The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 62: The Black Swan (3)

While the two women were chatting in the lounge bar, I stepped out into the lobby alone.

I’d been feeling a sting on the back of my head for a while, but I decided to chalk it up to my imagination.

For now, I decided to focus on the task in front of me.

Securing the Black Swan.

“Yuria, I’m thinking of holding a party this week. Could you prepare the promotional materials?”

“What should the theme be?”

At the manager’s question, I narrowed my already slim eyes even more.

“A reopening party for the Erian Hotel sounds good.”

Yuria nodded and took a note.

Then, twirling her pen with ease, she asked smoothly,

“What kind of guest list should I prepare?”

“Exclude all the ultra-wealthy. Aim for commoners or maybe barons at most.”

Excluding the upper class from the party.

At that, the manager looked up at me with wide, squirrel-like eyes.

“The main character of that day is a commoner. If nobles come, she’ll feel uncomfortable.”

There was a specific reason behind how I structured the guest list.

It was tailored to reflect the personality of Chief Administrator Robert.

He was a perfectionist, but also deeply elitist about his own accomplishments.

Because of that, he cowered in front of higher-ranking families.

But when he was among people of lower status, his true nature would show more clearly.

“And among them, make sure to invite Robert Fellows from Nordique as a guest of honor.”

“Understood. What about the gift?”

With my hands clasped behind my back, I looked toward the hotel entrance where several gentlemen were entering.

Most of them were clearly from well-known families and were wearing the latest trend, ‘Royal Luton’.

As for bags, most carried the ‘Leonil Premium’ from the Western Grand Duke’s house.

“A Royal Luton jacket and a Leonil Premium briefcase would be best.”

“Must be quite an important guest.”

Hearing such expensive names, Yuria seemed to become even more attentive.

“What kind of style should we go for?”

To her question, I playfully raised one thick eyebrow.

Then, as if I had grown a mustache, I rubbed my upper lip and replied in a solemn voice,

“Something an arrogant person would like.”

――――――

After giving the manager her orders, I headed to the Luton mansion.

Echina had to return to the Academy right after lunch, so I went back quietly on my own.

In front of the mansion, several carriages were parked — it seemed we had visitors.

I could tell immediately who they were.

The carriages were boldly marked with the names ‘Nordique’ and ‘Riverhill’.

‘Looks like everyone’s come to the Grand Duke’s house because of the Luton Hall performance issue.’

Leaving the carriages behind, I stepped into the first-floor lobby of the mansion.

Inside, secretary trainees were lined up in a row, waiting.

I stood at the very end of the line, right beside Lucun Fern.

“You’re late.”

“Ah, I just dropped by the hotel for a bit.”

We spoke in low voices, both of us keeping our eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Who were you assigned to recruit for this Luton Hall?”

Lucun asked, seemingly curious about how I was approaching the task.

Since we were already allies, I answered without hesitation.

“The Black Swan, Gehenna.”

“A tough opponent. You’ll have to convince Chief Administrator Robert.”

He shook his head, indicating that it wouldn’t be easy.

Lucun understood it too.

Robert was already aligned with Eric, and for a secretary of another noble to persuade him would be nearly impossible.

“This fight is against us. Tobang holds a massive advantage.”

Overhearing this, Tobang raised his chin high and closed his eyes slowly.

The same went for Windsor and Brook, who followed him.

They seemed overwhelmed with a sense of belonging, as if they were finally being rewarded for clinging to Tobang.

It was only natural.

Those two would be able to easily secure their assigned entertainers through Tobang, by way of Chief Administrators loyal to Archduke Eric.

Lucun, who had chosen to side with me, was clearly at a disadvantage here.

But—

I had seen ten years into the future. There was no way I’d just let things go.

“That’s right. Which is why I’m not going to convince him.”

“You’re not going to convince him…? Then how are you going to pass the exam?”

For the first time in a while, he furrowed his brow, usually kept hard and expressionless.

In contrast, my expression was cold to the core as I responded.

With jet-black eyes that had once eliminated everyone who stood in my liege’s way during my days as Chief Secretary.

“I’ll drag him down. From the Chief Administrator’s seat.”

Was it because such a plan was unthinkable for a mere secretary trainee?

Lucun looked at me as though he wanted to ask how.

