Chapter 9: Welcome party

On the first day Yohan came to the public office as a temporary elite magician, a welcome party was held.

The party venue was rented from the royal public office.

A colorful carpet was laid over the marble floor, and the high ceiling boasted a majestic grandeur that seemed to pierce the sky.

A chandelier lit with candles hung from the ceiling, its light reflecting softly against the walls.

Tables were adorned with exquisite dishes made from rare ingredients, along with wine in crystal glasses and various fruits that tantalized people’s taste buds.

There were also luxurious foods and uniquely clear spirits.

It could be said to be a perfect party venue.

“It’s no less than a party held at the Marquess’s estate.”

Could it be because this was the second public office operated by the royal family? Or was it the influence of the crown prince?

Well, it didn’t matter.

Regardless of the reason, it was clear that the financial backing was significant.

“Isn’t this kind of party unfamiliar to you?”

At that moment, Vice Director Terthys approached Yohan with a glass of wine in hand.

He already appeared quite drunk, with a flush on his face.

“It’s unfamiliar. As you know, my status is merely that of the third son of a viscount.”

“Haha, with such a face, you’ve never been invited to a party like this?”

“…I have been invited, but it’s not something I can attend every time.”

“Ha ha ha! This friend is quite cautious!”

Terthys patted Yohan’s shoulder and downed the wine.

The glass, filled to the brim, disappeared in an instant.

“Today is your welcome party, Yohan, so you can enjoy yourself as much as you want. We’re not that rigid.”

“I felt that as well. Thank you for your consideration.”

“You’re a careful friend. I’ll go grab another glass of wine. Hope you have a great party.”

Saying that, Terthys walked towards where a servant with wine was circulating.

Yohan settled his gaze and fell into thought.

“Careful, huh.”

He had to be careful and cautious.

With a modern mindset, he couldn’t adapt to this world, and the noble class, which seemed to live carefreely, had far more responsibilities than he imagined.

What if he stood out in appearance as well? Others might envy his life, but for Yohan, it felt like walking on thin ice.

“If I attract the attention of a marquies or count’s daughter, I could die just like that.”

Not long ago, hadn’t he nearly been killed by Duke Ferbache after he had gotten a little too relaxed?

Because of that, Yohan had no choice but to always be cautious.

“Yohan?”

At that moment, a woman’s voice came from behind.

Yohan turned his body toward the sound.

“Ah, Violet Ratalen, a first-class magician.”

Violet Ratalen tilted her head slightly and looked at Yohan.

With a sticky gaze, she smiled softly and patted Yohan’s shoulder.

“You can call me Violet. If you keep your distance like that, I might think you don’t like me.”

“…That wasn’t my intention. I’m just not yet accustomed to life as a public official.”

Within the public office, ranks are treated equally regardless of titles.

That is public and service.

“Don’t you drink?”

“I don’t particularly like it.”

“Hmm, that’s surprising. I wouldn’t have thought women would keep you from drinking.”

Violet maintained a smile, sending a sticky gaze, as if she found it interesting.

“How about we rent a separate room and drink together?”

“It’s my welcome party, so should the main guest be absent?”

“You’re good at turning down invitations. Well, that’s not bad.”

Violet’s hand, which had been resting on Yohan’s shoulder, slowly moved down his arm until it reached his chest.

His expression turned cold.

“Was she not interested in Cassis?”

Yohan pondered in confusion.

There must be a man she liked, yet she was throwing flirty glances his way.

“Is this a jealousy tactic?”

Some women occasionally resort to that.

If they can’t appeal to the person they like, they pretend to change their mind and use another man.

Perhaps throwing these trivial flirty gestures at him was for a similar reason.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m still new to public office, so I’m struggling to adjust.”

Yohan smiled slightly.

He had just drawn a line not as a man and woman, but as senior and junior.

“Hmm.”

Violet subtly furrowed her brow before regaining her seductive smile.

“Okay, that’s not bad.”

Then she chuckled lightly and continued speaking.

“Since you’re the main guest of the party, I shouldn’t hold you back. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

Violet shrugged her shoulders and passed by Yohan.

