Chapter 587
During the Crown Princess’s doljabi, my future got sealed.
It’s a strange thing. Doljabi is supposed to be an event to glimpse a baby’s future, but why did it end up revealing mine instead?
“The Crown Princess chose the Minister, so she’ll become the Emperor, receiving the Minister’s devoted assistance.”
I couldn’t help but bite my lip. I still can’t forget the words the Emperor said right after the doljabi was over.
The audacity! Treating a dignified human like me as just another object at a doljabi. The ruthless certainty that I’d ‘naturally’ still be working when he, either dead or retired, was gone.
It felt so unfair. Yes, the Emperor is older than I am, but it’s not by much. By the time the Crown Princess ascends the throne, I should still be around for a while…
Today… tomorrow…
“Damn it.”
I sighed, not able to delude myself anymore.
If my lifespan were to lengthen, I wouldn’t be able to say “today or tomorrow.” By the time the Crown Princess takes the throne, I would be around 70 or 80 years old, and according to Trixie’s half-elf calculations, that’s roughly equivalent to being 14 to 16!
Wow, 16! That’s even younger than when I started my civil service!
‘…If I just serve the Crown Princess and get out, that’s a win.’
In reality, the Murno, Trika, and Apels Empires have lasted for over a thousand years, which is bizarre; most dynasties last a few hundred years. Many have collapsed without even reaching 300!
But me, a guy in his 20s, living to be 400 or 500? It’d be quite the match to see if the Livnoman Imperial Family crumbles first or if I kick the bucket first. Just thinking about it makes my chest tighten.
‘Somehow, I need to retire legally during the Crown Princess’s reign.’
I resolved firmly, grinding my teeth. Before becoming a loyal (forced) servant at the empire’s end, I’d rather retire. I wouldn’t invest the rest of my life as a civil servant.
Of course, it wouldn’t just be my retirement; it’d be a joint retirement with my spouse. It’d be super awkward for the husband to be lazing around while his wife is working!
“I wish the Minister could live long enough to take care of our grandkids.”
That’s why I tried to erase the Emperor’s curse from my mind.
There can’t be a servant who served three emperors; I need to be someone who served four.
Thanks to a series of weddings and births, I’ve been on vacation for almost two years now.
Sure, variables like invitations to the council or dispatches to the Leon Kingdom have led to some bizarre situations of business during my vacation, but officially, my vacation hasn’t ended.
However, the time had come to cut my long holiday short and return to the Office of the Inspectorate.
“These documents require Your Grace’s personal approval.”
A year has passed since the Inspectorate officially launched.
In that time, a mountain of paperwork piled up, accumulated from tasks only the Minister can sign off.
“Wow, that’s a lot. Great job sorting through this mess.”
I patted the shoulder of the Senior Manager, who’s been doing an excellent job leading the Inspectorate.
Just looking at her face fills me with pride. In this crazy situation where the Minister hasn’t even set foot in the office since we formed, she steadfastly held it down. If the Emperor orders her to move to another department, she’s the pillar of the one I’d risk my life for.
Every time I think about it, I’m convinced that without my Secretary—or rather, my assistant—I would’ve been toast. It’s not an exaggeration; I could’ve literally died from overwork!
“Thanks to Your Grace trusting me with all the authority, I’ve been able to manage without too much trouble.”
After patting her back, my Secretary humbly bowed her head.
I was touched. If I were the Secretary, I would’ve wished to smack the Minister, who dumped everything on me, right in the gut!
‘Am I lucky to have these underlings, or is my luck terrible?’
Looking at my Secretary, Pina, and Second Manager, it’s not bad luck at all. But when I glance at the Second and Third Managers, it’s hard to say the same.
Where there’s a heavenly subordinate, there’s bound to be a devil as well. Truly a perfect balance of chaos.
…
‘Oh right, they’re not Managers anymore now, are they?’
It suddenly hit me. I was the one who promoted the Fifth Manager to Executive Manager and the Second and Third Managers to Information Manager and Executive Manager, respectively. Yet here I was still calling them Managers like I hadn’t given them new titles!
If that slips out in an official meeting, calling them Managers would be inconvenient. I’d be disrespecting them at a time when I should be building my authority.
‘Would they actually be okay with that?’
Thinking about it, those slippery ninjas would see me downgrading their titles as a chance to step down themselves.
Maybe that’s why I felt a surge of obligation to call them by their current titles. Even if my tongue slips and gets tied, they’re Managers and Executive Managers now!
“Speaking of which, Your Grace.”
“Uh, go ahead.”
I snapped out of my thoughts at the Secretary’s call.
“Everything needs to be done before the New Year’s Ball, so there’s no urgent rush.”
