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Charles Nostrim and Grace Nostrim’s love story is quite a famous tale in the Abas nobility. To be precise, it spread like wildfire among the nobles from the moment they were discovered in a romantic situation.

It’s no wonder, as they were caught red-handed in the royal residence, where the Crown Prince and Crown Princess resided, while being affectionate with one another.

The passionate love affair of the Crown Princess’s maid and a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Finance quickly became the talk of the court. When the Count, furious that his cherished daughter’s marriage prospects were ruined, implored the king to permit a duel, the situation escalated beyond control.

Ultimately, the Queen intervened, connecting Charles, the Ministry of Finance official, with Grace, who was then the Crown Princess’s maid, thus resolving the crisis. Unlike other noble families known for their frequent affairs, they ended up having four children and built a harmonious family together.

Seeing how a story from over thirty years ago still comes up in conversation, I can’t help but feel it’s quite an extraordinary love story—I’m even curious how they managed to hold their heads high back then.

However, what people don’t realize is this:

“If Her Highness the Crown Princess hadn’t taken the two of you into the garden, there wouldn’t have been any scandal. Thankfully, no guardsmen or court attendants found out about it. Oh my, when the Crown Princess commanded others to follow her, they nervously chattered, questioning if they were going the right way. Who would have imagined she could be such a worrywart?”

“Uh, Mom, are you confessing that you used royal connections to seduce a man?”

“You little rascal! If someone hears that, it’ll sound like blasphemy. If anyone asks, just say Her Highness graciously bestowed a favor upon you.”

It turns out, love in the bushes wasn’t a fate-driven encounter, but rather, it was Mother who dragged Father into the bushes, almost like a kidnapping.

—

**Episode 10 – Head Northwest**

—

After a long time without seeing each other, our family put on a sitcom-like performance. My parents took nearly thirty minutes just to greet one another.

“…Dad, I get that you’re happy, but shouldn’t we head inside now?”

“Jerry, why don’t you try to stop your mother?”

My sister and I pleaded with Jerry to intervene while watching my dad and mom engage in their affectionate display in the biting winter wind.

Despite the cold making us all shiver, my parents showed no signs of stopping, laughing and chatting away like a couple who hadn’t seen each other in decades. If we left them alone, it seemed they could go on for over an hour like that.

Maybe Jerry thought the same, as he jumped right in without a second thought.

“Dad, Mom, how about we go inside since the air outside is chilly?”

“…Oh! Look at my mind. Sorry, kids! Let’s head home.”

Dad grinned, laughing with Mom as he took off his hat.

Meanwhile, the four siblings, who were about to become popsicles, ditched our parents and rolled into the mansion along with the servants. Jerry and Adela pouted with their flushed cheeks and red ears.

“Brrr, I’m freezing to death.”

“Hey, Fred, I’m going to warm up in my room. I think I need to change too.”

“Make sure you come back before it gets late.”

I sent Adela upstairs to get changed, and she quickly walked up the stairs, while Jerry said he’d see me later and headed to his room.

Honestly, they probably weren’t disappearing because they were cold but because they wanted to avoid the cringeworthy scene of our parents being lovey-dovey. While wandering around the busy house, I caught sight of Ayla.

“What’s up?”

“…Aren’t you cold?”

She was wrapped in the cape she had been wearing since attending the university’s magic department.

Unlike me, who had been braving the bitter wind, Ayla’s skin was not red from the cold but rather pleasantly moist.

Ayla fiddled with her cape, nodding.

“There’s a warmth spell on it. It blocks the wind a bit.”

“…Really?”

I pretended to think hard about it and then reached out to her.

“Let me have it.”

I wanted to try it out too.

—

The cape, meticulously crafted by the master wizard who immigrated from the Magic Tower, was simply divine. The bone-chilling cold that had been gnawing at me just moments ago melted away like snow, and my taut skin relaxed instantly.

Truly, a product of the Magic Tower; it surely lived up to its reputation, much more worth it than a pricey university magic department jacket. I didn’t know the exact price since it wasn’t something I purchased, but one thing was clear: it had to be expensive.

Of course, there had been a little dispute with the original owner when I borrowed it…

“Brother, it would be bad if that thing got damaged.”

“Dang, when did I say I was going to take it? I just said I’d borrow it for a bit and return it.”

“Well, that’s true but…”

“If you want it back, then bring the money.”

