Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 53

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 53
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I’d waited about four days, organizing my workload.
Kyle had sent someone just as he’d promised before.
To my superior, Arnold.
While I was quietly preparing the Transfer Document in secret, Arnold suddenly called me in and told me I was being dispatched to the Inspection Unit.
“Excuse me? The Inspection Unit? All of a sudden?”
I couldn’t mention my planned job change, and my bewilderment must have shown, because Arnold apologized and said it was an order from above.
“When His Majesty returned, their workload exploded. There’s no time to hire and train new people, so apparently someone upstairs asked if we could redeploy personnel from other departments. We tried to argue that we’re short-staffed ourselves… but that’s how it turned out.”
Soft-spoken Arnold rarely raised his voice like this.
He spoke louder, as if directing his words at the woman from the Inspection Unit who’d brought the Dispatch request.
“Work is piling up, and we urgently need people who can handle the actual duties.”
Of course, it fell on deaf ears.
‘But still…’
I glanced sideways at Lucy, the Inspection Unit employee, who was wearing what looked like a carelessly drawn smile.
‘What is this place, a charity handing out paychecks for lounging around?’
During the eight years the master of the Empire had been absent, the number of new hires in Imperial Palace administrative exams had shrunk every year.
They’d been cautious about letting new people into a masterless house.
‘Rather than going through the headache of picking out spies who’d infiltrated beforehand, it made more sense not to give them the chance in the first place.’
So this department hadn’t been able to recruit new staff either, meaning the existing people were being ground down just the same.
Even if I was planning to leave, my arm was being twisted—it felt like too much.
‘Just how busy can you possibly be?’
While I was staring intently, my eyes met Lucy’s.
I thought an awkward moment might unfold, but Lucy just smiled even more brightly and winked at me.
‘Is she magnesium deficient?’
Taking Lucy’s wink as a sign of mineral deficiency, she slightly turned her body and mouthed something at me.
‘S. I. M. O. U. R.’
Huh?
Oh!
Seymour was Kyle’s last name.
Then it clicked. So this was what Kyle had been talking about.
‘If it was going to be done this way, you could’ve at least given me a heads-up.’
I’d nearly gotten my pride hurt thinking I’d gotten caught in some interdepartmental turf war.
I stopped glaring at Lucy after that.
Meanwhile, as my gaze had been fixed on Lucy the whole time, Arnold seemed to take it as silent protest.
He clearly misunderstood it as resentment toward Lucy, whom he felt intimidated by and couldn’t confront directly.
Arnold added that I shouldn’t be too upset since a few other employees were also being dispatched.
“Think of it as taking a break. Don’t be too disappointed.”
His tone carried a hint of guilt.
‘Though whether I come back from that break is another question.’
I felt a bit of a pang at that, honestly.
When I flinched, Lucy winked again and made a sad face.
After apparently picking up on the situation, her expression relaxed in sympathy with mine.
I took the cue and accepted the dispatch with a reluctant expression.
“So when does the dispatch period start? You’ll give me time to finish my current work, won’t you?”
Fortunately, since I’d been irritated just moments before, the grumbling tone came out quite naturally.
“The official dispatch begins next week. Since we’ve come this far, I thought I’d briefly explain what your work will entail going forward.”
Lucy, who apparently counted acting among the requirements for joining the Blue Hawk, maintained a patient demeanor toward both Arnold and me throughout.
After the paperwork formalities were completed as if we’d rehearsed it all together with Arnold between us, Lucy made a convenient excuse and pulled me aside separately.
Since I was curious about how things would unfold, I quietly followed Lucy.
I maintained an expression of mixed emotion—some anger, some wounded pride, and a failed attempt at acting it all, which made me look like I had a toothache.
Lucy led the way naturally, like someone who’d been to the Ministry of Finance several times, and entered an empty conference room.
Lucy offered her hand as if for a handshake.
“I’m worried my first impression wasn’t great, but I’m hopeful I’ll get a chance to make up for it. I’m Lucy Haines.”
I clasped her offered hand and greeted her in return.
“I’m Carolina Diaz. Pleased to meet you, Lucy.”
“Nice to meet you. You can call me Lucy.”
Lucy winked at me again.
It didn’t seem to be a sign of mineral deficiency—just a habit.
