Chapter: 276
After the grand events of the New Year’s Ball and my subordinate’s wedding, I finally got to enjoy a rather peaceful vacation. During the summer break, managing those burdensome folks was driving me mad, but now with nothing to worry about, it felt so relaxing.
Even the fifth empire’s winter break event was taken care of without me lifting a finger. If I could live life like this every day, I wouldn’t complain!
“Here you go.”
While I was absentmindedly staring at the clock, waiting for quitting time, the Second Manager slid a piece of paper my way.
As soon as I saw the words “Vacation Request” at the top, I immediately signed my name on the line. I didn’t even need to check what the reason was—what’s the point?
“It’s my first time taking a vacation with my superior.”
“It’s my first time taking one with a subordinate, too.”
And here I thought I was going somewhere unique, but the place the Second Manager wanted to go was exactly the same place I was heading—the Count’s territory in Tailglehen, where the Patriarch and my mother were waiting.
Didn’t I promise my mother I would visit the territory after the New Year’s Ball? Naturally, I couldn’t go alone, so I had to drag along the future daughters-in-law, hence the Second Manager rushed to write his leave application.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to dislike it too much.
“Oh, and I bought a gift for my mother!”
“Good for you.”
I nodded appropriately at the Second Manager rummaging through his pocket. For someone getting ready to meet their would-be mother-in-law, he was managing to think quite normally. If Marquis Iones were to see this, tears of joy would probably flow down his cheeks. It wouldn’t be odd if he achieved enlightenment this year.
“I think my mother will like this!”
Out popped a bright red ruby necklace from the Second Manager’s grasp.
Hmmm…
“…Yeah, she’d probably like it.”
“Right? I picked it out with great care!”
Seeing the Second Manager’s sparkling eyes filled with joy made me feel a twinge of guilt, but I didn’t take back my words. Sometimes, a little white lie is needed in life, right?
From what I remember, my mother wasn’t the type to wear bright red clothes, let alone red accessories. She preferred softer, warmer colors over flashy hues.
But how could I tell the future daughter-in-law preparing a gift the harsh truth? Besides, I believed my mother would be happy just knowing it came from her prospective daughter-in-law.
‘One isn’t a big deal.’
After all, the gifts weren’t solely prepared by the Second Manager. All the future daughters-in-law couldn’t show up empty-handed to their in-laws.
During the process, the future daughters-in-law pestered me with questions about my parents’ tastes, and when I mentioned that my mother would wear a necklace, they all decided to get necklaces. I didn’t have a clue about Father’s preferences, so I stayed mum about that. I figured they would handle it on their own.
So now, there would be a grand total of six necklaces for my mother. It wouldn’t be odd to have at least one red among them, right? It might actually stand out against the monotone ones.
‘She’ll probably wear one each day of the week.’
When that silly thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Thanks to this blabbering son, my mother might end up wearing a different necklace every day. If it had been any accessory, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now she might be stuck with all these necklaces.
“I got a gift for my dad, and I also prepared one for the Executive Manager!”
“No, why do you have to announce that in front of me?”
The Second Manager boldly declared this, leaving me in a bit of cultural shock. I mean, who announces gifts in front of the recipient?
“You know it’s obvious, right? On your birthday, you naturally receive gifts!”
And with such a compelling argument, I had to nod in agreement.
True enough. Nobody needs to announce that they’ll receive gifts on their birthday.
‘Birthday.’
It was a word I had half-forgotten and found a bit strange. Even though I experience my birthday every year since reincarnating, I tend to forget about it entirely. To be honest, it’s not even my birthday, is it?
– If you don’t mind, could you come by the end of January?
“Yes, that’s fine… Is there something going on then?”
– It’s your birthday!
“Oh.”
However, the sin of forgetting my physical birthday came back to haunt me in a dazzling fashion. The moment my dazed response hit her ears, my mother’s eyes glared at me, as if to ask, “What kind of life do you live that you forgot your own birthday?” Those subtly trembling eyes tugged at my heartstrings.
If I hadn’t said anything at that moment, I would have stayed on the receiving end of that pitiful gaze until our correspondence ended. Even the most oblivious person would catch on to that much.
So, I hastily mentioned that I’d take along the sixth future daughter-in-law that I couldn’t see last time, and only then did I escape from my mother’s moist gaze. I felt a bit guilty for using the Fourth Manager as a sacrifice, but in the end, as long as the result is good, it’s all that matters.
“But are you sure Penelia can come? I heard the Ministry of Intelligence has strict limits on vacation personnel.”
It seemed the Second Manager also thought about the Fourth Manager and raised a valid question.
Indeed, I had heard that the process for requesting vacation in the Ministry of Intelligence is more complicated than in other departments. I think they can send fewer people on leave than other departments.
“I heard the Mukgwangdae folks returned their vacation days.”
“Wow…”
But if there’s a personnel restriction, it would mean others aren’t going, no big deal. If everyone in the Mukgwangdae returned their vacations, one or two spots would easily become available for the Fourth Manager.
