The Doll Has a Name Chapter 17 - Recruitment Ad

🦋

 

There is a saying: human history is a history of competition.

 

Within limited resources, because we all run toward the same goal, we were inevitably driven into a struggle for survival—competing against others.

 

The outcome was life or death. No—it used to be that way. In the past.

 

“Just because the other side chooses ‘you die, or I die,’ does that mean we have to follow suit? How childish. When you devour each other, nothing remains. I believe the situation can progress in a far more civilized direction.”

 

But as knowledge accumulates, it’s only natural to want to try something different from the past.

 

And so, we finally discovered another variable within the rule of competition that has long upheld society.

 

“Let’s make it so both you and I can live.”

 

Coexistence—or a win-win.

 

“If that’s possible, it would of course be the best outcome. Would you care to elaborate further?”

 

As if seeking counsel, Leonhardt politely and gently asked Kise for her opinion.

 

Just as she was about to speak, Kise suddenly felt that strange sensation from earlier grow sharper.

 

Neither Tristan nor Leonhardt seemed the least bit awkward about asking for her opinion, even though they had just met her today. They were genuinely curious about her thoughts.

 

What do you think? Why do you think that way? And what would you suggest we do? Without hesitation, they asked and approached her.

 

Right now, Leonhardt was focused entirely on Kise. He was carefully considering and weighing her words.

 

Kise felt an inexplicable thrill at his earnest attention. As a result, she grew uncharacteristically flustered and rambled a little.

 

“Well, I just thought—since they chose the vase, maybe we could use that against them and scale things up? That’s all.”

 

“I gave you flowers, didn’t I? Lisianthus, and… ah, irises. Both are flowers that are still too early to harvest right now. In fact, most flowers aren’t in season yet. That’s why they were so expensive. While people who want flowers are around all year, flowers don’t bloom all year. To mass-produce and distribute out-of-season flowers, you’d need a very large greenhouse.”

 

“A greenhouse.”

 

So, a greenhouse—that’s what he meant. Leonhardt, who had been quietly listening, nodded in understanding and picked up Kise’s words.

 

“I see. That makes sense. Even if you have a vase, it’s meaningless if there are no flowers to put in it.”

 

“People who buy vases will inevitably want flowers.”

 

“Then soon enough, there will be people who want greenhouses.”

 

Just as buying a needle leads to buying thread, buying a vase naturally shifts attention to flowers. If flower vases become trendy, the flower market will thrive too.

 

“Glassmakers for greenhouses, florists… they must be out there somewhere, right?”

 

Worried whether her reasoning had come across clearly, Kise concluded her point. She hoped only she noticed the slight tremble in her voice.

 

“They must be.”

 

Golden eyes, which had been fixed on her from start to finish, curved into crescents.

 

“There will be plenty of them.”

 

When she looked up, Leonhardt was smiling right in front of her. She could see the slow spread of delight across his entire face. 

 

Beside him, Tristan gave a thumbs-up.

 

🦋

 

After reading carefully, then reading again, and yet again, making sure nothing was missed…

On the day of the interview, right then and there, Kise was granted the honor of drafting the contract. She scrutinized the stack of documents in her grasp, analyzing them line by line.

 

There were employment contracts, financial documents regarding salary, company regulations and guidelines, and identification papers. The terms stated that after a three-month probation period, a decision would be made on whether to proceed with a long-term contract.

 

The salary was a base of 320 ducats, plus self-development expenses, totaling roughly 350 ducats—just as advertised.

 

Only after a long while did Kise finally sign with a flourish. 

 

Watching her hand move, Leonhardt smiled faintly and murmured, “Meticulous, aren’t you? Most people sign first and read later.”

 

“Could lead to trouble.”

“Trouble indeed.”

“It’s important.”

“It is.”

“Are you mimicking me now?”

“Not at all. Seems our linguistic wavelengths overlap a bit.”

“How fascinating.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

 

Their gazes tangled midair as this exchange unfolded.

 

Could souls really resonate this much? Kise blinked, and Leonhardt fluttered his lashes in response.

 

For that brief moment, they stared at each other, dazed—until a drop of ink clinging to the pen tip plopped onto the back of Kise’s hand with a soft plink.

 

“Ah.”

“Here.”

 

As she searched for something to wipe it, Leonhardt pulled a handkerchief from his jacket and dabbed away the ink stain on her hand.

 

The slight brush of his skin, far warmer than hers, made Kise reflexively flinch.

 

‘I was just startled.’

 

Was he a human furnace? 

 

Heat rushed to her face in an instant. That man—his manners seemed ingrained, but it’d be wise to stay cautious. Warmth had a way of making people crumble too easily.

 

Kise abruptly cut through the awkward tension and returned to the main point.

“How will the payment be made?”

“Through a bank transfer.”

“I don’t have an account here.”

“You can open one when you have time. Ah, since you’ll need a guarantor for the first time, I’ll let Tristan know in advance. Go together when you’re free.”

 

Tristan? Surely not that woman from the clothing store? The one who clung to me disgustingly, saying she wanted a hug?!

 

 (TN: So Tristan is a girl)

 

For a moment, Kise’s pupils wavered, and Leonhardt, noticing the revulsion in them, bent over with a quiet chuckle. His soft, wine-colored hair swayed attractively with the movement.

