Chapter 525
For a moment, I hesitated at the sight of the ungrateful beast-like Minister, but now it’s too late to back down. I had already talked it over with Mar and the rest of the family, and everyone agreed it was for the best.
When I thought about it, asking someone else other than the Minister was also unappealing. No matter how much of a beast he was, if I needed help, he was the only one who could take care of it.
…Thinking like this just makes me hesitate more. A beast’s heart or not, we’re talking about humanity here.
‘Enough.’
Let’s stop this train of thought. It’s not like I haven’t known how flashy the Minister’s humanity is.
“It’s not anything strange, so just sit comfortably and listen. You’re not going to leave alone, right?”
“Would you trust me?”
At such a blunt question, my mouth momentarily closed.
What if I suddenly got an invitation to dinner from the Minister and he looked like he had something to say? Even if he wasn’t acting strangely, would I just say “Oh, I see” and roll with it?
‘No way.’
I got it. Even I wouldn’t do that—
“Well, there’s no way a newlywed would say anything strange in front of their wife.”
The Minister, having mentally smacked himself with that harsh fact, chuckled and crossed his arms.
Damn old man. Stubbornly putting on an act when he’s going to give in anyway.
*
From the moment I got the invite for dinner, I suspected he had something to ask.
This guy once yelled that sharing a meal with a superior would ruin his appetite. So, while he was in the Ministry, he usually ate separately. Now he’s inviting me to his precious home where a newborn just arrived? Sounds like nonsense. I know him well enough to see that this is no ordinary invitation.
But I could only guess that there was something going on; I couldn’t figure out anything beyond that.
‘He shouldn’t be asking me for anything.’
It wasn’t that he was below me, but more that he was equal or above me in stature, meaning he didn’t need to plead with me at all.
Honestly, if he needed something, he could easily procure it himself or pull some strings with his connections. No matter how much of a Minister I was, that title held no more nobility than a Duke.
‘What’s going on?’
What exactly did he plan to ask with such an elaborate setup?
At this point, I felt a little uneasy. This was the same guy who used to grab my neck from behind since my days in the Inspection Department. Now that he’s a Minister just like me, I dread what nonsensical and terrible things he could cook up.
Of course, if he were to ask me to take him back on board, I would refuse. There’s nothing more petty than taking something and then giving it back.
“That’s the thing.”
Kal, who had been scratching the back of his head under my gaze, cleared his throat and continued.
“Soon Feddy will be baptized, and it wouldn’t be right to have a baptism without a godfather. So, I was thinking of choosing a godfather for Feddy…”
His evasive glances were rather annoying. What’s he being shy about? It’s not like he’s some goody two-shoes with a conscience.
“W-Would you consider being Feddy’s godfather?”
“…Huh?”
But the follow-up line made my body freeze. Granted, it wasn’t exactly something he could say confidently.
“The truth is, I can’t really ask anyone else but you, Your Grace. I’ve already been asked to be a godfather for the granddaughter of the Vice Captain, and if I’m asking family to take on such a role, then there wouldn’t be a need for a godfather at all. You’re just the right age and familiarity…”
Was my silence registering as a sign of rejection? Kal rambled on with a slightly panicked tone.
Sorry, but I could barely hear him. After dropping a bomb like that, no amount of chatter would come through.
“Kal. What kind of talk is that coming from someone asking for a favor?”
“Ah, right. My bad.”
I couldn’t even bring myself to laugh at Lady Countess scolding Kal. Normally, I’d ridicule him for being unable to do anything in front of his wife.
I was confused. The fact that he was asking me to be a godfather and that he suddenly had a child both hit hard.
“Please, Your Grace. I can’t trust anyone else but you.”
“Do you think I’m someone you can just dump this responsibility on? You may regret it.”
Gathering my wits, I struggled to speak nonchalantly. Could he really place the responsibility of being his child’s godfather in my hands? Could he really trust me?
“Honestly, I’m not who you’d want to influence your kid positively.”
“I know that well enough. I’m the one who grew up under the influence of bad examples.”
Sigh, I see Kal is killing it even now.
“But that’s exactly why I’m trusting you. I know you might be a little rough around the edges, but you’re someone who fulfills their obligations.”