But soon, he turned back to face straight ahead again.

There were sounds of several people descending the circular staircase from the second floor.

“Well then, I’ll be going in now.”

“Go ahead. The Archduke speaks very highly of your performance.”

Count Dilman, Eric’s closest aide, and the Chief Administrators of Nordique and Riverhill.

They exchanged formal smiles as they descended the stairs and greeted one another.

“You needn’t worry about the Luton Hall matter. Other than the artist the eldest son requested, we’ll assign everyone else to the Imperial side.”

A brown-haired man bowed deeply to the Count.

At last, I came face-to-face with him.

The Chief Administrator of Nordique, ranked second in the Imperial entertainment world.

Robert Fellows.

“You sure about this? Aren’t you already under fire over the overworking of your people?”

“I’m the Chief Administrator. Who would dare say anything?”

His eyes were as sharp and snakelike as Tobang’s.

But the atmosphere around him was different.

“Look forward to it.”

If he still had any passion left—any untainted drive to succeed through pure effort...

From the man standing atop the stairs, I couldn’t sense a single emotion in his eyes.

They were the hollow eyes of someone who had long since discarded every feeling to achieve his goals.

Among them were likely guilt and conscience as well.

“Alright then, take care on your way down. I’ll see you on the Luton Hall completion day.”

“Yes, I suppose I should go rehearse for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

Robert gave Count Dilman a bright, cheerful smile.

Having just entered his thirties, he turned his head and leisurely descended the stairs.

“……”

Once the Count returned to meet with Eric, the Chief Administrator’s expression grew noticeably more relaxed.

He brushed the dust off his green suit jacket and casually looked around the mansion lobby.

“This place is always so elegant every time I visit.”

As if he were someone who came to the Grand Duke’s residence often.

At that, the Chief Administrator from Riverhill, who was descending the stairs beside him, spoke up.

“Sounds like you've been to the Luton mansion quite a few times?”

“Well, I’ve come here on multiple occasions. The Archduke always called for me whenever there was an important event.”

Debier, who was guiding them toward the front entrance, descended the stairs ahead of them without saying a word, face blank as always.

“Debier, isn’t that right?”

Robert, as someone who could be considered a collaborator of the eldest son, addressed the Chief Secretary.

The mansion’s veteran secretary of thirty years slowly turned his head.

“That’s correct.”

A short and firm reply.

Then, without another word, he silently passed us and opened the front door.

However, Nordique’s Chief Administrator didn’t immediately step outside.

Instead, he gazed at us—lined up in formation—as if watching a curious little show.

“These must be your successors?”

“Yes, they are.”

Tobang answered confidently, ahead of anyone else.

At that, Robert immediately recognized him as part of the eldest son’s faction and smiled approvingly.

“Yes, I could tell. Your face had that affluent air about it.”

The Chief Administrator shook hands with him lightly.

And then, in a relaxed tone, he added,

“You’re the one assigned to recruit… ah, yes. That friend, Descent, right?”

“That’s right. Thanks to you, it went smoothly.”

Everyone silently watched the exchange between the two.

“Yes, by chance he was the only one with an open schedule at the time. Quite fortunate, really.”

Even at that time, Descent was a famous artist.

There was no way his schedule would’ve been open during such a busy season.

According to Descent’s memoir ten years later, he had been suffering from tuberculosis at the time.

But Robert had forcibly made him paint the ceiling mural of Luton Hall.

As a result, five years later, Descent could no longer hold a brush.

Nord lost one of the era’s greatest singers in vain.

“But this one’s a face I haven’t seen before.”

“Julius Roger.”

Upon hearing my name for the first time, the Chief Administrator furrowed his thick brown eyebrows.

“Julius… Julius… That’s a name I’ve never heard before.”

He glanced sideways, sweeping his gaze over Tobang, then Windsor and Brook.

He even seemed to recognize Lucun’s family.

“I’ve heard of the Arman family, the Confield family… but Julius is a first. Are you from abroad, perhaps?”

“I’m from a baronet family. My father was granted the title ten years ago.”

Robert nodded, a look of disinterest in his eyes.

“I see. My apologies. I’d always heard that the Grand Duke’s secretary candidates were all from noble families ranked at least viscount.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the Chief Administrator looked into my dark eyes indifferently.

