Antonroni received a transfer order; he was to be transferred to the Foreign Trade Office as the Deputy Director, and to serve as Acting Chief Steward.
He rubbed his forehead.
Already over fifty years old, with graying hair, he never imagined that one day he would act as Chief Steward.
He thought back to a few years ago, when he was still teaching at the Suburban Academy.
Young people from towns and even semi-autonomous lordships, carrying various ideals and ambitions, would come here to study all kinds of knowledge, thanks to the Republic’s subsidies.
Among them, there were two who were his most prized students.
One was Loren Green, the other Elena Veil.
They were both children of farmers from the same township.
Amusingly, until before their admission, they had never even met.
By the time they graduated, their relationship was still nothing special.
At that time, he would often show them some short essays he had written.
Loren Green seemed to understand these well, but wasn’t interested.
He always had that pessimistic look, as if these things could never be achieved in Hobrick.
In the end, he joined the Civil Affairs Office, and even became a section chief under Julia Laguance.
Truly, the child he admired most.
Elena, on the other hand, always liked reading his writings.
She eventually joined the Finance Office, and could be considered to have achieved something as well.
But just last week, before Julia became his superior, Loren Green was posthumously declared dead.
That introverted, intelligent boy died in vain, lost to the Azure Sea and Silver Waves.
In the end, there was nothing he could do.
He could only send Loren’s parents 3,000 Grosso in his name — most of his own savings from these past few years.
Then he wrote a letter to Elena, urging her to be careful, to make more friends, and not to end up like Loren.
Antonroni, over fifty, wondered how many more things he could accomplish in this lifetime.
When the time came and he no longer wished to work, he’d simply apply for retirement at the Governor’s Mansion.
In any case, he was already sick of those fools from the Elf Faction and the Northern Faction.
Today was Livyat’s first day as Deputy Director.
But she couldn’t feel happy.
Just last night, Tesvelan’s confession — like a lovesick girl from a previous life — left her mind shaken and caused her to lose her first kiss.
What made her dizzy was that after doing all that, Tesvelan suddenly knelt on the ground, begging her forgiveness.
Having never experienced such things, Livyat even ended up helping Tesvelan up herself, and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead to show she didn’t mind anymore.
Then, at breakfast this morning, Tesvelan clung to her side, preparing dishes and feeding her, careful and eager to please.
After all that, when Livyat arrived at the Shipbuilding Office, she found breakfast on her desk, filled with all her favorite snacks from Dusk Street.
Julia had deliberately made a detour early in the morning to buy them from Dusk Street.
On the other hand, she knew that her mentor Antonroni had already taken up his post at the Foreign Trade Office, moving from a dangerous department to a safe and prosperous one.
That made her a little happier.
But thinking of her mentor’s other favored student, she sighed again.
Today, Julia arranged for her to go to the Finance Office to request funds.
In truth, Julia had already prepared everything; she just wanted Livyat to show her face and add another accomplishment to her record.
Elena Veil.
That girl from the same township, though a different village.
She was admitted to the Finance Office with the top score.
Her family seemed even poorer than Livyat’s own.
Sensing she might see an old acquaintance, Livyat wasn’t nervous; after all, Antonroni had worked here for many days, and she hadn’t run into him.
She was already used to pretending not to recognize people.
With a sigh, Livyat greeted Julia, left, hailed a carriage, and set off for the Finance Office.
The Finance Office was located beside the Council Chamber and the Foreign Affairs Office, all on Floral Street.
Because it often had to receive foreign dignitaries, the whole street was lined with fresh flowers, supplied year-round.
Even in winter, flowers from the North that could resist the cold were used to decorate the entire avenue.
Breathing in the fragrance of the street, Livyat walked into the Finance Office.
“This colleague, I’m from the Shipbuilding Office, regarding the reimbursement request for the Dandolo Governor’s collision test…”
Livyat addressed the liaison officer writing at her desk, until the other person looked up and their eyes met.
It was Elena.
She no longer looked so frail or thin; she’d filled out, growing into a true beauty.
But her wheat-colored skin still revealed her humble origins.
Her brown eyes danced with liveliness as she looked at the exquisite elf before her.
“You must be the legendary Elf Deputy Director. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Elena extended her hand graciously — the standard greeting among government colleagues.
Accustomed to lifting her skirt and doffing her hat, Livyat actually forgot to extend her hand at first.
Realizing she’d been ignored, Elena smiled and began to withdraw her hand.
Nobles really are difficult to deal with, she thought.
Suddenly, Livyat leaned forward, grabbed Elena’s hand, and shook it, feigning dazedness: “Oh, I’m so sorry! I was just thinking that since I’m not wearing a skirt, I can’t lift my hem.”
Realizing she had misunderstood, Elena didn’t expect this elven noble lady to poke fun at herself to ease the situation.
She hurriedly said, “It’s all right, all right, I was the one who rudely pulled my hand back.”
Since everything had been arranged in advance, the business was completed smoothly.
After shaking Elena’s hand again, Livyat prepared to leave.
Just then, Elena asked, a little nervously, “Deputy Director, please forgive my rudeness. You’re not arrogant like the other nobles, not even like my own superior. My name is Elena. May I ask your name?”
My name?
So Julia kept my name secret even as she appointed me Deputy Director?
Livyat thought.
She didn’t expect that the always-indignant Elena would one day seek out noble connections — but she didn’t mind.
Livyat smiled in response: “Hello, Miss Elena, my name is Livyat. Is there anything you need?”
Elena said, “I don’t know if telling you these trivial things will bore you. I had a foolish classmate, who became a section chief, but ended up drowning in the sea, his body never found.”
“At his funeral, not a single colleague came to mourn him. Back at the Academy, he always laughed at me for not having friends, but I know he wanted me to make some. I just thought, if he knew I could be acquainted with a respectable elf lady, he’d be jealous and happy at the same time.”
So Elena actually attended my funeral.
I wonder if my parents were upset.
Though this world isn’t like my previous life, they must have been.
Thinking of this, Livyat’s nose stung.
Noticing the elven lady before her suddenly turn sentimental, Elena hurriedly waved her hand: “Oh, I really am overstepping. You… you didn’t hear the second half of what I said, right?”
Livyat shook her head and said, “No, Miss Elena. I’d be very glad to be your friend. But your classmate was right: friends aren’t so easy to come by. You’re welcome to visit the Shipbuilding Office anytime. Who knows, maybe we’ll become friends very soon.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.