I just handled that matter well.

I successfully exercised my rights and duties as a creditor defined by Abas law, successfully pressuring the debtor.

In simpler terms, I was saying that I’d borrow the cape until Ayla pays back the money she borrowed. So technically, it was collateral.

Feeling warmth envelop me, I sat down and started to eat some soup.

“How’s it taste, Jerry?”

“Yeah.”

“And everyone’s okay? Adela, Fred, Ayla?”

“It’s good. Delicious, Mom.”

My mother smiled contentedly at her children’s responses. The air brimmed with the aroma of stimulating dishes.

Jerry dished salad into his plate and took a seat, while Adela and Ayla tore off bite-sized pieces of steaming bread and dipped them in olive oil.

In the dining room, there was no one except family. The servants had long vacated the scene, respecting my father’s request for a warm family dinner after a long while apart.

“So how’s it going at the Ministry of Finance? Lately, it seems like the officials are coming and going so often it’s wearing down the thresholds of the court.”

“Not much going on, Grace. In a world like this, who isn’t busy as a civil servant?”

“But I’m still worried about you overworking yourself.”

My dad and mom held hands over the table, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I heard from the agricultural department officials during their visit to the court. They said the food situation is better than usual this year, right?”

“Finally, the famine has ended.”

“But bizarre cold waves are causing chaos. The meteorological department is submitting daily reports. They say they’ve never seen climate changes like this before, so anything could happen; people are already freezing to death in Ratouan.”

“Don’t worry, Grace. I’ve been pressured to secure resources and manpower to prevent any deaths from freezing this winter. Although, it seems the heating costs are going to skyrocket because of the mana stone supply issues…”

“That’s the problem. The Queen is worried about that too. Friendly nations are collapsing due to civil wars and monsters, trade routes are blocked, and the government is cutting various budgets to raise funds. At this rate, they’ll even slash civil servants’ pensions.”

“Well, if pensions get cut, you and I can enjoy old age together at the mansion. Or else we can renovate the townhouse to live in.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

Despite wanting to break the serious atmosphere, I considered it just another usual scene I’d been witnessing during family meals since childhood, so I decided to let it go. I continued my dinner quietly like everyone else.

Naturally, as is customarily the case in family gatherings, the atmosphere wasn’t awkward. My parents, who had shown no signs of ceasing their banter, started to ask each of us about our recent happenings one by one.

The first targets were the eldest son and daughter.

“Jerry, what have you been working on at the Ministry lately?”

“You know I’m in charge of economic policies. I think I greeted you at the office last week.”

“That was just a brief encounter, not an actual greeting, right? Anyway, I’m glad the policy department suits you well. So how about our Adela?”

“My work’s obvious as an official. Nothing special. Just the usual paperwork, day in and day out.”

“As civil servants, you ought to become best buddies with paperwork. You can’t govern a country with just verbal agreements, can you?”

Mom, Dad, Jerry, and my siblings engaged in small talk. Since we frequently moved between the townhouse and our residence, I thought there wouldn’t be much to discuss, but surprisingly the conversations extended far longer than expected.

The topics were diverse.

Work life, friends and colleagues, nearby restaurants, fresh experiences, new hobbies, wishes, complaints—all sorts of things.

And of course, romance couldn’t be left out.

“Oh, by the way, aren’t you all dating?”

“Dad!”

Adela blushed and screamed.

“Can we not talk about that?”

“Why not, Adela? I would rather see you all out meeting people than lying on your beds in the same clothes you wore to work on weekends.”

“Oh, for real!”

Mom gently held Adela’s hand and smiled lovingly.

“Don’t be too harsh. We haven’t all gathered together in a long time.”

“I think you’re too soft on them. That’s just my opinion.”

“We’ve got age on our side. They should know how to handle their affairs by now.”

Mom embraced her children gracefully and courteously. Though Dad seemed slightly mistrustful of Jerry and Adela, his twitching lips hinted at deep affection for both.

After Jerry and Adela had their turn, it was time for Ayla.

“Ayla!”

Dad called her name with a silly smile.

“I heard you just got a job! I got the scoop from Jerry. It’s a trading company, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a small company called Pax.”

My parents beamed with glee at the news of their unemployed daughter landing a job. It wasn’t just Dad; Mom was especially ecstatic. It seemed joy radiated from them just looking at Ayla, just like it always had.

