Chapter 433
With only a few days left until the New Year’s celebration, normally this time would mean wrapping up the year’s work in the department and preparing for the coming year—but as a vagabond who had been wandering around all year long, I had very little to do.
The little I was busy with was stamping documents next to the busy Senior Manager, who was occupied with the establishment of the Inspection Ministry, and encouraging the office workers who looked about ready to drop dead. I was essentially just a cute little cheerleader at this point.
‘Thank goodness I come from the field.’
As I quietly turned my gaze away from the ever-growing stack of coffee cups on the Senior Manager’s desk, I thought about how grateful I was not to have started my civil servant life in the office like he did. If I had, I’d probably be rolling around in self-pity like him.
Of course, the Senior Manager used to work in the field too, but let’s just forget about that for now. After all, I was the one who shoved him into an office position.
So, I always felt grateful and sorry towards the Senior Manager. Let’s keep going for our lifetime…
‘Huh?’
At that moment, my communicator vibrated in my pocket, indicating someone had sent a message.
This wasn’t unusual. The period from year-end to the New Year is when communications between civil servants explode. I didn’t have anything to say to anyone, but someone might want to ask me something.
So I checked the communicator with a light heart only to freeze in place.
[ Urgent matter to discuss, come to the Sun Palace. ]
The Emperor’s short and concise summons text made me bite my lip. It was true that someone had questions for me, but I definitely didn’t expect that someone to be the Emperor.
What’s up with this guy? Doesn’t he have anything better to do than call me out of the blue?
The journey to the Sun Palace was peaceful. This time, there was none of that nonsense about the lord escaping to become chicken nuggets, nor were there distractions from the Bremen Town Musicians I had been carefully nurturing.
How strange. Here I was, heading to meet the Emperor, yet I was worried about running into rampaging animals.
However, sadly, it made sense. The way things are stacked against the Emperor, it couldn’t be helped.
“Long live the Emperor! I, Cal Krasius of the House of Krasius from Tailglehen, humbly report to the esteemed sun of the Empire.”
Anyway, once I entered the Emperor’s office without a fuss, I immediately prostrated myself to pay my respects.
“Ah, you’re here. It seems our conversation may take a while, so please, sit comfortably.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At his following words, I instinctively frowned. It was annoying enough being called out suddenly, and now he said it would take a while—what on earth did he want to talk about?
‘…What is this?’
Only when I looked up to gauge the Emperor’s expression did I flinch. Instead of the usual wry smile or a face marked by fatigue, his face was completely expressionless—like a mask, resembling his time as Emperor.
So I carefully took a seat on the sofa, silently watching the Emperor. He only makes that kind of face when he’s emotionally tangled or about to make a crazy decision. Either scenario doesn’t bode well.
‘It’s been quiet for a while…’
Gazing at the silent Emperor in the seat of power, I reminisced. The last time I saw him with such an intense expression was about three years ago when he had just become Crown Prince.
Back then, every time he made that face, it meant a command to deal with someone, causing me to be worked to the bone. I never thought I’d witness that expression again.
“…Indeed. Welcome, Minister. I was just pondering something.”
Finally, the Emperor smiled and spoke.
“Oh my, how embarrassing it is to invite a guest and be lost in my thoughts alone.”
Even breaking into laughter, he let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t have to engage in the same reckless antics as before.
However, he had clearly been on the verge of issuing a ‘Inspection’ command. Even if he had changed his mind, it was still an unsettling situation.
“What do you mean by that? My dull self knows you always worry for the peace of the Empire and its people.”
“Haha, is that so? As expected, the Minister understands my heart.”
I tried to say whatever would avoid triggering a meltdown, and the Emperor nodded with an even deeper smile.
That wily reaction was oddly reassuring. Yes, let’s just keep it flowing naturally—
“Actually, I was thinking not about the peace of the Empire, but rather about the Crown Dowager.”
‘What the hell?!’
As soon as the Emperor said “Crown Dowager,” I unconsciously clenched my fist. Of all things, the one word I wished it wouldn’t be was just mentioned.
Of course, if the Emperor wanted someone dead right now, it would only be the Crown Dowager. He had thoroughly erased the Second Prince and the Eshilon family, but even he couldn’t lay a hand on the Crown Dowager.
While it’s feasible to eliminate a sibling who lost in a succession battle and was hated by everyone, it would be extremely inhumane for a son to kill his nominal mother. Killing the father’s wife would bear a heavy burden—not for moral reasons, but due to the need for justification. Thus, the Emperor had confined the Crown Dowager as a form of social death, unable to physically kill her.
But now he’s bringing her up? Now that his authority is firmly established?
‘He’s just asking for trouble.’
And perhaps the chaos in my expression showed, as the Emperor lightly shook his head and continued speaking.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention to stir the royal family now. I certainly don’t want my ascension to be stained with scandal.”
“…I apologize.”
“What could the Minister possibly have to apologize for?”
The faint smile on the Emperor’s face widened as he stood and walked to the window.
“You relieved my greatest grievance three years ago. That’s enough. Further advancement would yield no benefit.”
With those words, the Emperor fell silent again.
This is maddening. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn’t said a thing. Leaving the conversation ambiguous only shook me up further. Perhaps finding unexploded ordnance in the city feels something like this.