“Sure. Lucy. And please call me Lina.”
Once we’d exchanged names, Lucy began her explanation.
“I came straight from work, so I don’t have much time to spare. Let me give you the essentials now, and I’ll fill in the details later at a slower pace. First, you’ll be assigned to Division Five of the Inspection Unit with me. It’s where cases that seem like they’ll take a long time or special matters are handled.”
Lucy’s words came quick—evidently the busyness was real.
It was similar in speed to listening to an online lecture at 1.7x.
“Well, that’s what we tell people externally. It’s actually one of the Blue Hawk’s cover posts.”
Still, her pronunciation was clear and her voice distinct, so it was easy to follow.
“In your case, since you were originally assigned to the Imperial Palace, we took the dispatch form to extract you naturally.”
The truth behind the sudden, bewildering dispatch was revealed.
“Arnold mentioned that a few other employees are also scheduled for dispatch. Are they agents too?”
“No, those are genuine dispatches. It was convenient for us.”
Lucy shrugged.
“If we’d just asked for you alone, it would’ve looked suspicious. So we sent over the qualifications that would make you a natural candidate for dispatch, and requested everyone who met those criteria. The Inspection Unit really is on the verge of working itself to death.”
“Ah, I see.”
So you took care of your own agenda while you were at it.
The staff shortages caused by interdepartmental competition were actually quite real.
Lucy quickly added something before things got rocky between me and my new assignment.
“We have our reasons. There might be ears listening, so I can’t go into detail here, but there was an incident in our internal ranks, and quite a few staff members… well, let’s say they’re gone.”
Whether they were dead or just fired, I decided not to think too carefully about it for my own peace of mind.
“With personnel suddenly reduced and cleanup work on our hands, we requested dispatch. The Inspection Unit prefers to hire new people and train them properly unless a situation calls for it.”
‘Makes sense—once you’ve gotten people trained and coordinated, it’s disappointing to have them leave right away.’
When Lucy mentioned that once the internal matter was resolved, she’d seek cooperation again, I set aside my earlier resolve to contribute to the life expectancy of the Inspection Unit staff.
‘That’s reason enough to request dispatch even without me.’
Seeing that I’d accepted the explanation, Lucy’s expression brightened again.
“I covered a lot that wasn’t immediately pressing, but I think I hit all the important points.”
Lucy glanced at the time and asked if I had any other questions.
“No, nothing major.”
Since this was a job with a separate purpose, and that purpose was already fulfilled, I figured the rest would work itself out.
“Good. Ask whenever something comes to mind. See you next week then.”
After Lucy left and I returned to the office, the atmosphere was tense.
Even people who didn’t get along with me seemed to think this dispatch was unfair.
‘The Inspection Unit staff’s life expectancy just increased by about 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.’
I privately hoped their internal cleanup would wrap up quickly so I could eventually explain the full situation.
With a deadline now set, I finished what was left undone and handed over my work to those who’d be taking it on, and time flew by.
The official start date of the dispatch arrived.
With a tip-off from me beforehand, Coni—who knew there was more to this dispatch—sent me encouragement as I headed to the Inner Palace where the Inspection Unit was located.
The security guards in the Inner Palace were several times more alert than those at the Outer Palace, and I had to have my Identity Badge checked twice before I could pass through.
‘Wow, they made the Fountain out of gold?’
The Inner Palace, which I was seeing for the first time, was dazzling.
Trying not to be too obvious about gawking, I kept my head still and scanned the surroundings with just my eyes when I spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
Tall frame, broad shoulders—and black hair befitting a knight.
It was Everett.
‘So Everett works in the Inner Palace too.’
The Emperor’s adjutants were all part of the Imperial Guard.
I nodded to myself.
‘Perfect.’
We were both busy and didn’t see each other often, but working in the same space meant we might run into each other occasionally.
Smiling brightly like I’d just received an unexpected gift, I quickly approached Everett.
Once I was close enough that he’d hear me, I called out to him in a cheerful voice.
“Everett?”
But then something felt wrong, and I stopped.
My voice faltered slightly as I’d called out so warmly.
The man turned around, apparently sensing my presence.
“Yes?”
“Oh?”
It wasn’t Everett.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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