PMPR 08

Rosen had been working under him for three years now, but he still couldn’t figure out what kind of person Rosen was. He would show gaps in his judgment, only to overturn the entire board with calculations that seemed to account for even those gaps in advance. There was no doubt he was intelligent—but the problem was that most of it revolved around money.

“Let’s wrap up work here for today.”

“Good work.”

Rosen nodded and stood up, putting on his coat. It was already spring, but evenings were still cold.

He left the director’s office with Cedric and headed down to the Keyphrix lobby. One of the employees drowning in overtime spotted Rosen and greeted him.

“You’re heading off work now, Ms. Hazel?”

“Looks like it, Miss Ratzel. Working late?”

“Yes. I’m drowning in evaluation results. Could you please ask the director to reduce the review schedule?”

“I’ll pass it on. Though the director has quite a firm personality, so I can’t promise anything.”

Rosen gave an awkward smile and nodded.

Cedric, standing beside him, looked at Rosen with a slightly nauseated expression. Rosen must have noticed it, but he remained unfazed.

Miss Ratzel sighed.

“Seriously, you’re a money-crazed bastard.”

Cedric glanced at Rosen again. He agreed with her a hundred percent, but hearing someone insult him right in front of his face was still uncomfortable.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Rosen’s expression did not change.

“That’s harsh, Edna.”

An elderly Portnum lady, who had been stamping envelopes for evaluation notices beside them, gently chided her. Miss Ratzel shrugged.

“What? It’s true. He lowers patent standards just to rake in royalty fees, shortens the review process, and what else was it? Anyway, he just approves anything that makes money, so people like us suffer. Everyone complains about patent fees being too high, but nothing comes to us…”

“It’s because they’re good enough to be patented,” the Portnum lady replied soothingly, continuing to sort stacks of sealed envelopes.

Miss Ratzel sighed again.

“Do you know what people call the Patent Office director? A legal bandit, a patent loan shark, even ‘Crois’s dog’…”

“Well then, I suppose I should be going.”

Rosen cut her off. Miss Ratzel laughed awkwardly and waved.

“See you later, Ms. Hazel!”

Leaving her voice behind, the two men stepped out of the lobby into the darkening streets of Belfost.

The streets had quieted a little. Gentlemen pulling up their coat collars hurried to catch their carriages. Cedric, waiting for a carriage, turned to Rosen cautiously.

“Don’t take what Miss Ratzel said to heart. It’s just what people who don’t know you say…”

“What? It’s not like she’s wrong.”

Rosen chuckled, pulling his hat down.

“She’s right. I am a money-crazed bastard.”

“Rosen—”

“Carriage’s here.”

Rosen smiled faintly and climbed into the carriage that had stopped in front of him. Cedric opened his mouth to say more, but Rosen cut him off.

“Sweetheart, dream of me tonight too.”

“……”

While Cedric stood there, speechless with his mouth slightly open, the carriage pulled away.

Leaning deeply into the seat, Rosen stared at the passing streets, lost in thought.

“Legal bandit, patent loan shark, Crois’s dog…”

“Pfft.”

He let out a low laugh. Then he pulled his hat down over his nose, folded his arms, and closed his eyes.

The carriage sped out of Belfost, heading toward Clarkrois. Rosen did not lift his head once until it stopped.

When Hamiel opened her eyes, it was early morning.

She sat up groggily and looked out the window. The sun had just begun to rise.

Yawning, she threw on whatever clothes were nearby, packed her wallet and the defensive Melteor into a small bag, and didn’t forget Rosen’s Telepin.

She was about to leave the room when she stopped. Turning back, she lifted the bedsheet—and found a notebook tucked between the mattress and frame. After checking it, she relaxed and left the room.

“Oh my, young lady. You’re up early.”

“Mm.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“A coffee. Bring it to the lab.”

Lisa nodded and headed to the kitchen. It wasn’t unusual for Hamiel to wake early, though going to the lab first thing in the morning was still something notable.

Yawning again, Hamiel arrived at the research lab and opened the door leisurely. Click—the latch released.

Inside was the same familiar scene she had always known. Comfortable. Familiar. Even nostalgic.

The only thing that felt out of place in that comfort was the footprints of Halo at the doorway.

“…Maybe I really will miss it soon.”

A bitter smile formed before she could stop it. It was a feeling she never had when she had only known research without awareness of anything else.

“Alright. Let’s work.”

Shaking off her thoughts, Hamiel rolled up her sleeves and stepped inside.

First, she opened the window. Then she placed a large cardboard box on the central table. One by one, she began packing lab equipment into it—flasks, beakers, and other glass instruments.

Cork-sealed reagents, scales, glass rods, small spoons—everything went in. The box, which she had thought was large, filled quickly.

