Flower of Steel

“Alright, then. I have to send this proposal back to the Ministry of Defense. Will you do that for me?”

“I will.”

***

I was walking toward the military compound when I heard a voice excitedly calling me, “Marin, where are you off to?”

I turned and saw Rian with his yet again gorgeous and wonderful face as he smiled at me. He sure has the perfect face. It’s to the point where I, as a woman, feel like I lost to him in terms of beauty.

“I have something for the Ministry of Defense,” I replied as I suppressed my feelings of defeat.

I can try as much as I can, but I won’t catch up to him as he is in a different world. He’s the only son of the Chancellor, has a phenomenally handsome appearance, and is a skilled Royal Guard. I considered myself an elite as I was appointed as a policy officer right off the bat, but I still felt like I lost against this perfect human being.

“Oh, I see. I had business at the ministry as well. Shall we go together then?” asked Rian.

“Sure.”

Then I walked to the military compound with him. It was located in the far right corner of Internal Affairs, so we had to walk for a while.

“Marin.”

I turned to Rian as his smooth voice called me all of a sudden. He was wearing a faint smile as he asked, “So, when will I get to play a game of chess?”

I thought about his question. I wanted to take a rest Friday evening. If that is so…

“How about Thursday?”

With that, his phenomenal face wore a fitting smile as he replied, “Sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Does he want to learn chess that badly? I don’t quite understand him, but I don’t dislike him nonetheless. Honestly, I’m just fascinated by how such a perfect man is approaching me, even as a friend. I suddenly became depressed. I just felt that I was nothing compared to him.

Then I remembered what Lumi had said before, “Rumor says that he turns cold as soon as a girl shows interest in him.”

But that interest probably meant in a romantic sense. Well, Rian is a charming man. I should be careful, so I don’t lose my newly-found friend.

***

We arrived at the military compound. As the door opened, everyone, who was working inside, turned and fixed their gaze on us. It was probably because Rian was way too handsome. Yeah, even men would consider him very good-looking.

Unlike Internal Affairs, there weren’t a lot of staff members here. I heard that higher-ranking officials do all their work here…

“What brings you here, ma’am?” the military official politely asked us as he approached.

I spoke to explain my business here, “I’m an officer from the Operations Department of Internal Affairs. I came here to reject the proposal that your ministry proposed.”

“I see. Of course. I will send the message to my supervisor. What is your name, by the way-”

“I also have business here myself,” said Rian, cutting off the military official who asked for my name with a bright smile.

“OH! Please excuse me. You’re a knight from the Central Knights,” said the government official. Mesmerized, he looked at Rian, then blushed.

I almost laughed. Hmph… Yeah, well. I learned that it was foolish to feel defeated by that man. After all, he’s in a completely different league.

***

When I returned to my office, it seemed everyone was busy. I turned to my desk, trying to make up for the wasted time. However, it felt like my workload had somehow decreased. Actually, it wasn’t just a feeling. I certainly had fewer documents on my desk.

“Oh? You’re back, my assistant,” I heard Rave’s annoying and talkative voice and turned to his desk. And my god, there were piles of documents on his desk.

“First Secretary Harsen? What is… that?”