ARML 04

Chapter 4

Carlyle tried to keep a calm expression and replied,

“Ah, do both.”

Because bosses usually ask for more if you only give them one thing.

But Layla didn’t stop there.

“Do you just need the numbers, or should I also find some meaning from them?”

“I’ll handle the conclusions. You don’t need to worry.”

Carlyle answered her, but inside, he almost grabbed his chest.

‘What is this feeling?’

His heart was racing.

Even faster than when he drank three cups of coffee!

‘I saw Layla Lowell’s background info, and she didn’t have any work experience elsewhere.’

And yet, she was this good?

There could be only one reason:

‘She’s got real talent.’

His heart beat so fast it felt like it would explode.

To someone watching, it might even look like he’d fallen in love at first sight.

Yuliana Crosswell and Seamus Finley also quickly understood Layla Lowell’s question.

The four of them dove into their work.

Later—

“That’s good enough.”

Carlyle nodded as he took the completed materials from the three.

The report prep was perfect.

That was at 5:40 PM.

“You can go now. No need for overtime.”

Yuliana beamed and gave a deep 90-degree bow.

“Thank you! Great work today!”

Seamus, on the other hand, gave a small nod with a grumpy face.

“……”

And Layla Lowell…

“Goodbye.”

She greeted politely and walked out of the office smoothly.

That was at 6:10 PM.

Carlyle was so moved, he almost collapsed into his chair.

‘Layla Lowell… just what are you?’

He had never felt his heart race like this in such a positive way.

Especially not for someone who came in ranked dead last in class 218!

‘…I need to look more into Lowell right away.’

Carlyle thought for a moment—

Maybe this was fate.

Senior officials in the Imperial Palace could have personal secretaries.

They weren’t allowed to give official work to them, but small errands were okay.

That’s why many nobles used their family retainers as secretaries.

Carlyle’s retainer and secretary, Cedric Lorington, was one of them.

[“There’s a lot of confidential stuff in the Black Spoon Department, so I’ll handle it myself.”]

Other nobles often overused their secretaries for all kinds of things, but Carlyle was strict about those boundaries.

So Cedric often ended up getting paid while doing almost nothing. Not that he minded!

‘But what’s going on today?’

Cedric watched as his master carefully read over a report.

‘He’s doing a background check?’

And on a trainee official named Layla Lowell, no less.

“Hm…”

Carlyle frowned as he read what Cedric had gathered.

<Registered at the Capital’s District 15 Orphanage>

After the “Last Saintess Murder Case,” the temple of Time and Purity lost power, but they still helped the poor actively.

‘She probably didn’t grow up with enough money, even with temple support.’

Considering that, how amazing was Layla Lowell—even if she entered ranked last?

Even though the palace said it was all about “merit,” nobles still had an advantage.

Noble kids didn’t need to give up studying to work.

‘So what if Lowell had started on equal ground with the rest of us?’

She already had work instincts and the ability to see the big picture.

Carlyle muttered to himself seriously,

“…Which department is Lowell going to next?”

He would need to convince her—using all his strength—to stay by his side as a future team member.

After our time in the Black Spoon Department, we moved on to the next department.

But on the day we were heading to the new office, the female lead looked a little…

Down. Or maybe just tired?

‘That’s not good. The next team leader we’re meeting is known to be a total jerk.’

We were heading to the Imperial Protocol Team of the Central Bureau.

The very same team whose leader plays a big part in the romance between the male and female leads.

The first “crazy boss” in Beyond the Golden Door—Allison Capres!

‘The name sounds fancy, but…’

The current royal family is weaker than in the past.

And when royal power weakens, the departments tied to it also lose influence.

‘The Imperial Protocol Team is a perfect example. It’s ranked the lowest—just a “team.”’

Allison took her stress from being ignored by other departments out on clueless newbies.

‘In the original story, I ended up catching her wrath too, but with the female lead looking this tired, what now?’

Wait. What if the story changes and she suddenly says, “I’m quitting”?

That would ruin everything!

“Yuliana, whatever you hear at the next place, just ignore it, okay?”

“Huh?”

“Think of it as a barking dog. Just let it go, got it?”

“Uh, okay!”

Good, she answered well.

“And Finley, you—”

I lost my patience looking at his outfit. That sloppy mess is going to make us all look bad!

“Sigh. Hold on. Finley, button up your shirt.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? Don’t you know where we’re going? It’s the Protocol Team!”

“But what does my outfit have to do with the work?”

Oh, that’s how you wanna play it?

“Finley, the Protocol Team is the most traditional group in the palace. Why? Because they manage ceremonies passed down through generations.”

“We’re just doing paperwork, so why does it matter…”

“It matters! If we tell others to ‘follow proper manners,’ but show up looking like we just rolled out of bed, who’s going to take us seriously?”

“……”

“Would you listen to someone teaching magic who never passed the Tower’s test?”

His face darkened at my nagging.

‘Well, I’m not the female lead, so he probably won’t—’

But to my surprise, he slowly buttoned his shirt.

Finley grumbled,

“That’s… logical.”

Wow. Logic won!

“Finley, what about a tie? Did you bring one?”

“I can’t wear anything around my neck.”

“Huh? Oh, okay…”

Some people can’t wear things around their necks due to psychological reasons.

But he still had on his skull bracelet.

“That bracelet…”

“This one’s allowed.”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s an artifact.”

Wait, that punk-looking bracelet is a magic artifact?

‘Oh right, he’s the future Tower Master.’

Still, why would someone like him become a civil servant?

Finley kept mumbling.

“You’re the first person to ever comment on my outfit.”

So now I’m creating one of those typical romance lines: “You’re the first girl to treat me this way,” just with clothes!

‘Let it go…’

I needed to mentally prepare myself to face this crazy boss.

And Allison Capres was just as bad as expected.

“Hm. You’re the top trainees… and the bottom one added on, right?”

She lined us up and stared at us from head to toe with a rude look.

“They even gave you three new desks, each worth 300 marks, just because new officials were coming.”

“……”

“But do you even seem worth that?”

A mark is like 10,000 won, so that’s 900,000 won total?

She didn’t even pay for it, so why act like it’s her money? Want us to work on the floor, then?

In this situation, staying quiet is the best.

‘I remember Allison picked on me a lot in the original story…’

Maybe if I stay cool, it’ll go differently?

Finley looked bored, probably thinking, This isn’t logical.

But… newbies can’t help it.

The female lead answered the question.

“I-I’ll do my best to be worth it…”

“This isn’t a school. What are you planning to learn here?”

We’re doomed.

In the original story, Allison targeted the female lead—and now it’s happening again!

From then on, Allison insulted everything she did, even over small things.

“Sigh. No sense at all.”

“S-sorry.”

“Good school, no talent. What a waste of a desk.”

“……”

“Oh my, did that hurt your feelings? But young people these days only understand when you’re blunt.”

Thinking she successfully crushed the female lead’s spirit, she turned to me.

“And you still haven’t fin—”

“I finished everything you asked for.”