Chapter: 693
The Judicial Minister looked seven times older than his actual age, which was quite a pathetic sight. It left me wondering if I should lend a hand with his workload, which created a bit of conflict in my mind.
Of course, that conflict ended up being just that—conflict. The roles of the Executive Manager and the Minister of Finance didn’t overlap, so if I tried to help, it would only add to his tasks.
Besides, the Minister had survived this tough period and had become a seasoned veteran after seven years. He’d manage just fine on his own.
“I’m suffering here because of you, and what do I get in return? Just complaints about how old I look.”
However, contrary to my faith in him, the Minister frowned and shifted the blame to his subordinate.
“What did I do wrong? The Information Department has been swamped with internal cleaning lately and hasn’t had time to work!”
That was a statement I couldn’t let slide. I made a proper protest in response.
At this point, the Information Department couldn’t even engage in external activities due to cleaning up internal dissenters, and the Minister hadn’t caused any disasters to shake his mental state. In fact, he should be feeling somewhat relieved because of us.
“You should’ve done a better cleanup! If you send those to another department, we’ll be drowning in paperwork as they all come flooding back with their tasks!”
“Oh.”
I understood the Minister’s shouting that followed.
Indeed, at that time, there had been such an extravagant purge that it practically shattered departmental traditions. Thanks to that, even the administrative staff within the Finance Ministry had shrunk significantly. In reality, the Minister had been dealing with headaches because of it for a while.
“…But the grip on our department has increased, hasn’t it?”
“That’s what you’re calling it?!”
Just as the Minister was about to raise his voice again, he seemed to run out of steam, bowing his head and sighing heavily.
To see the Minister in such a defeated state was truly a rare sight, indeed.
“So, why did you come?”
“I’m here to report the meeting results.”
Explaining my visit seemed to rekindle some energy in him. It was as if his drained vitality had been restored, at least a little.
No, it was beyond mere recovery. His expression grew lively, showing signs of excitement. After all, dealing with the remaining Second Prince supporters was probably quite exciting for the Minister too.
“We’ve decided to deal with the small fries later and focus on Marquise Housenze and Count Sien first.”
“You’re going in for the head first? Are you sure you can handle it?”
Despite his words, the corners of the Minister’s mouth had already curled into a smile.
He must have been equally fed up with the Second Prince and his two stupid accomplices. I bet not just the Minister but other nobles and officials felt the same.
“Those big shots are just headless idiots at this point. They might put up a fight, but in the end, they’re the ones who’ll fall.”
“That much is true.”
“On the flip side, we’ll start moving in a week.”
“A week, huh? Not bad.”
The Minister’s expression brightened further with each piece of information he received.
“Good. If the Marquise and Count fall, the Second Prince’s done for too. I’ll let His Highness the Crown Prince know, so proceed as planned.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I bent my waist sharply at his words.
Fortunately, at this time, I had just become the Crown Prince’s trusted aide, so I wasn’t yet in a position to directly report to His Highness. Thus, I avoided having to see the Emperor’s face, even in a dream.
“Oh, and if plans change, tell me right away.”
“Don’t worry. The Information Department isn’t something we can wrap up overnight.”
“Look at you, acting tough after just becoming the Executive Manager.”
I shot a smile back at the Minister, who chuckled at my playful jab.
Unlike the newly appointed Minister, I was a veteran with seven years of experience (including a three-year honeymoon). No one in this dream had the same determination to pummel nobles like I did.
Not that I actually intended to beat anyone, but I could definitely afford to take it easy for a week and then escape back to reality.
—
Work hours drifted by quietly and peacefully.
Whether the postponement of the big event of hunting the big fish was due to that miracle of a dream, or if some deity was helping me escape from the troubles of work within this dream, it didn’t matter—time felt abundant.
‘Is it already quitting time?’
And having an abundance of time meant I could leave work right on time without a problem.
Unfortunately, while other sub-managers seemed busy preparing for the big fish hunt, that was the fate of mid-level officials, right? If they had wanted to avoid it so badly, they should have aimed for higher positions like me or Hecate.
“Seems like another peaceful day is done~”
Just then, Hecate, who had been working beside me, glanced at her watch and stretched refreshingly like she, too, was ready to head out.
Now that I think about it, the Senior Manager usually had a separate office, yet here she was in the Executive Manager’s office.
‘Not that I mind.’
In fact, sharing a room with Hecate wasn’t something I disliked; one reason I hadn’t mentioned the ‘Senior Manager’ office once was to spend as much time as I could with Hecate.
I didn’t want to casually say something like, “Shouldn’t you be in your office?” because it might hurt her feelings. Sending away a lover after seeing her again after seven years would be cruel.
“Carl.”
“What? Aren’t we supposed to use formalities even with lovers?”
“That’s only during work hours. We’re off the clock now.”
Hecate’s playful smile made me burst into laughter as well.
