The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 68:  Special Treatment (1)

Staff officers.

During the war, they were important figures who stood by the military commanders, offering advice for various operations.

Every word they spoke carried enough weight to overturn the tide of war.

However, after the war ended, their position changed somewhat.

With no more enemies to confront or operations to plan, they naturally transformed into advisors whose role was to increase their family’s wealth.

In the present day, staff officers were essentially regarded as being on par with the family’s executives.

And now, Echina, the Grand Duke’s daughter, was hoping for the head of the family to promote a secretary trainee to the position of an executive.

「…….」

Eric, Freya, and even Edward had the look of people wondering if they had just heard wrong.

A twenty-year-old who had been waiting in the first-floor lobby in a shabby state was being called a staff officer?

They thought it was an overly generous reward no matter how they looked at it, and so they quietly observed the situation.

“Haha… If Echina is speaking so highly of him, he must be quite capable, Grand Duke.”

“Indeed. A secretary trainee doubling as a staff officer…”

The Knight Commander and the Speaker of the Assembly chuckled, as if the younger daughter’s request sounded like a joke.

The large scar on the commander’s cheek twitched faintly.

However, the Grand Duke of the North’s reaction was unexpectedly serious.

As if he did not consider her proposal to be a joke.

「Do you believe that boy called Roger has the qualifications to become an executive?」

Seeing her father at least willing to listen, Echina opened her golden eyes even more clearly.

Then, like the knight she was, she sat up straight and continued speaking.

“He rooted out the director of a corrupt partner company and rescued its suffering members.”

Echina, dressed in a gown, clasped her hands behind her back.

Then, in the firm tone of an aide, she said,

“As the saying goes, the greatest enemy lies within—he has effectively dealt with the greatest enemy of the family.”

She briefly turned her head to glance at the eldest son, Eric.

He took a sip of golden whiskey and maintained a leisurely expression, as if telling her to continue.

“Moreover, he single-handedly led Old Luton, which even many of the family’s talented people had given up on. This is akin to retaking a hill alone that even the army had abandoned.”

It was an elegant turn of phrase, comparing the trainee’s achievements to the military.

At this, the Knight Commander seemed quite impressed with her, nodding silently.

“Lastly, he brought back Sir Bennet, who had strayed from the Imperial ranks, and restored his honor.”

The soft eyelids beneath Echina’s sharp gaze caught the light, glowing faintly.

“With the Empire now at peace, I believe there is no one closer to being a staff officer than him.”

The Speaker of the Assembly, who had witnessed many heated debates in the chamber, wore a pleased smile at the audacious rhetoric of the twenty-one-year-old knight.

And then, looking toward the Grand Duke, someone carefully spoke.

“I thought the Grand Duke’s daughter was only outstanding in her talent as a knight, but she is truly versatile, Your Grace.”

“That’s right. She really seems to have inherited many of her father’s fine qualities.”

Duke Luton listened silently to the praise coming from both sides.

Then, as if having made up his mind, he finally looked toward his youngest daughter and spoke.

「Very well, I will think about it.」

I will think about it.

Normally, that was little different from a refusal.

However, that was the case for mid-level superiors who found it difficult to give an immediate answer.

When the Grand Duke of the North said he would “think about it,” it truly meant he would consider it.

So the moment his children heard those words, they all froze.

If Echina’s closest aide became an executive, it would mean one more enemy for them within the family.

「Debier.」

“Yes, Your Grace.”

In contrast, the chief secretary’s expression was perfectly calm.

It seemed he had more or less anticipated the reaction of the lord he had served all his life.

「Add one more name to the list for the family’s executive examination this time.」

“Understood.”

The Grand Duke of the North rose from the gilded VIP chair.

With epaulets made from the fur of a white tiger draped over his shoulders, he left behind one last remark before departing.

「I mean Roger Julius.」

Echina’s lips curved ever so slightly at the sight of her father granting her this opportunity.

Her smooth lips, red like ripe fruit, parted faintly.

By then, the lights over the spectator seats dimmed again, and focus returned to the stage.

The next performance was none other than Bennet Tolkien’s, prepared by the Erian Foundation.

Thanks to that, the Grand Duke’s daughter’s face could be gently hidden from view—along with the smile in which, for the first time in her life, a feminine beauty bloomed.

「――――――」

While this shocking conversation took place upstairs,

I was sitting side by side with Lucun in the premium seats located one floor below.

They were the best seats available after the VIP area.

Relaxing into the plush chair for the first time in a while, I leisurely took a sip of whiskey.

“Is the next performer the singer you were planning to book?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I managed to get them onto the program list without issue.”

Even Lucun, who always walked around with a stern face, replied in a calm tone for once.

He clearly had the look of someone confident that his chosen lineup had been the right one.

“But how exactly did you know? That the Nordique director was that kind of person.”

“Well…”

I couldn’t exactly say that his disgrace had been laid bare in a future newspaper.

