IWTGHFW CHAPTER 4

Episode 4

Still, making the Second Prince live like a pauper was a bit much. He’s in such a dire situation that even bread had to be covered by the knight order’s budget. Seems like the Crown Prince has no sense of brotherly affection at all.

Having confirmed there was no problem, Ron stood up. The sofa he had been sitting on was heavily sunken in. It looked like it would take a few minutes to bounce back. Honestly, he’s all brawn and no sense.

“Well then, if you need anything, tell the captain’s office. I’ll be off.”

“Yes, have a good day.”

“…You don’t seem very pleased to see me.”

“Who likes when their boss shows up? Please go, Captain. Aren’t you short on time if you’re going to scold all the knights listed in that report?”

Ron’s brow twitched at my words, but I didn’t care. He looked like he was about to say something but just sighed and turned around.

“Please go,” I added, driving the nail in.

Ron clenched his fist and left the office.

[D-3]

After working almost without sleep for four days straight, I finally started to see the end.

While sorting the most recent batch of receipts, I came across another one under Rhohail’s name.

“What the…? Did he just give money to someone else? That’s definitely going to be flagged.”

I quickly checked the regulations, and sure enough, it was clearly stated under the prohibited items:

[It is forbidden to transfer knight order funds to a third party.]

Seriously, what kind of person gives money to someone else and then has the audacity to request reimbursement?

“Marianne? Sounds like a woman’s name… a lover, maybe?”

In that case, wouldn’t it have been smarter to just buy her a gift and present it? That wouldn’t have been caught.

I let out a long sigh and stood up. I wanted to modify the receipt like I had for the other knights and file it for deduction from his salary, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the authority to deduct anything from a royal’s salary.

When I asked Rose where the Second Prince resided, she gave me a confused look and replied, “He’s in the western annex, of course.”

Then, when I asked how to get to the western annex, she looked at me like I’d lost my memory and said, “Just take a carriage.”

So now, I was on a carriage headed to the western annex.

“Why are you going to the western annex, though? You’re the first one who’s asked to go that way.”

Even though it was a palace carriage, it was basically for staff—open on all sides, front and back. If it rained, you’d need an umbrella just to sit inside. Pretty terrible. But still better than walking.

The coachman turned around and asked me.

“I need to meet the Second Prince,” I answered, glancing at the scenery.

“The Second Prince? Oof. You should be careful.”

“Why?”

Is he violent or something?

Well, I guess. Princes in novels usually are. With status like that, you can afford to be a jerk.

But the coachman shook his head, as if that wasn’t it.

“If you happen to run into someone from the Crown Prince’s side and they get the wrong idea—uh!”

He trailed off because another carriage was approaching from the opposite direction. It was easily twice as fancy as ours, shaped like a fairytale pumpkin coach. Looked like you’d be fine even in the rain.

It wasn’t a staff carriage, but it wasn’t quite royal either—probably a noble?

The coachman stopped our carriage and bowed his head. I reflexively bowed my head as well.

“Whose carriage is that?” I asked.

“That’s Count Poison’s carriage.”

Geez, sorry for not knowing that.

Ron, Rose, and now this coachman—all of them acted like I was dumb for not knowing. I hope they all get dropped into another world and see how they like it. Hmph.

The noble’s carriage completely ignored us and passed by. Wow. Rude much?

Just as I was thinking that, the carriage suddenly screeched to a stop. A footman stepped out and trotted over to us. No way… did he read my mind?

I straightened my clothes and nodded politely as the footman approached. He bowed and introduced himself as Count Poison’s attendant.

“The Count would like to know where you are headed.”

“To the western annex.”

“…May I ask your name and position?”

I replied without thinking, only to get my hand slapped by the coachman. Ow! What was that for?

“I’m Ail from the Administrative Support Department.”

“Understood.”

The footman dashed back to the carriage and awkwardly climbed in. The carriage was tall—kind of painful to watch him struggle like that. Someone inside could’ve helped.

As the Count’s carriage drove away, the coachman looked at me like we were doomed.

What? What now?

The western annex was so worn-down and rusty, it barely deserved to be called a palace.

It made me instinctively think, Is a prince really living here?

The coachman seemed eager to avoid getting involved—he sped off the second I set foot on the ground.

Ah, I should’ve booked the return trip too.

Guess I’ll have to walk back. I sighed heavily. At least it was late spring—any hotter and I’d be dying from the heat.