I glanced at the mountain of documents in front of me. It’s quite a bit, but considering it piled up over a year, it’s not too bad. I can manage if I buckle down for a few days, so there’s no need to drag it out.
“Alright, then. It’s better to finish early.”
“It may be tough to finalize it today,” she added.
“Huh?”
I didn’t grasp what she meant. But I figured it out moments later.
Footsteps running in from beyond; the door to the Minister’s office slammed open without knocking.
“Minister!”
In barged a wild Erich.
“Finally, I get to have a work date with you, Minister?!”
“What are you talking about?”
Instantly, my head went blank. Can “work” and “date” even exist in the same sentence?
“I thought I’d be a bride working alone until the wedding day, only seeing my groom then!”
“No, you always come over after work!”
I vehemently argued, absolutely incensed by her comments that turned my future husband into trash in mere seconds.
Sure, I hadn’t shown my face at the Inspectorate in a year. I was terrified a royal decree would arrive when I stepped foot in the place, insisting, “Now that you’re here, go ahead and get some work done!”
But Erich and Pina didn’t stray elsewhere after work; they came straight to the mansion. Even though it was a newly established department and the concept of “going home” was fuzzy, they were always with me when they had the chance.
So painting it like I was abandoning my future wife was a serious misrepresentation of the facts; I’m not that heartless or inconsiderate.
“But still! When I finally get home, it’s time for dinner! After dinner, it’s awkward to suggest we go on a date! If we chat a little, it’ll be bedtime before we know it! And once we sleep, it’s back to work again!”
Of course, Erich wasn’t one to back down from my protests. Instead, she launched into a barrage of grievances loud and clear.
“Unfair! My sisters and brothers get to date softly in the mansion! Pina and I spend over half the day apart every single time!”
I found myself facepalming at the sight of Erich throwing herself on the ground.
It’s somewhat tragic but oddly endearing; I understand her feelings but can’t comprehend the behavior.
But what can I do? Even that embarrassing side is part of my wife. If I don’t accept it as her husband, who will?
‘Soon it’ll be time for Erich and me to tie the knot.’
November, coincidentally filled with delight upon delight, slipped away as December arrived. Just a month more, and it’ll be time for Erich to walk down the aisle.
And it would be cruel for a bride about to wed to have no memories with her groom.
“Promise me you’ll spend the day with me! Even when signing documents, you can sit on my lap—”
“Let’s at least do a little dating.”
“…Really?”
At my words, Erich perked up, her eyes sparkling like stars.
“Let’s date! I’ll tell the Information Manager that I approved it, so just use a day of vacation.”
“Are you serious?!”
“If it were a lie, I wouldn’t have suggested taking a vacation in the first place!”
Seeing Erich nodding knowingly, I knew she bought my sincerity.
“Well, I wanted to help you as your Senior Manager on your first day back at work, but since you want to go on a date with your lovely fiancé, I guess that can’t be helped!”
Erich rose gracefully, puffing out her chest in pride.
As I was about to say, “Actually, that was a lie,” I held my tongue, fearing I might witness the depths of my future wife’s frustration.
“Wait a second.”
“What? I need to write my vacation request quickly.”
“You’ve got to dust yourself off first.”
I grabbed her shoulders as she tried to dash out and dusted off her back.
No matter how carefree Erich is about other people’s opinions, I can’t let her wander around in dirty clothes as if she just used her back for sweeping the floor!
*
Bounding into the Information Office while humming a tune.
“Information Manager!”
Then I swung the door wide open with a spring in my step.
“Please don’t call me that; I’m not pretty—”
“I’m taking a vacation!”
I flung the hastily scrawled vacation request at the Information Manager.
His expression immediately twisted. What a delightful and delightful act to toss a vacation request at someone just back from parental leave!
“Oh, since the Minister approved it, you don’t need to handle it separately!”
“Then why did you hand it to me?!”
“Just to make you mad!”
His assertive answer made the Information Manager grab the back of his neck.
How interesting. Even back when the Minister was the Executive Manager, he sometimes showed that kind of attitude; I see, that’s the transformation that comes with being an Executive or Senior Manager.
‘I guess I’ll be a Manager for life.’
My husband is a Minister, and my sister is a Duke, so titles don’t mean much. Initially, I felt a tiny bit jealous of the Minister who promoted everyone but me, but looking back, it was really a kind gesture for me.
If I were a Manager, I would receive some decent respect but relatively less responsibility, and the workload would be lighter.
‘Being a Manager is the best.’
Gazing contentedly at the flustered Senior Manager, I turned around.
Having submitted my vacation request, it’s finally all about dating now!
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