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Yuris's words threw me off for a moment, but I quickly regained my composure.

The fact that the 4th Manager had feelings for me wasn’t something entirely unexpected. To be honest, it wasn’t really something that should shock me at this point—it was more like something I should have seen coming.

After all, Marghetta, who I once rejected, the Mage Duchess, who came from a different status and race, and even Louisa and Irina, whom I’d known for less than a year, all seemed to like me. Even the 1st Manager, who I only worked with professionally, seemed to have a soft spot for me.

I guess I was pretty kind to the 4th Manager.

I cleared my mind and looked at the situation objectively. The 4th Manager had more than enough reasons to like me.

I took her in after she lost her family and home during the war. I fed, clothed, and sheltered her. I couldn’t recall ever mistreating her. I even helped her awaken a talent she had been neglecting.

On top of that, I supported her in various ways and helped her rise to her current position. Although she was still just a knight and not a titled noble, it was almost certain she’d receive a title someday.

It makes sense she would like me.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I’d treated her quite well. It was almost like I followed a classic rescue trope to the letter.

"I should have been a bit less impressive."

What a sinful man. I ended up charming yet another woman without even realizing it. My sins were indeed deep.

"Master, it’s not a problem for us, but you shouldn’t say things like that in front of others."

"I’m sorry."

It was a brutally objective assessment. But to an outsider who knew nothing, I must’ve seemed like an insufferable narcissist.

Fortunately, Yuris understood the relationship between the 4th Manager and me, so she brushed it off. Still, as she pointed out, this wasn’t something I should be saying in front of just anyone.

"But are you sure?"

I asked while patting her head. If Yuris was willing to tell me this directly, then she must have been quite confident. However, there was always a chance she could be wrong.

Yuris’s age was just right for being interested in romance. Sometimes, people her age could start imagining things just because a man and a woman were close. Maybe she was just misinterpreting a close superior-subordinate relationship as something more.

"Everyone in the mansion knows except you, Master."

"...I see."

Her firm response left no room for doubt.

So, everyone knew... except me... My awareness really was terrible...

"They might not have said anything, but I’m sure they were worried. You keep adding rings to your hand, but they haven’t even seen Penelia unnie around..."

Yuris sighed as she spoke. Though her words sounded like she was blaming the 4th Manager, she couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.

The usually stoic 4th Manager was always gentle with the members of the Prosecutors’ Office and the mansion staff. To the 4th Manager, they were like a new family, replacing the ones she lost in the war.

Yuris looked up to the 4th Manager as if she were her older sister. Because of that, she must be worried about her sister’s heartache from unrequited love, especially since it seemed unlikely to be fulfilled.

"Um, so, Master... Penelia unnie is a good person too, so..."

"I understand."

I cut Yuris off because I knew what she was trying to say. Even though I wasn’t the type to harshly reprimand my staff, it must have taken a lot of courage for her to say this to her master.

I also held the 4th Manager in high regard just as Yuris did. After all, the 4th Manager was practically my first apprentice, and it was she who brought the 4th Division back from the brink of extinction.

I practically raised her from scratch, though it was a bit odd to say that considering she was older than me.

"I'll seriously consider the 4th Manager's confession whether it's today, tomorrow, or next year."

Yes. I wouldn’t take a confession lightly if it came from someone like her. She was someone I trusted more than any other subordinate and someone I’d grown deeply attached to. There was no reason to dislike her, and certainly no reason to push her away.

Things might’ve been different if I hadn’t already accepted anyone else’s confession, or if I had only accepted one. But I was already wearing five rings, didn't I?

Even if I added a sixth, it would only be half as many as the Gold Duke’s...

"...Um, Master?"

"Hmm?"

"I don’t think she’ll be the first to confess..."

Though Yuris's words were pessimistic, I couldn't find a good reason to disagree.

That’s true.

The 4th Manager was always strict, serious, and quiet. I just couldn’t picture her confessing first. Honestly, it was hard to even imagine her getting married.

And if she had the courage to confess, she probably would have done so by now.

"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it."

Yuris seemed a bit down, so I patted her head to comfort her.

If she doesn’t make a move, then I suppose I would have to. I could have ignored it if I didn’t know, but now that I did, I just couldn’t just pretend that I didn’t.

***I hurried to Master's mansion. Although I had just returned to the capital and had plenty of work to catch up on, nothing could take priority over Master’s summons.

— It’s been a while. We haven’t seen each other since the Red Wave, right?

"Yes, Master. I apologize for not calling you sooner."

— It’s fine. There’s nothing you can do if you’re busy with work.

I couldn’t bring myself to look up at Master’s smile, which seemed so unbothered by it all. While I was away, Master had suffered the humiliation of being imprisoned. How disgraceful was it that I, as Master’s servant, couldn’t even visit him during that time?

Yet, Master didn’t blame me. He never contacted me when I was on assignment, knowing that an ill-timed message could cause problems.

— Come by the mansion when you have time. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.

"I’ll come right away."

— No, you’ve just returned. There’s no need to push yourself.

"I’ll come right away."

— ...Alright.

So, I rushed over as soon as he invited me.

I left my tasks to the Vice Captain, who practically pushed me out the door when I mentioned Master’s invitation. I trust that he’d handle things.

