Chapter: 753
Today, my fishing rod felt surprisingly unkind, as if it had conspired against me.
It’s a strange phenomenon. Same location, similar weather, yet some days the fish just jump into your net, while other days, it’s a complete drought. The world of fishing is nothing short of enchanting.
“By the way, Wilhelm, have you heard…?”
“Heard what?”
I answered, keeping my gaze fixed on the fishing rod, hoping for a miracle.
Originally, Walter was supposed to join us, but due to some personal issues, he couldn’t make it. So, here I am alone at the lake with Georg, who has become more family than friend.
To be honest, it’s getting a bit tiresome. This face is becoming almost as familiar as my spouse or kids, at least the ones who aren’t Teresa, who’s already moved out.
“Your eldest son, I hear he’s been sniffing around the bureaucracy these days?”
“Kal?”
Yet, a glance at Georg’s face, laden with boredom, caught my attention next.
“Rumor has it he’s been meeting new recruits in the administration and military. We might not notice while we’re here fishing, but word spreads fast among the bureaucrats,” Georg continued.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“How would I know what goes on in your father’s mind?”
Georg shrugged, and I felt a pang of annoyance.
He plants a seed of curiosity and then walks away—that’s some sneakiness right there.
“Regardless of the reason, the Judicial Minister is out and about during his vacation, meeting newcomers. There’s chatter that His Majesty’s trying to reinforce discipline within the administration by sending him out, and that the department heads are using the fear of the Judicial Minister to keep the eager newcomers in check.”
“Both sound like flimsy excuses.”
“That’s just how things are when you don’t know what’s going on. Wild guesses abound.”
He wasn’t entirely wrong. I nodded in agreement.
Did the Emperor really send Kal out to enforce order in the administration? If His Majesty wanted to control things, he wouldn’t need to summon a vacationing minister. The Imperial Council has oversight duties over the administration built right into its operations.
And as for the department heads using Kal to stifle the enthusiasm of newcomers? Absurd! Relying on others’ abilities to quell the enthusiasm of newcomers? Anyone who thinks like that would never rise to the Minister level.
Thus, as Georg said, various speculations abound without a known cause. If it has reached our ears, long way retired, it must have been going on for a considerable time without revealing the reasons.
“So, about that—”
“Why don’t you just ask him directly?”
“Cold-hearted of you.”
I gave Georg a sidelong glance before returning my focus on the lake.
Georg’s point was predictable. He probably wanted me to discover the truth about my son’s odd behavior. After all, these trivial pieces of news can be a joy for retired folks like us.
But I wasn’t interested. I handed everything over to Kal. He’s a nobleman capable of thriving even without my meddling. A brilliant official standing tall as a pillar of the Empire.
Therefore, I couldn’t just question his actions. Even if they seem odd to others, if Kal is doing it, there’s likely a solid reason behind it. I trust my son—my pillar of the Empire.
‘You can’t stop a river from flowing freely.’
A proudly flowing river can make its way independently. It will flow and eventually reach the desired sea.
However, if you were to block that river with stones, all that rushing water would scatter in all directions. That’s how it feels when I try to contact Kal—more like I’m hindering rather than helping him as a father.
“I’m not just from the Krasius family either! If my son-in-law is doing something unusual, I have a right to know!”
“Then you have the right to ask him directly. What’s stopping you from doing that?”
“Can’t I at least say something?”
Disregarding Georg’s grumbling, I stared out at the lake.
Like a small stone thrown into the placid water causing ripples, even the most peaceful days can be disturbed by a small variable. Right now, that variable appears to be Kal’s public activities.
I only hope his actions are substantial and don’t turn his everyday life upside down. Although he might have his reasons, it makes me uneasy to see my son wandering around struggling while on vacation.
“…Are you really going to leave it like that? I might not even sleep tonight due to curiosity.”
“If you can’t find the answer, then ask your son-in-law.”
“Passing the buck, huh? You still haven’t washed that politician’s waters out of your system.”
Given the gravity of that statement, I responded with silence.
How many years have I served in the Imperial Council? You don’t just wash away old habits that easily.
*
Kal began to venture outside.
At first, I was pleased. It’s bittersweet to compare my beloved Kal to a moldy corner of a mansion, trapped inside because it was too hot outside. The worry was he might merge with the bed if he stayed cooped up too long.
Yet here he was, taking the initiative to step out without anyone nudging him. It wasn’t an excursion for Titi’s sake or to take the kids to Helen—no, it was purely his own reason.
“I think I’ll be going out more regularly for a while. But I’ll still eat at the mansion, so don’t worry.”
“Don’t push yourself to come back here for lunch; just eat out. But be back in time for dinner, alright?”
“Of course! I hate going out past dinner too.”
At that point, I felt truly joyful. People need a proper break, but too much downtime can lead to a slow decline. I didn’t want to see my beloved Kal lose himself to the abyss of boredom.
