CHAPTER 36: CLAWS, JEALOUSY AND DECEIT, PART I

Shion sat alone in his office. The ruler let out a deep sigh.

He wanted to be with Haru and the children now, but he couldn’t spend as much time with them as he wanted. He was glad the little ones were growing healthy, safe, and happy.

Above all, free from suffering. He wanted to share in that joy with them.

Unfortunately, with so many tasks waiting for him right after returning, he only saw Haru a few times a day. Haru, together with Maldie, took care of the children; sometimes, as queen, she received certain petitioners – usually townspeople asking for help resolving disputes. Officials and foreign envoys were left to Shion.

Meanwhile, Shion had a ton of unanswered correspondence and messages from neighboring countries now bordering the Hoshigane Kingdom after absorbing Tora.

Last night Shion had sent a few servants out to post a notice: the ruler was looking for a secretary.

Not because Shion couldn’t handle his work, but because he wanted to save time to spend more of it with Haru.

Will I be able to raise my children? I don’t want the servants to do most of it for me, but... I have no choice. I’m sorry, Haru, I hope I won’t fail as a father of our children...

At that moment a sweet, fruity scent slipped into the room.

Shion felt a sudden, sharp pain in his head that faded after a moment.

"H-Haru?" he asked uncertainly.

"Unfortunately not! Looks like we’re using similar perfume," came a high, cute voice.

The person who entered his office was Hayate. He’d swapped the colors of his hair and eyes and changed his figure a bit. His thighs looked slightly more shapely. By magic he’d also hidden his draconic parts, so he was wearing different pants without the tail hole.

"Greetings, King!" he said, grinning ear to ear. "I came to answer the notice! I’m Haya. I have no formal education, but I’m self-taught with outstanding abilities. I know forty-five languages, five of them extinct! I also know court etiquette from different cultures, and I can read and write."

Shion gave him a surprised, slightly suspicious look.

"A normal person couldn’t manage that even after a million years of study. If you really can do what you claim, I’ll hire you immediately."

Well, the fact that I’ve existed since the world began helped a bit, heh, Hayate thought.

"Of course! I’m not lying. I must say, you have nice staff here, My Lord, thanks to them I had no trouble finding your office."

"I’m glad you did. You certainly have an interesting personality."

"Yesss! I’m cheerful and sweet; I can make your work more pleasant in so many ways!" he said, winking and flashing a flirtatious smile.

Normally in such situations Shion would snap back a sharp, ruthless retort, kick the annoying flirt out of the palace, and slam the door. But this time the king only sighed in irritation and ignored Hayate’s words.

He has a very strong will, but my pheromones and seductive aura are starting to affect him. Slowly breaking that solid wall. I’m impressed by how loyal he is to his partner.

Shion silently handed him one of the papers, a message in a foreign language from an official of a neighboring state.

"Translate this and write an appropriate reply in both languages. I’ll judge your skills on that basis."

"Huh? Just like that? No further interview?"

"I don’t need to get to know you better, Haya. I need a professional with wide knowledge who’ll shorten my working hours," Shion said with emotional distance. "The rest doesn’t matter. Treat this as an entrance test." He reached into a drawer, pulled out a small hourglass, and set it on the desk. "When the sand runs out four times, your test is over. Good luck." Then he focused on his work in silence.

Hayate looked at the paper he’d been handed.

Heh, nothing easier. This is my native language. First I’ll write the reply, then I’ll translate it into the official dialect of the Hoshigane Kingdom.

I’m really lucky. Looks like the world wants my offspring, hehe.

Don’t worry, Shion. I’ll be the most helpful and sexiest secretary you could ever dream of, soon you won’t be able to resist me!

Hayate finished the task in one and a half turns of the hourglass. Full of self-pride, he handed the result to Shion.

"Are you sure you don’t want to make any edits?" the ruler asked, surprised.

"No. I did it perfectly, heh."

Shion read Hayate’s answer carefully.

"The content is flawless, but the form leaves something to be desired. Your handwriting looks like a chicken scratched it," he assessed.

"That’s because I focused on showing you quickly what I can do so you’d trust me! Don’t be so harsh on me, My Lord!" Hayate said, and when Shion looked at him, he gave him a look like a scolded puppy.

Shion’s face remained unmoved. He didn’t want to admit to himself that the look had any effect on him.

"Well, we can work on that. Anyway, I can’t pass up someone who can produce such a polished and artful reply in record time."

"S-so I’m h-hired?" Hayate asked hopefully.

"Yes," Shion replied. "As it happens, one of our rooms has just been vacated – one of the maids decided to move back home. I’ll show you where it is."

Then a second scent of sweet fruit drifted into the room. Shion was now sure it was Haru, but his scent seemed dull and faint compared to Haya’s. Shion grew angry at himself for even thinking that.

"My love," Haru said as he entered Shion’s office, "a delegation from a country called Qianlun has arrived. They have Ayame with them, they said they rescued her..." Haru glanced at Haya. "And who is this?"

"My new assistant. I’m hiring him so I can spend more time with you and our children. But that’s not important right now." Shion rose from his chair. "Lead me to the throne hall," he said, taking Haru’s arm.

"My lord, what about me?" Hayate asked sweetly. Haru shot him a suspicious, irritated look, sensing the flirtatious challenge in his tone.

"Stay here and work. If you write a few replies while we’re gone, you’ll help me a lot. Show diligence and you’ll be well paid," Shion said as he left.

The royal couple vanished behind the doors.

Hayate sighed as if it were a bother. Once they were gone, he smiled demonically.

Doing this job for him will be a piece of cake. I’ll finish everything so quickly and so perfectly that Shion will be so impressed he’ll fall at my feet! Then I’ll seduce him and take him away from Haru. His true potential is being wasted on him.

You’ll be mine, Shion.

And only mine.