“Lady! I brought your coff— Lady?!”

While she was filling the second box, Lisa returned with coffee and screamed in shock through the window.

Hamiel looked up. Lisa’s face had gone completely pale.

“Just leave it there. I’m busy.”

“L-Lady, wh-what are you doing…?”

Lisa stammered, unable to process what she was seeing. Hamiel blinked calmly.

“Didn’t my brother tell you?”

“W-What…?”

“I’m not doing research here anymore.”

“L-Lady? Why suddenly—”

Lisa ran off in panic before Hamiel could answer. Watching her disappear, Hamiel gave a small nod.

He would be here soon—Halo.

“…You can leave the coffee.”

Clicking her tongue, she returned to packing books and documents into boxes.

The shelves were large, but the boxes were small. It would take time to empty even half of them.

“Maybe I should buy more boxes on the way to Kirgis later.”

She was calculating how many she would need when a furious voice suddenly echoed from the doorway.

“Miia! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I’m packing.”

Hamiel didn’t even turn around, only gestured toward the stacked boxes.

There were quite a few already. She had prepared ten, but it looked like it still wouldn’t be enough.

‘Maybe I should buy more on the way.’

While she was thinking that, Halo strode into the lab and grabbed her wrist.

His hand was hot. He was clearly very agitated.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?! You’ve been acting strange lately! If something’s wrong, just say it—don’t do things like this just to get attention!”

“…Attention?”

“Yes, attention!”

Hamiel blinked slowly and looked up at him.

Halo’s face was twisted with anger. His green eyes had sharpened, and his messy red hair made him look both familiar and distant at once.

“Attention, huh…”

To Halo, her actions must look like that.

She did intend to draw his attention—but not to seek attention itself. She didn’t particularly care for anyone’s attention, and even if she did, she certainly didn’t want his.

She decided to correct the misunderstanding.

“That’s not it…”

“Then what is all this?!”

Halo cut her off.

“You got sent to the academy, got a lab built for you, got everything you needed for research—haven’t you had everything you wanted?! What else are you dissatisfied with?!”

It was rare to see Halo—usually so kind and cheerful—this angry. His face reddened as he shouted, and the staff outside the manor began to peek in.

But with every word, Hamiel felt something inside her grow colder.

Like Count Walter, Halo was also the heir of House Walter.

It was her father who sent her to the academy, built the lab, and supported her research—not Halo. Everything he was claiming credit for had actually been her father’s provision. Those were not favors from him; they were her rightful opportunities.

Halo’s argument was full of contradictions. And yet, Hamiel understood why he saw it that way.

…But understanding it was another matter entirely.

“Tell me honestly. What is your problem?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know?”

“…What?”

Hamiel looked at him with ice-cold eyes. Even lifting her gaze felt like too much effort.

Halo flinched slightly. For a brief moment, something like guilt flickered across his face.

‘Maybe.’

Hamiel thought quietly.

Maybe it wasn’t too late. If Halo confessed everything and sincerely apologized, perhaps things could go back to the way they were…

“I—I don’t know, so I’m asking!”

Hamiel’s expression hardened.

“I don’t understand, Miia. What did I even do wrong to you? After Father passed away, I tried my best. It’s a sad thing that he’s gone, but we can’t keep drowning in grief forever. I’m your older brother, and I have a duty to take care of you. What… what else am I supposed to do?”

His voice cracked, heavy with exhaustion and helplessness. The man who had been yelling at her that morning vanished, leaving only the young Count Walter—trying desperately to shoulder responsibility for his only remaining family.

The servants, even Lisa, all looked at him with sympathy.

Only Hamiel remained cold.

If she had heard this ten days ago, she might have felt so guilty she would have hugged him and done anything he asked.

But unfortunately for Halo, Hamiel already knew everything.

And he had already thrown away the last chance she had given him.

“Do nothing.”

Her voice was cold.

“I’ve already decided. I’m not doing research here anymore.”

“…So that’s what this is about?”

Halo’s brows lifted in belated realization.

“What?”

“Miia, I know the patent situation is unfortunate, but… it was just bad luck. You’ll succeed next time. I promise. You’re not weak enough to be broken by something like that. I know you.”

That again.

Hamiel let out a short, disbelieving laugh. Even she knew it wasn’t polite to laugh in someone’s face, but she couldn’t help it.

“Halo.”

She stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. A faint spark of hope appeared in his eyes.

Suppressing her emotions wasn’t easy, but she gently patted his shoulder and spoke as calmly as she could.

“Father was always proud of you. That wouldn’t have changed even if you did nothing.”

“…What are you saying?”

“What I’m saying is—stop trying to do more ‘for me.’”

Halo’s face stiffened slightly. Hamiel gave a bitter smile.

“Because in the end… it’s all still for you.”