Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 57

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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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Episode 57
“Here’s the newcomer you’ve all been waiting for. This is Miss Carolina Diaz.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Carolina Diaz.”
My introduction was brief—I hadn’t fully prepared myself emotionally—but everyone seemed welcoming.
Lucy clapped enthusiastically and set a warm tone for my arrival.
“Lucy you already know, and going clockwise, there’s Bess, Nathan, Sophia, and Derek.”
After Kyle introduced the staff and I exchanged brief greetings with each of them, he made a proposal.
“I’m sorry to put you to work right on your first day, but how about we start with you assisting the other staff members for a while?”
“Of course. I’m looking forward to learning from all of you.”
I’d never expected to be handed important work from the start, so there was no disappointment.
My beginning might be humble, but my end would be glorious.
Kyle smiled warmly at me.
Then he turned to address the staff.
“I’ve brought in a truly exceptional talent, so you can all look forward to great things.”
‘I am exceptional, that part’s true.’
But perhaps not quite as exceptional as all that.
I prefer to keep my strength hidden, after all.
Kyle, however, couldn’t hear my thoughts.
‘What kind of Mental Magic specialist can’t even read minds?’
I grumbled silently to myself.
Whether it was Blue Hawk’s teachings praising modesty, or simply Kyle’s nature, his words continued.
“Especially with Tax Law—I hear she’s memorized every revision since the Kingdom era. Impressive, isn’t it?”
‘Well, I have memorized all of it, true enough.’
But I haven’t mentioned that to anyone lately. I was worried it might break my carefully constructed image.
“How did you know that?”
Caught off guard that Kyle somehow knew something I’d never mentioned, I let slip his name as I usually thought of him—not his formal title.
Fortunately, Kyle didn’t seem to mind.
“Wow, I’ve never met someone who memorized all of that.”
“Right? Wouldn’t it be easier to memorize an entire encyclopedia? That way you’d probably be less confused.”
“Even the Tax Law professors at the Academy didn’t memorize all of it.”
With the other staff members murmuring in agreement, attention was divided anyway.
‘It just stuck in my head naturally as I studied.’
I’d read the material hundreds of times during my years at the Academy.
But I recognized something about myself: my memory was unusually strong.
While I was thinking of an appropriately modest response, Kyle answered my unspoken question first.
“I saw your interview evaluation form.”
“Ah.”
Before I recovered my past-life memories, when I was still naive, I didn’t understand the appeal of hiding one’s strength.
I’d answered the interview questions without even opening the legal reference materials they’d provided for consultation, and when the interviewer expressed surprise that I’d memorized everything, I’d simply nodded in confirmation.
‘So the personnel file was passed along.’
That was more legitimate than I’d suspected.
“I think introductions are settled then. Miss Diaz, would you mind stepping into my office for a moment?”
The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, and as Kyle led me away privately, I lost my chance to demonstrate humility—that would have to wait.
“Of course!”
Kyle’s office was adjacent to the Inspection Department Division 5’s workspace. Once inside, he gestured for me to sit.
‘What’s this about?’
As I sat across from him, wondering, Kyle—as if reading my mind—began to speak while setting down a cup of tea.
“Nothing serious.”
Kyle traced a hand sign in the air, opened a Pocket Dimension, and withdrew a small pouch from it.
“Oh.”
I’d heard that since the Mage Tower refined the incantation for opening Pocket Dimensions, even intermediate mages could use Pocket Dimension Magic now. But this was my first time seeing Kyle actually use magic.
My eyes lit up with interest, and Kyle, who had been about to open the pouch, paused with a laugh.
“I almost feel like I should pull a dove out of this.”
Of course, no dove emerged from the pouch.
“Is this…?”
“Nothing fancy, I’m afraid—just some Artifacts with Protective Magic inscribed on them.”
What emerged from the pouch were Artifacts beautiful enough to be called jewelry.
Kyle arranged them neatly so I could see them clearly, then explained.
“Our work isn’t entirely without danger, so we issue Artifacts as a precaution. Would you like to choose one?”
“Me?”
Though Kyle spoke casually, the light reflected off the office’s magic lamps dancing across these items was anything but ordinary.
‘These look like they’re set with seriously expensive gems.’
The higher the grade of the gem, the more advanced magic it could hold.
An Artifact’s value typically correlated with the quality of its materials.
‘I’d believe it if you told me you’d emptied the Emperor’s Treasury.’
Seeing my hesitation, Kyle pressed further.
“Don’t worry about it. Everyone on staff has an Artifact. And these are all at a level where it’s fine if you damage them through use.”
Kyle’s calm tone was reassuring.
“If you’re really uncomfortable, you can return them when you resign.”
The playful way he said it eased my suspicion.
“But I thought the contract was permanent?”
“Exactly. So I’d really prefer not to take them back. I’d be grateful if you’d use them well.”
‘Could these actually be defective?’
I remembered hearing that sometimes Artifacts fail during production, resulting in inferior power at drastically reduced prices.
“You’re really sure I can damage them?”
“Of course.”
After confirming once more, I chose a Bracelet with Shield Magic inscribed on it while Kyle explained.
‘If they’re truly valuable, I’d feel burdened carrying them around.’
It was the only one with a plain appearance among Artifacts beautiful enough to deserve a place in a noblewoman’s jewelry box.
‘It doesn’t look like silver or platinum.’
It was a ring-shaped Bracelet made of a mineral with a faint bluish tint.
‘Usually when a mineral has a different color, it means there’s an Impurity mixed in, which lowers its value. This one probably qualifies.’
By the conventional wisdom that an Artifact’s worth increased with the rarity of its gems, this seemed to be the lowest-value piece Kyle had brought.
‘It has useful Shield Magic on it, and it looks subdued enough that I can wear it daily without standing out.’
“You have a good eye.”
Kyle seemed satisfied with my choice, nodding approvingly as if I’d made an excellent selection.
“But wouldn’t Shield Magic alone be a bit limited?”
Like a generous shopkeeper, Kyle pressed another Artifact on me.
In the end, I accepted a Necklace inscribed with Short-distance Movement Magic.
‘I thought he said everyone got one Artifact each.’
The thought nagged at me too late, after I’d already accepted both.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
I thanked Kyle, deciding lightly that he’d probably given them to me because he had extras.
“I should be thanking you.”
An oddly grateful thanks came back in return.
‘The tea’s gotten cold.’
Before standing, I took a sip of the cool tea Kyle had offered.
It would be rude to refuse refreshment without tasting it.
‘Peppermint, then.’
I’d felt tense from the change in environment, but sipping the cool peppermint tea settled my stomach and lifted my spirits considerably.
“Does the Earl still have his coffee ban?”
I asked lightly, remembering a conversation I’d overheard at the Cafe, and Kyle made a disgruntled face.
“Yes, actually it was lifted briefly, but then he started developing new products and got banned again.”
Since coffee was still novel, having recently arrived from the South Continent, the Empire’s cafes tended to focus on perfecting their brewing techniques.
But like a mage developing magical remedies through various combinations, Kyle seemed to be attempting all sorts of new experiments.
“Have you made any progress?”
While I finished my tea, I asked—thinking conversation better than sitting in silence—and Kyle launched into an enthusiastic explanation.
His energy was noticeably higher than when discussing the Artifacts.
‘Is the Cafe not just a side business?’
Kyle listed off the various methods he’d attempted.
Most were remarkably innovative, though a handful were techniques I’d heard of in my previous world.

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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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