In the quiet of everyday life, thereโs a hidden world of power struggles.
Maybe itโs a wild daydream that crosses everyoneโs mind at least once.
I figure itโs fantasized about as much as the thought of terrorists suddenly showing up at school.
And unfortunately, there are indeed evil organizations pulling off schemes in the shadows in this world, but itโs a story that doesnโt really concern me, unfortunately.
The guy handed over to the knightโs bloodline and the police mentioned something about me, but expecting me to act all knightly when Iโve got no trace of it, or to dive into what a fallen family was doing decades ago, seems pretty tough.
Anywayโฆ
Honestly, for the past few years, Iโve kind of envied the honorable folks whoโve been protecting people as knights.
Putting aside the responsibilities that come with it, the social status that role holds is, honestly, something to be envious of.
Becauseโฆ
โI-Iโm sorry. This time itโs all on me for not double-checkingโฆโ
I bow my head and apologize.
Meanwhile, the chubby boss, without even bothering to look at me, props his chin on his hand and lets out a bored yawn.
โHey, Lux, how many times have you made this kind of mistake? Iโm being easy on you โcause Iโm nice, but in other companies, youโd be canned right away, you know?โ
By the way, the โconfirmation mistakeโ refers to the fact that I went ahead with discussions with our client without the bossโs say-so, and then brought back the job.
If the deal went down without a hitch, I figured itโd be cool, but turns out, it didnโt sit right with folks socially.
Itโs easy to say in hindsight that the company mightโve benefited, and well, I get why I got chewed out.
But I tried to get a hold of my boss multiple times, and it was the boss who wouldnโt give me the time of day.
Sure, the boss, who seemed to be slacking off somewhere all the while, shares some of the blame too โ as if.
If I really said something like that, Iโd probably get fired on the spot.
By the way, the company I work for deals with ordinary electronic components.
In other words, Iโm just your average salaryman.
Is this the descendant of someone who was once a knight?
Unfortunately, even knights have to go with the flow of the times.
As a result, being unreasonably scolded by my boss feels incredibly sad.
โHaaah.โ
After being severely lectured by my boss and finally released, I sneakily let out a sigh of relief in the buildingโs break room.
As I unwind, I catch faint giggles drifting from somewhere nearby.
Glancing up, I spot a female colleague.
Fleur-san, with a bashful smile on her face, meets my gaze.
โBack to the scolding routine today, huh?โ
โโฆItโs all just part of the job.โ
โWhy not push back a little?โ
โThen the conversation would drag on even longer, wouldnโt it?โ
Fleur-san, in the same career stage as me, is also a single mom.
Simultaneously, sheโs a widow.
Despite her youthful appearance, sheโs apparently on the younger side for a mom of one, age-wise.
Itโs probably best not to pry into her past too much.
For now, weโre just coworkers and friends, nothing more.
โLux-kun, youโre such a straight shooter. Even if you got a little upset, you wouldnโt land in hot water, you know?โ
โIโm just a serious fool. Not much of a people person, and not great at bending rules. See, I can only really shoot the breeze with someone like you, Fleur-san.โ
โOh, you shouldnโt toss words like that around to the ladies so casually! Some might get the wrong idea, you know?โ
โIโm picky about who I open up to, you know. And Fleur-san, being the no-nonsense type, probably wonโt give me the time of day anyway, right?โ
I shrug, feeling a bit at a loss.
After our chat, I feel a little lighter, muttering, โAlright,โ before making my way back to the office.
โLooks like itโs gonna be a late one tonight!โ
โLetโs both try our hardest to steer clear of overtime as much as we can.โ
โโโโ
Fleur Knight lost her husband 10 years ago, not long after their son Kevin was born, and she couldnโt show him his father.
Sheโs the youngest daughter of the Knight family, descendants of a noble bloodline.
For Fleur, her husbandโs presence meant everything.
Their time together was short, both in duration and moments shared, but his presence shaped her into who she is now.
So, yes.
Sheโs always loved himโ
Thatโs how she feels.
โโฆโฆโ
The city, lit up by neon lights at night.
The oddly deserted streets, seemingly well-lit yet devoid of people.
Walking beside her is Lux, her colleague.
Their silence hangs between them.
It feels awkward somehow.
Originally, he told her it was unsafe to walk alone in the city at night, which is why theyโre walking home together like this, but lately, sheโs been relying on him more.
Because sheโs scared, because sheโs worried.
(Is that really it?)
Yes, it is.
Itโs true. Sheโs made up her mind to love only her late husband, so she doesnโt harbor any special feelings for other men. Itโs been a decade since his passing, and whenever she feels lonelyโฆ
A glaring light.
โโฆHuh?โ
She realizes itโs the truckโs headlights only after being pulled into a hug by Lux.
(Uh, ah)
Her cheeks flush.
And then, as he unexpectedly lifts her, she finally recognizes the shift in her own heart.
(Silly me.)
Heโs saying something, but she canโt make it out.
โฆBefore she knows it, sheโs arrived home, and her son Kevin is holding her hand.
โWhatโs wrong, Mom? Are you feeling sick?โ
โOh, umโฆ No, Iโm fine.โ
She shakes her head, then tells her son that she has work tomorrow too, before heading back to her room.
โฆA photo frame with a picture of her and her late husband.
Feeling guilty, she knocks it over to keep it out of sight.
She collapses onto the bed, and then..
โUh, ahโฆahโฆโ
โโโ
And then, destiny starts to creak ever so slightly.
โDid the attempt to assassinate the descendant of the Knight family fail?โ
The fate of someone who was supposed to perish originally.
โHmm?โ
Originally, the protagonist in the story loses his mother and resents the world.
The man who altered those circumstances is simply nowโฆ
โI canโt even drink alcoholโฆโ
He grimaced at the unpleasant taste of cheap non-alcoholic beer.