…Though the madness of subordinates willing to forgo their vacation for their boss is a bit terrifying, I guess that just speaks volumes about how well-liked the Fourth Manager is.
As civil servants aligned their vacations, the Mage Duchess took time to coordinate with the Vice Captain and their schedules.
“It’s been a while since you came. It’s a lovely place to return to.”
Thanks to the continent’s top mage, it was easy to travel. Using a teleport, I dropped right in front of the castle, and if something inconvenient were to happen, that would indeed be strange.
“Thank you. I arrived comfortably because of you.”
At my thanks, the Duke shook his head gently, putting on a smile. As if to say this was nothing really.
Sure, given the Duke’s abilities, it really is trivial, but you must never take other people’s kindness for granted. It’s just common courtesy to express gratitude, even for the smallest of gestures.
“Thank you, Beatrix.”
So I leaned in quietly to whisper, and I could feel the Duke’s ears quivering.
It works like a charm.
*
My heart raced. Today was the first day I would step out of the mansion. Not just out of my room, but out of the mansion itself.
“Cera, are you alright? Don’t push yourself! No, just stay here. That’d be─”
“I’m fine. The inspections are all done, right?”
Seeing Erich, who seemed even more anxious than me, made me uneasy, but this was a step I had to go through. To attend the Academy with Erich, I eventually had to face the outside world.
I needed to prove that my attendance at the Academy and going outside was not a problem. Only then could I be with Erich.
“Everyone said there’s nothing wrong. Don’t worry too much.”
I pressed my index finger against Erich’s lips and smiled.
The mage and the priest who provided treatment both said everything was okay. They assured me that I could handle my Academy life, so theoretically, I should be perfectly fine. Right now, I was merely in the process of translating that theory into practice.
“…Okay, I understand.”
Ultimately, Erich seemed to relent and exhaled a sigh.
“But if there’s even a little hint of a problem, we’re resting instantly.”
He added a condition, but knowing he cared so much made me feel happy.
“Just in case, I think I’ll have to lean on the knight if something feels off.”
“Guess I’ll have to stick to you.”
His words made me blush a little. I teased him, but his casual comeback made my heart flutter for reasons I didn’t quite understand.
‘Always…’
But that flutter was one of happy anticipation. Just hearing Erich’s words made instinctively imagine a scene filled with joy.
Erich sticking by my side, escorting me like the great knight he is. Just the thought brought me so much happiness. It feels like a dream come true.
Yet, it wasn’t a dream; it was reality.
“Okay, I’m depending on you.”
Beaming brightly, I linked arms with Erich. I could feel him stiffen in surprise.
So cute. His face is flushed, too. Getting shy over something so minor, just how pure can he be?
“Alright, let’s go. We can’t be late!”
“O-Okay. Uh, sure.”
Watching Erich stumble over his words, I stepped out of the room with deliberate strides.
…And I only realized how red my face was after glancing in the mirror as I stepped out.
When we arrived at the castle, Mother and my wife greeted us. They showered me with questions about whether I was uncomfortable on the way over, if my body was okay, and if I wasn’t too cold. But knowing those questions were filled with genuine love and concern made it all feel less bothersome.
“Yes, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”
“How cold-hearted. How can you not worry?”
As I watched my wife gently caress my cheek with a tone filled with concern, a smile broke out on my face. She’s my mother’s childhood friend and Erich’s mother. Since their relationship allows her to call me “aunt” in private, she ends up caring for me a lot.
“I really am fine. Aunt sent great healers my way, after all.”
At that, my wife smiled faintly and turned her gaze towards my mother.
“Look at this kid. He looks just like you did as a child, but how is his personality so different?”
In the unexpected onslaught, I could see my mother’s eyebrow twitch, but she seemed to hold back, probably because it was my first outing.
Instead, I caught my mother’s sharp glare that seemed to communicate, “What’s up with those looks?”
“Speaking of which, it must have been a while since you saw Carl.”
“Yes. I think it’s been a few years.”
Ignoring my mother’s gaze, my wife opened her mouth again. It had indeed been quite some time since I last saw Brother Carl.
Unless he returns home with his lovers, I doubt I’d see him for a while. He’s far too busy to pay me a visit in the hospital.
‘Six…’
Thinking about the number of suitors Brother Carl would bring made me feel a bit faint.
Six!? All at once?! Meanwhile, the Count and his wife live happily in a monogamous relationship. Why is my brother Carl…
‘…I heard that the previous Count had multiple wives.’
Is the blood of that legacy resurfacing? If so, does that mean Erich could also end up with several wives like Brother Carl?
‘I don’t like it.’
I grabbed Erich’s hand with a trembling grip. No way, I won’t share my knight with anyone else.
Erich is only my knight. He’s always been the one to protect me since childhood, and I’ve only ever watched over him.
“Cera?”
Erich, taken aback by my sudden grip, asked what was wrong.
“I’m just a little cold… Can I hold your hand for a bit longer?”
I flashed a smile at him.
That was a little lie. I actually wanted to hold onto this hand for a lifetime.
I wish this hand that I’m holding could be mine forever.
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