[TIDK] 110 – Royal Discussions

Andrei headed straight to 7th Avenue as soon as he left the government office. When he entered the watch shop, Scarlett, who had been watching the store, looked at Andrei.

Andrei stood in front of the door for a moment before speaking, "It's true that I was assigned to monitor the boss, but I really mean it. I want to grow the business.”

"....”

"I will resign from the royal police. I understand if you don't want to hire me. It's not easy to find such a useful employee like me with that kind of background.”

"If I hire you, will you start working from today?"

Scarlett asked calmly, surprising Andrei.

"If it's okay with you.”

"It's okay.”

Andrei didn't expect her to accept his request so easily, even after he had asked her. He spoke as if he didn't understand.

"If you knew what I had done to the boss, you wouldn't say that.”

"I don't remember. If I remember, I'll judge then.”

Scarlett smiled weakly and then spoke.

"Just...I don't think there are many people who would work that hard for such a background like yours. I felt sorry for you.”

"Deceiving someone is a bad thing.”

"It is pitiful. I thought I had at least one person who wanted to be by my side voluntarily, like you.”

“…”

" I know it's not true. But I still want to continue being deceived. So...”

Scarlett, who had no energy, put more effort into her words. "But I'm glad you're quitting the Royal Police. You chose this place instead of the Royal Police, right?" " ... Yes, for now.”

"Then that's settled.”

Scarlett Crimson had been called a head case by her superior. Thinking about her being watched closely by Andrei, he could see why. She was clever, but her vision was clouded by loneliness. How much more would she have to break before she realised? "Miss Scarlett.”

Andrei, feeling awkward, scratched his throat and looked at her. "People in this world are selfish.”

" ... "

"Don't love me. It's a waste.”

Scarlett looked at him for a moment, then laughed emptily and said, "That's enough.”

"What do you mean?"

"Just... It's a waste. At least it's good that I love someone, right? It's a shame.”

“…”

"That wasn't a bad thing, right? Isn't it?" he said with a cheerful smile.

"I see. I feel relieved to hear that.”

"I've always felt it, but the boss is not in his right mind.”

"I don't want to hear that from you. Besides, it's a fact that Andrei has been running the store all this time. Without him, the store would have to close from the beginning.”

"Oh, you admit that now. I didn't know because you kept it to yourself.”

"...More importantly, how much does the Royal Police pay?"

"The salary is similar. But the honour is different.”

"Then you can come to work. If you don't, I'll come looking for you.”

"I won't work for free.”

"Demotion for a year?"

"What's the difference between that and working for free, really?"

"There's a deadline.”

"You're a dishonest employer.”

"That's enough for now.”

"Yes, I agree. I'll accept it. One year.”

Even as they talked, Andrei habitually tended to the store. Scarlett, who was watching the returning employee, spoke up.

"Come to think of it, the craftsmen that my uncle fired... Andrei helped them, right?"

"Yes. That's what got me caught up in espionage in the first place.”

"You didn't report it about Tram, either.”

"I told you even when I was in the Navy office, but how could I stop them from repairing when I saw their little faces? They still have a lot of growing up to do.”

At those words, Scarlett smiled with renewed vigour.

"Thank you.”

"Boss.”

"Yes?"

"Let's stop talking nonsense and get back to work.”

"...Right, that's why we're here. Ah, well, I can't do anything about it since I caught him.”

Andrei smiled, but soon urged them to work again.

♔♔♔

At the end of their discussion in the reception room, the conclusion reached by the members of the royal family was that they must bring Viktor into the royal family now.

“You all know what a big deal it is that the Royal Police have turned against us. Viktor can't just sit still now,” said one of the members.

“Yes, and when will he rebel against the royal family...,” another added. Then Yuli Irene, who was lounging on the sofa, spoke up, “What will happen if he doesn't sit still? In any case, if that kid draws his sword, it will be aimed at me. Stop being so wishy-washy.”

The reception room fell silent for a moment after the prince's words. As the debate was about to continue, King Albert Irene, who had been lying in a recliner with his eyes closed due to a serious heart condition, briefly opened his eyes. Recently, he had been expressing his longing for his granddaughter, Marina. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I wish we had called Marina, our princess.”

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