Without looking back, she turned her gaze back to Yohan, thinking,
“No matter how I look at it, he’s the best.”

He didn’t easily fall for flattery, had decent conversational skills, and was quite good-looking.

“Hmm, this will be fun.”

In an instant, her plan was set, and she smiled as she walked towards where others had gathered.

In a corner of the party venue, Francia was watching Yohan intently while biting her nails.

“Violet Latalen.”

She had approached Yohan and engaged in various forms of physical contact before leaving gracefully.

Although she knew he wouldn’t fall for such advances,

“How dare she approach my man.”

It was a problem that she had touched Yohan’s chest, where she should have buried her face.

Moreover, it wasn’t just Violet Ratalen who was approaching him.

“Seriously, this is infuriating.”

Women officials from the second public office were sticking close, subtly touching Yohan’s chest, placing their hands on his shoulders, and getting close enough for their breaths to mingle.

Some wore fox-like smirks as they tempted Yohan, while others wore clothes that revealed too much of their figures, trying to attract his gaze.

Yohan, half-drunk with his eyes slightly dazed, interacted with them, allowing contact at times due to his hazy state of mind.

The women officials, seemingly delighted by his lack of resistance, giggled as they touched his body and threw trivial advances at him.

It was a situation that could only make her furious.

“I can’t let this continue.”

Just as she was about to stand up to shake off the other women’s scents that clung to Yohan,

“There you are, Princess Ferbache.”

Crown Prince Fedelian Rogino approached her.

Unlike usual, he swept his flowing blonde hair back and held a glass of wine in one hand.

“I’m not Princess Ferbache, but a Ferbache elite magician.”

“Haha, there’s no need to be so stiff even in a party like this.”

Fedelian shrugged his shoulders and naturally sat down next to Francia.

“By the way, who have you been watching so intently?”

“That’s not a matter for the Director to concern himself with.”

“Hmm.”

She appeared highly guarded, almost spiky.

Fedelian casually glanced at the table.

Even though she had drunk quite a bit, her attitude towards him hadn’t changed.

“Well, if I follow the direction of your gaze, I’ll know who you’re looking at.”

He turned to the direction where Francia was looking.

A man with a brilliantly shining appearance was surrounded by other female officials, chatting animatedly.

“Oh?”

Fedelian narrowed his eyes.

It was Yohan Harssen, the elite magician who had just entered.

“His face is perfect, yet he’s of low nobility. Indeed, it’s understandable. The female officials are quite interested in the new arrival.”

A third son of a viscount could easily be played with and discarded without any issue.

Even if he spent a night of forbidden pleasure, they could simply make him sign a nondisclosure agreement.

Of course, the first experience of a visible woman should be preserved as much as possible.

But most of the lower-ranking female officials entering this place were those abandoned by their families.

In any case, it didn’t matter since they would end up marrying a suitable third son from a count’s family.

Of course, even though he was merely a third son of a viscount, the title of elite magician made things a bit complicated.

Fedelian asked,
“Are you also interested in that new guy?”

“None of your business.”

“I didn’t think you were interested in his looks.”

A deeper smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re the one who rejected me, after all.”

Francia’s brow twitched at that.

“What a disgusting man.”

Did he think he was handsome? Compared to Yohan, he was as good as a pumpkin, and his self-awareness was anything but ordinary.

“It’s a rare party, how about sharing a drink together?”

Fedelian smiled brightly as he offered a glass to Francia.

“I can’t.”

“Haha, another refusal.”

Despite the stubborn refusal, Fedelian simply smiled and brushed it off.

“Well, if you…”

“You were here, Francia.”

Fedelian turned his head in surprise toward the man who casually called Francia’s name.

It was the new recruit, Yohan Harssen.

“Oh, Yohan!”

Francia’s face, which had been gloomy, suddenly brightened.

She sprang to her feet and walked over to Yohan.

“Have you finished your conversation?”

“Yes. Everyone seems to be nice.”

Yohan lightly smiled and turned his head to look at Fedelian.

“Nice to meet you, Captain. I am Yohan Harssen, who will be taking the advanced wizard exam this time.”

Fedelian was somewhat taken aback but managed to maintain a pleasant smile.