But with resentment also came pity. While the Crown Dowager undoubtedly had some blame, the Second Prince, who had met his end in hell, also carried his share of grievances. But that doesn’t mean the Crown Dowager was innocent or virtuous; she had been a piece of trash as well. The Emperor had to bear with her due to the title she bore—even if nominally.
If I were to liken it to my own life, it’s like having to keep alive the former head of the Inspection Ministry. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.
“Right, I called you because I had something to discuss, yet I’ve been saying strange things.”
At that, the Emperor appeared to have calmed himself down, turning to look at me.
“Minister, has Barandi’s daughter ever met the young lady of the Marquisate?”
“Barandi’s daughter, you say?”
His unexpected question caught me off guard for a moment, but I quickly pulled relevant information from the back of my mind.
“Yes. During the northern expedition, I saw the young lady who was participating as a bodyguard during Barandi’s negotiations.”
“That’s good.”
The Emperor nodded as if satisfied, returning to his seat, and pulled out a piece of paper from his chest.
“Here you go.”
“A, ah, yes.”
After briefly skimming the paper for a few seconds, the Emperor naturally handed it to me.
‘Wow, that’s a lot of writing.’
As soon as I received the paper, my immediate thought was that it looked as if the Emperor had run out of paper in his office—there were words crammed on both sides.
This was troublesome. If the Emperor was being this thrifty with paper, what were his subordinates supposed to do? Looks like the Inspection Ministry will have to use recycled paper from now on—
“This is the list of dowry goods for Ainter.”
My gaze, which had been drawn to the paper, snapped back to the Emperor.
Is he out of his mind? Why is he showing me the list of his younger brother’s dowry goods?
“I was thinking of matching Ainter with Barandi’s daughter. Since you’ve seen her, I feel relieved, so I want you to lend a hand.”
‘What the?!’
In that moment, my hands trembled. This madman is now trying to use me as a matchmaker?
This was way beyond my job description! What kind of Emperor delegates matchmaking duties to the head of the Inspection Ministry? It clearly crossed a line—a command that defied reason.
So, with the heart of a gallant beast planted in my chest, I prepared to reject this unreasonable order firmly—
“Connecting two individuals who have never met is no simple task. So, how about taking a month off from work to focus solely on this matter?”
…
“Leave it to me, Your Majesty. I will do my best for the prosperity of the royal family.”
The moment he said “one-month vacation,” I shook away the rage of the beast that had just threatened to erupt.
From today onward, I shall be the Old Man of the Moon. Even if it means kidnapping them with a red string, I’ll tie them together no matter what!
*
They say all noble titles in the Empire must attend the New Year’s celebration. This is an absolute obligation even for a Duke, leaving the border margrave as the only exception.
Naturally, I was preparing to attend the New Year’s celebration as the Marquis of the Empire. Though all that preparation involved was gathering my attendants.
However, now I had unexpectedly been thrown into more preparation.
“…Count, could you please repeat that? I think my hearing’s gone a bit off from all the hustle lately.”
– Oh dear. You take care, it’s cold. After all, the Marquis is the pillar of the north.
Heightened confusion washed over me as I listened to Weiridia—no, Count Tailglehen—smiling on the other end of the communicator. From the way he reacted, it sounded like I did indeed hear that correctly.
– The Emperor wishes for the Marquis’s daughter to become the partner of Emperor Ainter.
I really heard right. Even after two times, it was exactly what I heard.
Still, the confusion lingered. Just because I understood correctly didn’t mean my confusion would just vanish.
‘Partner?’
While the phrase was vague, I understood that ‘partner’ implied some sort of marital relationship.
‘Emperor Ainter?’
I knew he had a sole sibling.
But now our Shati is to wed the Emperor’s blood, not just any blood, but his only brother’s?
‘Is this a dream?’
In that instant, everything went white before my eyes. For a moment, I thought the Count must be joking, but he wouldn’t be the kind of person to joke about something like this—especially not when it comes to the imperial family.
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. Hearing that someone desired my daughter as a wife made me want to burst into tears over all the pain I had endured. And to top it all off, it was a royal member who had this desire.
How agonizing were those years? How burning was the time I spent?
“I have no intention of getting married! I will succeed my father as a priest, and I will remain chaste!”
“No, did I collect you from under a rock or something? Even priests get married and have children!”
Shati had faltered whenever someone would mention being partnered.
“I’m not interested in weak men. I’m going to be the chieftain leading the tribe, so I can’t have a weak person beside me!”
Whenever she spoke, she referenced strength.
“Physical strength isn’t everything! Intelligence and manners are part of power!”
Her other defenses would set up just before I could poke through.
I was going mad. Other tribe girls set up engagements before reaching adulthood, so why was my daughter acting this way?
So I had given up on Shati ever getting married. I figured she would spend her life with me, sharing jokes and just living blissfully together.
‘Not anymore.’
Perhaps the heavens felt pity for me, and a strong figure came along to effortlessly brush aside Shati’s defenses.
– Of course, marriage is a matter for the parties involved and the families, right? If the Marquis doesn’t wish for it—
“I will take Shati to the capital.”
At that firm answer, I could see the Count stiffen, but I ignored it.
If I pass this chance, I won’t get another. I instinctively felt that.
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