kscans

Chapter 1 - An Elegant Life of Tea and Summons

"Time for a break!"

Litt declared, tossing his quill pen aside.

"There are still one hundred and eighty-six invitations remaining, Lord Litt,"

Touli stated flatly to his master, who was slumped gracelessly in his chair.

"Didn't we just have a break?"

Not even an hour had passed since they'd finished their elevenses tea.

"That was then. This is now,"

Litt retorted with flawed logic as he stood up from his chair.

"Ah, it's as if an iron snake is coiled around my hand."

He flexed his right wrist, pacing around the office. His long, braided brown hair swayed behind him like a tail, following his every move. Touli sighed.

"Lord Litt. It would be the height of dishonor for the invitations to a night party hosted by the Royal Family to be delayed."

"Like I care."

"You're a Court Secretary!"

"I was perfectly content as a scrivener in the middle of nowhere."

"That was then, this is now. Get to work!"

Touli placed a stack of paper on the desk. Each sheet was bordered with a design of gold ivy topped by a crown—the Royal Family's special letter paper.

"Having such a capable young attendant makes me a happy man indeed. What an elegant life."

With a dry chuckle, Litt glanced out the window. Two thin wisps of cloud, as if combed by a brush, streaked across the early summer sky. The royal flag fluttered over the magnificent, white stone Royal Castle.

"Very well, we'll call it a short break until the ink dries."

Touli pulled out his pocket watch and dutifully checked the time.

"Ah, right. You can do as you please, too."

"As you wish."

Touli cleared the cup and saucer from the desk. He poured some tea, which had been kept warm in the fireplace embers, and handed it to Litt, who was standing by the window.

"Here you go."

"Mm. Thanks."

Long, slender fingers for a grown man accepted the cup and saucer. There wasn't a single ink stain on the hand that had been gripping the quill pen.

"That's the Court Secretary in you, I suppose."

"What are you talking about?"

Litt's jade eyes blinked. "Nothing,"

Touli deflected.

"Are you still avoiding iced tea because getting an upset stomach would interfere with writing the invitations?"

Slurp. Litt took a sip of the lukewarm tea.

"Well, yeah. If I miss the d-e-a-d-l-i-n-e, it'll cause trouble for a lot of people."

"If you truly believe that, you should get back to it immediately."

"We still have plenty of time before the deadline for the night party invitations, don't we? Haste makes waste."

"A fair point. However, Lord Litt, you still have one hundred and eighty-six to go."

"Ah, it seems windy today. We should be careful the papers don't blow away, yes, let's do that."

Ignoring Touli's upward gaze, Litt escaped reality by staring out the window.

'—Hmph, who goes there?!'

'Hahaha. It's a shame to give my name to a villain, but consider it a parting gift to the next world. I shall tell you.' The masked knight swept his white mantle aside.

'My name is Leon Lanlot Virtus!'

'What! You have a Secret Name (Virtus)?!'

'That's right. An honorary name bestowed upon me by the King. And the name of the one who shall bring you to justice!'

"Is that 'The Snow-White Knight's Tale'?"

Touli jumped out of his chair at the voice behind him.

"Hey, Lord Litt! Please don't sneak up on me like that!"

For a civilian official, he was strangely skilled in martial arts, which was bad for the heart.

"Is it any good?"

Litt leaned his arms on the back of Touli's chair, peering at the open page. It was a duel scene between the protagonist, the Snow-White Knight, and a villain. The facing page featured a black-ink illustration of the two knights.

"You don't know? It's incredibly popular."

"What's so popular about it?"

Touli's eyes instantly lit up.

"The Snow-White Knight is strong and has a great sense of justice, he's so cool! He's actually the former king's son, but he hides that fact and serves the current king with such loyalty. And the current king actually knows everything, which is why he trusts the Snow-White Knight's loyalty and gave him a Secret Name (Virtus)! And they have their own secret gestures and codes!"

Touli let out a long breath.

"Man, what an amazing relationship of trust. And he has a Secret Name (Virtus)... so cool."

"Hmm. Well then, Touli, why don't you become a knight? Perform some great military deed and receive an honorary Secret Name (Virtus) from the king?"

"Do you really think I could do that?"

"Running away before you even try is the coward's first move."

"I'm just being aware of my station. Besides, if I weren't here, who would light a fire under you, Lord Litt?"

"I suppose no one knows the carrot and the stick quite like you do."

"Do you not read stories, Lord Litt?"

"Not really."

