Chapter: 829
It seems my heartfelt plea resonated deeply with the Emperor.
Usually, if I hinted at resignation, he’d be the type to tell me to shut up and get lost. But here he is, not outright denying me, instead saying I should finish my honeymoon first.
So, it worked. The Emperor must have felt pity for my unfortunate situation.
“You’re still human, after all.”
I almost shed a tear. It’s rare for someone who oscillates between being a beast and a human to show a semblance of humanity, but it seems that rare moment is happening right now. The timing couldn’t be better.
And what if, just what if, I managed to temporarily step down from my ministerial position? What if I could be just Cal the man instead of Cal the Minister of the Information Department?
“Just hold on for a year.”
I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
By next year, Trixie will retire from the title of Duke of Servette, and I will become the deputy duke. Just holding on for one year means I’d have that deputy duke calling card.
Once I secure that, my victory is assured. If the deputy duke returns to being a minister, questions of fairness will arise, and I certainly can’t have the deputy duke sitting in the imperial council. I could use that title I’ve got to shake off every other title I’ve accumulated.
I know it’s a cowardly tactic. Honestly, just hours ago, I hadn’t even entertained thoughts like this.
“Well, I’ve earned the right to be petty.”
But upon reflection, I’ve worked my tail off during this honeymoon for the royal family, the empire, and the continent itself. I’ve shown ridiculous dedication when I didn’t have to, so isn’t it time to be completely free from that dedication?
So, one year. Just step down from my ministerial position for a year, and everything will be fine. After that, it won’t be about my fight to resign; it will be the Emperor’s endless struggle to reinstate me. It’s a perfect switcheroo.
“Good luck with that, you bastard.”
Just imagining it gets me giddy. If I refuse reinstatement on all possible grounds, how much agony would that bring to the Emperor? He’d experience the very pain I’ve felt in my desire to resign.
Of course, first, I need to actually step down from my ministerial position. But given that the Emperor has made that grace statement, the odds are looking better. Plus, there’s the honor of exposing that illegal gambling den in the Northern Hauzentz Circle—he’s gotta be feeling some pressure. A subordinate out there cleaning up his dirty laundry while on honeymoon? He’s bound to be grateful and sorry.
Surely, that must be the case. Let’s believe in his fragile, pitiful human nature for now.
*
Fortunately, every place we visited after Northern Hauzentz was peaceful and quiet.
This makes sense. In the royal direct jurisdiction, the local lords receiving royal favor wouldn’t let issues arise in their regions. If something went wrong, it would mean trouble for their wallets and safety, so it’s perfectly normal for them to handle things before I show up.
The illegal gambling house discovered in the Hauzentz Circle can be attributed to the remnants of Aesilon. No matter how bizarre and nonsensical it may seem, anything associated with “Aesilon” becomes somewhat persuasive.
“Minister! What do you think of this!?”
As I lazily strolled through a new travel spot, Erich suddenly brought me a bizarre object.
“Is that really a sword?”
“It’s a toy!”
It looked so real and massive that at first glance, you’d swear it was a genuine sword.
Seriously, you could just leave it lying around where knights train, and they’d be fooled. I wouldn’t be able to tell if it was authentic or fake until I lifted it myself.
“An adult’s toy, perhaps?”
That thing definitely wasn’t meant for kids. More like something for the few adults who still maintain their inner child.
Maybe it’s a product for aspiring knights who had to abandon their dreams due to talent or circumstance. Either way, this isn’t solely for children.
“Return it and come back.”
“Why? I promised to buy a cool gift for Ferentz! What could be cooler than this?”
But Erich must have been captivated by that adult toy because she clutched the sword and protested loudly.
I get it. Since Ferentz chose our honeymoon location, it’s only right for parents on a trip without their children to bring back a nice gift. That’s definitely a duty that transcends mere affection.
Still, that sword is a no-go. It’s bigger than Ferentz; if I give him that as a gift, he might just get crushed beneath it.
“Want to see Ferentz gets flattened by the sword? Return it.”
“Kids grow fast! Look how tiny Pedi was, and now he’s growing up so quickly! In just a year, he’ll manage just fine with it!”
“Then buy it next year. Why get something now that he can’t use─”
“It’s a limited edition! If I don’t buy it today, I can’t get it!”
At her word, I couldn’t help but sigh.
The allure of “limited edition” is universal, whether in this world or at home. Even if the buyer boasts the bloodline of a marquis.
“Oh, I got this as a bonus! They said I’d be getting it because I have good taste!”
With that, Erich pulled a small dagger from her pocket. Naturally, the dagger was yet another high-quality toy.
…
“A bonus?”
Something feels off, though. Are merchants in tourist spots really giving out bonuses? They’d sooner raise the price than just hand out freebies without reason.