"Ah. You arrived so quickly!"

To my surprise, Master had come all the way to the front gate to wait for me.

Teo and Hans, who were on guard duty, greeted me, but I barely noticed. I’m sure they understood. After all, how could my heart not race when Master himself welcomed me?

"Let’s go inside. Yuris has been looking forward to seeing you. Ah, and Sofia too."

"Yes, Master."

I couldn’t help but give a small, bittersweet smile when he mentioned Yuris. Thinking of how worried she must have been when she couldn’t reach me made me feel uneasy.

“You must have been really busy if you couldn’t send a single message.”

"Yes. Supplies were hard to come by since the Imperial tribes rapidly dwindled. And as winter approached, it became even more difficult to operate."

"It can’t be helped. Winters in the north are brutal."

Master clicked his tongue, and it made me feel even more guilty.

No, I had truly sinned. As Master's servant, I should be solving his worries. And yet here I was, still entangled with the issues in the North.

"Don’t dwell on it too much. Scouring the entire northern region is something unprecedented in the Empire’s history."

Master gently patted my shoulder as if he had read my thoughts, offering his comfort.

"Thank you."

His kindness left me with no choice but to bow my head.

Though I couldn’t show him any results now, I would work harder so that I could stand before him with pride by next year.

***This time, I found myself bowing my head for a completely different reason.

"Penelia, is there anything you’d like to tell me?"

Master asked a question that made my heart nearly stop as soon as we entered the empty reception room.

Penelia.

My hands began to tremble involuntarily, and my breathing grew shallow. What was I supposed to do if he suddenly called me by name without any warning?

He didn’t even give me a sign. Master only ever used someone’s name when he was extremely angry.

But now, he wore a pleasant smile instead of anger as we walked all the way from the front gate to the reception room.

— I was so happy when the Executive Manager started calling me by my name.

I suddenly recalled a conversation I had with Elizabeth just before I got in touch with Master. It was true. Master had finally started calling us by our names. I was finally being called by my name.

...And knowing the reason behind it, I couldn’t bring myself to look up.

— Do you know how many people have confessed to the Executive Manager? I’m the fifth one. There are four others before me.

Elizabeth’s frustrated words, combined with Yuris’s desperate attempts to reach me.

If I didn’t understand what it meant after all that, then it would be a sign of low intelligence. Fortunately, I didn’t have a problem like that.

And now that I was remaining silent, Master himself initiated the conversation, softly calling my name and asking if I had anything to say.

Master...

His generosity made my eyes well up with tears. Why was he so merciful?

And so, I had to speak the words I had kept tightly hidden, the words I had intended to carry with me for life. After being given such consideration by Master, saying nothing would be the height of disloyalty and rudeness.

"I’ve actually wanted to tell you something for a long time."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the heat around my eyes, and slowly lifted my head.

Master was still smiling at me.

"I dared to hold you in my heart, Executive Manager. I harbored feelings for you, feelings I should never have had for someone who gave me unparalleled grace."

I felt ashamed. I had spoken aloud the secret I had sworn to keep from everyone, even Elizabeth.

It was a shameful secret. For someone who had received everything to still yearn for more and to harbor feelings for the one who showed them such mercy—it was excessive and too shameful to confess to anyone.

But despite my confession, Master continued to smile. There was no trace of disappointment or anger.

"But please, don’t worry."

I quickly added.

"I wouldn’t dare to aspire to stand by your side. I will continue to serve and protect you as I always have."

Even though I held feelings for Master, I did not wish for anything beyond that. I dared not foolishly aspire to become his wife.

It was only natural. How could a master and a dog, a swordsman and a sword, a god and a devotee ever become husband and wife? A dog must remain a dog, a sword must remain a sword, and a devotee must remain a devotee.

Even if my feelings were overwhelming, they should never lead beyond that.

And so, I must remain just as Master's dog, Master's sword, and Master's devotee. It’d be enough for me to simply stay by his side and catch glimpses of him.

"If you permit me, Executive Manager, I will dedicate my entire life to serving you, your wife, and your children."

With those words, I expressed my deepest feelings to Master.

Serving him was more than enough to make me happy.

***What was this?

What on earth was going on?

Unbelievable.

This reaction was something I never could have imagined.

No. I was just expecting the 4th Manager to remain silent or perhaps change the subject.

I thought that maybe she would eventually confess her feelings after struggling with embarrassment...

Is this... love?

I was confused. Something felt off. It was definitely love, but it seemed somehow twisted.

What was more baffling was the fact that she was speaking about this twisted love as if it were completely normal.

...Is the 4th Manager cursed?

That thought crossed my mind. The Minister, myself, and those others who were once a part of the 4th Division—were all a bit abnormal, to say the least.

The madness that gathered in the 4th Division seemed to have, unfortunately, been passed down to its current Manager. Though the name had changed to the Masked Unit, the madness remained.

"E-Executive Manager!?"

Overcome with guilt and pity, I couldn’t help but hug her. I could feel her shaking in my arms, so I held her even tighter.

I’m sorry, 4th Manager.

The madness left behind by the previous generation had caused you so much pain.

I’ll make sure to fix this.

It was time to guide this twisted love back to the right path.