CH 18

The Emperor, upon hearing the gossip, blinked hurriedly and said, “What if we think about it a little more?”

“Thinking, huh?”

“Yeah, thinking. He might actually be a decent person!”

“I’ve looked into it. His reputation is trash. He survived without the mercy and protection of Lady Ishael… but…”

“…”

So that’s what it was. Was I in danger?

It was the moment when the Emperor was engulfed in untimely self-reflection.

“They say he can’t even do his job properly. Why was such a person selected? We should investigate the personnel department… Ah.”

As if sensing something, Dylan’s expression distorted in an instant.

The Emperor silently cheered for Dylan’s rationality.

Yes, even in your eyes, your suspicion was irrational, wasn’t it, my dear brother?

“Now I’m sure.”

This time, a touch of personal interest seemed to be mixed in his voice.

The Emperor’s expression stiffened rapidly.

He would become a filthy scoundrel who pestered his brother’s wife.

“That person won’t be such a filthy scoundrel. Let’s talk about something else.”

They needed a change of topic.

“Anyway, leaving that aside, are you enjoying your newlywed life? I remember you said you admired her.”

At that moment, my brother’s expression turned as red as a tomato.

It’s quite amusing, I must say.

It was difficult to grasp my brother’s emotional line.

“How was it? Hm?”

“I went on a picnic recently.”

“Oh. How was it?”

“At around 4 p.m., we had a late lunch. She enjoyed eating my homemade lunch, and at around 3:37 p.m., she also liked being called ‘baby.'”

Baby? What’s that?

Well, maybe I misheard.

How can someone have such a creepy nickname?

“I misheard. What did you actually call her?”

At that moment, Dylan’s innocent smile on his lips appeared and disappeared.

“I called her ‘baby.'”

The Emperor’s jaw dropped open. But what was more surprising than the absurd nickname ‘baby’ was…

“He truly ‘admires’ her.”

It was Dylan’s gaze.

The Emperor chuckled, examining his eyes that were filled with a faint desire for exclusivity.

“…Yes. If someone better than me appears, I might let her go… It’s admirable.”

He was jealous of a mere part-time worker.

But could he really let her go if someone better came along?

“Your Majesty?”

Dylan woke him from his reverie.

“Oh, no. Ah, by the way…”

“Yes?”

“You know there’s an Administrative Officials’ Ball at the palace the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“Your wife should have a partner as well. Are you going to be absent again this time?”

Dylan’s expression suddenly stiffened.

“No, I won’t.”

“Well, now you should ask your lady to be her partner.”

With a satisfied smile, he shrugged his shoulders.

Now it’s time to have some fun.

* * *

The next morning arrived.

I sat at my desk, working as usual.

I felt a cold gaze from behind.

“Is it true that Dylan and Ishael get along well?”

“Um, Sorbon said so!”

“How can we believe him when he lies every time he opens his mouth?”

“Well, if the rumors are true, Dylan is less impressive than expected.”

“Really?”

“Did he get caught in a weakness?”

“I stake my life on the fact that it’s a baseless rumor.”

Usually, when I plugged in my earphones, I couldn’t hear anyone’s conversation, no matter how loud it was.

But today was different.

It was because Dylan was being slandered because of me.

“There’s an Administrative Officials’ Ball coming up, right?”

“Oh, should I go with Dylan?”

“Beauty and the Beast. No, Beauty and the Potato?”

Meanwhile, Samuel and Marilyn continued their chatter.

“Yeah, I thought Ishael was dating Ford.”

“Ishael clearly does match the nerdy Ford.”

I looked at them, raising an eyebrow.

“People can be unattractive.”

“What?”

In response to Ishael’s defense, Marilyn and Samuel, who were busy gossiping, froze.

“No, I mean. Aren’t you the same as me, turning into an unattractive potato when you’re next to Dylan?”

“Wh-who’s an unattractive potato?”

“Why? Did you really think you were on the same level as Dylan, Potato?”

Marilyn’s face turned red.

Clueless Samuel giggled beside her.

I spoke to Samuel.

“Why are you laughing, Sweet Potato?”

The color drained from Samuel’s face.

Before his regression, he once complained to me about being stressed because his hair color resembled a purple sweet potato.

“Your hair color does resemble a purple sweet potato. The ancient crops are doing work. You have a report to submit today, remember?”

After putting the earphones back in my pocket, I stood up and finished giving instructions.

“Do your job well, just do your job.”

As I walked out of the team and headed to the dressing room.

The voices of the two troublemakers, Marilyn and Samuel, echoed in my ears.

“Why did her tone suddenly change like that?”

“Is she going crazy?”

No matter how much they gossip.

The two, who were resentful of Ford, the hidden part-time worker, posed no threat to me.

Of course, the remarks about my appearance were a bit annoying.

“To be honest, while my face may not be attractive, calling me a beast is a bit much.”