So I casually covered my face with my palm and made something up.

“Just… his face kind of gave me a bad feeling.”

“What kind of answer is that…? Are you sure you’re not actually an alchemist or something?”

Lucun gave a short laugh and shook his head.

I also chuckled quietly and clinked my whiskey glass against his.

It felt like my influence was unintentionally growing.

“So, the thing is, we’d also like to make a small donation to the foundation. Is there a way to get in touch?”

“We’d like to send gifts to both Miss Gehenna and the foundation as well.”

If I went by my own desires, I would have accepted it all on the spot.

In the past, the company Sir Bennet Tolkien had belonged to received expensive gifts every month.

And Gehenna, who would soon become the world’s top ballerina, had likewise received countless forms of sponsorship.

Thanks to the commission fees from those, Nordique had always made a tidy profit.

However—

More important than that sort of side income was something else entirely.

“I’m sorry, but our Erian Foundation does not accept sponsorships or gifts.”

It was about giving the upper class before me absolute trust.

“Oh dear…”

“You mean we can’t even send gifts freely?”

The middle-aged fans, as expected, looked disappointed.

But soon, their expressions brightened even more than before.

“Yes. But with the consent of Sir Bennet and Miss Gehenna…”

I was already using their goodwill to plan a new event.

“…we’ll provide a handshake event where you can give them gifts in person.”

A handshake event.

At the time, this was an unfamiliar concept.

In the past, only a few of the top patrons were gathered for an extravagant party.

Only those who had spent the most could attend, and they would torment the celebrities mercilessly to get their money’s worth.

Forcing them to pour drinks or drink against their will.

Nordique, in particular, had been the most vicious in such matters.

The dancers who had dined with Tobang’s group a few days ago were essentially in the same situation.

But this approach was inefficient.

In the end, what sustained celebrities wasn’t the patronage of a few wealthy sponsors—it was the popularity of the masses.

Public events like handshake sessions were bound to be praised as crowd-friendly affairs.

“Then we’ll be able to shake hands with Sir Bennet and Miss Gehenna directly?”

“Yes, and during that time you’ll be free to give them gifts as well.”

The middle-aged women smiled brightly at the thought of being able to see their beloved idol up close.

The gentlemen, pleased that fans wouldn’t be lined up according to donation amount, laughed in an easygoing way.

“As expected of a foundation chosen by two great stars. The management is truly excellent.”

The cheerful atmosphere continued.

And in the solemn setting of Luton Hall, such bright energy naturally began to draw attention.

Then, someone appeared to top it all off.

“President Roger…!!”

It was none other than The Black Swan herself, Gehenna, in her ballet costume.

She approached me with both hands full of bouquets,

wearing a smile as beautiful as the flowers themselves.

“Did you see my performance?”

“Yes, it felt quite different from your usual style.”

Everyone looked overwhelmed at seeing the soon-to-be most famous ballerina up close.

Compared to them, I stood with my hands behind my back, relaxed and composed.

“So you noticed. I tried to put in a bit more effort this time.”

Beads of clear sweat dotted Gehenna’s forehead.

She gave a little shrug, her arms full of bouquets as lovely as herself.

“That arabesque was especially elegant. It really felt like you had studied it deeply.”

“I knew you’d appreciate it, President.”

We spoke at length, exchanging passionate evaluations about the performance.

Even after the curtain had fallen, we were trading advice with mutual respect in our eyes.

Watching from a distance, the skin beneath Tobang’s eyes twitched faintly.

Of course I didn’t miss it.

When our eyes met, I gave him a gentle smile, as if to a jealous young nephew.

“By the way, Windsor—didn’t I see a poster of Miss Gehenna on your desk?”

“……!!”

Tobang and Brook both turned to look at Windsor, who was sitting beside them.

He shook his head quickly, looking flustered.

“If you go now, I can get you an autograph.”

To meet The Black Swan in person and even get her signature—

Windsor swallowed hard and glanced at Tobang for permission.

“I’ll… just get the autograph…”

He rose hesitantly and shuffled toward us.

Gehenna greeted him with a bright smile and signed his handkerchief.

“You’re one of President Roger’s fellow trainees, right? Please take good care of our president from now on.”

“Ah… yes, of course…”

His expression was awkward at her request, caught between joy at seeing his idol up close and the discomfort of the situation.

After receiving the autograph, he slipped away toward the restroom, glancing around as he went.

Meanwhile, Gehenna gave autographs to each fan who had come up to offer sponsorship,

while I held onto the bouquets she had been carrying.

When everyone had finally left, satisfied—

“You’ve worked hard.”

I casually handed her the bouquet of roses I had been holding for her.

And at that very moment—

I locked eyes with a woman descending happily from the VIP seats.

A woman who had spent her life in thick uniforms,

now, for the first time, in a gown that accentuated her graceful figure—

the Grand Duke’s daughter of the North.

“……”

Her golden eyes fell on the bouquet of roses I was handing to Gehenna.