The Reason for Marriage - Chapter 33.2

“You…”

“I told you, affection is inertia, purity is self-deception, lust is fantasy, love is not worth it. Just run some missions and have a drink with your colleagues.” Iveca muffled her voice, and she grinned. “I guess it’s my mother’s blood, who couldn’t stand half a year without my father and experimented with a young, handsome stableman, which also ran down to me.”

Iveca had completely overcome herself in the past, to where the trauma that once had been a heavy burden on her was now a joke.

She realized firsthand that her emotions, her personality, and a person’s disposition depend on the situation. If she had a few close colleagues that had a good relationship with her and she could share her feelings, her self-esteem would rise quickly. She used to congratulate herself that it was a wise choice to leave the Count and live as Eve Jean.

“Eve is right. You can choose anyone. After all, they are all there anyway, and there are one or two noble girls who fell in love with His Majesty Daniel and harassed their father during the battle of the throne. Friendly, soft, fairytale-like prince.”

Reina made an exaggerated gesture, and Sid spoke firmly.

“He hasn’t been on the throne for long. You are just too busy to care about such things. And the Queen’s seat is not a place for you to discuss as a joke.”

“What’s wrong with talking about the Queen’s position–it’s not like he’s going to give it around.”

Iveca groaned and pinched her nose. Reina asked with her eyes wide open.

“Why? I’ll do it if you give it to me.”

“There is no freedom, wait for a King who’s busy all day, and I don’t know if it’s an administrative officer or the pharmaceutical empire, but if you become a queen, you will hardly be able to take on the duties of the Bureau of Investigation. Are you crazy? I’d rather…” She grinned and lifted the glass. “Seriously, shall I aim for Kayden Ruth’s position? If I become one of His Majesty’s closest aides, a promotion must be on the horizon, right? Should I do it before our seniors do?”

Of course, it was purely a joke. Iveca had no intention of continuing this tedious work even after Kayden’s return in the next three months. Daniel was also not interested in Iveca, and she was just an employee. A replaceable one, at that.

“Be careful of what you say. Reina, you need to abandon your childish side. You’re the only idiot in the entire Bureau of Investigation.”

Sid sighed and said, but Reina and Iveca did not listen with their ears as always. This was because nothing has happened in the past three and a half years.

Perhaps because of that, they were not aware of the fact that a young man with thick glasses, wearing a hood in the seat behind them, sat until the end of their drinking party.

It was the following evening that Iveca took Sid’s advice heartily.

***

Originally, it was normal to report every two days in the morning, but an emergency broke out and Iveca had to submit the report the next day in a hurry near midnight. This is because the emperor of the Empire caused a huge landslide to defeat the rebels.

Although it was foreign affairs, the Empire was a country that showed loyalty towards the Amethan Kingdom, and the landslide was even close to the Amethan border.

The Foreign Office’s comprehensive report would arrive later with an official announcement, so it had to be delivered quickly, even if it was urgent. It was already past midnight when Iveca entered the palace in a hurry, and she had to go directly to Daniel’s bedroom.

“Wait there a minute, please. Your Highness is dressing.”

It was Anriq who almost ran and intercepted her when she arrived in front of Daniel’s bedroom. Daniel also seemed to have woken up after receiving an urgent message.

“I can’t keep her waiting long because she’ll be busy with all this sudden happening. Let her in.” Daniel’s voice in the door was unclear.

“Come on in.”

Anriq opened the door, and Iveca carefully entered the King’s bedroom. It was colourful and beautiful, but smaller than she thought. Daniel was sitting at the table with a rather dishevelled face. She blinked at the King’s bedroom for the first time. It was on the east side, but there was no shield by the window, and if it was midnight and he just woke up, he must be the one who went to bed early and woke up early.

“You can leave, Anriq.”

“But…”

“I am with an employee in a Bureau of Investigation uniform. You can count on it.”

Iveca looked foolishly at Daniel, sitting at the table with a report. It was surprising to see the neatness that she has always seen as an audience. The silk indoor clothes were simple, and the opening peeped the slick collarbone and hard muscles that drove her mind to distraction.