She had a point. During work hours, I was the Executive Manager, but now that it was quitting time, I was just Carl. Besides, when she woke me up, she called me Carl, yet once I was up, she switched back to Executive Manager. The distinction between work and personal life was chillingly clear.
“Anyway, let’s hurry and go. The kids are waiting for us.”
“The kids?”
That word made me pause for a second.
Kids? Who was she talking about? Surely, she wasn’t referring to the other second managers?
No, it seemed way too affectionate for that. Plus, those poor souls could hardly afford to wait for us.
‘Could it be Hecate and my kids?’
My heart began to race wildly. Could it be that in this dream, Hecate and I were close enough to be at that stage? Is it possible she had kids at this point?
And not just one, but plural. She used the word ‘kids’, not just ‘kid’.
‘Wait, twins?’
Wow, dream-me sure moved fast. The former Head of the Information Department, Count Sien, was still alive, and from the looks of things, the war had just wrapped up, so if that’s the case…
“Why are you spacing out? Hurry up!”
Hecate grabbed my hand.
No, not yet! I’m not emotionally prepared for this…!
“Can’t we wait a little longer?”
“No~! The kids have waited for today, you know! We’ve been so busy with all the internal cleaning that we need to spend some quality time with our family now!”
At the firm rejection, I felt my heart flutter uncontrollably.
Family? That was only adding fuel to the fire of my assumptions.
“So you understand the difficulties posed by our social status, right? It’s easier to get close when you hang out more often.”
‘Huh?’
However, something felt off about her following remark.
She said I was a noble, which implied that the kids waiting for us I should assume were not nobles. It felt like she was suggesting those kids weren’t noble at all.
‘Oh.’
And then it clicked.
The kids were neither noble nor were they a burden. They were kids with whom Hecate had a connection, who might feel a bit intimidated by me, but I was responsible for them. They were kids deserving to be embraced by Hecate and me as family.
‘They’re the kids from the orphanage.’
They were the children we’d tried to protect but couldn’t. Grateful kids who became family to the orphaned Hecate.
“Alright, I’ll go on my own, so just let go of my hand for now.”
I managed to calm my excited heart.
I had never met these kids, but I had wanted to see them. If I were to become Hecate’s husband, they would essentially become my family too, and I promised to take care of them.
Finally, I could meet the kids who had been nothing more than a hollow boast up until now.
“I don’t want to.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to keep holding on until we get home.”
As Hecate stuck her tongue out at me, my heart began to race once more.
It was a different kind of fluttering than before, of that, there was no doubt.
—
The house Hecate and I lived in was not my personal residence from reality but rather the Krasius family mansion.
I had unexpectedly lost my footing, but it made perfect sense. After smashing the Aesilon Marquise, I had received the mansion previously owned by the Aesilons as a gift from the Crown Prince. So technically, it wasn’t really ‘my’ house yet.
While I felt a little sad about losing a familiar setting, it was alright. The Krasius mansion was far from lacking, after all.
“Kids! I’m back!”
“Sister!”
“Siiiister!”
And as Hecate grandly entered the mansion, she was bombarded with enthusiastic greetings from the kids.
“My little cuties! You all stayed out of trouble while I was gone, right?”
“Sister! Hans stole my snack!”
“Julia teased me for peeing first!”
“I did NOT want that kind of response…”
Despite her flushed cheeks from the unexpected outburst, Hecate’s bright smile brought a flutter to my heart.
Hecate had left this peaceful, joyful daily life behind. It was that previous Head of the Information Department— that bastard who ruined it all.
‘Should I beat him up when I get back?’
I never wanted to waste a reunion after seven long years. I didn’t want a bunch of dirty impurities messing with the joy and longing that filled my heart.
But seeing that scene reignited my hatred and anger toward the former Head of the Information Department. Even in a dream, I wanted to kill him.
‘He’d definitely die from just one hit.’
Should the mood strike me, I could sneak into that bastard’s mansion and give him a solid punch to the gut, then escape. I could pull that off.
“Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law.”
“Hm?”
“Hello….”
As I was pondering this, a little girl, probably about ten years old, tugged at my pants with a sheepish bow.
“Hey there, how’s it going? You took care of things pretty well while we were gone, huh?”
“Yes, yes. Thanks to you, I’m doing well.”
Matching her gaze, I smiled down at her, and the girl nodded vigorously.
Good girl. From Hecate’s cues, it seemed like she still seemed a bit intimidated by me, but she knew how to approach me for a greeting.
“What a good kid.”
So I took out a small gift I had bought on my way home and showed it to her.
“Here! This is a present from your brother-in-law. I brought a lot, so share with the others.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
These were gifts I had painstakingly purchased, despite Hecate’s mild scolding for buying something when the kids needed to eat.
“Th-thank you!”
The girl’s face lit up as she beamed at the surprise gift.
Now I felt like a brother-in-law she could truly appreciate.
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