“Can I just open the door? You’d think a servant would come out or something…”

I knocked a few times, but there was no response. I grabbed and let go of the doorknob a few times.

Still, what if I got in trouble for barging into a royal’s residence?

But no matter how long I waited, no servant or maid showed up, so I had no choice. I grabbed the doorknob again. Every time I did, sticky rust clung to my hand—gross.

Creeeeak—

The door opened with an awful screech. I peeked my head in.

“Huh? It’s clean.”

Unlike the exterior, which looked like it had weathered a storm, the inside was tidy. Compared to the knight order’s office, it was almost bare of decorations, but it was clear someone had been maintaining it.

“I’m from the Administrative Support Department! I’m coming in!”

I yelled loudly and stepped inside.

I knew he was poor since he applied for knight order funds, but I didn’t think he was this abandoned. I thought he might be indulging in luxuries as a royal and just supplementing with our budget—but it turns out he’s actually using the funds to survive.

Isn’t the Crown Prince too much? He’s still his brother, isn’t he?

Then again, just look at Joseon Korea—royals there didn’t hesitate to kill their own nephews. It’s probably the same here.

The door creaked shut behind me. I looked around carefully and saw a neat sitting room. If there’s a sofa, I guess that makes it a sitting room?

As I got closer, I noticed a teapot on the table. The owner had probably just stepped away while brewing tea.

“Who are you?”

I was still examining the teapot when an unfamiliar voice came from behind me. I turned—and froze.

Like I’d looked Medusa in the eye, I turned to stone, only my lips moving uncontrollably.

“Wow… he’s gorgeous…”

“Excuse me?”

“Talking to myself! Please ignore it.”

I waved my hands, flustered. The man tilted his head but didn’t ask further.

My eyes kept drifting to him uncontrollably.

I swear on everything—he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life. Not just handsome—insanely handsome.

Ron had a rugged, knightly appeal, sure. But this guy made me forget even Ron existed.

He was stupidly, mind-meltingly good-looking.

I never knew black hair—so common back in Korea—could look that alluring. Hair that shimmered at the ears, eyes like rubies, skin so clear I wondered if he’d ever seen sunlight. Soft yet masculine facial features.

Perfect. If this were Korea, he would’ve debuted instantly.

He looked like a vampire, with a strange air of melancholy too. God, I loved it. Every bit of him was perfect.

Back in Korea, I never had a real relationship—I was too focused on making money. Love cost time, emotions, and money. A complete drain.

I thought my brain had killed off every romance-related cell. Even seeing celebrities didn’t stir anything in me.

Maybe because I’d only seen them through a screen. Now that someone this beautiful was in front of me in person, my heart was pounding like crazy.

Whether he knew it or not, the man spoke again, his expression puzzled.

“So… who are you?”

“Ah, I’m Ail from the Administrative Support Department.”

“Administrative… support?”

“I handle paperwork for the royal knight order.”

“Oh, the knight order.”

“I came to see the Second Prince, but I guess he’s not here?”

This man was insanely good-looking. Like a fantasy novel protagonist. But surely a prince wouldn’t be dressed so plainly or brewing tea himself.

This world was different. A prince wasn’t guaranteed to be handsome.

Even if he was practically exiled to this rundown annex, I figured he’d have at least one attendant.

And from what little I knew about this world, royal blood meant golden hair and eyes. This man had neither. His hair was the color of the night sky, and his eyes were bright ruby red.

“The Second Prince… yes. He stepped out for a bit. May I ask what this is about?”

Judging from his polite tone, he wasn’t royalty. And since he kept using honorifics even after learning I was just administrative staff, he was likely another staff member or a very polite attendant.

Wouldn’t the prince get jealous if his attendant was this good-looking?

He was seriously so ridiculously handsome that my brain kept spiraling into weird thoughts.

Holding onto my last shred of sanity, I took a deep breath and said,

“There’s an issue with one of the expenses the Second Prince submitted. Here’s the receipt.”

“Oh, this is the money he sent to Marianne. I guess you’re not allowed to give money directly to people, huh?”

“Of course not. Otherwise people could use royal funds for bribes.”

“Ah, I didn’t think of that. So this’ll be deducted from his salary?”

“It should be, but I don’t have the authority to bill a royal directly. This is a consent form—could you ask him to sign it when he gets back?”

The man looked a little downcast but took the form and said he understood.