Christina sensed something was wrong around the time the early morning meeting ended. 'Huh? What's wrong with the Minister?' Outwardly, the Minister looked the same as usual. All he did was silently get up as soon as the meeting ended and return to the Minister's Office with Celine. However, Christina noticed his steps had become subtly heavier. 'Looks like the others don't know.' Not only the Intelligence Department staff and agents, but even the Owls and Celine hadn't noticed anything wrong with the Minister. It couldn't be helped. It wasn't that they were indifferent to the Minister. Celine was always just as concerned about the Minister as Christina was. The Owls, too, were as sensitive to changes in others as Christina. However, Christina possessed both of these traits. She always kept her eyes on the Minister, paying close attention, and as a top-class assassin, she was extremely sensitive to changes in others. That's why only she could notice. That something was wrong with the Minister. 'I don't have a mission today anyway......' Hiding naturally in the shadows so no one would notice, Christina followed the Minister. Normally, she would have gone directly to the Minister and pestered him to let her act as his escort, but strangely, she felt she shouldn't do that today. Thus, hiding herself on the ceiling of the Minister's Office, Christina quietly observed the Minister as he resumed his work. 'I've thought this before, but this workload is truly abnormal.' The Minister was quickly sorting through the mountain-like pile of reports and documents. He stamped the documents that were useful or needed to be passed on to subordinates in later meetings, while setting aside those deemed unnecessary. What was surprising was that the Minister was accurately sorting all those documents without even properly reading them. 'It's like he already knew what reports would come up.' Thanks to this, the mountain of documents quickly dwindled, but that wasn't the Minister's only work. 'Wow, were there always this many people visiting the Minister's Office?' Starting with Francesca of the Royal Guard, all sorts of people, including the Imperial Chancellor and the Imperial Army Grand General, came seeking Erwin's wisdom. Chancellor Eriksen seemed to have come more to sound him out than to borrow wisdom, and Francesca seemed to have just dropped by using work as an excuse because she wanted to see him, but anyway. Furthermore, he didn't forget to go to the Imperial Palace at the precisely scheduled time to report important matters to the Emperor. 'No, I knew the Minister was busy, but this is a bit......' Though she hated to admit it, despite Celine helping him immensely by his side, the Minister's work showed no signs of ending. Then, it was when the Minister returned to the Intelligence Department from the Imperial Palace. Perhaps having gone to the archive, Celine happened to be away, and confirming that no one was in the Minister's Office, the Minister went to his seat and stared blankly into the air. At first, she thought he was just taking a short break, but Christina soon realized that wasn't it. 'Uh, Minister?!' The Minister's body was trembling like an aspen leaf. Cold sweat poured down his entire body. His tightly clenched fists caused his nails to dig into his palms, drawing blood. Just as his face seemed drained of color, his eyes became bloodshot as if they would burst. So shocked, she froze for a moment, and just as Christina belatedly tried to descend. Footsteps approached the Minister's Office. The Minister stopped trembling. It was clear he hadn't stopped by his own will, but had forcibly stopped himself by overexerting. Hastily wiping the sweat from his face and the blood from his palms with a handkerchief, the Minister feigned the appearance of casually reviewing documents. Immediately after, Celine opened the door and entered the Minister's Office. "You're already back from the Imperial Palace?"