They set down their utensils and leaned in closer to listen to Ayla’s story. It was a classic, typical display of doting parents, evident on their faces: ‘I could pump myself up even if I’m not eating right now.’

“What kind of company is it?”

“It’s a trading firm. We buy products from Abas and sell them internationally. Conversely, we distribute goods purchased from abroad in Abas, and recently, we’re working on developing magical items to enter the international market. Of course, I’m sure you and Jerry know this better.”

“So are you working in development?”

“I’m in the overseas sales department, so I’m not directly involved in product development, but as you know, wizards don’t stick to just one job.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

“If they need help, I could jump in and assist, you know?”

Ayla’s response made my parents beam with pride. It seemed they were truly happy their daughter had confidently found a job.

Dad clapped enthusiastically, beaming at his youngest daughter with joy.

“Well done! Great job! You can do anything you want as long as it’s something you love.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

“I always thought it would be great if you became a civil servant… but if it suits you, it doesn’t matter. Just do what you love.”

Dad seemed a tad disappointed but kept that thought to himself. Although the Nostrim family had a long history of producing civil servants, that didn’t mean everyone had to follow that path.

While my parents were engaged in a lively dialogue with Ayla, I spread butter on my bread and playfully chimed in.

“Hey Ayla, why do you sound like you’ve rehearsed all your answers?”

“Uh, what?”

Ayla stuttered like someone flustered.

“Are you really not memorizing your lines?”

“…Why would I do something like that?”

I waved my hand dismissively.

“Nah, it was just that your delivery felt a bit stiff, so I was just joking.”

I already knew about her getting a job at a trading company from Jerry and Adela, but I tossed that out playfully since she sounded too robotic while talking.

Looks like she was a bit tense since it was her first job. Jerry and Adela comforted her, saying that it would be alright, while our parents encouraged her, assuring her she could do it.

After quite some time of inquiry about our youngest sibling, it was finally my turn.

Dad chuckled lightly while eating the main dish alongside the table wine.

“It’s been a while, Fred. Is it three years since we last saw one another?”

“Yeah.”

“So how have you been?”

—

Dinner was winding down. The appetizer and main courses were cleared, and desserts and after-dinner drinks appeared on the table.

Ayla and Adela left their seats, claiming they weren’t feeling well, while Jerry stepped out of the dining room to take them back.

With my other siblings gone, the only ones left at the table were my parents and me—the three of us.

I wrapped my fingers around my glass as I looked around to find everyone had already moved on…

I slowly began to speak while warming the cognac.

“I’m doing well.”

“Really?”

Ever since the divine revelation, the Military Intelligence Agency had focused on identifying every potential danger around me. It was like undergoing a background check of sorts.

Whether there were any criminals in my family, if there were any relatives involved in espionage, or if there was a possibility of being recruited by foreign intelligence agencies—if so, for what reasons, and so on.

During that process, the Military Intelligence Agency compiled a list of individuals who knew about my identity. Those who clearly understood that I was an Information Officer. Everyone working in the Ministry of Defense was managed by the Military Intelligence Agency, and those in civil service or other government agencies were transferred by other intelligence agencies. Probably the Cabinet Security Office.

However, while the names of Older Brother Jerry and Older Sister Adela appeared on that list, there were no entries for Charles Nostrim or Grace Nostrim.

Colonel Clevenz had ordered my parents not to disclose my identity, more specifically, to keep it hidden until the situation stabilized.

Once again, I spun an elaborate tale to navigate the situation.

“These days, I’m serving abroad as a Defense Attaché. I was working at the Cult and the Magic Tower.”

“A Defense Attaché, huh….”

A senior official from the Ministry of Finance questioned me in a seemingly indifferent tone.

“Is a Defense Attaché a military diplomat? Assisting the ambassador and participating in events held by the Ministry of Defense, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, even Del is a diplomat, and now you’re one too, Fred. Ha ha, what a world.”

Father, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly chimed in.

“Fred, a friend of mine works in the Ministry of Defense and mentioned your name at a gathering. He said you seemed to be adjusting well to life at the embassy.”

But then—

“When that friend looked you up in the Defense Ministry’s computer network, someone apparently visited from Headquarters.”

“Who came?”

“I believe it was the Counterintelligence Department? That’s the name I heard.”

