Chapter 310 – 310. Interlude, and a Comma (1)
– One –
Smart smart
“Come on in.”
A purring voice like a poisoned cat resounded in the quiet study.
The bluntness in that voice represents the uncomfortable state of the person who uttered it.
Squeak.
Click.
Zap, zap.
Jerk, jerk.
Someone, no, multiple figures enter.
“What’s going on?”
The owner of the library, Chiba, asks in a gruff voice.
She sat in her chair and stared blankly out of her window, not even looking back at her entrance.
“Duchess, it’s time for the regular report.”
“Okay. Leave the report there on the table.”
At that time,
“The Duchess. I have something to tell you.”
The person who entered first, the person who accompanied him, and the butler opened their mouths in a low voice.
Chiba jerked her body slightly, but she didn’t react further.
By turning away, she called for their eviction.
However, the butler did not accept her request.
“In addition, there is a message from Your Highness, Dear Duchess,”
Before he finishes speaking,
Slap!
Wooddeuk.
Chiba turns her head and looks at the owner of the house for the first time.
“I would like to report directly.”
Watching her twist her neck at a terrifying speed, the head butler had to worry deeply about her fate or break her neck.
In Chiba’s eyes looking at the owner of the house, there was a rich and deep joy that can’t even be expressed in the word madness.
“Ji, did you say it was a message from your husband?”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Her eyes roll sideways.
Her movements somehow reminded me of a broken wind-up doll boasting.
“Get out.”
“Ah, I understand, Duchess…!”
Squeak.
Click.
The other butler, who accompanied the head butler, couldn’t stand her terrifying eyes and immediately left the study alone.
The head butler felt like letting out a sigh, but he managed to hold it back.
It was because she had lost much of her dignity in accepting Regal’s wrath since that day.
Thanks to that, she was able to calm Regal’s anger, which had been burning without knowing the end, but somewhere inside her, it was definitely broken.
Her outward appearances, such as her bizarre behavior just like hers, were all that slightly damaged her dignity, but those who support her on the inside know for sure how broken she is.
No, I knew.
For those who clearly noticed that she was broken, it was more appropriate to describe her in the past tense, since everyone except her boss had been eliminated.
“The Duchess, first of all, about the prostitutes and prostitutes of the sub-races, who were caught by operating the sub-racial identification device on a trial basis.”
“That’s what the butler will take care of.”
“…”
Chiba prevents the butler from posting a report.
Stubbornly refuses.
All that mattered to her was to have her conversation with him and to maintain her relationship, with her only regal comfort.
No, her presence in Regal must be the most important thing to her.
“Okay, Duchess. Then, I’ll tell you Your Highness’s message right now.”
“Do that.”
Sreureuk, arm.
The butler takes out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolds it.
She seemed to have recorded Regal’s message there.
When she realizes that Regal’s message will almost certainly be full of public things, Chiba’s eyes are stained with disappointment.
“First of all, Your Highness said that the disposition of the sub-species captured through the pilot operation of the anti-race identification device this time will be left to the Duchess. Because of the rumors of public restrooms being circulated around the world, the duchess requested that for the time being, exhibit works created as a hobby of the Duchess to be circumspect.”
“Okay. With the materials I got this time, I guess I’ll have to practice taxidermy.”
“Even otherwise, Your Highness added that he would like to appreciate the new stuffed beasts.”
Sparkle.
Both of her eyes shine brightly.
Her insides burn with desire.
“This time, I must make a work with a soul.”
“I’m sure you’ll be able to do that.”
Chiba will create her masterpiece for Regal.
However, its standards would never meet the aesthetic sense of the butler.
Knowing how grotesque it was, the head butler never wanted to see the result.
“In addition, as there is already a precedent for a test subject who became a participant through mating with a prostitute, he said that a movement to illegalize the prostitution of subjects is necessary in order for proper morals to take root in the empire.”
“Did your husband think of proposing a bill to close the brothel and prohibit prostitution in the near future?”
“No. If we propose a bill to force the closure of all brothels right now, there is a great fear that it will lead to collective opposition from the vassal nobles, that is, the local lords, as they are legally operated as the main source of revenue for local lords. Therefore, Your Highness I asked the Duchess to use the media to emphasize the evils of prostitution and, based on that, to foster a natural public opinion against prostitution among her subjects.”
“That’s also not difficult. I see. I’ll definitely do it perfectly.”
Chiba takes her bizarre expression all over her face.
No, apparently she would have moved her muscles in her face to make her smile.
However, it was expressed as a frown or twist, and I could feel its essence more clearly.
“Yes, Duchess. Next,”
The head butler told Chiba all of the dozens of instructions he had received from Regal.
She listened intently to his words, and finally handed him a document summarizing them.
“Is it over now?”
“No. Please wait a moment.”
Swoop.
Rustle, rustle.
The butler took out an envelope sealed with wax from his bosom.
Chiba’s eyes widen.
