Whispers were playing back again and again in my head.
“Cailia didn’t receive a post?”
“The honor student?”
“But how? She must have done something.”
It was graduation day at the Academy, a day where it was customary to receive your first assignment hand in hand with your diploma. But I, top of the class, had received none. I had kept a cool face up on stage, but I was freaking out. I was holding my hands together to stop them from shaking while sitting on a couch in the Head Instructor’s office, I had marched here immediately after the ceremony but he has yet to arrive. I could not imagine the reason for this. I pinched my cheek once again to confirm I was not in a drawn-out nightmare.
That man, I’m sure he knows that I’m here.
I fidgeted a bit with the couch cushions before the door suddenly opened to admit a man with greying, tied back hair and a full beard.
“Come in come in, have a seat.”
“I’m already sitting. I was here before you.”
“...That you were. Makes me having been looking for you a waste of time!”
I said nothing. He walked over and sat on the couch across from me.
“I’ll be frank. Things are going to be difficult for you, but I know that you’ll be able to make it work somehow. I believe in you.”
“T-then that means?”
“Yes, there’s nothing I can do about it Cailia. It’s already decided.”
I bolted up, hitting the coffee table and sending the tea set rattling.
“But how! What did I do? Does someone in the palace hate me?”
“Perhaps, but there’s really nothing we can do. You’ll be adjutant to Special Adviser Petalore starting tomorrow, and that’s final.”
“Why is this happening! How could- wait what?”
He replied while smirking and poorly suppressing a laugh. Very poorly. So poorly I suspected he was doing it on purpose.
“Oh, have we misunderstood something miss honor student of honors students?”
“The Special Adviser? That Special Adviser?”
“The one and only! It’s all in this,” he walked over to his desk, opened it by tapping his bracelet on the lock, and took out a serious looking envelope. It was stamped multiple times with “for authorized individual only” in red ink.
“Regulations apparently prevent me from giving it to you unless we’re alone. They sent me fifteen pages of instructions like that you know. And ones for you too!”
...is this guy looking for sympathy right now?
I walked over and snatched it from him as he leafed through what I assumed were the instructions.
“For example here it says that the ‘Appointee is prohibited from seducing the Special Adviser’, not that you’ll have a problem-”
I smacked him over the head with the envelope. This guy had been messing with me since I enrolled here. He had the worst personality. Though it was probably partially my fault for always retaliating...maybe.
“Hey! Calm down Cailia, what are you mad about?”
This bastard, he was smirking while saying it.
“Shut up oldie!”
“What! You can’t talk to your superiors like that! Though Petalore might be fine with it, he’s an odd-”
I flashed him a grin, startling him into stopping mid sentence.
“But you’re not my superior anymore, I’ve just received my official position, albeit in an absurd manner, and I’m fairly sure I outrank you now. I assume you understand what that means, Head Instructor.”
He stood there, frozen.
This is the longest I’ve ever seen him remain silent.
I chuckled, and with that turned and walked away. A short while later a hearty laugh broke out and followed behind me as I walked down the stairs and out the academy’s doors for the last time.
----------------------------------------
The next morning I was going over the contents of the assignment envelop again while fiddling with my new identification bracelet. I had never really understood how they worked, but sure enough when I put it on the first time it shrank perfectly to my wrist and etched a complicated looking pattern into the insignia stone. I guess this was not all just a prank after all.
I turned back to the other items that had been in the envelope. I was still puzzled by it all even after a night’s rest. First of all, I had been assigned directly to an independent Junior Secretary position. I knew the Special Adviser’s position was, legally speaking, on somewhat shaky ground, but surely that did not mean I should be made a mid-level official instead of being placed under his command. As a result of this, my identification bracelet was inset with two silver stars to the right of the insignia. It was an audacious look for someone my age.
Doesn’t this also mean I don’t outrank the Head Instructor? Well, we’re equal if nothing else so I’m probably fine. Probably.
He was not a bad man, but he would certainly take the opportunity to play some prank in revenge if given the chance.
The second odd thing was a small note tucked in with the other papers. It read:
“Please take care of Petalore. He is a great man, but he has been down lately. I cannot always be there as his friend, though I would like to, so please take my place (but not too much).”
It was simply signed ‘P’, and I had no idea of the sender.