The mention of the Counterintelligence Department caused my mother, who worked in the royal household, to gasp in surprise.

“The Counterintelligence Department? Fred, are you okay?”

I gestured to reassure my mother, speaking as if it was no big deal.

“It’s nothing, mother. I’m sure they just went to check why someone with no connections suddenly inquired about my identity.”

“When they look into a Defense Attaché, isn’t it usual for the Counterintelligence Department to investigate?”

“I don’t know. This is the first time I’m learning about a Defense Attaché.”

Lies. There’s no one in the intelligence division who doesn’t know about Defense Attachés.

Not all Defense Attaché positions are filled by the intelligence division; they also recruit from regular soldiers and send them out as Defense Attachés, but most positions are in fact reserved for intelligence division executives.

Yet many civil servants, even within the Ministry of Defense, are mostly unaware of this fact.

So, that’s why my lies work.

“Maybe it was because of my identity?”

“Is that so?”

“I still have plenty to learn, so I can’t say much, but I’m not exactly overworked.”

“That’s good to hear.”

As my mother smiled contently, suddenly, Father blurted out something unexpected.

“Grace. This just isn’t right.”

“What now?”

“It’s hard to believe that a kid who was just fine working in the capital suddenly gets sent abroad across the news!”

Father frowned, looking annoyed.

“And what? A hero comrade? Are you kidding me?”

“Honey.”

“Suddenly, you’re under a terrorist attack. How come wherever you go, accidents just keep happening?”

“Don’t say that. It’s not the kid’s fault.”

Honestly, I was at fault in nine out of ten accidents I was involved in.

But if I said that, I’d be dead long before any inspection for security violations took place; I’d be beaten to a pulp by my parents, so I decided to stay quiet.

Meanwhile, my father and mother were raising their voices, arguing.

“And you expect him to go capture monsters like hydras and salamanders, just like those heroes in the history books? Fred can use magic like Del can now. Or can you enhance your body with magic power? You can’t handle the divine, and all you can do is sit at a desk and look over documents. You saw how he fought a wolf the size of a compact car, didn’t you?”

Suddenly, facts that hit home shook me.

Father recalled how I had been tangled up with a wolf the size of a compact car with no magic powers. It seemed he was referring to my past adventures in No Man’s Land with Camila.

But hey, is it really my fault I can’t use magic…?

While I pondered using my debt as an excuse to throw Ayla under the bus, my mother began to speak sternly to my father.

“He’s not going to catch anything just yet.”

“But someday he will, won’t he?”

“I suppose. But he won’t be going alone?”

“You know how Frederick is, Grace. He never exercised even when he was a kid, and he always backed away when others were fighting. He’s really not as robust as he seems. He would cry and throw a fit over a small cut. And if he dies, what good does it do? The priests can’t even stitch a broken bone properly, no matter how many coins you throw at them.”

“If it were the Saint, it might be different. They say she healed over 150 people on her first day at the Magic Tower.”

“I don’t think that knight’s story is credible. Even a renowned priest can hardly heal 50 people a day. 150 seems exaggerated.”

For quite some time, my parents continued to argue with me caught in the middle. I had no idea how the conversation had shifted here.

Honestly, while their words were caring, I didn’t feel great just sitting there and listening to this.

What are they doing getting so worked up at their age?

“Alright, I got it, I got it.”

Finally, I interjected to mediate the situation.

“I’m still a diplomat working at the embassy, and as you’ve said, I’m not planning to hunt monsters or go on any adventures. What kind of adventure does a civil servant have? It’s hard enough just getting vacation time.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Although there’ve been plenty of unexpected unfortunate incidents, I don’t foresee any more coming up. So please stop with the magic and monster-slaying stories from those musty-smelling books.”

*

Even after the argument ended, my parents insisted on warning me not to get involved in dangerous matters. After what felt like an eternity, the late night arrived.

I stepped into the moonlit garden.

The night air was cold and dry. Snow was gradually piling up. The familiar smell of tobacco hung heavily in the air.

I raised my head and let out a long sigh into the sky.

The smoke from my tobacco seemed to veil the bright moon but soon scattered, merging into the night sky. I stared blankly at the dispersing smoke.

“…….”

Standing idly on the white snow while gazing at the sky, I heard a slight rustling sound behind me, followed by a somewhat weighted voice.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, Older Brother Jerry.”

It was Older Brother Jerry.

