Chapter 217
After getting caught by the caretaker of the National Cemetery, I raced like the wind towards the Crown Prince’s Palace, ready to faint anyone I might encounter along the way.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe that the incident from just a few minutes ago could already be making the rounds, but just the thought of it makes my face heat up. Even a simple morning greeting would probably sound like, “Hey, have you been sleeping on the streets?”
So when I spotted the Crown Princess at the main gate of the palace, I felt my blood run cold.
‘Should I faint?’
The determination to faint at the sight of anyone else came rushing back, and my hands started trembling.
I never thought I’d run into the Crown Princess. Considering that she’s the daughter of the Vice Captain, fainting in front of her is simply out of the question.
“Executive Manager. Good morning.”
The Crown Princess, still looking a bit dazed as if she hadn’t completely shaken off the effects of last night, greeted me with a warm smile that could melt even the iciest hearts.
But seeing that smile only made my feelings of worthlessness hit harder. I’m so sorry, Your Highness. How could I think such indecent thoughts?
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s indeed a wonderful morning to see you.”
“Haha, is it?”
As I replied with my head bowed, she flashed a small smile, easing some of that internal guilt I was feeling.
“By the way, Your Highness, why are you out here in this cold wind?”
I cautiously lifted my head to ask, since it’s hardly a pleasant time for a morning stroll. With winter looming, the mornings are quite chilly these days.
“I was waiting for you, Executive Manager. I heard you hadn’t arrived at the palace yet, and I figured you must be on your way back to the academy.”
“Your Highness, that’s too gracious of you.”
Taken aback by her words that she was waiting for me, I quickly lowered my head again.
‘Crap.’
My nerves spiked. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have loitered around. Here I am, making someone important wait for me.
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to hold it against me, giving my shoulder a gentle pat.
“It’s fine. I just came out and haven’t waited long at all.”
“Still, making you wait is—”
“Really, it’s perfectly fine. In fact, I would have wanted to thank the Executive Manager, but I’d have felt disappointed if I couldn’t see you.”
That made me jerk my head up a bit. Thankful…? What on earth could she be thanking me for?
Before I could even open my mouth to ask, the Crown Princess interpreted my thoughts and continued with a soft smile.
“Lady Elizaveta is truly a precious junior to me.”
‘Ah.’
I nodded, suddenly understanding what she meant.
I felt a wave of relief as well. Looks like the Second Manager didn’t bite her tongue out of desperation. Thank goodness, she really has extraordinary mental strength.
“Both the Crown Prince and I have received comfort from Lady Elizaveta. She’s practically the only one who sincerely congratulated us on our marriage.”
“She sounds like a great junior.”
“Yes, she’s truly remarkable.”
A smile lingered on the Crown Princess’s face as she reminisced about those times.
“Now that she’s found her path, how could it not be a joy for us?”
Her voice was filled with relief and happiness. Anyone could tell just how genuine her feelings for the Second Manager were.
It’s truly surprising. Who’d have thought the dignified Crown Princess could be so close with the Second Manager? How on earth did they become friends? Does the Second Manager have some kind of mind-control app?
‘No wonder she was so good at getting information.’
If you have a brainwashing app for interrogation, the results would indeed be outstanding.
“Of course, Lady Elizaveta’s journey isn’t a solitary one, but one we build together.”
Her soft voice left me speechless. It was hard to either agree or disagree with her words.
Agreeing would imply that I accepted the Second Manager’s confession, while disagreeing would seem like a rejection…
“And we can’t even be sure if we can build it together.”
Seemingly aware of my dilemma, the Crown Princess patted my shoulder again.
“All I can be thankful for is that I gave Elizaveta the chance to dare dream. I promised to see her wholeheartedly.”
For that alone, I’m immensely grateful to the Executive Manager.
As she added that, the Crown Princess’s face was beaming, almost glowing.
Your Highness, you’ve certainly been through a lot.
After the Crown Princess sent me off, I made my way back to the academy.
I didn’t see the Crown Prince since he was busy with his work. It was a relief, really. If I had run into him this morning, the whole day would have been a depressing affair.
‘What a mess.’
But suddenly, as if the change of scenes awakened the lingering smell, it hit me hard. The scent coming off me is regrettable enough.
The scent of booze from the night before and the earthy aroma of rolling around on the ground—it’s altogether too insulting to bring into the heart of academia.
‘Damn it.’
My head throbbed not just from the hangover. The sight of me, the Executive Manager, crashing in the National Cemetery after getting plastered. That would surely set fire to social circles and become an everlasting embarrassment. My very own self-made disgrace.
At least it’s a disgrace that doesn’t have witnesses—thank goodness for that. If I had been caught drunkenly babbling, I might have had to hand in my resignation and disappear. So, there’s that silver lining.