The final oddity was that I had been given no actual instructions on where to report. This was troublesome as it was getting time to head out. Did the Special Adviser work in the ministerial building? The palace? I had no idea. The only instruction at all was a notice that there was a meeting with the Fausdale Kingdom’s ambassador this afternoon. Which only left the morning to prepare, which I could not do as I had no idea where to even go! As I was trying to figure out what to do about this the doorbell rang.
That’s odd, I thought. No one has ever visited my house before. Does anyone even know where I live?
Leaving that depressing thought behind I got up and answered the door. Outside on the step was a man dressed in an expensive looking red long coat and hat. Seeing the door open he promptly bowed and handed me a small envelope, then pivoted on his heel and strode off without saying a word. I stood in the open door bewildered at what had just happened, then after a while regained my senses and opened the new envelope. I retrieved an expensive feeling piece of paper and, unfolding it, read a single sentence:
“My new adjutant, please meet me at Sakihan Cafe on South Lessia street at 9:30.”
It was unsigned, though this time the sender was obvious. Was the Special Adviser so busy he cannot even sign his letters?
I wondered why we were going to a cafe in a residential neighborhood.
----------------------------------------
A new problem confronted me as I walked down the blossom covered streets, and it was that I did not know what the Special Adviser looked like. It had not fully sunk in yesterday and I was now realizing what exactly it meant that I was to be working with the Special Adviser. I had to make a good impression. What should I say to him? Would he be upset that an assistant was assigned to him like this? I certainly could not let him see me looking around and not recognizing him! I was still thinking as I turned onto the street the cafe was on when someone called out to me.
“Ah, there you are. Glad you found the place. Come along adjutant.”
I snapped around looking for the source of the voice. I found it in a man that looked to be in his twenties with ash brown hair. He had a red satchel across his shoulders and his sleeves rolled up, and he was walking quickly. Very quickly.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I completely forgot my plan to make a good impression and just stared at him instead. I assumed that had to be him, but...
He walked towards me then, drawing level, continued without a pause. I stood dumbfounded for a second then darted to catch up with him. He was taking a brisk pace and whistling a short phrase over and over. I stood as straight as I could while trying to match him.
“Greetings your lordship, my name is-”
“Shhh! Don’t call me that.”
“H-huh, what does your lordsh-”
“Shhhhhh! Just call me ‘Jousen’.”
“Wha- ah-, yes, Sir Jousen. My name is Cailia Menessent. I hope to be of use.” I stopped and saluted, this man really walked far too quickly!
He grumbled something about honorifics and kept walking without looking back. I hurried to catch up again, only for him to now stop suddenly and point.
“We’re here.”
He was pointing at a tiny shop nestled between two office buildings. A cheerful red sign hung above some planters with blooming carnia flowers and read “Sakihan.”
So we’re going to cafe after all?
“Sir if I may, what are we doing here?”
“What do you mean? This afternoon we have a big meeting with the Fausdale ambassador, so we have to make use of the morning.”
That’s right! I was so distracted thinking about how to present myself I completely forget.
I fidgeted, nervous again now. “And our preparations involve this shop?”
“Er, something like that. Now come on.” He said, and walked towards the shop.
I did not want to ask again what we were doing, looking clueless now would be terrible, especially if he was already upset about having an adjutant pushed onto him. But I also really could not figure out why we were here.
Maybe we’re meeting someone undercover? Certainly no one would expect high-ranking officials to be here. Or maybe he knows one of the Fausdale delegation comes here and we’re gathering information? That could be it!
Rather than risk guessing wrong I decided to just nod like I understood. He gave me a puzzled look in reply.
“Welcome!” came a voice from behind the counter as we entered. The shop was small but cozy, it reminded me of a place I would go to study in after school. There were only a few other people in.
“Oh Mr. Jousen, we haven’t seen you in a while! And you’ve brought a lady.” I could hear a faint cry of “He’s what?” from the kitchen. “The usual then?”
“Yes please Tenne, also a...” he looked at me. “What kind of coffee do you like?”
“Oh, uh, cloud style.”
This situation was growing stranger by the minute. We got our drinks and the Special Adviser led us over to a corner table and sat down.
“Uh, sir...”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Enough of that, sit down already. This coffee is too good to let cool.”
I somewhat reluctantly reached for the cup and took a sip.