Dressed in comfortable clothes and a cape, looking like he was preparing for bed, he pointed at the cigarette I was holding and clicked his tongue.

“Why are you smoking that? Nobody in our family smokes.”

“Good question.”

“Stop that.”

Jerry chuckled at my pointless banter. I guess it was amusing to see someone younger than him act wise beyond their years.

He slid his hands into his pockets and stood next to me. Possibly displeased with the smoke, he didn’t move any closer, yet the distance was close enough for me to see his expression clearly.

“Where did you learn that?”

“At work.”

“…….”

At the mention of the intelligence division, Jerry silently nodded. A gesture indicating he wouldn’t press further.

“Is it tough? The job there?”

“Nothing’s easy these days.”

“That’s true, everything’s difficult in this day and age.”

Jerry stepped a bit closer and asked me.

“How long do you plan to stay at home?”

“I’m not sure. About a week?”

My vacation was nearly over. It had been a month-long leave, but it had melted away like snow.

Realistically, I probably wouldn’t even be able to stay for a full week at the estate. I had preparations for deployment, pre-operations for the mission Leoni assigned, taking care of Camila, and receiving treatment from Lucia.

But surely I could manage to stay a bit longer, right?

Jerry raised his eyebrows and muttered thoughtfully.

“Hmm. That seems sufficient.”

“Really?”

“Where are you headed next?”

“To the Kien Empire, I suppose.”

The next deployment was to the Kien Empire. In a week, I’d officially assume my position as Defense Attaché at the Embassy of Abas in the Kien Empire.

Jerry looked at me with a gentle but slightly awkward smile, then fell into a deep thought.

“Do your parents know where you’re working?”

“No.”

“Why didn’t you tell them?”

Do I really need to say that?

I tried to deflect, but he persistently pressed me for an answer.

He gazed up at the dark night sky. Above, the moonlight glimmered softly through the darkness.

“Honestly, I thought you would tell them today. That you’re with the Military Intelligence Agency.”

“Why would I do that?”

“You never know when you might return home. At least I assumed you’d say something before leaving.”

“It’s not like I’m being deployed. I’m just going to the embassy, so why make a fuss?”

I chuckled lightly in response, but Jerry looked at me earnestly.

He seemed thoughtful, gazing down for a moment, then reverted to his serious demeanor.

“If that’s what you think, then so be it.”

He patted my shoulder a few times. A sign of encouragement.

“I believe you’ll handle it well despite the challenges ahead. You’ve always managed on your own since you were a kid.”

“Stop with the embarrassing compliments….”

“I’m just saying to cheer you up.”

Jerry slapped me on the back in a friendly way. Then, with a sheepish grin, he continued.

“Enjoy your remaining vacation. You never know when you’ll get to rest again. And don’t just call when you need something; make sure you check in regularly. Your parents have been waiting months for news of you.”

“…Alright, I’ll make sure to call often.”

“And quit smoking.”

“Are you my dad?”

“Who do you think you are?”

With wide eyes, Jerry laughed playfully and punched me lightly in the gut. As I exaggeratedly recoiled, he smirked and began to walk away.

“The night air is cold, so take care and come back inside. You don’t want to catch a cold.”

“I’m fine. I’ve got Ayla’s cape on.”

“…Are you seriously borrowing your sister’s clothes now?”

“It’s a matter of exercising my rights as the younger sibling.”

“What an excuse. Ugh!”

Don’t tease Ayla too much now.

Having said that, Jerry walked back toward the estate.

I watched his fading silhouette before turning my gaze skyward again.

It was a night where the moon looked exceptionally beautiful.

*

Happy moments feel fleeting, while unhappy ones seem eternal. Even if you want to grasp happiness, before you know it, it slips away like grains of sand from your palm.

The vacation flew by in an instant. Really, it was over in the blink of an eye.

“Sigh….”

“Are you gloomy since your vacation’s ending?”

“Of course.”

Camila smiled brightly and handed me my travel bag.

Receiving the bag emblazoned with diplomatic insignia, I quickly checked its contents before locking it up.

We exited the long tunnel.

Under a bright and warm midday sun, the clear blue sky spread above us.

I basked in the dazzling sunlight, put on my sunglasses, and began to drag my luggage.

…Yes. It’s that day.

The day has come.

I’m finally heading to the Kien Empire.

 

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