A faint look came over Litt's jade eyes as they narrowed.

"In the end, this world is just a pipe dream. Lies are truth, and truth is a lie. Everyone is just a shadow, playing the role they've been given. That's enough for me."

"I don't really understand."

"That's fine."

Litt patted Touli's head. To hide his mixture of embarrassment and happiness, Touli pulled out his pocket watch.

"Alright, break's over."

"Yes, sir."

"You're the master, aren't you?"

"And where in the world would you find an attendant who calls his master 'you'?"

"Right here."

Touli placed a bookmark in his book. He stood up and returned "The Snow-White Knight's Tale"

to the bookshelf. Litt rolled his shoulders and sat down at his desk, picking up a sheet of the Royal Family's letter paper.

"...And where in the world is there a master who allows himself to be called 'you'?"

"Hm?"

Litt opened the lid of the inkwell and grinned.

"Right here."

"I see."

"You ask and then act so indifferent."

"Yes, well."

Touli pointed to the guest list on the desk.

"Next up is the Connes Family. It's addressed to the young lady, Lady Lilia."

"Hmm. The king is being quite generous."

Unable to grasp his meaning, Touli furrowed his brow.

"The Connes Family went bust three years ago."

"Please don't turn a noun into a verb."

Litt snorted at Touli's complaint and dipped the tip of his quill pen into the ink.

"They're not a suitable house for the princes' consorts. What could he be thinking?"

When you talked about night parties, the main purpose was finding a marriage partner. A drama of love and hate, a struggle for power, all played out by lavishly dressed nobles.

"Well, they weren't a powerful noble family to begin with. And they didn't have a Secret Name (Virtus) like you admire so much."

"Is that so?"

After tapping the excess ink on the rim of the well, Litt lowered the pen to the paper.

The letters flowed with ease.

Elegant and magnificent. The quill pen danced as if painting a picture. It was fast. Without hesitation or spelling mistakes, he formed the words. The shading of the black ink, the masterful variation between thick and thin lines... even someone illiterate would sigh at the beauty of his handwriting.

Touli watched his master in silence. Through his common brown hair, his jade eyes were visible, now fixed on the paper with a sharp light. Such concentration. When he held a pen in silence, he exuded the resolute dignity of a royal.

"There. That should do it."

Litt set down the quill pen.

Touli handed him a sheet of spoiled paper—one from another secretary. After letting it absorb the excess ink, Litt held up the Connes family's invitation, checking the overall balance of the script.

"Man, it's a relief when there's no Secret Name (Virtus) or abbreviated name to write."

"...Because it means less writing?"

"Yep. Why do the great and powerful have to make their names so long? The royals are royals, yet their names are short."

"You'll be thrown in jail for treason."

"Not having to work sounds like heaven."

Touli's eyes narrowed into a glare.

"He who does not work, neither shall he eat. What will you do if you get your head chopped off?"

"Hahaha. The words of the youth are so grim these days."

Litt laughed with genuine amusement and wrote the scrivener's name on the invitation with a golden quill pen.

"Just make sure you write me a letter of recommendation to the Knight Order before you're executed. You were a good man."

"Hey now, Touli. Don't go killing off your master prematurely."

"Then work, please."

Taking the completed invitation, Touli read from the list.

"Next is the Viscount family, Rufado..."

Knock, knock. A rap on the door.

"Come in."

Touli went to the door and opened it. A young attendant holding a letter box bowed.

"Pardon the intrusion. For Lord Litt Liton, from His Highness."

"Ah. Thank you."

Litt responded with a pleasant, public-facing smile. Touli took the letter and closed the door. The two of them listened as the young attendant's footsteps faded away. They grew distant, then vanished.

"What did you do?!"

Touli shouted, handing over the letter.

"How should I know?! I haven't done anything!"

"The timing is too perfect!"

"Gah, don't panic! Which Highness is it?"

Litt broke the wax seal. He unfolded the letter to find a single, concise sentence written on it.

—Come to the Hall of Crests if you're free.

"I'm not free!"

Leaping from his chair, Litt slammed the letter onto the desk.

"Hey, that's treason!"

"Hah! I'd rather not serve a master with so little magnanimity as to punish me for something like this."

"My future is on the line, too!"

"Agh, quiet, quiet! Let's go, Touli."

He snatched the mantle that was hanging on his chair and draped it over his shoulders, fastening it with a golden brooch of three white feathers.

"Wait for me!"

Touli scrambled to follow his master, who was already striding out of the room.