Kyle flicked the papers irritably, and Paul, who had been observing him, slipped a few words. âCome on, Captain, Iâm asking just in case-â
âIf youâre going to ask useless questions, donât open your mouth.â
Unfazed by his sharp retort, Paul asked firmly. âYouâre not really on that terms with Lady Asil, are you?â
âIf so, then what will you do?â Kyle spat out thoughtlessly, but then saw the dismay of his subordinate and realized he had made a mistake.
âOh, my god, again, the Minister had a visionâ¦â
âDonât return to the capital and talk nonsense, Paul.â
âYou didnât even deny it!â Paulâs voice grew louder. Instead of soothing his subordinateâs shock, Kyle turned his head out of the window. He felt uncomfortable in an instant.
Although the words fell out of his mouth undeliberately, Kyle wasnât sure exactly what the relationship was with him and Noah, too. It was difficult to find the most appropriate term for them. Were they colleagues? Or were they a butler and the master, as Noah always insisted?
âFor now, butlerâs dismissed.â
Well, the caregiver is the servant⦠Kyle pondered. There was still no change in Noahâs hierarchy. Besides, Kyle didnât seem to be in a position of power, given that he cared too much about Noah and was swayed by a mere word from her.
Was it natural to be anxious when she was away from him? Even if she was right next to him, everything simply made Kyle anxious.
âDid you sleep well? Did you eat well? Did you have all three meals? Did you meet a tough guy? Or did you trip over a rug?â These were the worries that strained Kyleâs mind. It even seemed he had no time to fret over himself.
While Kyle was lost in thought, Paulâs voice, in shock, rang unceasingly. âWhat on earth did you like about her? You seem to have been a bit calm lately, but until two years ago, you were the first son of a b*tch in Laurent!â
âItâs not Eleonora Asil.â Eventually Kyle had to interrupt Paulâs words and correct them. Paul asked suspiciously back, âNo?â
âYes. Although somehow I got tangled up with Lady Asil, what youâre talking about âin that relationshipâ Iâm talking about somebody elseâ¦â
âWho is she?â
âThere is⦠a lethargic, sloth-like woman.â A woman who was far from diligence and cleanliness, who never listened to a word once she spoke, and who could win a trophy if there were a contest for laziness.
Itâs far from my taste, but why am I pouring my heart out? But at this point, I guess I just have to accept itâ¦
âNow stop asking useless questions. Your attitude toward work is harmful.â Kyle straightened himself, putting an end to their conversation lest numerous questions would follow. The train was gradually slowing down. After a brief stop at Tezebaâs last station, the train would not stop for hours.
âWhat do you mean useless? This is a very important problem. So youâre telling me thereâs someone else youâve been hiding⦠Uh, Captain. What are you doing?â Paul, who was muttering to himself, opened his eyes wide at his superiorâs behavior. âWhy are you taking off your badge? Uhâ¦â
Kyle removed the badge, which symbolized the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Security, off his uniform and threw it at Paul. Then, he took off his uniform jacket completely.
Paul stared at his boss who wore a black coat instead of his usual uniform, blinking blankly. After Kyle had fixed the fedora on his head and the glasses, which Noah had given him before, on the bridge of his nose, he stood up.
At that point, Paul was skeptical. âCaptainâ¦? Youâre not going to do what Iâm thinking, are you?â
âWhat are you thinking?â
âI have a hunch that youâre not going to Central Edman, but youâre going somewhere else in the middle along the wayâ¦â
âExcellent.â
Just in time, the train entered the station. Kyle calmly ordered, unloading his suitcase from the overhead rack. âItâs a secret to the Minister and Vice Minister. If I get caught, Iâll strip you too, so behave yourself.â
âWill this work?â
âIt depends on you.â
âWhere are you going?!â
Instead of answering, Kyle shook the incident log. âNoviscosha Mine Mass Disappearance. Iâll handle this.â
From the time he was advised a demotion by the Minister, Kyle had no intention of going down to Central Edman. Adrian was a fool to dispatch him under the guise of a false scandal, to take Noah and Muell with him.
âCaptain!â
Kyle left the room, turning his back against his subordinateâs mournful cry. Having already checked the timetable, the train for Noviscosha would be two hours later.
If they find out that I disobeyed the Ministerâs orders, Iâm on the verge of being fired this time. Well, someone from somewhere said theyâd give me a new job. Was it a life-long contract for the butler?
Kyle got off the train with a giggle.