“A letter from His Highness to the Duchess arrived today.”
“…”
Her expression cools down.
She tones in a voice full of rage.
“Why… Why didn’t you give me this first…? If there’s no good reason, I’ll punish you for deceiving and ridiculing me, and I’ll make sure you won’t be called the butler anymore.”
As if anticipating her positive reaction on such a day, the butler replied with her calm face.
But deep down, as if he was afraid of her anger, he was speaking faster than usual.
“That’s a letter sent by Her Highness a week ago. He estimated the shipping speed of the logistics delivery company, and deliberately contacted the Duchess at the right time for the letter to arrive.”
“… Did you tell my husband about my usual appearance?”
“No.”
The butler replied in a firm tone, but both the butler and Chiba knew that what he said was a definite lie.
But that didn’t make Chiba angry.
The fact that the real owner of the butler was Regal was also well known to both of them.
“Just anticipating that the Duchess will be having a hard time due to the excessive work she has been taking on lately, Her Highness has prepared a surprise gift to comfort the Duchess for her hard work.”
“Ahhh…”
Chiba let out an exclamation that resembled a moan.
Shudder
Unlike the cool weather, her world was heating up with affection.
Of course, it was only limited to her inner world.
Looking at the grotesque expression she made, the head butler felt a chill run down her spine from the fear stemming from the strange feeling it evoked.
“Because you wrote only the words to be conveyed to the Duchess in an extremely private way, you did not pass it on through me, but through a sealed letter, so please read it alone after I leave.”
“Okay. Is this the end of what you want to tell me?”
“That’s right, Duchess. Can I step back?”
“Yes, please.”
Chiba was no longer looking at the butler.
She is,
Basrak, Basrak.
Swoop.
It was because he was busy opening the envelope containing the letter from Regal carefully so as not to damage it in the slightest.
Even though she wasn’t looking at her, her head butler left her greetings for her and backed away from her.
Until he stepped away, he failed to point out that the wig he had put in place of her bun had crooked, revealing her hair, which had been cut short enough to show her scalp.
– 2 –
“Smirnoff. I think her hair is whiter. What should I do?”
“What should I do, Mondavi? I just have to live like this. This is all because of the goddess’s blessings and the divinity that is thick.
Despite Mondavi’s criticism, Smirnoff smiles brightly.
His skin, hair, teeth, everything was white.
If you were looking for a person who fit the modifier of pure white man, it seemed that there would be no one in the world who would fit better than him.
His face was full of a benevolent smile, enough to fit the word bright, but
“It’s like a duvet soaked in bleach.”
“… Mondavi… Isn’t that too harsh?”
The word Mondavi added, quickly turned into crumpled pieces of toilet paper.
Dissatisfaction and displeasure occupy his face, having pushed aside charity.
“I’ve just mellowed out the term ‘rapidly old’ a bit, but if you’d rather be a little more direct, I’ll do that. Smirnoff, you look incredibly old.”
“Okay…”
He droops his shoulders
He tried to think positively, but that was the part he was paying attention to.
As Mondavi pointed out, it was because he had turned white, no, pale, as if he had rapidly aged.
Of course, it wasn’t that the brilliance had completely disappeared or that the complexion had deteriorated.
Rather, the mundane colors were missing, and a pure white radiance was emitted from the whole body.
However, since he was already in middle age, the pure whiteness created by the disappearance of blemishes only felt like aging due to faded light.
“Really, no kidding, seriously do I look that old?”
“Yes.”
“… If I’m being serious, I think I’m really sad…”
“Of course it’s a joke.”
“…”
Mondavi answered without changing her expression, so it was very difficult for Smirnoff to figure out where her true intentions were.
He wasn’t smart enough to figure everything out from the indirect context, so he had to try and think on the positive side.
“Smirnoff, don’t take it too seriously. Things are going so well, it’s because Mondavi is bored. It seems to me that he must be making fun of Smirnoff by saying something he doesn’t mean to.”
Robert quietly listens to the conversation between the two, and then sneaks in to comfort him.
Shock!
“Is that really?!”
Smirnoff looks back at him with admiration.
Mondavi also looks back at him with a sullen expression.
“It was just a word of consolation, but looking at Mondavi’s expression, I think that was the point.
Robert’s laugh turns a little mischievous.
“I’m not.”
Swoop.
Zap, zap.
Turning her body around and taking her steps into her own office, she adds her words.
“I think Smirnoff’s skin is clearer than mine, so I made fun of him out of spite.”
“Ah…”
The two men look at the back of Mondavi with a lot of absurdity in their eyes.
Without even looking back at them, Mondavi opens his mouth in a gruff voice.
“Both of you, if you have time to hang out, think of some phrases to put on the flyers to be distributed. No matter how much Sinatra-sister decided to be in charge of external speeches, production of training materials for alliance members, and even writing flyers, she hasn’t been doing anything lately. Seeing two people who don’t have one just loafing around like that makes me grumpy for nothing.”
