Chapter 10

Silver hair that gleamed like moonlight.

Green eyes.

A smile curved like a crescent moon.

If Carlisle was a cold, handsome man with a touch of delicate beauty, then this man felt like a mature beauty overflowing with composure and elegance.

Most of all, the way he smiled as if the entire world amused him made it obvious.

‘That’s him.’

‘The head of House Crow. The hidden mastermind.’

The Crow Ducal House had produced high priests and holy knights for generations.

The classic type of villain who smiled warmly while hiding dark ambitions underneath.

Among all the male lead candidates, he was also the oldest.

Perhaps because of that, he was exceptionally skilled at manipulating people with words.

‘Even when I read the novel, it was scary how well he understood people.’

The one who separated the Black Spoon Department from the original Magic Knights Division was this man.

‘All so he could more easily search for the dark magic artifact he wanted.’

And apparently, when you were a mastermind-level noble, you could show up late to meetings full of important officials.

The Prime Minister rubbed her forehead.

“Duke Crow… late again.”

“My apologies, Your Excellency. I was delayed while examining something we discovered in relation to this incident.”

“And what might that be?”

“Take a look at this core.”

The mastermind opened his palm.

A white stone appeared.

‘Huh?’

‘That’s the core I pulled out.’

After the incident, I had handed it over to Carlisle.

Duke Crow raised the stone for everyone to see.

Because it was white, the black crescent-shaped mark in the center stood out clearly.

“This appears to be connected to the recent kidnapping cases.”

Instantly, anxious murmurs spread throughout the room.

My heart dropped too.

‘Kidnapping cases…?’

I vaguely remembered that from the novel.

Meanwhile, Duke Crow continued.

“Since these incidents have been occurring throughout the capital and the Empire, it would be more accurate to classify Yuliana Crosswell as a victim.”

“Hm.”

“And it also means those responsible have become powerful enough to breach the Imperial Palace’s protective barriers.”

After that, the officials launched into a frantic discussion.

Eventually, a decision was reached.

“...Duke Crow. In that case, your department will receive additional resources to investigate this matter.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“Find those responsible as quickly as possible.”

“I shall do my best to meet your expectations.”

In the end, the meeting seemed to conclude by granting more authority and support to the Black Spoon Department.

‘Hmph. Seems like the mastermind got everything he wanted.’

Though I couldn't deny it felt satisfying that justice had been served as a side effect.

As I prepared to leave the conference room, I glanced toward Allison.

She was being dragged away by security personnel from the Magic Knights Division.

“L-let go of me! You can’t do this to me!”

“Come quietly, Capress.”

“I’ve worked in the Imperial Palace for twenty years! Over something this trivial—”

“You are being investigated for attempted murder of a government official.”

“...!”

Why did she look so shocked?

Even if she somehow talked her way out of the verbal abuse charges, shoving me outside to save herself definitely deserved punishment.

Just as I was about to leave—

The mastermind waved at me.

“Miss Lowell.”

“Ah! G-good day, sir.”

“I have something to discuss with you. Come over here.”

“Excuse me?”

“I heard you personally tore the core out.”

“......!”

Ah.

I had been wondering why nobody had questioned me about that yet.

I had managed to dodge Carlisle and Finley's questions by pretending not to know anything.

‘But maybe because he’s the mastermind...?’

Looking into those eyes made lying feel impossible.

Then Duke Crow laughed cheerfully.

“Hahaha!”

For some reason, his laughter was terrifying.

He looked at me leisurely and murmured,

“How did our interviewers fail to notice a talent like this...?”

“I-I don’t know what you mean...”

“Miss Lowell.”

He smiled brightly.

“You should join the Black Spoon Department.”

“...What?”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious?”

The mastermind stared at me with a beautiful smile.

It was honestly impressive that someone could be this frightening and this attractive at the same time.

‘And why does he keep smiling?’

He wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.

Still, I needed to refuse firmly.

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Minister Crow. But I’ve already received an offer from another department—”

“Then I’ll cancel it.”

“...Pardon?”

“Ah. Lord Wordsworth.”

The mastermind turned and smiled at someone behind me.

My hope.

My dream.

Director Theodore Wordsworth.

Unlike his usual gentle demeanor, Theodore looked visibly displeased.

