SDD 02

Chapter 2.

Becoming the Villain’s Secretary (2)

I had to admit it.

I had been totally defeated by this man who was grinning at me, curious about what excuse I’d come up with next.

While I bit down on my lower lip, Helwid spoke.

“I know you’re the count’s daughter, but serving me is far more honorable than becoming a lady-in-waiting in the empress’s palace.”

Helwid stared at me, looking genuinely confused as to why I wanted to resign.

He wasn’t wrong.

Of course, since he currently had no empress—and never would—being a lady-in-waiting for one was impossible to begin with.

But becoming the emperor’s personal secretary, someone who held even greater power than the empress, was not something just anyone could achieve.

The list of former secretaries who had been dismissed because of Helwid’s razor-sharp tongue could probably fill ten sheets of A5 paper.

“The palace is known as the workplace of dreams, and among all positions, working as my secretary is what everyone desires. So why is my new secretary so desperate to quit?”

Helwid rested his chin on his hand and smiled like he was genuinely curious.

Behind that gentle, warm expression, I could feel the sharp, merciless aura of the ‘final boss.’

Why? Because if I stay next to you, my life expectancy will drop by the second, and if I’m unlucky, I’ll die on the spot—and then I won’t be able to return to my original world!

“…May I speak honestly?”

“Only now you choose to be honest? Go ahead.”

“I don’t want to work.”

“……”

“Honestly, I’m the only daughter of a count. I can live without doing anything and still retire comfortably. I don’t need a salary, and I don’t have any debts to pay off…”

“……”

“So wouldn’t it be better to hire someone more passionate and diligent? Someone actually suited for the prestigious role of the emperor’s secretary?”

I flashed my most socially graceful, harmless smile.

Helwid listened quietly, leaned back, and let out a leisurely sigh.

“That will be difficult.”

“Why?”

“‘Why?’”

“—!”

When I quickly covered my mouth, Helwid let out a soft laugh.

“Because I like you.”

What kind of nonsense is that.

“How many people do you think can speak their minds to the emperor like you do? Even the most talented, passionate secretary is nothing more than a scheduler if they can’t speak their own thoughts.”

Scheduler, he says. Seriously?

“I need a secretary like you. Someone who says what shouldn’t be said.”

The emperor chuckled, but I replied firmly:

“No.”

“No?”

“Yes.”

“It’s an imperial command.”

My tongue froze.

With mischievous delight, Helwid’s eyes curved into crescents.

Just like the novel described—no, worse—his face was beautiful enough to make someone want to punch him five thousand times.

As I stared at him, boiling on the inside, he gave the final blow.

“Defying an imperial order is punishable by death.”

Somehow, this final boss had figured out exactly what my weakness was.

And at that moment, I knew with absolute certainty:

I was doomed. Completely doomed.

“Ah, the count wishes to have breakfast with you.”

“Father?”

I paused while reviewing the emperor’s schedule and looked up.

“Yes, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“I guess so…”

Three days had passed since I became the emperor’s secretary. Today was my fourth day reporting to work.

Father and I had been in a cold war ever since we fought over the original heroine—Glumie—on my first day.

“I thought he would have called you in the very next day.”

Millina said while ironing the dress I would wear.

“But he was incredibly upset. Would he really calm down in just one day?”

“But I heard he drank that night.”

“He… drank?”

Ever since the countess died giving birth to Blain, father had quit drinking entirely.

Millina nodded earnestly.

“He was that distressed…?”

I felt a tiny pang of guilt.

“Why don’t you reconcile with him over breakfast? If you wear that pale sky-blue dress he likes, I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

“Actually, about the dress.”

As soon as I set my feet down, Millina hurried over with slippers.

“From today on, I want to wear a suit to work.”

“A… a suit?”

Millina tilted her head like she’d never heard the word before.

“Yeah. The previous secretary was a noble too, but he wore a suit. You know, like what I wore when I worked in the palace before, as a low-ranking official.”

“But back then, you were just a minor employee. Now you are His Majesty’s personal secretary—”

“Pants are more comfortable. And these heavy dresses are hard to sit in.”