“Ah, well…”
“Okay…”
The two men are speechless and silent.
Because she felt very guilty for what she said.
“Ha, but, I’m not very good at writing words…”
“That’s right, Sinatra. I’ve just learned how to read…”
Slap!
Parching!
Sinatra’s sharp gaze pierced the two men in turn.
“Ugh…!”
“Kuhm! Hum, hum.”
Two men shrug their shoulders.
An expression finally settles on Sinatra’s blunt face.
The final expression she took by moving the muscles of her face,
“I’m incompetent.”
It was contempt.
“Oh, no, so-“
“Isn’t that too harsh…?”
Sinatra shook his head resolutely.
First of all, I send a sharp gaze to Smirnoff.
“Smirnoff, please continue to use the beginner healing technique next to Sinatra whenever you have free time. My sister complains of mental fatigue, but it is obvious that she cannot ignore the accumulation of physical fatigue from sitting in front of a desk for a long time. Do.”
“Ah, I see.”
Her gaze returns to Robert.
Robert’s shoulders shrink even more.
It was because he was a completely useless manpower in the current situation, unable to even use the healing spell.
“Robert oppa runs errands next to Sinatra unnie. Pack something to drink or eat, and if you run out of ink or paper, you’ll have to take care of it yourself. Send the completed draft to the press office’s printing room, or classify the letters sent by the league members as primary. .According to the weight and urgency of the matter, organize and stack them on the table so that the important and urgent things are on top, and the light and leisurely things are on the bottom.”
“That, when I do it, it’s slow and I don’t have confidence…”
The distance between her eyebrows gets a little closer.
Her eyes grow colder.
“No one is good at it from the start. If you shut up and do it, and if you get scolded to the point of tears every time you handle something wrong, people are bound to grow someday. So, do it unconditionally. “
As she continued to speak, Robert, whose complexion was becoming increasingly pale,
“Heeik…! Ha, I’ll do it! I’ll do it, Mondavi!”
She freaked out and begged her.
It seemed clear that even if he died and woke up ten times, he would never be able to defeat Mondavi.
“Don’t be half-hearted, you’ll have to do your best.”
“Yes!”
Swoop.
Zap, zap.
Mondavi turns her back again and takes her steps.
She opens her mouth again.
“And both of you, while doing your job, discuss with Sinatra without stopping. She has a habit of muttering to herself while writing a manuscript, and when you answer it seriously, she will organize her thoughts and come up with an appropriate answer on her own. I found it.”
“Okay. I will.”
“Okay, Mondavi.”
Both men answer at the same time.
Their faces were flushed.
It was evidently the heat of shame and guilt.
“To be honest, you two are on disciplinary action right now.”
“OMG…”
“Um…”
They lower their heads.
But he seemed to have a lot to say about it.
“In consideration of the hardships he had to infiltrate into the system, so far I’ve just turned a blind eye to it and put it on hold. In particular, Smirnoff was in a coma until recently, so I gave him a little more time to rest during the recuperation. But among the four of us, there isn’t a single person who hasn’t struggled in the system.”
“…”
The two men couldn’t find anything to say.
As she pointed out, Smirnoff and Mondavi almost lost their lives while exerting their respective abilities beyond their limits, and Sinatra and Robert had to risk their lives several times while escaping from the system.
By the time they joined the Tennessee brothers and headed to the safe house, Mondavi, who had been forced to hold on, had passed out, and Smirnoff did not wake up until they reached the safe house.
In the meantime, they had to resist the tenacious pursuit of the emperor faction, the imperial army, the church, and even the nobles, so even the two of them who were sane had no choice but to go through many crises.
When they dramatically broke off the pursuit of all of them, all of them were in disrepair, so long-term recuperation was an indispensable option.
However, because there was work to be done, Sinatra and Mondavi had to drastically reduce the period of recuperation.
“But now it’s time to take a break. My sister and I have been back to work for a long time, and all the members of the federation are busy doing their jobs. How long will the two of them be leisurely training? Even Smirnoff In order to be ordained a priest, he learned to read, so there is practically no education he is currently completing.”
“Oh yeah… Mondavi, you’re right.”
Smirnoff wanted to stop listening to her point.
It was true that she didn’t want to hear it because it made her feel guilty, but it was because she was too scared.
“Even the practitioners sent by the Tennessee brothers for education said they had nothing to teach Smirnoff in particular.”
“Hey, I’ll do my best, Mondavi! Let’s go! Let’s go to Sinatra right now!”
Tat tat tat!
Robert immediately runs to the Oval Office.
Smirnoff also subtly accelerates his steps.
Finally, Mondavi shut her mouth.
The look on her face as she looked at them from behind,
“Huh…”
It was exactly like that of a caring older sister watching over her cute younger siblings.
However, the two men had no idea what kind of expression she was making.
She, too, seemed unwilling to show her expression to her two men.
