Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 57

To the Teacher, From Vanessa (57/146)

Seeing the incredible mess inside, I stepped back again.

Is it okay to go in?

Documents were piled high, reaching almost to the ceiling in places, and the people inside were hunched over their desks, completely absorbed in their work. They didn’t even look up.

They were just furiously moving their pens.

“Um, hello.”

I bowed to the man nearest the entrance. He looked up, an annoyed expression on his face, but his eyes widened when he saw the pin on my collar.

He looked Vanessa up and down, thinking, *Unlike us, she’s very clean. Then!*

“A newbie?”

“Yes, Vanessa Rose—”

“A newbie is here!”

As the man jumped up and shouted, the other people in the office poked their heads out.

Among them was Munia Tran, whom Vanessa had met through Eugenia before. The woman, with her hair tied back, saw Vanessa and exclaimed excitedly.

“I! I’m the one who scouted that wizard!”

“What! You’ll be getting a bonus this time.”

Everyone rushed over and surrounded Vanessa, asking questions as if she were some strange exhibit.

“I heard you got a very good score in the interview. Isn’t the Minister very picky?”

“No, I heard you received an honors award from Bamberg Academy? But why did you come here?”

“Hey! None of that! Welcome. First, sit down over there.”

Vanessa cautiously looked at the indicated seat. The woman swept the documents off the desk. *Bang*, the books fell to the floor.

“She’s on leave.”

It seemed like the leave had just been decided, but Vanessa eventually sat down in the seat.

As Vanessa began to clean up the desk, the people from the Ministry of Magic smiled contentedly, looking at the fresh newbie.

“It feels like there’s a clean scent… like something untouched.”

“Isn’t it just because she’s actually clean? How long has it been since you showered?”

At the woman’s words, the man became serious, but looking at his greasy hair, he had no choice but to answer honestly. The woman was shocked at his answer and splashed water on his head.

The day passed by in a blur.

Munia Tran volunteered to be her mentor and gave her a brief overview of the job.

Apparently, she would be taking over the work of Vanessa’s predecessor, which involved managing the entry and exit of wizards and deporting wizards who were staying in the country illegally.

“It’s a job that involves a lot of collaboration with other departments. Usually, we assign experienced people, but the Minister thought Ms. Rose would do well.”

The Minister of Magic, Tellios, whom she had met during the interview, had only appeared briefly.

Tellios had come down to see Vanessa and, with a tired expression, said, “I hope you work here for a long, long time and stay healthy,” before disappearing.

The predecessor seemed to have taken leave very suddenly, without even handing over the work, so Vanessa had a lot to figure out on her own.

Because of that, she had no choice but to work overtime on her first day, unable to leave.

*Is this something I can do alone? Is it because there aren’t many wizards staying illegally, even though there are many illegal stayers?*

*But isn’t the amount of documents considerable? Is this the only document that tells me how to do it?*

Vanessa pondered blankly.

“…Um.”

“Vanessa, don’t overdo it and go home. You can’t get used to it right away anyway. There are things you can only learn by doing them yourself.”

Danny Marlon, the man who had been looking at Vanessa with the most contented expression along with Munia Tran, carefully advised her.

He was afraid that the newbie would run away. He was even more worried because that job was known for being incredibly demanding. *What was the Minister thinking, assigning that job to that young woman?*

At Danny Marlon’s cautious advice, Vanessa eventually got up. Her neck was stiff.

“I’ll have to come again tomorrow… tomorrow….”

“You have to… come….”

As Danny said with a desperate expression, Vanessa also nodded weakly. *I have to pay the rent… I have to come….*

Walking outside, it was already dark, and the crowds had thinned out considerably, with only a few people visible.

However, those who were still around had dark circles under their eyes and were mostly yawning as they walked.

*Am I going to become like that too?* Somehow, what Cesare had said in the morning felt significant.

“I’m tired….”

Vanessa went down to the first floor and was about to leave through the gate when she changed her mind after seeing the well-maintained garden next to it.

The scent of grass was nice. The place where she lived now had no greenery nearby, so there was no place to relax. Vanessa decided to sit down and rest for a while.

The garden she entered was quiet and deserted.

Vanessa sat on the white stone bench under a large tree and sighed softly.

*Is it always like this on the first day? Confusing and not knowing what anyone is saying, is that how it is? Fortunately, the people are kind and cherish the newbie, so I’ll be able to learn quickly.*

Vanessa decided to focus only on the positive aspects.

As evening came, a cool breeze blew. As the scent of grass became even stronger on the wind, Vanessa missed Bamberg Academy very much.