“!!”
“See? This is a great place.” He took a sip from his own cup, closing his eyes and sighing contentedly.
Maybe we’ll get to work after he finishes? Some people are peculiarly sensitive to that sort of thing.
Instead though, upon finishing his coffee he pulled out a book from his bag and started reading.
I spluttered a bit at this. What about the meeting! Fausdale was a key trading partner!
“Oh, sorry. You want to read too right?” I weakly protested as he fumbled in his bag. “Ah sorry this all I have,” he said holding up a book titled Flowers of Rain. “The other one and what I’m reading are both in Rocari. Unless you speak it by chance?”
Was I dreaming? And why does he know Rocari, a language from the other side of the world! Of course I did not know it!
“Well if you really want I could read it out loud, I don’t want to start from the beginning though...”
My head was spinning a bit as I grabbed the book. Just what was happening here?
----------------------------------------
Flowers of Rain was a romance story about a lonely boy whose heart was opened by a girl he met by chance while gardening. I begrudgingly found myself enjoying it, though I swore I would never admit. Ever. The Special Adviser seemed to be enjoying the book he was reading as well, and over the next hour or so...
“Want some cake? The strawberry cake here is amazing.”
No, thank you.
“I really love strawberries, definitely my favorite. What do you think of them?”
They’re fine.
“Haha this part is really funny, I wish I had read out loud now. Want to hear?”
It’s fine, really.
“More coffee please!”
...
After an hour and a half I was at my limit.
“Sir! I really think-”
“One second, the sandwiches are ready!”
Tenne the waitress was bringing out two plates from the kitchen.
When did he even order those? Did I zone out? And why did he get one for me? Wait that’s beside the point right now!
“We don’t have time for this!” I yelled. The shop quieted and I felt multiple gazes fall on me. Oh boy. “Ah, that’s my opinion, sir.”
He sighed a bit.
“Alright alright fine. Sorry Tenne but could you wrap them up to go? Oh, also, could I buy a bag of the coffee beans you use? I know someone who would love them.”
“A whole bag? I mean I don’t mind, since it’s you Mr. Jousen, but it’ll be expensive you know.”
“It’s fine, this will be enough right?”
“O-of course! I don’t know if we can make change though...”
He shrugged. “Keep it, this is a good shop.”
Was that a small glass coin? And he had more?
Tenne beamed. “Thank you Mr. Jousen. I’ll be right back with it.” As she turned to head back to the kitchen she whispered “I didn’t know he was rich! You’ve sure lucked out huh?” to me and giggled. I just laughed awkwardly back while fuming inside.
After receiving the coffee beans he stood up.
“Let’s go!” he said cheerfully. I sat still, staring at the huge sack he was now carrying over his shoulder.
“What’s with the coffee?” Was this why we were here?
“Oh, I heard the Fausdale ambassador adores coffee, I’m going to give her this as a present.”
So that’s what it was, I get it!
I beamed at him.
“As expected of the Special Adviser!” I exclaimed. “I apologize for not understanding your plan at first.”
He really was brilliant. I still did not understand why we had been here the whole morning though. Maybe he...
“What are you talking about? And keep it down or else-”
“Oy oy did you hear that.”
“He does look like when I saw him during the Cessation Day celebration last year...”
“Idiot, why would the Special Adviser be drinking coffee here? He’d be too busy with the Prince.”
Murmurs were arising. Tenne was pale. Petalore planted his hand in his face and muttered something.
“What was that sir?”
“ANOTHER SHOP RUINED I SAID!” he yelled, before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. Once outside he broke into a run, dragging me along with the sack of coffee beans behind him. We finally made it onto a quiet street and stopped, leaning against a wall to catch our breath.
“Sorry sir, but at least your plan to get the coffee beans worked out!”
Though I was confused at what exactly had gone wrong.
“Plan? I thought of it just now though. And now thanks you I can’t go back to that shop!”
“W-w-what do you mean? Why were we in that cafe all morning then?”
“For fun? Oh, I miss Tenne’s coffee already!”. He looked genuinely sorrowful.
I collapsed to my knees.
“Special Adviser, you’re...”
“Huh? Why are you upset here too?”
He looked at me blankly. It was only my first morning.
----------------------------------------
Tenne told all her friends about how the Special Adviser had been a regular at her cafe.