"Mm." Seeing Celine converse casually with the Minister left Christina dumbfounded. 'Did you not notice?! He's pushing himself! Anyone can see the Minister is pushing himself right now!' No, that wasn't it. A third party, even those close to the Minister, would find it difficult to notice anything wrong with the Minister right now. That's how thoroughly the Minister was hiding his physical condition. But Christina felt like she would go crazy from frustration. 'His pupils are shaking? Sweat he couldn't wipe away is soaking his shirt? His hands are trembling and his breathing is rough too! Why do you not see it?!' Normally, one wouldn't know. Even a doctor probably wouldn't notice without a detailed examination. The Minister's abnormality was manifesting that subtly. 'Celine, you...!' Struggling not to reveal her killing intent, Christina glared murderously at Celine. 'You spend even more time with the Minister than I do! You're always sticking right by his side! You're the one most favored by the Minister!' She couldn't bear the resentment, anger, jealousy, and hatred. Why couldn't she notice? Why didn't she know? She couldn't understand, nor did she want to. As Christina swallowed her anger, time passed, and it became time for the Minister to return home. The Minister maintained his composure until he entered his house and the door closed. After returning home, he couldn't even take a few steps before collapsing onto the floor. "Minister!" Leaping out from the shadows, Christina rushed to him and turned over his fallen body. He seemed to have completely lost consciousness; despite her anxious calls, there was no response. "A doctor, a doctor...!" Just as she was about to call for a doctor, Christina involuntarily hesitated. It was because she recalled how hard the Minister had tried all day to hide his physical abnormalities. "Ugh...!" Ultimately giving up on calling a doctor, she utilized her abilities to the fullest to check the Minister's condition. Her main occupation was an assassin. Even if not a doctor, she could at least determine whether the target was dying or not. 'His breathing is a bit shallow, but not rough like before. No fever either.' After checking various other conditions, Christina became convinced that the Minister had simply collapsed from overwork and carried him towards the bedroom. The first thing to do was change the clothes that had been soaked in cold sweat all day. It would be a lie to say she felt no lust while undressing him. However, she endured. Because she didn't want to embrace him in this form. 'Besides, now isn't the time.' After thoroughly wiping off all the sweat with a damp towel, changing his clothes, laying him straight on the bed, and covering him with a blanket. He seemed okay for now, but just as she was about to bring a chair next to the bed to watch over him all night in case something happened. Suddenly, the Minister's hand grabbed and pulled her. "Minister?!" Startled, but not resisting the pulling force, Christina crawled under the covers. At first, she thought the Minister had woken up and pulled her, but that wasn't it. The Minister was still unconscious. 'Perhaps unconsciously, me...?' Christina's joy didn't last long. Because the name muttered unconsciously from the Minister's lips was not hers, but that of a completely different woman. "Don't go...... Ariella......" The shock Christina received at this moment was of an indescribable kind. It wasn't simply because he called another woman's name besides hers. Because the Minister's voice calling that name was so heart-wrenchingly sorrowful. Because it was desolate enough to break one's heart. Because she felt a love so vast and deep that she couldn't even dare to imagine it. Including all that, the very fact that he could show such intense emotion towards someone was shocking. '......So what about it?' Digging deeper into the covers, Christina snuggled tightly into the Minister's embrace. She herself hugged the Minister's body tightly. It didn't matter if he mistook her for someone else. The one by his side right now was her. Only that fact mattered. 'I don't know if she's dead or alive, but I absolutely won't lose to some old shadow.' If it's a picture that can't be erased, then just paint over it. So thickly that the original form is unrecognizable. Just thickly. So that he can never recall it again. 'Because the Minister is mine.' Enjoying the sweet and pleasant scent tickling her nose, Christina quietly closed her eyes in his arms. --- ".........?" I thought I'd dreamt of her after a long time, but waking up to find the wrong woman in my arms. Thanks to having my vision back to normal, I could immediately figure out what had happened. Christina, who had been secretly watching me, must have taken care of me after I collapsed upon returning home. That's something to be thankful for, but...... "Christina."
"Uungh......" No good. She's completely asleep. I struggled to get out of her embrace, but it was impossible. But why is Laplace's Demon so quiet. Are you sleeping too? Well, just kidding, it's probably because Christina had no intention of harming me, plus there's no direct physical threat being applied to my body. Wondering what to do, I slightly turned only my neck to check the time. Is it still dawn? It's a bit early to get up. Thinking there was no other choice, I gave up resisting and closed my eyes again. It was soft and warm, which was troublesome in many ways, but I could fall asleep anyway.

Christina Saw