Raga of the Dry Branch

[What is going on? Don’t tell me, lousy luck already…!]

“Not that, I just left something behind. Are you still at home now? If not, it is fine.”

[Well, that one must be at a tower meeting right now. And I am out too, but I can get it for you, is that fine?]

“No, it is fine. You can continue your work.”

I felt bad for asking him to do something when he was already at work.

[Is that really okay?]

“I-It is really fine. Don’t worry, Red.”,

After finishing the conversation, when I looked at the captain, he shook his head.

“If it is fine, I can speak to Lady Jean and will make the deadline be extended till tomorrow.”

“Hic!”

Sir Shuzlin, who was seated next to me, suddenly burst into tears.

“The name of nightmares, Lady Jean!”

“Is she a scary person?”

“The only person that all the division, even the 1st division is scared of her.”

“It is a huge deal. I can just go back and bring those documents.”

As I mumbled to myself, Sir Schuzlin, who looked at me from his book, shook his head and said.

“It is fine. Originally if the documents didn’t come before the deadline, she would run over with a ghastly face, but you Sir are within her range of defense, so she will probably be compassionate and listen to you.”

“Range of defense?”

“Yes. Would you like to come with me?”

At this point, I should have noticed it. The so-called range of defense he was talking about isn’t about her being generous to newcomers.

I followed Sir Schuzlin into the General Affairs Department, and went for Lady Jean who had a stronger presence than I expected. She looked like she was in her late 20s, with blonde hair tied up and gilt-rimmed glasses without hair out of the picture.

And my sense of awe shattered the moment she opened her mouth.

I told her to give me an extension for a day to explain the situation.

“Cute boy, sorry, such a delicate young man.”

Feeling her state at me through her glasses, I unknowingly stepped back. As if understanding me, Sir Schuzlin patted me on my shoulder.

“Great. We will get it done by the day. Instead, how about you having lunch with me today?”

“Sorry?”

“Since I gave you a day, we can surely have lunch, I can just close my eyes if we have to meet right?”

Close your eyes?

… I felt like a jewel being used.

Lady Jean looked at me intently. Her bright eyes. It looked like he was deciding on a price for me. Above all, cold sweat ran down my spine as I looked at her strange eyes and the slight smile… that, that woman you see. It seems to be aiming for my throat.

“I… I will make sure to get it done today. No, if possible I will give it to you in the afternoon.”

I don’t like being used, and I will not be used like this. I can head back home at lunch and bring it even if it means skipping my lunch.

With a first decision, I hurriedly left the General Affairs Department.

“Arent my words right? Sir is exactly her type. So what do you plan on doing? You haven’t forgotten that you are on duty now, right?”

“Yes, I know that very well. And I will be using my lunch time.”

“Then lunch?”

“…”

Perhaps he read my silence, dark clouds began to form on his face.

His thick and drooping eyebrows were in the form of mourning like he was speechless.

Right, lunch is precious.

“I can give you the leftovers.”

“… no need.”

It wasn’t like he was a bad person or something. And it didn’t seem to be of malice or teasing me either. It was just that his thought process was weird.

… but to give me leftovers? That is a bit too much.

“Oh?”

It was when I was going to the 2nd Division after talking with Schuzlin. I suddenly noticed the hallway, which had a commotion.

When I looked, there was a person in front of us, whom I didn’t see. Where the hell did this person suddenly come from?

People were clinging onto office walls, through windows, or staring at the entrance door, pretending not to stare. And I looked up and saw the sign which said.

“1st Division.”

This was the hallway where the 1st division office was located.

Schuzlin whistled.

“There is a long time for Amiel to come, or maybe it is because of ‘that guy‘ who is back from Cheiva?”

Everyone seemed to be making a tearful effort to see that face…

Was Amiel another unconfirmed handsome face? How are we supposed to get through the crowd?

That guy and then Amiel too, who were these people?

Just because they are a tad handsome, do people actually leave their jobs and crowd the hallway?

For some reason, why were the women waiting in the hallway extremely high? Was the person that handsome?

No. Maybe these people just keep flocking to look at how that person looks.

“Uh?”

Thinking like that, I diligently moved forward, but suddenly was blocked by Sir Shuzlin, who was walking ahead. But why did he turn back at me?

And I see how the surroundings turned quiet. Was it because of my mood? No, unlike before, all his eyes seemed to e focused behind me.

What is happening?

I slowly turned my gaze, and it landed where Shuzlin was looking. I suddenly had a bad premonition come over me, and-

“We meet again here.”

My prediction was correct.

“… Corin…”

He was tall and lean with long purple hair till his ears, grey eyes which had a light purple ting in them – still the same cat-like eyes. A rare young boy with white skin and red lips, the strange scent, and he was standing right behind me!

He was clearly looking at me.

“You work here?”

“… you seem to be the same too.”

The black uniform meant he was an onsite officer, and the gold embroidery told that he belonged to the 1st division.

Despite being in different divisions, we were both working under the same embassy. Then, this guy must be from the same nation as me.

“You two know each other?”

Sir Shuzlin asked, seeming a bit shocked. At that, Corin smiled. The moment he smiled, the tension I was feeling hit the peak, and the noise around began to start again; and he looked at me for a moment and said neighbors.

To him, Sir Shuzling, ah, ah is that so? and laughed bitterly.

Unlike the two people, which were us facing each other and smiling, my hands were trembling.

‘The fact that I am a woman is being kept a secret, if he calls me nuna in front of these….!’

That day I was noona, and then after, he called me noona. I had to silence him before he spoke of anything. At that moment, that was the only thought running through my mind. I was waiting for a chance when Sir Shuzlin said he would leave first.

He did leave us and walkway, and as I looked at him, Corin asked.

“Alkeris, your name is Alkeris?”

He must have heard it from Sir Shuzlin. Nodding my head, I realized that suddenly his face was bright.

“Yesterday, that man suddenly appeared so I couldn’t even hear your name. I was so curious that I could barely sleep last night and he didn’t seem like a normal human. I am sure I saw him somewhere… What is your relationship?”

“Relative? Family? Hm, something like that… no, that isn’t what is important. Can I talk to you?”

“of course, you are free to talk to me whenever you want. Before that, wait a minute.”

I realized what a fantastic smile he had. Corin, who always had a generous smile towards me, suddenly seemed to have changed; he had a serious face when he turned around and said, “What are you seeing? Can’t you all stop it?”

Usually, I didn’t have any other impression of him apart from a fresh-looking boy, but now my impression has changed.

With the eyes which were cold as ice, and lips sneered. This person looked rather rough.

However, contrary to my expectation that the atmosphere didn’t seem uncomfortable, the people’s reaction was rather colorful.

Well, I should have known that this would be the case. Then I heard the sounds; rather than being embarrassed, people giggled or laughed.

They even left us. What happened to them?

I was still dazed when Corin came over and whispered in my ear with a smiling face.