Chapter 4
Dragging my heavy legs, I headed to work. Once again, it took a great deal of determination just to walk into the office.
That’s why I stopped by a café on the opposite side of the imperial palace and got myself some coffee. I felt like I had recharged my life for the day. I survived the entire morning thanks to that coffee.
Whenever I had a moment to relax, I would sneak glances at Mr. Smith, who sat nearby.
He was frowning deeply as he seriously worked on a business trip report. But his handwriting was a bit sloppy—barely above the level of a personal notebook.
“Isn’t that report a little too carelessly written?”
It was something he was going to report to His Majesty. Written like that, only he would understand it. It would be fine if Mr. Smith were the emperor, but—
I chuckled to myself. That was a ridiculous thought.
Ack. Our eyes met.
His expression softened lazily. When he added a slight smile, his already handsome face lit up like a flower blooming.
“He really is good-looking.”
A few seconds passed like an eternity.
My heart felt like it floated. Some of my stress melted away.
“Miss Poi.”
Mr. Smith gestured toward me. A refreshing summer fragrance wafted from him.
“Could you step outside with me for a moment? There’s something I’d like to say in private.”
He winked and casually walked out first, leaving me staring after him in confusion.
Huh? What’s going on?
I glanced around, then quietly slipped out of the office.
Though my curiosity and imagination swelled with anticipation, I maintained a calm, composed demeanor as I followed.
We went to the break area stocked with snacks and drinks, and I found myself sharing cookies with John Smith. In the quiet space, only the crinkling of the snack packaging filled the air.
We sat shoulder to shoulder at a small table. Normally, having perfume near food would ruin my appetite, but his scent was like a breeze—light and not unpleasant at all.
“What did you say?”
A cookie got stuck in my throat. Mr. Smith handed me some water.
It was the worst news to hear as a working professional—and it completely ruined my appetite.
“So you’re saying there’s a problem with the task we handled?”
The information he gave me was shocking—and unfortunately, there was nothing romantic about it.
“While I was on the business trip, I learned that the aid sent to the farmers in the Woodlock region—where the harvest failed—has disappeared.”
What replaced the coffee-fueled energy was pure despair. I think a few hairs fell out from the shock. I gasped.
“That can’t be! We double-checked every bit of that aid during those two nights of overtime! There couldn’t have been a mistake!”
“I remember too. You and I poured over those documents during those grueling nights.”
I recalled the tearful dawn light after those all-nighters in the office.
Maybe the tears came from the dryness in my eyes after staring at papers all night.
“So despite our efforts, someone stole the funds midway?”
They must think the emperor isn’t watching—so everyone’s running wild without fear.
I felt drained.
“Wasn’t the official in charge of Woodlock supposed to be a very upright person?”
He was so well-regarded that even the striking emperor had heard of him and appointed him to the post.
Everyone had been shocked that the emperor had actually appointed someone for once.
“He must have just been good at pretending. With the emperor out of the picture, he dropped the act pretty quickly.”
“I can’t believe this. We need to inform His Majesty right away!”
Mr. Smith’s firm voice stopped me.
“His Majesty already knows. He’s very disappointed.”
The report reached him fast. That’s our chief aide for you.
“To think someone would do such a terrible thing to the people, assuming the emperor wouldn’t notice.”
Mr. Smith’s lips curled bitterly. He looked just as disappointed as the emperor.
“How many of them have there been by now? All these officials who act kind and competent in front of the emperor, surround themselves with good rumors, and then embezzle behind the scenes.”
In just one year of the emperor’s absence, corruption was being exposed across the empire.
“It’s so hard to find someone who’s truly upright through and through.”
Shockingly, even some former loyalists—once the emperor’s eyes and voice—turned out to be among the culprits.
“With no oversight, they’re brazenly revealing their true selves. Despicable scum.”
Mr. Smith’s voice trembled slightly. His aura shifted.
“We should purge them all.”
It was like a blade of wind. Was this really the gentle Mr. Smith?
“Otherwise, they’ll end up like the officials they once purged themselves.”
He smiled languidly—a predator’s smile.
So Mr. Smith has this side to him too.
“Ha, haha…”
I forced a laugh to shift the suddenly intense mood.
“Well, it’s a relief that Chief Aide Smith is personally going on business trips like this! If not, we might’ve never discovered this corruption.”
The intimidating aura around him gradually faded.
Phew. Thank goodness.
“True. If I hadn’t lived this way, I’d never have known their true natures.”
“Exactly. Absolutely.”
I eagerly encouraged him.
Once we’d emptied the snack bag and I felt full, something strange occurred to me.
“Wait a second. The documents we received clearly said the farmers got their aid without issues, didn’t they?”
“That means someone in the aide office is part of the corruption network too.”
A chill ran down my spine. A traitor within our own department?
“Just so you know—it’s not me.”
“I believe you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Miss Rose Poi, you’ve been the most upright and consistent person I’ve seen this past year.”
His eyes curved gently.
“You’re the person I trust the most.”
There’s no greater joy than being told you’re trusted by someone you respect.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“It’s because you’ve earned it, Miss Poi.”
As always, he didn’t hold back praise.
“Oh, it’s just thanks to your kind encouragement that I’ve grown.”
When I was a clueless new hire, he had been a huge help.
“In any case, we need to stay vigilant. These so-called ‘loyalists’ trying to deceive and embezzle are on the rise everywhere. I told you this to keep you aware.”
“Thank you.”
He winked lightly.
“And the matter of the internal traitor is a secret—only you should know.”
“Just me?”
“There’s no benefit in letting it spread. But as the second-in-command of the aide office, you need to be in the loop.”
We walked side by side down the hallway, leaving the break area behind.
“I’ll head back to the office first. If I don’t process these documents quickly, I’ll be stuck working late.”
“Weren’t you already guaranteed to work late?”
“Oof, hitting where it hurts. But even so, there’s a big difference between clocking out at eight versus nine.”
I laughed wearily and waved.
“Well then, the palace ghost is heading back to work.”
John Smith quietly watched Rose Poi as she walked into the office.
Until she disappeared completely from view.
“Did your trip go well, Mr. Smith?”
The emperor’s guard approached. John Smith greeted him politely.
“Sir Merlin Stewart, thank you for your service.”
The guard, called Merlin, glanced around before lowering his voice.
“No one’s watching.”
The friendly smile on John Smith’s face gradually disappeared.
He glanced briefly at the guard before looking away.
“…It’s worse than I thought. Everyone I trusted has betrayed me.”
His tone now held a quiet authority—nothing like the voice he used with Miss Poi.
“I had hoped the Woodlock official would be different. Shame.”
The guard clicked his tongue. Smith replied coldly.
“We need to take him out immediately.”
Another failure.
He had hoped he’d finally found a loyal subordinate. Smith clenched his teeth in frustration.
“It’s so hard to find someone truly worth trusting.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and turned toward the corridor window.
The guard gave a deep bow.
“I also regret it deeply… Your Majesty.”
John Smith.
Real name: Alastair John Leonard Greenmeldy.
Twelfth Emperor of the Greenmeldy Empire.
The Supreme Emperor clicked his tongue in discontent. He looked like he had a lot more to say.
The guard stood stiffly, waiting for the emperor’s next words.
