After a few days of avoiding Kyle as if she were trying to test his patience, Noah was surprisingly talkative today. She was such a complicated woman, but somehow there was a charm beneath her eccentricity.
Indeed, people are unpredictable. Until two months ago, Kyle had never dreamed that he would find a woman with the face of Eleonora Asil endearing.
Even when she was simply asking about his tastes or paid attention to his relationships with women, in some way, it made him feel that taking care of her was worthwhile after all. She didnât even suit his taste at all.
Kyle thought he was crazy, but only laughed and bowed to Noah. âNever mind. Itâs not like itâs limited to those anyway. Diligence and cleanliness are certainly a plus, but my taste is pretty flexible. It has been, and it will continue to be.â
Noah blinked several times at his words, turned her head coyly, and grumbled under her breath.
ââ¦I wouldnât want anything more if youâd do anything within my expectations.â Kyle muttered to himself, pressing Noahâs shoulder. In his eyes, a body that was extremely frail fell back on the bed. Then, he covered Noahâs body with a blanket as she struggled to get up.
âItâs time to go to bed. Take care of your classes until I get back. Stop destroying the Magic Departmentâs building.â
Noah, who peeked out of the blanket, muttered something. It seemed to be an indistinct answer, but she quickly blinked and buried her face completely beneath the blanket.
Iâm worried. Kyle felt uncomfortable when he saw Noah wave her hand out of the blanket.
Would it be okay to leave her alone? he pondered. Before he set out, he made a request to the young dragon. ââ¦Mu, keep an eye on your master.â
âYes!â
Muellâs presence reassured his worries. As long as he was with Noah, there wonât be a big problem.
*
Kyleâs worries appeared before him in a slightly different form than he had expected. It was just when he left Eleonoraâs mansion and returned to the Bureau of Investigation and Security. Penelope and Paul were not the only people who were waiting for him.
âPardon?â Kyle, in rare embarrassment, glanced over the papers that had been thrust upon him. Sitting on the sofa of his office, the Investigative Security Minister said strictly.
âItâs a dispatch to the Central Edman branch, Sir Leonard.â
âWhy all of a suddenâ¦â
âThe reason is contained in the document, so read it. If you have any excuse, Iâll hear it.â
The document contained a temporary dispatch order to the Bureau of Investigation and Security in the province of Central Edman. In a nutshell, a temporary dispatch was a temporary demotion. When Kyle flipped a few more papers, he could realize why his dispatch was suddenly ordered.
What was inserted in the middle of the document was a big article with a picture.
The General Manager of the Bureau of Investigation and Security and Laurentâs witch of 16 previous convictions. Love ends years of pursuit?
âTomorrow, itâs for the morning paper. The source said it was an anonymous informant.â
Kyleâs face gradually hardened as he read the article. The minister asked sharply, âThe two people in the picture, thatâs you and Eleonora Asil, right?â
â⦠⦠.â
There was nothing he could deny. The photo was taken inside a warehouse with a subtle orange light. Eleonoraâs apricot hair was dangled and a gold badge symbolizing the Chief of the Bureau of Investigation and Security glistened below. It was not a picture taken by someone else somewhere.
Kyle knew as soon as he saw the photo. The scene was in the middle of a recording of the incidents in the Angelic, which he handed over to Penelope with his own hands. It was a recording when Noah came down to the mana operating room to find himâ¦
He had completely forgotten that Noah was included in the fifteen-hour video. The recording was apparently handed over to Penelope, and since she was in charge of all the editing of the video, Penelope was the only person who could turn the picture over to the newspaper writers.
As Kyle glared at Penelope, who was waiting beside him, as if he was executing her death sentence, she shook her head vigorously. âNot me, Captain!â
Then who is it? Kyleâs grip hardened as he clutched the papers.
âI managed to stop it from being published in the morning paper tomorrow, thanks to the advance notice. You know that if this spreads to the private sector, the Bureau of Investigation and Security will lose face, sir. You might have to take your clothes off if youâre unlucky.â
Kyle was silent.
âBut I believe in you. Even if thereâs only one woman in the world and thatâs Eleonora Asil, you wonât even look at her.â
Kyle couldnât deny nor affirm the ministerâs comment and had no choice but to appear vague. The Minister muttered with a suspicious look, âBut judging by your recent track record, Iâve noticed a marked difference⦠Is there anything you havenât reported to me?â