“Wait a minute…”
Accidentally glancing at the toy sword Erich was holding, I quickly shifted my gaze.
I think I know what’s happening. The setting of the tourist spot, a mother’s desire to get something nice for her beloved son, and the blood of the marquis flowing through our veins—these three elements must have caused the price of that toy sword to skyrocket.
Having happily bought such a precious and heavy item, they likely threw in the dagger as a “bonus.” After all, even if you combined the cost of the sword and dagger, it probably wouldn’t amount to half of what Erich paid.
“Keep the sword well until Ferentz gets bigger. For now, let him play with the dagger.”
“Okay!”
So for my part, I couldn’t bring myself to dissuade a bright-eyed Erich.
After all, how could I refuse when Mama wants to buy a gift for her child? Plus, Ferentz is the child of Krasius’s bloodline—he’ll surely find toys like a sword super interesting. After all, Erich had shown affection toward the toy she gave him back when he asked for her to choose the honeymoon destination.
It wouldn’t do for Ferentz to struggle with it now anyway; best to tuck it away until he grows a bit.
“Should we get a spear, too?”
“Shouldn’t we give him some time to bond with the toy? If we have too many right away he might get bored quickly.”
“Good point. Well, let’s just get this for today!”
Seeing the beaming Erich made me feel a fleeting thought that Ferentz would not just be a sword-wielder but a weapon master in the future. Just like my father-in-law, mastering every weapon in existence.
In truth, I dabble in a few things besides swords, but they’re more like playing around; swords are my go-to. My father-in-law, on the other hand, can handle anything—from fists, swords, spears, bows, axes, and everything in between—just like I handle swords.
“Maybe I should send him to Wulken when he’s older?”
If Ferentz dreams of becoming a weapon master because of this peculiar early education, then a spot in Wulken could be a good idea. The best weapon master on the continent lives there, after all.
It might seem cruel to bother someone who’s already stepped down from their title, but he’s my son’s father-in-law; surely he’ll understand. It’s just like training an heir.
*
Time flew by quickly.
Ferentz was overjoyed to receive the toy dagger, Yulia had grown enough to stare at Daddy, and our domestic honeymoon was nearing its end.
Rumor has it, while we were gallivanting about, the gambling establishment in the Hauzentz Circle reopened. Starting next month, gambling revenues will be flowing right into my pocket.
“I should save this to give to Ferentz when he grows up.”
In some ways, it was Ferentz who chose Northern Hauzentz, leading us to uncover wrongdoing, and from that wrongdoing, I gained income. It feels right that the profits should go back to the reason it all started—Ferentz.
Thinking this made me proud. My little boy, at just three years old, has already started generating revenue. He’s beyond a prodigy; he’s something else entirely.
Perhaps our Ferentz could become a warrior with a passion for all sorts of weaponry and a budding intelligence capable of sniffing out corruption in the Empire. That truly embodies the balance of martial and scholarly pursuits.
“Hmm?”
As I pictured Ferentz’s bright future while preparing for our last leg of the trip, my communicator buzzed briefly.
[After the trip ends, come to the palace the next day. We’ll finish our previous discussion then.]
“Oh.”
Seeing that the Emperor sent me that message moved me deeply.
Not a flat-out refusal, but a postponement. Not shying away but boldly reaching out to contact me first.
Hope swelled within me. The Emperor really must feel for my situation.
“I’ll work hard as a Deputy Duke.”
So I vowed internally. I’ll pour my all into my role so that no one even notices the vacancy left by the duke.
Ah, and I should also actively consider returning to the minister position based on the situation after the honeymoon, while keeping all options open and engaging in constructive dialogue on whether to return or not. Since the Emperor took a step back, I need to consider my same move.
“This is how the Empire works.”
The Emperor and his subjects harmoniously finding the best consensus.
This beautiful process is what makes the Empire truly royal.
*
Regrettably, while the minister was on honeymoon, I couldn’t find a solid argument to completely demolish the minister’s claims.
To be precise, I couldn’t find an argument while gently reassuring the precarious mental state of the minister. If I tried to force a rebuttal in that state, there’s a chance he might slap me.
That would be problematic. Getting hit by the minister is not just a matter of disloyalty; it’s a matter of life and death for me. Of course, if it didn’t kill me instantly, I could probably recover, but honestly, I can’t visualize myself ever enduring a strike from him.
“Then I’ll need to make the minister resign on his own.”
I want to see him willingly accept the title of Minister of the Information Department. He should be happier embracing that role.
[Proposal for the creation of the Prime Minister position.]
I wish for him to have the option to choose a lesser hell instead of a more intense one.
“Prime Minister.”
I read the title written on the document aloud for no particular reason.
A minister overseeing national affairs. What a beautiful resonance! I’m sure the minister will be moved to tears.
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