Chapter 588
Today marked the first day back at the Inspectorate for the Minister since its official launch.
Ironically, after nearly a year, the Minister’s first historic task was a date with a subordinate.
‘Is this even right?’
A sense of disbelief crept in. No matter how competent, trustworthy, and perfect my Secretary is, is it really appropriate for me, the nominal boss, to enjoy a date with a subordinate? Especially when work has piled up?
Fortunately, my Secretary seemed to anticipate this situation and said I could take care of everything before the New Year’s Ball. But just because my Secretary understands doesn’t change the triangle of guilt twisting away in my mind.
‘I’m sorry.’
I silently apologized, imagining my Secretary who’s probably hard at work now. I feel bad for enjoying this sweet nectar all on my own.
So, when I get back, I have to make it up to her. A vacation—though honestly, that’s pushing it—but I can definitely slip a bonus equal to her salary into her wallet. When she inherits a title later, I promise to make her investiture ceremony spectacular, and if she needs any resources for her territory management, I’ll offer human and material support without hesitation.
Yeah, aside from a vacation, I can give her everything. She is my light and my hope.
“Hehe.”
As I thought about the gift package for my Secretary, Erich smirked and folded her arms.
“Today, you’re spending the day playing with me, right?”
Looking into her sparkling eyes, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
While it’s important to repay my Secretary, what I should be focusing on right now is the date with Erich. I had momentarily forgotten about that essential fact in the haze of guilt.
“I’ll head back right after midnight, so make the most of it.”
“No way! You have to spend the whole 24 hours with me! Stay with me until before work tomorrow!”
“Watch your mouth.”
I pulled her lips in response to her confident demand for overtime.
‘Ah…’
As that familiar sensation welled up from my fingertips, I gently closed my eyes. How long had it been since I enjoyed this feeling?
“Mmph!”
Justice was served. Erich flailed her arms about in protest, but her resistance lacked any genuine fervor.
Seriously, she seems to be enjoying this.
The moment our date kicked off, we unexpectedly hit a snag.
“Minister.”
“Yeah?”
“What are we doing now?”
“Good question.”
We both realized we hadn’t decided where to go, and it was a critical deadlock.
This wasn’t due to a lack of dating experience. Unlike Erich, who’s a lifelong singleton, I have enjoyed quiet moments with my partners during my time as an Inspector at the Academy, and more recently, Trixie and I didn’t go sightseeing through the Holy Kingdom. I’ve had some dating experience, even if it wasn’t many.
However, this is my first ‘date’ as an Inspector. Even though both Erich and I live in the area and work here, we hadn’t really enjoyed ourselves in the territory.
After all, when work finished, I’d go home and rest. When would I find the time to hang out? Plus, the concept of clocking out on time was fuzzy, and on unlucky days, I might not even be able to leave.
This led to the dilemma of not knowing where to go in this vast territory. Back in school trips, we had announced the journey weeks in advance, allowing us to plan ahead.
‘What a headache.’
That said, wandering around the territory randomly is also not ideal.
For now, it’s not an issue for nobility to nonchalantly stroll around on a date. Walking in the empire’s heart and the continent’s center like this is the pinnacle of noble behavior. No one would whisper that we weren’t keeping up the noble dignity while they watched us.
But our affiliation is the Inspectorate. If the Minister and Second Manager are wandering around in broad daylight, the shops in the territory would probably fear an unexpected inspection.
‘Should I map out our route right now?’
If I try to plan a route this late, it’ll be a waste of time, but if I don’t and wander aimlessly, a whole day will vanish. Unfortunately, sacrificing the cow for the sake of the party…
“Oh, wait a second!”
While frowning in concentration, Erich pulled out a communicator from her pocket.
— Yes, this is the Information Manager.
Moments later, the face of the Information Manager appeared.
“Manager! It’s me!”
— What the hell do you want now?
The Manager’s face twisted into an annoyed grimace, but Erich continued speaking as if she were unaffected.
“I’m trying to enjoy a cozy date with the Minister, so could you revive those legendary connections of yours and send some recommended spots?”
— Do you think I’m lounging around here!
“My wife doesn’t know about all those past lovers of yours, does she?”
— I’ve been busy plotting the perfect route since the day you applied for leave. Just wait ten minutes.
And just like that, the connection was cut.
That guy. The repercussions of his Casanova days are still lingering on.
“Looks like we just have to wait ten minutes!”
“Right. That works.”
I nodded awkwardly at Erich’s bright smile.
Just before the communication was cut, I caught a glimpse of the Manager’s face, ready to weep blood while biting his lip.
‘Well, serves him right.’
