The Ice Witch of the Urban Development Department

 
 『It would be best if you gave up on employing me.』
 
 When Miss Sofia said that, both myself and Otou-sama were taken aback.
 
 I’d thought she’d have a few peculiarities, but it seems it really is considerable.
 
 But I’ve already confirmed earlier that she’s excellent.
 Looking at just her ability, you’d say 『I’d definitely want her to come』.
 
 The problem is everything other than that part though…
 
 I sorted out my thoughts for a bit, then opened my mouth.
 
 “Firstly, may I ask you a question?”
 
 “Go ahead.”
 
 Miss Sofia gave her consent without a change in her expression.
 
 So that I wouldn’t become overwhelmed by that atmosphere, I fired myself up and continued speaking.
 
 “Putting aside whether placing you under my employ is good or bad for me, does Sofia-sama herself dislike working for me?”
 
 For an instant.
 Those pupils behind her glasses wavered slightly.
 
 “I… don’t dislike it. Rather, I’d think of it as an honour to work for you.”
 
 “Then, why would you yourself say that it’s 『best not to employ you』?”
 
 After a slight hesitation at my question, she opened her mouth.
 
 “——— It’s just, I’m bad at working with others. If I were to work under Your Excellency, it’d make things strained in your mansion, and would become a source of trouble. If that happened, it’d be an inconvenience to Your Excellency, as well as His Majesty for having recommended me. So that’s why, I had to say what I said earlier.”
 
 From within her apathetically cold voice, I could feel a slight quiver of emotion.
 
 I felt a sense of deja vu in her voice, in the way she spoke.
 Bitter memories within me ached.
 
 
 
 “It’s not that you’re bad at talking with people, is it?”
 
 “Talking isn’t a problem for me. However, when I open my mouth, the surrounding atmosphere freezes.”
 
 Aah, got it.
 The previous me — and the me before the redo — was like that as well.
 
 “His Majesty introduced me earlier as 『having recommendations from multiple departments』 a little while ago. But I think those recommendations were 『because I don’t want to work together with her』. ——— In fact, they’ve also hinted at that.”
 
 “In other words, they’re getting rid of a nuisance, is what you’re saying?”
 
 When I asked that, Miss Sofia clenched her fist tightly.
 
 “『The Walking Unsociable』, 『The Ice Witch of the Urban Development Department』. Those are my names within the department. ——— I’m aware that I myself am an inflexible person. Though it isn’t enough, I am putting in effort to change. But I just don’t know what to do when I’m told 『I can’t stand your way of talking or your expressions』.”
 
 She said this indifferently.
 However, I didn’t miss the way her gaze dropped slightly for just an instant.
 
 That loneliness which Miss Sofia bears.
 That loneliness is something which I painfully understand.
 
 And that’s because, I too was like that before the redo.
 
 The days when I retreated into the laboratory, having been called names like 『The Frozen Rose Princess』 and 『The Inhumane Lady』.
 
 And, I will never forget that day that I was executed, without a single ally.^[1]
 
 Thanks to my experience of before the redo, and my memories of having been blessed with a good family as Miyanohara Mizuki^[2], I was able to recover my bonds with my family and gain new friends.
 
 But she probably has no allies.
 Right now, what she needs are allies.
 
 
 
 “You’re hired.”
 
 “Huh?”
 
 Hearing my words, Miss Sofia opened her eyes wide.
 
 “I have sufficiently confirmed Sofia-sama’s excellence with the mining right’s proposal. By all means, please work for our Family.”
 
 “But, because of me, there’ll be friction—”
 
 “That’s fine!”
 
 “Eh…”
 
 When my words assertively interrupted her, overcome with surprise, she stared at me.
 
 “Something of that degree isn’t a problem. If anything were to happen, I’ll intercede. Besides, Sofia-sama herself is putting in effort to change, right?”
 
 “——— Yes.”
 
 Miss Sofia nodded as if to confirm.
 I then smiled at her.
 
 “As for me, I’ll believe in the efforts and achievements of Sofia-sama, who rose to the position of Third Secretary in the face of adversity. If it is Sofia-sama, I have faith that you’d be able to satisfactorily exhibit your strengths and play an active role at our House.”
 
 “…-”
 
 “So that’s why, would you please work with me?”
 
 “……”
 
 We stared at each other, myself and her.
 
 Without even a quiver, nor any change of expression, she simply stood there motionlessly while clenching her fists.
 
 At that moment, a single drop streaked along her cheek.
 That drop, which spilled out from behind her glasses.
 
 Without removing her glasses, she wiped away her tear with a handkerchief, then straightened herself out and looked hard at me.
 
 In those pupils of hers, there was already no longer any hesitation.
 
 “Please, do take care of me, Leticia-sama.”
 
 Bowing her head, I took her hand and wrapped both of mine around them.
 
 “Same here, do take care of me, Sofia-sama!”
 
 When I smiled, the woman, who’d kept fighting by her lonesome within that large organisation, shed tears once again.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Two days after my report to His Majesty.
 
 In the office Otou-sama had prepared for me, a single woman stood with her bag lowered.
 
 “Uhm, is the transfer and such alright?”
 
 When I asked her in agitation about the premature speed at which she switched jobs, the person in question answered indifferently without a change in her expression.
 
 “No problem. From the moment His majesty spoke to me about this, I had already begun the transfer preparations. As I informed you yesterday, I can begin working from today.”
 
 Woah.
 As expected of the genius of the Domestic Department.
 She works way too quick!!
 
 I’m glad I prepared an office desk for her to use, just in case.
 
 “Ehm, well then, want to use that desk over there?”
 
 “Okay.”
 
 Nodding, she straightened herself out once again, and looked at me hard.
 
 “——— Leticia-sama. I may be incompetent^[3], but I look forward to working with you.”
 
 “Same here. Nice to meet you, Sofia!”
 
 When I smiled at her, just a little bit, so little that I seriously wouldn’t have noticed it had I not been looking properly, a smile flitted across her face.
 
 And thus, we began a new relationship.