“So, you are the new advanced wizard, Yohan Harssen. Nice to meet you. I am Fedelian Rogino, the captain of the Second Imperial Officials.”

As Fedelian extended his hand, Yohan smiled silently and shook it.

Squeezed.

A strangely tense handshake.

Although his mouth was smiling, his eyes were icy cold.

Fedelian could sense Yohan’s intentions.

‘Is he saying not to touch what’s his?’

It was then that he began to understand why Francia had been so adamant in her refusals.

‘I didn’t know she had a man.’

‘It was an unexpected truth, but so what? He could just take her away.’

If it came to it, he could deal with this Yohan Harssen quietly and without a sound.

Although he had the title of advanced wizard, what did it matter? He was still just an apprentice.

It would be troublesome later, but at least not at this moment.

‘What kind of guts does he have to provoke me?’

Fedelian grinned.

“You both seem close, so I’ll step aside. You can chat.”

“Thank you.”

Yohan Harssen nodded politely and offered his greeting.

Fedelian lightly smiled and got up to move away.

‘I guess I need to change my plans a bit.’

Earlier, when he saw the honey-dripping gaze of Princess Ferbache, he was sure of it.

If he didn’t deal with this Yohan Harssen, it would significantly hinder his chances of winning her over.

So, he decided to change his original plan and assassinate him during the next reconnaissance mission to the magic dungeon.

‘No problems. The magic users have been recruited, and in a few days, we’ll have no choice but to go on the reconnaissance mission.’

He had never expected Francia to have a man, but Fedelian’s face was full of confidence.

“What are you thinking?”

Francia asked, her face full of concern.

“I could have just let it slide. Yohan might get into trouble.”

“What trouble could there be? He’ll become an advanced wizard soon anyway.”

However, that man is someone who could betray the country—” that’s when

“Betray the country?”

“No, no.”

Francia hurriedly interrupted.

“I must have mistaken the dream I had today for reality. Haha. It’s nothing.”

“… A strange dream.”

Yohan found her words somewhat odd, but he didn’t think much of it since Francia occasionally spoke nonsense.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry about this matter. I have my own thoughts.”

The reason Yohan took such a great risk to provoke the Crown Prince Fedelian.

‘I need to draw attention to myself.’

Once the reconnaissance mission began, he would have to meet Cassis.

At that point, Francia would likely get caught in between them.

Rather than that, it was better for Yohan to shoulder the burden.

His handling of the situation would be much cleaner than Francia’s.

‘If I can just divert Cassis’s attention to me during the next reconnaissance mission, it’ll be perfect.’

Facing the power struggle between the two alone was somewhat burdensome, but Yohan didn’t worry at all.

No matter what schemes they tried, he was confident in his strength and ability to handle it.

He wouldn’t deny that using alcohol and somewhat aggressive methods were part of it.

“The future is fine. So please don’t worry. Shall we have a drink together?”

Yohan smiled brightly.

Seeing that smile, Francia could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Alright. If Yohan says so…”

She thought as she clinked glasses.

To ensure that the cursed Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to play tricks, she would use every means at her disposal to help him.

That was the obvious duty of someone who would become a wife, and it was something she was originally supposed to do.

Francia vowed to do everything she could to protect her life with Yohan.

Even if it meant touching the taboos that had shaped her into who she was now.

“For our future.”

Their glasses clinked.

“…By the way, how much have you had to drink today?”

Was it just a glass? Something like that.”

“Huh…?”

Looking at Yohan, whose gaze was hazy with intoxication, Francia smiled slyly.

‘Today might be possible.’

Although she couldn’t say it openly because she felt like a woman revealing herself, Francia wanted to recreate the night she spent with Yohan.

‘Once he becomes a little more disoriented, I should take him to a hotel.’

Accepting a man was something she had only done the last time with Yohan.

But the love they shared that night was so special that it made her forget even the pain of her first experience.

‘…But am I the only one who wants this?’

Both on the first night and now.

It seemed like the image of herself consuming him, but that didn’t matter.

Francia loved Yohan that much.

She was instinctively yearning for him, as if she were addicted to the overwhelming feelings of love filling her heart.