A Dark Fantasy Spy

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“So, what you’re saying is…”

I fumbled to summarize the situation while seated across from Older Sister Adela.

“There’s a rumor going around that I have some sort of relationship with Camila—No, the Hero, the Saint, and the Administrator, right?”

“That’s right.”

Older Sister Adela nodded and began to explain.

“It’s come up a few times among the international reporters and diplomats. Of course, it’s just gossip.”

“What specifically are people saying?”

Episode 10 – Head Northwest

It was at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Abas where it all began.

At that time, due to the aftermath of the terrorist incident, the Cult National Affairs Council had requested that the Abas government protect Camila, and the embassy was the designated location for that.

Back then, I was responsible for her escort.

From the outside, it looked like I was a mere parachute with not much to do, while the other embassy staff were too busy. Being a familiar face and having the excuse of being a colleague, the entire responsibility ended up being dumped on me.

Even after some time had passed, it still fell to me to manage Camila’s safety—thanks, in part, to that incident. Not only Camila, but I also ended up managing Lucia.

Why it turned out this way remains a mystery. It’s just how things ended up, I guess.

Of course, it wasn’t particularly hard or difficult, and both of them were the type to manage themselves well, so I had no complaints.

Above all, compared to the hectic days I used to have, I appreciated the extra time I got to spend with Camila and Lucia.

But perhaps we had grown too close.

“Ah.”

“You, my friend. The rumors are flying that you’ve been going in and out of the Hero’s room at all hours.”

It seems the whispers were circulating among the diplomats.

Current professional diplomat, Older Sister Adela, smirked.

“Putting that aside for now, what’s this about the Saint?”

“You went out several times into the slums with the Saint for relief activities just a few months ago, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“The day before that, the Magic Tower leaked it to the foreign press corps that you and the Saint would be working together in the slums from now on. They even mentioned that you’re making time in your busy schedule to follow the Saint.”

The foreign press corps.

It seemed the Magic Tower’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had spilled the beans to foreign media correspondents’ community just before Lucia and I went for the relief work.

A curse slipped out involuntarily.

“Damn…”

I’m not usually one to swear, but this? A love scandal involving Camila, Lucia, and myself?

Honestly, this was a bit much.

While it’s true I carved out busy moments, I never neglected my official duties. And what? Me willingly following Lucia? That’s pure nonsense.

“I didn’t volunteer for it. I proposed it to the Cult first.”

Technically, it was Lucia who proposed it, and the Military Intelligence Agency stamped it or whatever, but still.

Adding to this makeshift diplomat’s justification, the professional diplomat chimed in.

“Even if you say that, no one would believe it. Even the kids at the Academy know how prideful the clergy are. It’d be more credible if you said you joined the service voluntarily.”

“Ugh.”

“Come on, diplomacy is all about face. You understand that. By the way, I think you really need to practice your diplomatic rhetoric. The diplomats say you’re good at speaking, but lack a way to obscure your words. Maybe it’s because you’re a soldier.”

Older Sister Adela tilted her head.

“Didn’t the Information Agency give you training? The last time I asked, they said that’s done before dispatch.”

“Do they have time to train when they need to pack and send me off immediately?”

“Anyway.”

Older Sister Adela leaned back on the sofa and continued.

“Don’t think too seriously about it. Instead of a scandal or a love affair, it seems people just view you two as closer than they expected.”

“People aren’t going to see it that way.”

“Well, that depends on the article’s tone.”

It all comes down to how the media chooses to spin it.

If a photo shows me and Camila or Lucia smiling at each other during official events, they might chalk it up to friendship, but if it shows us embracing in a hotel a good distance away from the venue on a Sunday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson might be losing hair daily. Maybe I’ll end up swimming in a drum 150 meters underwater.

As I sat on the sofa, frowning for a moment…

Older Sister Adela, half-laying next to me, asked.

“Why so serious? Smile, for goodness’ sake. Just joking around a bit here…”

“……”

My face was blank, and wrinkles appeared. The playful expression on Older Sister Adela’s face was now clouded.

“Hey, you aren’t actually serious, right?”

“……”

“Oh my, thank goodness you’re not married yet. It’s not that big a deal to have an affair while being single, but be careful not to run into bigamy issues.”

She had been irritating me with her incessant jabbering.

I shot her a glare for her continuous nonsense.

“Stop with the ridiculous talk. Don’t mumble to yourself; just be quiet.”

“Hey! So why are you seriously worrying about this?”