His serious expression as he blushed, saying such embarrassing things, made me feel awkward instead. He thinks he’s dutiful? Is he working with someone else, not me?
“So I trust that you will fulfill this obligation as well. You promised, right?”
At that, it was like I got hit with a brick.
A promise, huh.
‘Did you remember?’
I thought it would only be a memory in this old man’s mind.
“You little brat, that’s not the promise I remember.”
Suppressing my rising emotions, I let out a chuckle.
“There’s no one else who would make that promise other than you and me.”
“And if it’s not us, there’s no one else who could care for the kid.”
And his absurd response had me bursting into laughter.
Yeah, damn it. If he’s going that far to say it, I should agree.
“Let me know when you set the date for the baptism.”
Because that was the promise.
*
On the way back to the mansion with my wife.
“Ma’am.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“There’s somewhere I’d like to stop by. Would you return first?”
Upon hearing this, my wife looked at me intently, then smiled softly.
“It’s okay if you’re a little late today.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
With a little embrace and her kind consideration, I turned away. It would be silly to let her walk back alone since we came out together, but I had a feeling I’d regret it if I didn’t go see those fellows.
Damn, they say when a man gets married and has a child, he changes. But why does that sly and shameless guy seem the same even after becoming a father?
“You guys should have seen that guy in his current state.”
I muttered this in front of the gravestone I trudged over to alone.
Gerard, Oliver, Drake, Walter, Idrid, Hecate. Unlike what Kal said, they were the ones I had to send off because I hadn’t fulfilled my obligations. Those brats went before me, the elder in a way that was simply arrogant.
“Therefore, you can carry out this obligation as well. You promised, right?”
And the promise Kal mentioned was shared among them.
“Always spouting nonsense, just out of the blue bringing up past promises.”
I chuckled as I brushed the leaves off the gravestone.
It felt as vivid as yesterday, the days of our military campaigns in the North. When Kal and Hecate became lovers, they told us we must get married once the war ended, that three children were enough, and to prepare a grand wedding feast among their taunting and congratulations.
“My first child, I’ll definitely be the godfather.”
Back then, I added my two cents.
“No way, isn’t it too early to know the kid’s personality?”
“Kiddo, a Count is personally volunteering to be the godfather. You should accept that!”
“If I’m having the first child, he’s going to be the Imperial Count. What does it matter if a Count steps in?”
At first, Kal vehemently opposed, but the more he resisted, the more those five around him cheered.
“A direct superior and a godfather? Wow, I can’t handle that!”
“If I were you, I’d create a child just to ask you.”
“Boss, can I ask you to be the godfather when I get a kid too?”
“You should at least hold hands with a girl before talking!”
“Damn!”
As the atmosphere shifted toward ‘The godfather of the first child is definitely going to be the Boss!’ Kal was visibly flustered. Even Hecate seemed to be enjoying it a little, so he couldn’t hold out.
“Then make sure to cover for my first kid too as a godfather! Make it a great-niece or nephew!”
“Filthy, dude!”
This was his last desperate attempt not to die alone, given the group conditions he put forth.
Anyway, that’s how it went. When I found out my two direct subordinates were getting married, I intended to be the godfather to their child. If I did just one, it wouldn’t feel fair, so I thought I’d take on those born from the rest of them too. Although, aside from Kal, it ended up becoming empty promises as they all passed away.
Yeah, it must’ve turned into a lost promise. A wishful memory remembered.
‘Didn’t know I’d end up… being the only one to remember it.’
I gently brushed Hecate’s gravestone with my hand.
Hecate had been half-crazy after her passing, and now she was just barely finding new love. I never expected they’d still remember the promises we made, nor would they bring them up again.
But here I was, starting to share those promises again. Even if they might not be the same as those made in the past, and even if there were no ones left with whom to share them.
‘We can just remember anew.’
After all, it’s a child belonging to my subordinate.
It’s definitely Kal’s child.
“Make sure you pass on your congratulations. I’m living this way.”
I cautiously lifted my head towards the sky. This was meant for those fellows who were probably up there somewhere.
‘Hmm.’
But soon, I lowered my head again.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I find myself getting teary-eyed more often.
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