# 29
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After the storm subsided, the staff of the Dosage Administration Department returned to their usual work.
From time to time Tony's sobs could be heard, but no one paid any attention.
At that moment, a file was placed on Dana's desk.
It was Kira's report, and she pointed with a suppressed smile to the sticky note pinned to it.
Dana looked at the excited line, then stood up.
She said, pretending to be calm.
“Will you go with me to organize the inventory?”
Kira nodded quickly, as if she had been waiting for this opportunity.
All the way to the stock room, Kira didn't stop asking questions.
"What exactly happened? What happened between you and the new employee? How did it end in a sudden marriage?"
“Even the official marriage registration? I’m dying of curiosity!”
Dana was answering her questions one by one as she wrote down the numbers of doses.
“I realized during the trip working with him... that I love Edwin.”
Kira was happy as if the news belonged to her.
"You two are great together! I was shocked by Tony's looks at you!"
Dana laughed lightly.
"I never imagined he would look at me that way. He even came up with a plan to have children."
“Really crazy.”
Kira gasped, then continued.
“Anyway, the important thing is that you are happy.”
“Thanks, Kira.”
While Kira was arranging the bottles, she said.
“By the way, there seems to be a lot of marriage news lately.”
“Who else got married?”
“My friend Mary...then there is talk that His Highness the Third Prince has officially registered his marriage.”
Dana's eyes widened in surprise.
“Third Prince? But why wasn’t the news announced?”
“I'm not sure. It was said that only some priests attended, and they were kept silent. So only a few officials know about it.”
“How did you know?”
“Tony was talking about him.”
Kira laughed lightly. “Most likely another rumor from him.”
“I think so too.”
She finished writing down the numbers, then turned to Kira with a calm smile.
“Actually... I think it's time for me to leave home for good.”
Kira gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
“Really? After all my convincing you, I didn’t expect this!”
“I don’t know… I only decided that recently.”
“But will your family let you leave so easily?”
Dana said in a serious tone.
“Viscount Hamburn, who lent them the money this time, is involved in illegal matters, from gambling to usury.”
“How did you know?”
“Because the bank rejected my new loan application in my name. This means that they dealt in informal ways.”
Kira looked at her with pity.
“Isn’t offering to take you as collateral instead of money also illegal?”
“Exactly. They made me a hostage.”
Dana said with cold determination.
“I'll use that to bring them down together.”
She would not forgive either her family who sold her for money, or the Viscount who accepted that deal.
They both threw her into the abyss for the sake of interest.
Suddenly Kira clapped her hands as if she remembered something.
"Oh! You know? My sister said that there is a lawyer in her office who went through similar circumstances to you!"
“Yes, I remember you mentioned that.”
“She was blackmailed by lenders as well, but she found evidence of the illegality of the contract and presented it to the Imperial Guard.”
“What is the evidence?”
“The same contract! The interest rate was higher than the limit allowed in the empire.”
Dana muttered.
“The contract...”
Jimmy certainly has.
The paragraph that states that I will be exchanged for the money, and the identities of the two signatories... will be the conclusive evidence.
Dana's eyes sparkled with a look of cold decisiveness.
There was no attachment left in Dana's heart towards the family she decided to leave behind.
After she finished speaking with Kira, the two returned to focusing on recording the stock of potions.
Dana wrote the schedules carefully, and as soon as she was about to leave the inventory room, she heard a voice calling to her.
“Oh, it's been a long time!”
“...Minister?”
It was Derek Childe, Minister of Magic.
She had not met him since her trip abroad, when they met at the transfer gate.
His position was incomparably higher than hers, so Dana's face showed confusion.
'How does he know me?'
She greeted him reservedly.
“Hello, Your Excellency.”
"Welcome! How are things going these days?"
He looked uncomfortably excited, as if he was looking for an opportunity to say something.
“My affairs? As usual, I focus on my work and everyone’s business...”
“No, no! I don’t mean the oath, I mean you!”
He pointed at her with his sparkling eyes.
"I?"
"Yes! Hasn't there been any development? Such as a relationship...or marriage for example?"
'What does it have to do with my personal life?'
I looked at him suspiciously.
His twisted way of speaking seemed like an attempt to sense intentions, which aroused a slight distaste in her.
Only then did Derek realize his bluntness, and he faked a cough.
“Hmm, I was being rude.”
'Yes, exactly.'
Dana muffled her comment and merely smiled with a faint, professional smile. He smiled wider and said.
“We will meet often from now on, so don’t be nervous.”
"We'll meet? We?"
“So, bye.”
He said what he had to say and then left, and no one saw his mysterious smile as he turned his back.
Concern appeared on Dana's face.
For a high-ranking official who had no contact with her to remember her, and to hint at upcoming meetings...
That was not reassuring.
“Did I do something wrong?”
She felt certain that she had gotten herf into big trouble.
Kira looked at her worriedly.
“Really… how does the Minister even know you?”
Dana's eyes twitched uneasily.
'It can't be...are they going to fire me?'
***
During lunch time, as usual, Edwin's lunch box was amazing.
The sandwich was filled with fresh ingredients that made Dana swallow.
He said with a smile.
“Eat slowly.”
He didn't forget the refreshing apple juice either.
“Delicious as always.”
Edwin watched her contentedly as she chewed with puffy cheeks.
While she was eating, she asked.
“You were joking about that, right?”
"In what?"
“About the wedding and honeymoon trip.”
He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of her lips.
“I'm preparing everything gradually. It won't take long.”
“And with what money?”
Smile confidently.
“Despite appearances, I have worked hard in my life.”
“Before you joined management?”
He nodded. For many years, he led the best cavalry squad in the Kingdom, and his salaries were piling up without spending.
“Sometimes there were huge rewards, too.”
It is intended as rewards for eliminating northern criminals.
The missions of the Rune Knights were not only to eliminate monsters, but also to bring down corrupt and exploitative nobles.
Part of the confiscated property in the palace was given to him as a reward.
Rather, he owned several mines in this way.
“Don't worry about anything, Senpai.”
He said with a reassuring smile.
“Only think about beautiful things.”
"Good."
Dana smiled warmly at him.
'It seems he wants to have a party, even if it's a simple one.'
While Edwin was thinking that he might hold the ceremony in the garden of the Imperial Palace.
“By the way, what kind of house do you want to live in, Senpai?”
"Kind? Aren't we going to your house?"
“Just curious.”
She answered simply.
“A kitchen and a place to sleep are enough for me.”
“Good idea.”
One room means constant closeness.
For him, its simplicity was something completely different. She said, not knowing what he was thinking.
“But we must move before the Foundation Festival.”
“Foundation Festival? Isn’t this a bit far?”
He asked in a regretful tone.
“I wanted to live with you soon.”
Dana laughed.
“Right, I better leave before someone ls me.”
“…l you?”
“It is true that we registered our marriage, but...”
She sighed and said.
“My brother borrowed money earlier, and the lender asked for me as a bride instead of money. This will happen on the day of the palace ceremony during the Foundation Festival.”
Edwin froze silently.
“If I don’t escape before then, I don’t know what they might do. Before that... I will set off a bomb on them.”
He knew the story already, but the anger that swept through him this time could not be contained.