As she sat blankly, looking at the well-maintained garden, she began to hear noise from a distance through the path behind the garden.

Vanessa glanced at the noise that was disrupting her brief moment of peace, then immediately buried her head on her knees.

“That’s ridiculous. It’s impossible.”

“No, if Your Grace would speak first….”

“There is no overturning a matter that His Majesty has already decided.”

“Your Grace, I understand the urgency of the matter. However, it hasn’t even gone through a proper formal meeting—”

“It would have been resolved if you had attended properly. It has already been discussed several times in the joint meeting.”

The man coldly snapped. Vanessa felt like she was hearing that sharp voice of the man for the first time.

“I am here today as the commander of the Special Forces, not as Duke Valder. Stop here.”

Eventually, the well-dressed man stomped his feet and turned away.

Gideon cleanly ignored the anger of the man next to him and walked forward. He wouldn’t let that person’s emotions affect him.

Then, sensing a presence, he turned his head. Someone was sitting on a chair in the garden, almost folded in half.

The woman’s flowing hair was a beautiful brown even in the dim light and curled as if deliberately styled.

Gideon sighed softly. He had heard that a newbie had joined the Ministry of Magic, but he hadn’t expected to meet her so soon.

He was happy about this meeting, but he was even more heartbroken because she didn’t seem particularly happy.

“Vanessa.”

The woman’s body flinched. Her hand slowly fell from her face, but she still didn’t turn around, remaining stiff.

Eventually, Gideon quickly approached, and Vanessa stood up as if startled, facing him. Her head was tilted back because of the height difference.

“Hello! How do you do!”

“……”

“Wh-wh-wh-what brings you here.”

“The Ministry of Magic?”

Gideon said, looking at the pin on Vanessa’s collar. Vanessa trembled and nodded.

*I always think this, but he shines even more in uniform. Perhaps it’s because it’s tighter than the dress uniform, revealing his excellent and well-groomed physique.*

“Th-th-th-that’s right.”

“Why are you stuttering so much?”

Vanessa was intimidated by Gideon’s cold tone. His attitude was quite different from the last time she saw him.

The man’s brow was fiercely furrowed, and the corners of his mouth were stiff.

*Why is he so angry?* Vanessa became sullen. Her mood worsened, but her heart was still pounding.

“It’s my first day, so I’m nervous…. It’s nothing. Well, it was an honor to meet you. I, I’ll be going now, Commander.”

Vanessa bowed and hurried away.

Gideon, left alone in the garden, stared at Vanessa’s back before running his hand over his face.

*He was being childish. And terribly tired.*

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa walked wearily on the white stone path.

She didn’t even remember being in the garden to smell the grass. To think she would meet Gideon there.

*Should I just confess and get it over with? It would be better than living like this. I can’t even have a proper conversation now anyway, so what’s the difference between being rejected and remaining friends?*

Climbing up to the 4th floor felt arduous today. Her legs were terribly heavy.

She passed through the hallway and stood in front of the old green door. The old lock didn’t open easily, so she had to turn the key several times.

The door opened only after the clanking sound rang several times. Vanessa staggered and collapsed onto the bed right next to the door.

*I need to shower. Meeting Gideon always made her whole body tingle, causing extreme fatigue.*

Vanessa, who had been lying blankly, gritted her teeth and was about to get up and go to the bathroom. If only she hadn’t seen a very familiar envelope at the entrance of Hornir [her apartment].

As always, a thin string tied in a cross on a tan envelope.

And slightly tilted, ‘To Ms. Vanessa Rose.’

Vanessa almost fell. She hurriedly grabbed the letter from the entrance of Hornir.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Ms. Vanessa Rose,

You said you would send letters occasionally, but there has been no contact. I am curious to know if Ms. Vanessa is doing well.

It’s chilly in the evening, so please dress warmly.

From the Teacher.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Suddenly, the black letters on the letter seemed to blur. Tears welled up in her eyes and fell onto the letter.

*What was I thinking, not writing to the Teacher first? Stubborn and foolish Vanessa Rose.*

Vanessa hurriedly wiped away the moisture, regretting the blurred letters.

*I should send a letter right away tomorrow because it seems like the content would be lacking if I wrote it now.*

*I need to send everything, including what I’m doing these days, how I’m doing, how the Teacher always gives me strength when I’m having a hard time, and how touched I am right now.*

Vanessa rubbed her eyes diligently. Swollen eyes were nothing.

The feeling of anxiety because of Gideon quickly subsided and became peaceful. Vanessa smiled brightly and ran to the bathroom.