of the present, Dusseldorf was sad?

I couldn’t even move my fingertips due to the tense atmosphere.

I could only stare at his black eyes.

***

Seated, we faced each other in the reception room.

My father said, “If nothing is done, the station will be completely destroyed. Just talk with him.”

“Why.”

Dusseldorf, who glared at me with a giant furrow between his eyebrows, opened his mouth.

I was amazed that he, someone who was usually expressionless, could make such an expression.

However, he was still as untalkative as always.

“What do you mean…?”

“Why are you here? Why did you leave? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well, the reason I’m here is because I will be working for the knights starting today. You should’ve been aware of this, Lord Dusseldorf.”

“I haven’t heard anything about it.”

“Even if you say that, you should’ve received a paper about my transfer request.”

“I haven’t read it.”

“Huh?”

Dusseldorf, who had been staring at me for a long time, made an awkward expression.

“The documents that need confirmation are usually separated. I haven’t read anything.”

“Lord Dusseldorf…”

“It’s because Hera isn’t there.”

His clear eyes, which were akin to a cloudless, night, sky, glared at me again. Those feelings that I should have had suppressed lurched inside my chest, constricting it with pain.

There was no way I could talk my way out of that.

“…I heard from Dieter that Dusseldorf is about to get married.”

“My brother… If Hera doesn’t like it, we don’t need to get married. But please, come back.”

“I can’t. Lord Dusseldorf should marry a suitable partner. It’s inappropriate for someone of my stature to aspire to be your wife.”

“Wait, Hera—why are you saying something like that? I only intend to marry you, Hera.”

“Huh…?”

---

***T/N: Here goes, the plot twist we’ve all come to expect.

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