‘…Of all things to be drinking.’
I tried to console myself, but just the word ‘drink’ made my self-deception wobble precariously.
I wouldn’t mind if it were anything else. If I had gone wild after consuming something else, I wouldn’t feel this humiliated. But damn it, it had to be alcohol.
—And then came the noise echoing in my head, loud enough to be a headache.
I tightened my eyes and groaned.
Once alcohol is involved, it’s always tied to the wise duke. I can practically hear the whispers now: “The Executive Manager is tied to the Wise Duke’s niece!”
‘Shit.’
My reputation is surely in shambles now. I should probably ignore everything and just wash up for my own mental health…
—But that plan came crashing down before it even began.
“Ah, Executive Manager. How’s your back feeling? I assume it’s been a while since you’ve slept rough?”
“Shut it.”
As I stepped into my lodging, my phone buzzed with the message from the Second Manager. All at once, I was bombarded by memories of my embarrassing night.
I should have expected this guy to catch on quickly since he digs up news from all over the place, but I didn’t think it would happen this fast. Or perhaps the rumors spread faster than I imagined.
“Oh come on. Why the gloom? Just embrace your subordinates’ heartfelt worry with a smile!”
Seeing the second manager giggle made my grip on the communication device tighten instinctively.
We desperately need advancements in magic. I need a spell that lets me hit the person on the other side of the communication device. If the Wise Duke could do it, it would be possible somehow.
After laughing for a while, the Second Manager glanced around and lowered their voice.
“By the way, the rumors about the Second Manager are being kept under wraps as much as possible. It’s tricky to halt them entirely, but we’ll try our best.”
“Good job.”
Caught off guard by such an unexpected compliment, I was momentarily slow to respond.
It’s definitely worth acknowledging that I’m too preoccupied with the overnight incident to overlook the Second Manager sobbing uncontrollably.
Even if it was late at night and on a deserted street, it’s still an academy. It’s strange if someone didn’t pass by.
‘Really easy to misinterpret.’
Imagine the Executive Manager crying in front of the Second Manager. If people misinterpreted that, rumors of a split within the Information Department might start circulating.
Even if the one crying was a female, that could lead to bigger issues. The tale of the Executive Manager, heartbroken and sobbing after a confession, wandering around during the night is way funnier than any potential split in the department itself.
“Well, it’s easier than I thought. Thanks to you, the problem overshadowed your larger blunder.”
“Really?”
Strangely, that thought felt good, but at the same time, it felt like crap.
“And the Second Manager was dressed rather normally, right? We know someone cried, but hardly anyone knew it was the Second Manager.”
“Now that’s a relief.”
“I mean, people even joked about the gray hair: could it be the Wise Duke?”
“What a bunch of idiots.”
A chuckle escaped my lips despite the insanity of that notion. Why bring the Wise Duke into this?
For a second, I imagined what it would look like if the Wise Duke burst into tears in front of me, but even the thought felt ridiculous.
“Anyway, congratulations on your three wives!”
“What?”
“Isn’t it true? The Second Manager just got here, and they looked ecstatic.”
The Second Manager’s grin made me feel itchy inside.
‘There are five, you dimwit.’
That barely-concealed thought waged war against my throat, but I swallowed it back. I’m pretty sure if I said anything to this fool, the entire empire would know before a day had passed.
“Stop worrying about my wives and keep an eye on your own.”
My snarky comeback made the Second Manager lock lips.
It’s not just him who knows my weaknesses. I also have a decent grasp of his.
“You seem more likely to get married first than me.”
I said with a grin, satisfying my, for once, better comeback.
I noticed the Second Manager’s eyes shift a bit downward. That took a lot of willpower not to grin wider at the sight.
I know the Second Manager is seriously involved with the Minister’s niece. It’s someone I’ve heard about each time I visit Gerhardt’s lab, and Cristina herself confirmed that it was true.
Never would I have imagined hearing something more pressing though.
“Minister so-and-so just summoned the Second Manager. Since they are of age, they told him to get married immediately. If he dawdles, they may consider it an insult to his fiancée.”
That calm report from the Senior Manager was anything but calm.
Hearing that made me crack up for a while. The Second Manager’s been wandering around pretty aimlessly, but now he’s in for some serious consequences for messing around.
“Having plenty of dating experience means it’s time to move on to wedding experience now.”
“Wait, how do you sound just like my father?”
Seeing the Second Manager’s cringed expression told me all I needed to know about what his father said, and I completely understood.
The Second Manager must have been the kind of “problem child” that made his father worry.
‘Just like me.’
At work, a subordinate stressing out the boss, and at home, a son stressing out the father.
What a remarkable idiot.
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