His relationship troubles must be complicated, but they better be really complicated. I can’t back him up if it’s that glamorous.
But thankfully, his wife, Christina, chose to marry him despite knowing about his colorful past.
…
‘What on earth happened there?’
Suddenly, a shiver went down my spine. Christina knows all about the Manager’s past, but could there be something in that past he’s afraid of her finding out?
‘Did he have a kid?’
That thought crossed my mind for a moment before I dismissed it.
That guy may boast about his flings, but he knows where to draw the line. If he didn’t, he’d have been stabbed in the stomach or faced familial retribution by now.
That makes me even more curious. What’s the hidden past of this ecological disruptor who’s stirred up the social scene?
“Erich.”
“Yes?”
“What happened that made him react that way?”
At my words, Erich grinned and whispered in my ear.
“He was the first person to think about marriage. He’s in a mental victory now for overcoming that crisis to become who he is today, but saying he almost married someone else in front of his current wife is a bit hard.”
I nodded calmly, relieved it wasn’t a bigger deal than I thought.
No need to worry. Damn guy.
*
The route sent by the Information Manager was perfect, just like a skilled dating expert.
The scenery between shops, the characteristics and ambiance of each shop, and even harmonious menu items that wouldn’t overlap if we popped into a restaurant or café.
‘So this is how you can mingle with ten or more people.’
It was impressive but not something I wanted to emulate. I only have the Minister in my heart.
“I didn’t even know there was such a café here.”
The Minister seemed to think the same way, muttering in disbelief.
While it’s a cliché, many of the places mentioned in the Manager’s route were well-known to only a select few. Actually, all of them fit that description. It allowed us to enjoy our date without anyone interrupting.
Honestly, I was surprised. We’d been wandering around for three hours, yet we had barely met ten people. In a territory boasting over a million residents, no less.
‘Thank goodness he’s married.’
I genuinely felt relief at the fact that the Manager was married. Had he still been ambling around the social scene, countless young ladies would have been shedding tears.
In the past, I thought those young ladies were just at fault for being infatuated with the Manager, but now that I’m in a relationship with the Minister, I slightly understand that pain. If the Minister stopped seeing me and started getting close to another person, my heart would surely shatter.
“Minister.”
“Yeah?”
“You can’t turn into someone like the Manager.”
The Minister shook her head firmly.
“I can’t become someone like that, even if I tried.”
Her words were compelling, and I understood. That level of audacity isn’t something you can achieve through mere effort. You need a divine gift of shamelessness and a consciousness buried deep underground to pull it off.
To begin with, unlike the Manager, the Minister isn’t someone who shifts from one person to another.
‘If she loves someone, she’ll meet them all.’
I lost my train of thought there for a moment. I mean, this is someone with four wives, plus two fiancées—there’s no way she could be like the Manager. In fact, it’s the Manager who should be wary of becoming like the Minister instead.
“Shall we go to the next place?”
“Ah, yes! Next is the theater!”
I grabbed the Minister’s outstretched hand and stood up.
Our next destination was a theater created by a retired merchant lord for his hobby. It boasts impressive acting and storytelling but seems to be hiding away in a corner, performing plays for a select few guests.
[The theater is to be visited last.]
And it was a place the Manager had insisted we visit last several times.
Honestly, with each emphasis from the Manager, I seriously considered going there first. If the other party desires it so ardently, it can be quite fun to overturn that expectation.
However, since this date in the territory was made possible through the Manager’s connections, I felt it was essential to follow her advice. I couldn’t let this day with the Minister go to waste.
‘…But it’s just a play.’
Though I questioned it, I was still looking forward to it. What kind of place could be so special that the Manager insisted it be saved for the very last?
Arriving at the theater and following the staff’s guidance, we reached a room.
‘So that’s why.’
As soon as we entered, I immediately grasped why the Manager had stressed it so much.
‘This isn’t a pure theater.’
The room was spacious and luxurious. A gigantic glass window allowed viewing of the actors performing.
But inside, while you could see out, those outside couldn’t see in.
With rigorous locks that prevented unauthorized entry once the door closed.
‘So, that’s what it is.’
I unconsciously swallowed. This was the optimal environment for dedicated theater viewing, but should you have an interest in the play, it would create an unbothered space for just the two of us.
Just me and the Minister. A space exclusive to us. A place meant only for us.
“Ha, wow.”
Stealing a glance at the Minister, I saw her grinning softly.
She looked a little flustered, but it was clear she wasn’t displeased. I suppose there’s no reason for her to be unhappy, given her deep connections with four wives.
‘Alright.’
I clenched my fist and fired up my spirit.
Though we walked in as a duo, I planned to emerge as a trio.
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