Chapter 49
Until now, it seemed like we had somehow managed with makeshift treatments, but this just wouldn’t do anymore.
We desperately needed a professional medical staff.
The problem, however, was that the Azure Dawn Knights were notoriously known for their poor conditions.
So, to attract highly skilled personnel like doctors, we had to offer some sort of incentive…
‘Should I just go all out with the money?’
Money was the only thing I had, after all.
Even if I had to dip into my personal funds, I might have to entice them with performance bonuses or severance packages.
‘In any case, one way or another, we need to bring in a military doctor.’
Ughhh.
I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.
That was because the issue with the military doctor was only one among a mountain of other concerns I had to deal with.
The most urgent of them all was…
‘I really need to visit the Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute soon.’
The Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute.
A top-level national confidential facility conducting portal-related research.
It was also the place that produced and supplied purification elixirs, barrier stones, and aura weapons to the knights.
But since it was such an important facility, even a princess couldn’t just walk in whenever she pleased.
‘Still… those abnormal behaviors shown by the demonic beasts this time.’
Even with Giscard, the greatest aura knight, right by my side, the demonic beasts chased only after me.
As if their sole mission in life was to hunt me down and kill me.
I needed to discuss that issue.
Also, there was someone at the Imperial Institute whom I absolutely had to meet.
That person, who had great influence even in the original work, was none other than…
“Administrative Officer Astrid.”
Just then—
Just as I thought someone was suddenly calling out to me, a large hand pressed down on the top of my head.
Startled, I quickly looked up.
“Commander?”
“What are you doing sitting here alone? Have you had dinner?”
Tch, did he really have to speak so irritatingly?
I pouted and answered.
“No, I haven’t. I just… don’t have much of an appetite today.”
At that, Giscard’s expression immediately turned stern.
“Maintaining physical strength through proper meals is both a knight’s duty and responsibility.”
Ugh.
I flinched slightly.
I hadn’t realized it until now, but Giscard was surprisingly naggy.
“Make sure to eat. Understood?”
After repeating this insistently several times,
Giscard finally handed me an elegant envelope.
“Anyway, an invitation has arrived in your name.”
“An invitation?”
I accepted the invitation with a puzzled expression.
This wasn’t the capital where Cassia, in the original work, used to be active as the flower of high society.
So was there even anyone who’d send me an invitation?
Upon checking the name written on the envelope, my eyes widened in surprise.
[𝕵𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖘 𝖛𝖔𝖓 𝕯𝖎𝖆𝖟.]
‘The Duke of Diaz?!’
The Duke of Diaz, the head of the North.
One of the most prominent noblemen in the Empire, and privately, Cassia’s maternal uncle.
From what I know, the House of Diaz had provided considerable support to the Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute.
That made sense—after all, the North was located right near the portal.
Stabilizing the portal was directly linked to the safety of the North.
Which meant—
‘He’s a powerful figure who could connect me to the Institute!’
Who would’ve thought I’d get this lucky?
My eyes sparkled with excitement.
Then Giscard, looking unimpressed, asked me,
“What exactly are you thinking to make that kind of expression?”
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
“It’s just… well…”
Giscard replied with a cryptic look.
“…A scheming kind of look?”
Seriously?
I scowled at him and opened the envelope without another word.
[𝒯𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝒜𝒹𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒪𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓇 𝒜𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒹,]
‘Huh?’
As soon as I read the opening of the card, I was intrigued.
Not “Cassia” or “Her Highness”—but “Administrative Officer Astrid.”
That meant the Duke of Diaz was addressing me as a member of the Azure Dawn Knights.
[𝒜𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝒻𝑒’𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝑒𝓈𝓉, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶 𝓂𝑜𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑒𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓉𝑒.
𝒮𝑜, 𝓘 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝓍𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓋𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝓡𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓋 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒜𝒹𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒪𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓇 𝒜𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒹.]
Huh?
Blinking in surprise, I looked up at Giscard.
“You were invited too, Commander?”
At those words, Giscard simply showed me his own invitation instead of answering.
‘Hmm.’
I nodded slightly and looked back at the card.
[𝓘 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓁𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓊𝒹𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓁 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉.𝓘 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓃𝓈𝑒.
—𝒥𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓋𝑜𝓃 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓏]
“So, are you going to attend?”
Giscard asked casually.
I answered firmly.
“Of course I have to attend! It’s a legitimate chance to take advantage of the Duke of Diaz.”
“……”
Giscard’s face took on that ambiguous expression again, but I ignored it.
‘Anyway.’
Giscard wasn’t usually the type to enjoy social events, was he?
More precisely, in the original story, he had grown sick of such gatherings after being worn out by Cassia’s constant antics…
‘Hmm.’
Well, our male lead’s mental well-being is precious, after all.
So I added generously,
“If it makes you uncomfortable, I can go alone.”
Even though the Duke of Diaz had sent invitations to both me and Giscard.
He probably didn’t expect both of us to actually show up.
Usually, in cases like this, only one person would attend as the knights’ representative.
But then—
“No, I’ll go with you.”
…What’s going on?
Now it was my turn to wear an ambiguous expression.
“I really don’t mind. You’re not fond of social gatherings anyway, right?”
“……”
At that, Giscard went quiet for a moment before snapping,
“What if I send the Administrative Officer alone and she causes some kind of trouble?”
Then, he abruptly turned on his heel and strode out of the dining hall.
‘What the heck was that?!’
I couldn’t hide my bewildered expression as I stared at Giscard’s retreating back.
* * *
Giscard hurried down the hallway as if fleeing.
‘Why on earth did I do that?’
Normally, Giscard didn’t particularly enjoy social events.
And if it were that kind of event, wasn’t it perfectly fine to send Cassia alone as the representative of the Knight Order?
Then why?
‘Why did I insist on going with her?’
His face felt inexplicably hot, and Giscard gently bit down on his lower lip.
Why was that?
The former commander of the 4th Knight Order, who used to shamelessly cling to Cassia, suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Administrative Officer Astrid, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you like this.”
What if he had sent Cassia alone, and people like the 4th commander started hanging around her?
‘Damn it.’
For a moment, Giscard felt as though his stomach was twisting.
‘No, I really do have to go with her.’
Sending her all the way to the Duchy of Diaz alone… didn’t sit well with him.
He was also worried that Cassia might cause some kind of trouble.
But now, she was the precious Administrative Officer of the Azure Dawn Knights.
‘Yes, it’s only natural for the commander to care about his subordinates.’
Giscard desperately tried to convince himself.
Cassia was a fully capable adult, and had even traveled alone from the capital to the North.
She had also, while working as an administrative officer, gone back and forth to the supply distribution center all on her own…
But he purposely pretended not to acknowledge those facts.
* * *
A few days later.
Inside the carriage heading toward the Duchy of Diaz.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I faced Giscard.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Ah, well…”
Ahem.
Giscard awkwardly cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
“Still, it’s not every day we get invited to the Duke of Diaz’s estate, is it?”
“And?”
“Since it’s been a while since you’ve attended a social event, I naturally thought you’d wear a dress.”
Huh?
I blinked, a little puzzled.
“Where would I even get a dress?”
“Yes?”
“I sold them all.”
I replied cheerfully.
At that reply, Giscard’s pupils quivered as if struck by an earthquake.