“I’m familiar with most viscount-level families in Nord, but I’ve never seen that fox emblem before.”

What he was pointing at was the modest family badge pinned to my suit jacket.

In contrast, Robert’s own jacket was adorned with more than five different medals.

“I’m the one Miss Gehenna agreed to arrange a meeting with.”

“Gehenna…? Ah, then you must be the president of the Erian Hotel?”

The president of the most successful hotel at the moment.

And the representative of the foundation that included Bennet Tolkien.

At that, Robert’s expression changed at once.

“You should’ve said so earlier. Why lead with an unknown family name when you’ve got such an impressive business card?”

“Still, I’m proud of the name I inherited from my father.”

Robert didn’t seem the least bit concerned by my mention of my father.

“Right, well—I hear there’s a party tomorrow?”

“Yes. You can look forward to it.”

The Chief Administrator chuckled and nodded.

“Good, I like you. As expected from the Luton family—none of the candidates are ordinary.”

He smiled with admiration, as if impressed by the dignity of the Grand Duke’s house and his companions.

However, the Chief Secretary, who had been silently observing beside us, didn’t look pleased at all.

“We should get going, Chief Administrator. I have to conduct the candidate training as well.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Robert gave all the secretary candidates—except Tobang—a sweeping glance with those long, snake-like eyes.

Then, hands behind his back, he leisurely stepped out of the mansion.

“……”

Under normal circumstances, he would never have acted so casually in the Grand Duke’s residence.

But it seemed he’d learned, through his conversation with the eldest son, that the Grand Duke was away today.

“The next Grand Duke is likely to be Eric, so it’s no wonder his close aides are acting like they own the sky.”

Lucun assessed him with a cold, calculating gaze.

He then fixed his eyes straight ahead again as the Chief Secretary returned, his expression even more chilling after seeing off the Chief Administrators.

“Is everyone here?”

「Yes, sir!!」

Today, the tension in the air was especially sharp, and the atmosphere he gave off was more intense than usual.

Because of that, the candidates stood even straighter, visibly more nervous.

“You’ve all received notice about the nature of this upcoming exam.”

Aside from Lucun and me, the other three nodded with confident expressions.

“This exam includes the ability to recruit your assigned target, which means many variables may come into play.”

The Chief Secretary clearly wasn’t pleased either.

Tobang and his faction had gained an advantage through Archduke Eric.

“However, creating favorable conditions in advance is also part of a candidate’s ability.”

That said, he showed no intention of giving special consideration to those of us at a disadvantage.

A secretary was expected to prove everything with results—for the sake of their liege.

“So, show me through results.”

Debier looked especially at me.

He was gauging whether I could flawlessly accomplish the task again this time.

“Understood.”

Everyone answered in unison.

But I carried a slightly different resolve.

“This concludes the noon roll call. After lunch, return to your respective young lords.”

With his hands behind his back, the Chief Secretary quietly ascended the circular staircase.

At last, the candidates were allowed to relax, stretching their stiff bodies.

Only Tobang and his group seemed particularly light on their feet today, unlike usual.

“Let’s eat outside. Nordique proposed a luncheon with the dancers.”

“Ooh, really…?!”

They were already laughing like the Chief Administrator himself, heading for the exit.

Lucun, who remained in the lobby, stared at them expressionlessly.

“So, what now?”

As always, the rational one.

Rather than the unfairness itself, he was more concerned about how to navigate the current situation.

“Do you really have a way to bring down Chief Administrator Robert?”

I clasped my hands behind my back, like the Chief Secretary had done as he went up the stairs.

“Yes. Seeing him today just made me all the more certain—he needs to be handled properly.”

“You sound like an assassin.”

I looked at Lucun silently.

The one who once thought of me as nothing more than a mediocre fellow candidate.

But perhaps because of the uncanny results I’d shown so far, for the first time, he looked a bit tense.

“Lucun. I need to buy something from the pawnshop.”

“What is it…?”

I raised one hand.

And with my index finger, I made a gesture the size of a button.

“A spirit stone, about this small, used for recording.”

The more someone appeared flawless and authoritative on the outside—

The more corrupt their private life tended to be.

“I’m thinking of giving the Chief Administrator a very nice gift today.”