Chapter 1: Everyday Power Harassment
“Handle these purchase orders by tomorrow.”
“Huh…”
A pile of messy papers was placed on the table.
There were other piles that had not been finished, and I was speechless.
“Okay then.”
“W-Wait, director! There’s no way I can finish all this by myself by tomorrow.”
“What are you talking about? Isn’t that your job?”
“I-I mean, well…”
The director is also a magic tool maker, so this should be his responsibility too…
But I was in a position where I couldn’t say anything even if I wanted to.
“If you understand, then finish it quickly. Otherwise, the next task will come to you.”
“…”
“Well, you should have no problem with this, right? I’m counting on you. Former youngest court magic tool maker, Freya Roster.”
“…But, I’ll do my best.”
He wasn’t complimenting me. It was just a sarcastic comment, as evident by his facial expression.
The director left my laboratory, and as the sound of the door slamming echoed in the quiet room, I stood motionless.
“Sigh…”
The first thing that came out of my mouth was a deep sigh.
If the director were to be asked again, she would probably make a sarcastic remark again.
However…
“I feel like sighing. What’s with this workload… It’s enough for five people.”
The workload is five times that of another magical instrument maker.
Sometimes, I am given a workload that is almost ten times as much, with an insane deadline set as usual.
Of course, there’s no way to finish the usual work hours, so I have to work overtime every day and work half of my days off.
“This… means I have to work tomorrow too.”
Even on days when I should be able to relax on any days off, I am too busy to take a break.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve admired the cutting edge of manufacturing.
I was swallowed up by the waves of an incredibly unreasonable society as a court magical tool maker.
“When will my next day off be…”
I think about these things while working overtime.
By the time I finally finish, the date will have changed.
While everyone else goes home, I stay in the court and work alone.
Knock, knock——.
A knocking sound echoes through the door.
It seems like something rare is happening.
Someone coming to visit at this time?
I hope it’s not the director coming back and giving me even more unreasonable work.
Trembling, I ask the person on the other side of the door,
“Yes, who is it?”
“——It’s me, Freya.”
“Cain-sama!”
I rush to the door and open it with force.
There stood a man with blond hair and blue eyes.
His name was Cain Balmoust.
He is the legitimate son of the Balmoust family and also my fiancé.
“Good evening, Freya.”
“Good evening! Why did you come here, Cain-sama?”
“I came to check on how you’re doing. And there was something I wanted to talk to you about.”
He came all the way to the court just to see me?
At this late hour?
Cain-sama is always so kind.
His appearance, personality, and behavior are all excellent.
I’m unworthy of him as his fiancé.
However, I needed his kindness at this moment.
When he came to my lonely laboratory, I felt a surge of energy to keep going.
“Thank you, Cain-sama.”
“Ah, yes. So…”
He looks around the laboratory with a curious expression, even though he has been here many times before.
There’s nothing new to see, but he seems to be interested in something.
“Cain-sama?”
“…Freya, you were working late again today.”
“Oh, yes. I haven’t finished yet…”
“I see.”
I hoped he would comfort me.
If I talked to Cain-sama about it, maybe this situation could change.
Until now, I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to cause any trouble.
But I’ve reached my limit.
If this continues, I’ll collapse from overwork someday.
He came to check on me because he cares about me.
I should talk to him about it now.
“Um——”
“Freya, I have something important to tell you.”
Cain-sama interrupted me and said so with a serious expression.
I involuntarily shut my mouth.
Come to think of it, he said he had something to tell me.
I can talk to him about my troubles after he finishes.
I switch my feelings and smile at Cain-sama.
“Yes, what is it?”
“——I want to cancel our engagement.”
“…Huh?”
I feel like time has stopped.
I thought I misheard him.
I wanted to think that.
But his words remain clear in my ears.
He wants to cancel our engagement.
With me.
Cain-sama said so with a serious expression that shows he’s not lying.
I’m unworthy of him as his fiancé.
“——I want to cancel our engagement.”
It seems he thought the same…
XD