Flower of Steel

Hah. If I didn’t say they were twins. These little kids, who always fight each other to death, play along so nicely at times like this. It’s good that they aren’t fighting, but if the reason for that is to insult me, I couldn’t standstill.

“Nothing’s bad! Get out!”

The room fell silent as I shoved them out of it. I immediately went over to the bed, covered myself with the blanket, and kicked on it.

“Aaagh! I’m too embarrassed to see Rian on Monday!” And with such shame, my golden weekend passed by too quickly.

***

“Good morning.”

I wished so badly that it would not come, but the sickening Monday returned yet again. Actually, it’s not that I don’t like going to work, but weekends are so sweet that I just wish Monday would never come.

“Good morning, Secretary Harrant!”

I was greeted by people as I entered the office and started the day’s work. As I was going through documents, Vice Director Raymont called me, and I walked over to him. And… of course.

“His Highness is calling for you. He has something to talk to you about the construction of the embankments that you suggested last time.”

I almost sighed immediately. What is he trying to talk about this time? Does he want to play chess again? Then I was reminded of him hating to lose. Yes, that childish look. As I remembered the Crown Prince’s childish and slightly dissatisfied look, I was overwhelmed with the urge to laugh that I had to suppress.

***

“Come in.”

The words the Crown Prince said as soon as the door opened made me feel weird. It was because I felt like he had been waiting for me to come. But of course, that could never happen…

“I was waiting for you.”

What? What is he talking about? I knew it was a disrespectful thing to do, but I still looked at him with a startled expression and my god…! He was approaching me with a serious look on his face. Every time he laid his step forward, I felt my heart pounding.

“Marina von Harrant.”

As he called my name, I swallowed my empty throat without realizing that the sound of saliva coursing through my throat seemed to sound louder than usual. I’m so unused to this strange feeling. A feeling that made me want to hide somewhere, and my face burned up.

“You and me together, should…”

All the hair on my skin seemed to rise. At this moment, my eyes carried the face of the handsome nutjob with purple eyes, and my ears carried that wonderful voice inside. Oh my, did he just say “together?” All of my attention was on what he was going to say next.

“Go to check if the construction of the embankment is going well next week. You have a responsibility as the official who suggested the policy.”

The way that he emphasized the word “responsibility” made me realize that the Crown Prince’s bullying started yet again.

“This is the letter of request. You should relay it to Internal Affairs.”

It’s an order, not a request. An order that he’ll borrow me, an officer, from Internal Affairs as he pleases. I fell into a state where I felt lethargic, got a headache, and felt sick inside. I don’t know much else, but I know what this feeling is. It was disappointment.