I had plenty on my mind.

The employees of the Cult embassy leaking my whereabouts to reporters, a high-ranking official from a foreign government leaking event-related information to the public community without consultation.

While you couldn’t call that information strictly confidential, given it related to Camila and Lucia’s wellbeing, it wasn’t something to chuck away lightly either.

But warning them seemed like it would spark more talk, and protesting felt unjustified; I didn’t want to drag Older Sister Adela, who just informed me, into the mess.

Above all, the Military Intelligence Agency couldn’t possibly be unaware of the rumors flying around among the diplomats.

Hearing my worries, Sister Adela quickly replied.

“Wow, you’re actually worried about that?”

“Well, after all, we aren’t actually dating.”

“Really?”

“I told you. Why would I date those people?”

Me dating Camila or Lucia? That would mean career over in an instant. The Information Agency has strict rules against dating foreigners.

Of course, it’s not like severe punishments would keep me from living daily if I happened to date a foreigner. The Military Intelligence Agency could only fire me.

But leaving a stable job isn’t an easy proposition.

“If I break the rules, I have to resign. How can I date? All of this is just to make a living.”

I said it pretty seriously, in fact.

But Older Sister Adela just dug her pinky into her ear and chuckled, completely ignorant to my concerns.

“Just in case, make sure to use protection.”

“Please shut up, Sister.”

*

After sharing a secret (embarrassing to talk about with others) discussion with Older Sister Adela, I returned to my room.

And finally, I enjoyed a well-deserved vacation after a long time.

I dined with family I hadn’t seen in three years, gave a gift to the chef who had taken care of our table since my Academy days, visited the maid who had managed our mansion since my father was a child to greet her, checked out the faces of the newly arrived servants under their guidance, sneaked into my older brother and sister’s rooms to secretly drink some hidden whiskey, found my rolling younger sister and demanded monthly repayments, and just to be safe, informed my company via secure means that I had arrived safely, wrapping up my day.

Then, the head of the Nostrim Family arrived at the ancestral home.

I sensed the bustling atmosphere of the mansion and quickly gauged the situation before stopping a passing servant to confirm.

“Who has arrived?”

“Ah, young master! I just received a call from the train station. The head of the household has arrived!”

“Ahhh.”

Though the Nostrim Family had a history of producing civil servants, they were still nobility in name.

Unlike other families, they had their own crests, and thanks to the wealth from properties established on lands granted by the royal family in the west, their accounts were quite substantial. Additionally, the culture, achievements, honors, and reputation built over centuries were no small feat.

It wasn’t unusual for a senior official in the Ministry of Finance to take on a kingly role within his household, but the Nostrim Family was not so rigid as to demand that all relatives and servants go out to greet the head of the family.

However, today was a significant occasion where the family had gathered after several years, so the steward and head maid seemed to have put in some effort.

I donned the suit gifted by Francesca. Then, putting on the watch gifted by Saint Veronica on my left wrist, I hurried my steps.

“Welcome, young master.”

“Long time no see, steward.”

An elderly gentleman with neatly combed white hair offered me a genuine smile.

“I’ve seen you grow since you were learning to walk, and today, you look the best.”

“Thank you. You’re still looking quite dapper yourself, steward.”

“Ah, this old man can’t compare to you, haha.”

As I exchanged greetings with the steward, my eyes turned to the front gate. In the distance, the family carriage was approaching.

The carriage bearing the family crest passed through the tree-lined road and stopped in front of the mansion, and as the door opened, a middle-aged man appeared, dressed in a coat.

A middle-aged woman approached him, guided by the head maid, trying to suppress her rising smile.

“Charles.”

“Grace.”

“Aren’t you late?”

“Sorry. I still came as quickly as I could.”

And that was the end of their conversation.

The moment they met, they embraced and kissed passionately. Even though it had been 28 years since they last saw each other, it was a jarring sight to witness such fervent affection.

Older Brother Jerry laughed awkwardly while the steward and head maid couldn’t help but chuckle. I nudged Older Sister who was silently watching the two.

“At this rate, they might end up with a fifth child.”

“Come on, no way.”

We exchanged glances and shared a chuckle.

Once their private greetings were over, the middle-aged man slowly approached, linking his arm with his wife.

He raised his hat slightly and happily exclaimed.

“It’s been a while, kids!”

The head of the Nostrim Family, Charles Nostrim, the Count.

Reuniting with my father was quite an experience.

Thus, a peaceful day began to wane.