The corset alone was suffocating.

“Will His Majesty allow it?”

“If he doesn’t, then… I’ll just quit.”

“W-What?”

“I’m wearing it. If he says no… perfect excuse to resign.”

I smiled brightly.

If I got fired over dress code? Jackpot.

“But…”

She looked anxious but eventually fetched the suit.

I’d always preferred pants even before I transmigrated.

So when I learned that palace officials, regardless of gender, wore suits, I was thrilled.

When I went down to the dining room in my suit, Father was already seated.

“You’re here, Bl—”

Father rose to greet me but froze at the sight of my suit.

“This is easier to work in.”

“But you are the count’s—”

“Daughter, yes. But wearing something uncomfortable and making mistakes at work would be a much greater disgrace to our family.”

Awkwardly, I explained. Father looked at me with reddened eyes.

…Was he still upset?

Maybe I should’ve worn that sky-blue dress after all.

“Blain, you…”

But instead of anger, his voice trembled.

“To abandon even your noble pride for the sake of the family… ahh, how could I not love you?”

“…Sorry?”

“We must tell the world of your devotion to the Empire! Summon an opera composer!”

Father practically jumped from his seat, and I had to struggle to calm him down.

After he finally settled, mid-meal, he suddenly said:

“We’ve lost contact with Miss Glumie.”

“Lost contact?”

“Yes. She hasn’t sent a letter.”

“For how long?”

“Two days.”

“…Oh.”

Was that really considered “lost contact”?

I stared wordlessly as Father stared at his bread with a gloomy look.

“She always sent a carrier pigeon within at most a day and a half… I am worried.”

“Why don’t you visit her later?”

I was against adopting her, but the heroine losing contact was indeed concerning.

“You seem worried, though you opposed adopting her.”

Father smiled knowingly.

“Well, of course. She is our savior.”

I lowered my gaze. He must’ve interpreted that as shyness, because his cheeks lifted with pride.

“Oh, my cute, lovely daughter. What did I do in my past life to receive such an angel?”

He cupped his face like a flower and beamed at me.

Seeing he had completely forgiven me, I continued my peaceful breakfast with relief.

“A suit?”

The moment I set my bag down in the emperor’s office, Helwid spoke.

How long had he been watching me?

“Yes. Pants are more comfortable.”

“But a suit isn’t formal wear.”

As the emperor’s secretary, formal attire was expected.

To nobles, formal meant lavishly decorated clothes that clearly showed one’s status.

“So I can’t wear a suit? If so, I should submit my resignation.”

“When did I ever say no?”

He put down his documents and smiled.

“It looks quite comfortable. Suits you well. You could even sleep in it.”

I knew he was teasing me, but he clearly wasn’t going to fire me over it.

I sighed internally and sat down.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“If it’s not personal, I’ll answer.”

“As your superior, can’t I be curious about your personal life? Not sure if this is personal or not…”

“We’re in a professional relationship. Tell me first, and I’ll judge.”

“‘I’ll judge’? The emperor?”

He sounded offended but was still smiling.

“Are you afraid of dying?”

“…Out of nowhere?”

“Not really. You don’t care about being my secretary.”

“Correct.”

Could you fire me already?

But he only smiled.

“Yet with one mention of imperial command and possible execution, you’ve been showing up early for four days straight.”

“…Are you hinting I should arrive even earlier?”

“I do want to see my secretary earlier, but that’s not the point.”

He laughed loudly, as though my insolence was amusing.

I waited until he calmed down.

“Afraid of dying? Of course. I want to live. Doesn’t everyone?”

“Live long? Sounds like you have a goal beyond that.”

Sharp as expected from the mastermind villain.

I changed the subject.

“Your Majesty, don’t you have work this morning?”

“Not enough to stop this conversation.”

He wouldn’t back down until I said it.

“…There’s just… somewhere I want to return to.”

“Return to?”

At once, Helwid’s eyes sharpened like blades.

There it was again.

The villain’s eyes.