Kingdom of Bernia, Steel Heavy Industry Consortium building, Top-Floor Office.
The heavy office door swung open, bringing in a faint chill from outside. Nico Robin stepped inside, casually slipped off her long brown coat, and hung it on the brass coat rack beside the door. Beneath it, she wore a tailored black administrative uniform and thick black stockings that outlined her long, straight legs. She walked up to the broad mahogany desk, planted her hands on her hips, and cast a somewhat helpless yet indulgent glance toward the sofa before sitting in her own high-backed chair.
"Did the sun rise in the west today? Lord Boer actually deigned to accompany me to this office full of ink and paperwork." As she sorted the mountain of documents on her desk, she spoke in a lightly teasing tone, though her eyes were already skimming the title of the topmost report.
Aaron Ball reclined on the long leather sofa facing the desk, relaxed, his head propped on one hand. Rare winter sunlight spilled through the enormous arched glass windows, gilding his short silver-white hair with pale gold. Rather than attending to his own affairs or training as usual, he simply watched Robin working at her desk, his gaze unwavering and gentle, as though admiring a masterpiece worth treasuring. The Central Heating System hummed softly, its warmth making the room feel languid, but deep in his eyes lay a barely perceptible gravity.
"Since you're here, Lord Boer, aren't you going to offer to help me with this mountain of paperwork?" Robin picked up a quill, twirled it lightly between her fingers, and looked up at him with just the right hint of reproach.
"Absolutely not." Boer narrowed his eyes like a cat sunning itself in the afternoon, amusement in his voice. "I pay a