 

Can’t you just go with me instead?

 

Kise struggled to suppress the urge to say it aloud when an enchanting voice suddenly cut in.

“Shall I go with you?”

 

…Somehow, this continuous coincidence was starting to feel eerie.

Are they wiretapping my thoughts? Can they read my mind, or is this just coincidence? But Kise wasn’t the type to back down either.

“Yes.”

“Only if you ask me to go with you.”

 

Leonhardt shifted his posture, leaning back against the sofa, whispering temptingly. 

 

Why was he so insistent on hearing a request from her?

Definitely a delinquent.

 

Still, the answer came immediately. Pride be damned.

“Please come with me.”

“Let’s go together.”

 

The immediate reply to her immediate answer reflected his mood. His tone carried a subtle delight, as if anticipating something.

 

‘A man whose inside doesn’t match his outside.’

 

For now, Kise tentatively concluded that about Leonhardt. The reason she couldn’t yet use the word certainty was because she felt her current information and capabilities were still insufficient to fully dissect him.

 

‘For all I know, he might be several steps ahead of me.’

 

The feeling of knowingly playing along? No, more like being led into deception? 

 

Kise decided to take this ambiguous man in a positive light for now.

After all, he was her superior, someone she’d have to serve in the future, so it seemed desirable for her own growth to think that way.

 

Sunlight seemed to melt in his golden eyes as they lingered on Kise.

“Would it be alright if you start work tomorrow?”

“Yes, of course.”

“We’ll discuss the details in person then… Ah, one more thing.”

 

He paused briefly. Under Kise’s puzzled gaze, Leonhardt’s lips moved again.

“What should I call you?”

“Well, I’m your secretary, so just ‘secretary’ would—”

“That feels too distant.”

 

“We’ll be working the closest together, after all.” 

 

Leonhardt dismissed the idea with a shake of his head.

“Something a bit more special would be better.”

 

No, that’s a bit… Well, they were employer and employee, so ‘special’ wasn’t wrong, but…

“Then just call me by my name.”

“Kise?”

 

Going straight to her first name just like that?

His usual relaxed demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Though she didn’t show it, Kise felt flustered.

“Yeah, sure.”

 

“Kise.”

‘Kise, Kise.’ 

 

As if memorizing it, Leonhardt rolled the name on his tongue several times.

 

At this point, with him already calling her by name so freely, she figured there was no need for further formality. She no longer had to put on aristocratic airs, so there was no reason to act high and mighty now.

“You can speak casually with me.”

“Then I won’t hold back.”

“…”

 

Wait, now that she thought about it, he’s quick to adapt to this kind of thing, huh? Did something about him change? Or should she call it being open-minded?

 

Remembering Tristan, who had been unreservedly blunt with her, Kise inwardly waited for some kind of reciprocal remark, like, ‘You can speak casually too.’

 

However, he only returned a similarly vague remark.

“You can just call me Leo.”

“Isn’t that a nickname?”

“What’s the problem? Everyone here does it.”

 

Everyone does? Lies. 

 

Judging by his expression, Leonhardt laughed as if he had no idea.

“It’s not a lie.”

Not a lie? Then it must be a thug’s lie.

 

“By the way, work starts at 9. Be here by 8:50.”

“8:50…?”

Unbelievable. A noble’s daily schedule is planned from the moment the sun is high in the sky.

Even if I could force myself to wake up early once in a while, sloth and laziness already flow deep in my veins!

 

Seeing Kise’s face grow pale in silence, Leonhardt added with a laugh, “We prefer diligent early birds here. They’re cute, you know.”

“Sparrows… Owls are cute too.”

Have you never seen a nocturnal owl? 

 

A fascinating bird that can rotate its neck 270 degrees. Round head, adorable face, sharp hearing, bright eyes… Though encyclopedic knowledge seemed to cry out pitifully, Leonhardt ignored it all with a radiant, flowery smile.

“Once you start working, your body will adjust whether you like it or not. I’ll wait for you.”

 

Ah, I see… So this is how things work around here.

Waking up early, washing up, drying hair, dressing, putting on makeup, eating, packing… I’m dead. I’m already dead.

 

A deep sigh escaped. Kise staggered away in a disheveled manner, a posture she would never normally imagine herself in.

“I should get going now.”

 

Go and sleep a little more, sleep… sleep…

“By the way, where are you staying now?”

“Farboon Inn. Behind the central plaza.”

 

After answering, it suddenly occurred to me that the issue of housing was also urgent.

For people to live, they need clothing, food, and shelter. None of these is unimportant, but once a certain level of prosperity is guaranteed in human society, the most critical of the three is undoubtedly the matter of housing.

 

Just as Kise was about to leave, she quickly sat back down again. She plopped down so hard that the cushion crumpled. 

 

Before Leonard could even utter a puzzled “Huh?”, she rapidly spilled out her words.

 

“Don’t you have any employee benefits here?”

“Benefits?”

“I’m an outsider, you know. To adapt properly, I need to settle down here properly. That’d be good for the company too. So, I was hoping you could provide some support.”

“You can just say outright what you want.”

“Something like initial settlement funds, or a place that provides room and board—stuff like that.”