“What exactly are you doing, Duke Crow?”

“I intend to assign Miss Lowell directly to my department.”

“What?! Miss Lowell has already agreed to apply to ours.”

“Cancel it.”

“Excuse me?”

Duke Crow shut him down effortlessly.

‘The taste of power really is swee—no!’

Theodore’s kind face twisted in frustration.

“This is an abuse of authority, Duke Crow!”

“Yes.”

Crow answered calmly.

“I’m fully aware that it is.”

The attention of everyone in the room focused on us.

My skin prickled under their gazes.

More importantly—

I was panicking.

‘What if I really end up in the Black Spoon Department?!’

I wanted an easy government job where I could quietly collect a paycheck.

Not a workplace where bullets flew over my head and coworkers nearly died every week.

I wanted a normal office life!

‘This incident ended safely enough... but what about next time?’

Kidnapping cases?

How was I supposed to deal with something like that?

‘I’m a completely ordinary person!’

I want to be protected.

I don’t want to be the one doing the protecting.

People more capable than me should handle those things!

“Minister Crow?”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to recruit someone who actually wants to join your department?”

I was so desperate that all the polished speaking skills I’d developed from years of office work completely abandoned me.

Crow smiled down at me.

“Come to think of it, Miss Crosswell did say she wanted to join our department.”

“Yes!”

“Does she still feel that way, I wonder...”

“She definitely does!”

“Is that so...”

The mastermind turned and began walking in the opposite direction.

Then he nodded toward me.

Wearing a smile that somehow looked even more irritating than before.

“Then shall we go ask her ourselves?”

* * *

The Imperial Palace hospital ward was located near the Magic Medicinal Research Laboratory.

Yuliana looked terribly pale.

Thankfully, all her limbs were intact.

But before I could greet her—

The mastermind approached first.

“Hello, Miss Crosswell. Sorry for troubling you again.”

“N-not at all!”

“You underwent a psychological evaluation when you took the civil service examination. You were also tested for dark magic contamination.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Because your results were perfectly clean, you’ll avoid punishment. The accusations of verbal abuse were also substantiated.”

Yuliana’s eyes widened.

But Crow tilted his head slightly and continued.

“However, the fact that your dark magic reached the point of a full rampage suggests that you are extremely vulnerable to psychological attacks.”

“Ah...”

“The palace’s security enchantments prevented greater damage.”

“......”

“But if you’re vulnerable to mental attacks, your chances of dying while working in the Black Spoon Department increase dramatically.”

“I-I’m not afraid of that—”

“More importantly, there’s no guarantee others won’t get caught up in it as well.”

Yuliana flinched.

Her eyes drifted toward me.

“Even knowing that, do you still wish to join our department?”

“......”

“Our department is currently dealing with an emergency situation as well.”

Yuliana’s face became even paler.

Watching her made me want to jump in and stop this conversation.

‘Mastermind! Why are you phrasing it like that?!’

If you scare someone first and then ask whether they still want the job, who would happily say yes?

‘Still, she’s the heroine.’

‘Surely she won’t waver?’

But Yuliana lowered her head.

Her entire body trembled.

“I...”

Her voice shook.

“I withdraw my application to the Black Spoon Department.”

My mind went blank.

What?

What was happening?

The heroine had withdrawn her application?

“I’m sorry. If what you’ve said is true, then I don’t think I’m suited for the department.”

“I see.”

Not “Interesting.”

Just “I see.”

Hearing it made me want to scream.

‘No!’

‘Yuliana is a growth-type heroine!’

She was supposed to grow stronger over time!

She was supposed to fall in love while overcoming hardships together!

Why was everyone being so impatient and ruthless?

Then another thought struck me.

‘Wait.’

‘If Yuliana withdraws... what happens to Finley?’

Finley joined the Black Spoon Department largely because of his rivalry with Yuliana.

But if she left, then what would happen to him?

Crow turned toward Finley, who had silently followed us.

“Finley. What about you? Are you interested in this line of work?”

“...Yes.”

Finley answered immediately.

“I want to join the Black Spoon Department.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Why?”

“Why would you apply?”

Finley looked at me as though the answer were obvious.

“Because you’re joining the Black Spoon Department.”

“...Huh?”