Including my father, my family hoped that I wouldn’t care about my appearance.

Does caring about appearance prevent one from doing their job?

They forced me to hide my face with my hair and glasses.

“I should probably go and cut my hair. And take off my glasses.”

My eyesight wasn’t that bad.

With that decision in mind, I entered the dressing room, humming a tune.

Ford hurriedly followed me.

“I overheard your monologue in front of the dressing room. Are you looking for a salon that can transform you from head to toe?”

“What? Why all of a sudden? And you have good ears. How did you hear my monologue?”

Ford looked determined.

“In that case, I have a place for you to go with me on the morning of the ball.”

“You mean as a partner?”

Ford’s eyes widened at my words.

He suddenly became agitated and shook his head.

“Please don’t see me as a shameless and disgusting person with no morals or self-respect!”

Wait, what is this?

What’s with the self-respect thing?

“Well, um… Anyway, please take this.”

Confused, Ford clapped his hands and moved his body frantically, then calmed down and handed me a small ticket.

The ticket read “Fablery Salon.”

“Oh? Fablery Salon?”

“Yes, do you know it?”

“Of course I do!”

Is there anyone among the imperial women who doesn’t know about Fablery Salon?

It’s Soldika’s wannabe salon, the place where all noble ladies dream of going.

“How does a mere part-time worker like Ford have a ticket to Fablery Salon?”

I squinted my eyes and stared at Ford.

But Ford was behaving as if all of this was completely natural.

“Indeed, the team’s high-ranking position is certain. Must be a high-ranking noble. I wonder who?”

On the day of the Imperial Administrative Ball, the atmosphere was very calm.

Most of the Imperial Administrative officials took paid leave, and I was no exception.

As I recalled today’s ball, my face turned slightly red.

Yesterday, I had planned to ask Dylan for the escort to the ball.

I was going to make a romantic proposal in front of the starlit townhouse.

“Um, Dylan. I have something to say.”

However, Dylan was quicker.

He was dressed in splendid evening attire.

By the way, I was just wearing the standard administrative uniform.

“Ishael.”

“Uh, wow. What’s this? Where have you been?”

He looked down at me and smiled reverently.

Then he kneeled down and presented a proposal ring.

It was a dazzling diamond ring.

“Would you accompany me to the ball tomorrow?”

It was a classic noble way of requesting a ball partner.

I just murmured with my lips and nodded.

“Yes, y-yes. But this ring seems too expensive.”

I wasn’t exactly rolling in a commoner’s salary.

I started worrying if he had spent too much on the ring.

“Well, by chance… I did a lot of odd jobs. It’s part-time work.”

“Wow.”

To go as far as doing odd jobs to make a partner request.

I was willing to accept even without that.

In an instant, I was deeply moved inside.

He recognized my worth, even through the odd jobs!

“I’m truly grateful, Dylan.”

Still overwhelmed by yesterday’s emotions, I entered the salon with Ford, who claimed to be my pumpkin carriage.

The Fablery Salon had a magnificent atmosphere, like an ancient temple befitting the Empire’s finest salon.

A striking contrast to my own appearance.

Unable to take another step forward, Ford snapped his fingers and spoke.

“Well, come on in!”

Watching Ford walk confidently as if it were obvious, I made a decision.

“I must remain loyal to Ford. Loyalty, loyalty.”

With determination, I entered the Fablery Salon.

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“Yes.”

“It will be even more fascinating! This way!”

Ford naturally led me further inside.

Inside the salon, I saw Madame Fablery, the owner.

Surprisingly, Madame Fablery seemed to be around 190cm tall.

She, who looked like a strong knight, swiftly draped a silk shawl over her shoulders.

“I will create something beautiful with these hands for you.”

I bowed my head and greeted her.

“Yes, nice to meet you. I am Ishael.”

“Oh, my goodness.”

She scanned me from bottom to top, then from top to bottom, and opened her mouth.

“First of all, let’s get rid of those wretched glasses immediately.”

She raised her hand, shaped like a pot lid, and brought it to my glasses.

Then, with lightning speed, she snatched them away.

Snap!

She snapped the bridge of the glasses, rendering them unusable.

“…Oh my.”

I clenched my fist, feeling a weak sense of pleasure.

And here, it seemed there was someone else who felt the same pleasure as me.

“Oh, my goodness. That’s great! Now let’s move on to the next step!”

Madame Fablery came closer to me.

She pushed aside her messy bangs, which covered more than half of her face, and let out a sigh of admiration.

“Oh, this is amazing.”

She examined my face from different angles and let out inexplicable sighs.

“Oh my goodness, like this…”

Overwhelmed by the continuous scrutiny, I could only blink.

Is it because I have never cared about my appearance?

I don’t know how my appearance appears to others.’

“Why does she keep saying ‘Oh my goodness’?”

Could it be that strange?