However, it seemed my wish resonated strongly with Enen.
“Mar, I’m heading out again today.”
“Okay. Have a good trip.”
Kal, who consistently ventured outside, did so once again three days ago.
“I think I’ll be back after lunch this time.”
“Alright, I’ll let the kitchen know.”
Two days prior.
“I’ll just have a quick breakfast and hurry out.”
“Oh, okay.”
And yesterday, yet again he left the mansion, almost as if he intended to earn back every minute he spent cooped up inside.
At this point, I was growing a bit confused and flustered. How often does someone go out like this? Once every few days isn’t an issue, but to be going out every single day for over a week…?
‘Has something happened?’
That confusion soon morphed into worry.
So far, I hadn’t asked Kal why he kept going out. Just as Kal acknowledged me as the lady of the Krasius household, assigning me the responsibilities of managing the family and the mansion, I respected him as the head of the house and didn’t pry into his affairs.
But with things unfolding like this, no matter how much respect I had, my curiosity could not be set aside.
‘It’s time to ask.’
Yes, I need to clarify the situation. Respecting my husband is important, but as a wife, being curious about her husband’s work is only natural.
If I show no interest at all, Kal might feel let down. Even the little one in my belly might wonder why mom is being this cold.
“Uh, Kal?”
“Yeah?”
“Is there something going on lately?”
So, as soon as Kal returned, I pointedly asked him.
What’s gotten into him to be flitting about like this? If there’s something wrong, we can tackle it together, shoulder the burden as a team.
“Something is going on.”
At Kal’s response, my heart sank.
I had suspected something was amiss, but at the same time, I hoped he would dismiss it as nothing serious. Yet here he was, confirming that something was indeed up.
“What is it? Why has the Judicial Minister been flitting around for days on end?”
“It’s something important.”
“Important?”
“Yeah. It’s tied to my retirement.”
Huh?
“Excuse me?”
The mention of retirement slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Having spent several years with Kal, I knew well that he wasn’t fond of work. He does so diligently when the actual tasks arise, but he isn’t particularly attached to the idea of his ministerial role.
Even so, Kal is only twenty-six. At his age, some peers are just beginning their bureaucratic careers.
“Oh, I’m not saying I’m retiring immediately. I do have some integrity left.”
‘Integrity?’
For a moment, I flinched. Honestly, given Kal’s position, his well-established trust with His Majesty, and connections with other nobles, even contemplating retirement is a sign of poor judgment. Planning for retirement in the future would venture into the territory of disloyalty.
However, I held my tongue. I didn’t want to disappoint Kal, who wore that bright smile.
“I’ve been meeting with new recruits across various departments.”
He shifted the conversation as if he wanted to pursue this topic, causing my hands to tremble slightly.
“They’re newcomers now, but one day they’ll become experienced officials, intermediate managers, and senior staff. Everyone starts out as a rookie.”
“That’s true, right? Kal started as a team member too.”
“Exactly. And just like I climbed to the position of minister, among the newcomers I meet, there could be someone with the potential to become a minister.”
I nodded, albeit reluctantly.
There could very well be someone like that. But they wouldn’t be rising at the same miraculous speed that Kal did.
“Now, if I protect these promising recruits with talent and drive, they’ll rise through the ranks faster. And that would accelerate the overall pace of advancement within the administration.”
‘No way.’
Kal’s explanation sent a wave of unease coursing through me.
Rapid promotions. An increase in advancement speed within the administration. Even I, a non-official, could sense that this sounded alarming, and a certain thought immediately came to mind.
“And if the frequency of promotion increases, eventually my time will come too.”
‘Oh.’
I clenched my eyes shut.
Unfortunately, my hunch proved spot on.
*
Oddly enough, Mar’s reaction was beyond my expectations.
Hearing about my grand ten-year plan, I thought Mar would be thrilled. The prospect of stepping down from my ministerial position and dedicating myself to family life seemed to be something she would welcome.
“Kal, you know I always support and love you.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Things can be tough for you at times. At some point, you may wish to let everything go. But always remember, you have me, the other wives, and our kids by your side.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t forget…”
Mar hugged me warmly, softly patting my back. There was a strange wetness in her voice.
Why is she feeling sorry for me? My plan was one that should have inspired admiration!
“Kal.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not a bureaucrat, so I can’t dare to advise you, but there’s one thing I can confidently say.”
Gently tightening her embrace, Mar’s voice grew lower.
“Someone like you, Kal, is one of a kind. There has never been anyone like you before, and there won’t be for a long time to come.”
At that, I quietly closed my eyes.
It was a strange feeling. A simple compliment, levied affectionately by Mar, somehow sparked an intense warmth in my chest. My mind coolly rational, while my body felt rigid with emotion.
‘Damn it.’
It felt as if the veil blinding me had lifted.
Thanks to Mar’s words, the truths I had been trying to avoid glaringly came into view.
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