Chapter: 647
After hearing the report from the Executive Manager, I mulled over Eri’s situation dozens, maybe even hundreds of times in my head.
To be honest, with other officers from the Information Department getting promoted, Eri being stuck in her current position was weighing heavily on my mind. Sure, she talks about how promotions come with more work and she should just laugh at her promoted colleagues, but let’s be real—failing to get promoted makes you feel inadequate.
Even worse, the Senior Manager who got promoted, was someone who used to be at Eri’s level. Sure, the Senior Manager of Division 3 is overseeing the Executive Manager of Division 5, but at least Division 5’s Senior Manager got promoted! Eri, meanwhile, has to accept her past colleague as her new boss.
‘So she won’t even be able to boss anyone around.’
Plus, Eri is my wife. Who can run their department smoothly when the Judicial Minister’s wife isn’t moving up? I bet the Executive Manager and the Vice Executive Manager appreciate that Eri is on leave.
This situation isn’t good for Eri, the Information Department, or even the Executive Branch. Eri is caught in a tricky spot. The Information Department can’t properly oversee one of the divisions, and the Judicial Minister has to deal with the department’s dysfunction—all while Eri’s abilities aren’t in question.
But if I want to promote Eri, there’s really no appropriate position for her. I thought about making her the Chief Manager, but everyone would see through that as just a play for Eri.
‘Being jobless might be better.’
So, I started leaning more towards the idea of just making Eri an unassigned employee on indefinite leave. At least that would separate her from the Information Department, which would be easier for both of us.
If I’m lucky, I could argue for her complete retirement based on her long-term unassigned status and Eri’s unique situation. I can’t retire myself, but I feel I could manage something for Eri.
‘Because the Empress is around.’
There’s still the mystery of the friendship between the Empress and Eri. If I can leverage that relationship, maybe Eri could be freed. If the Empress whispers Eri’s retirement into the Emperor’s ear? There’s no way the Emperor wouldn’t nod along.
It’s a flawless plan. If I just bang my head against the wall begging the Empress and the Vice Captain, we could all have a happy ending.
“Uh, no thanks?”
But that’s what I thought would happen.
“No?”
“Yeah. I want to stay in the Intelligence Department.”
I suggested to Eri that she should step down from her position and aim for retirement, but her response was confident and resolute.
A bit surprising. Eri is not the type to get frustrated with her work, but wouldn’t it be better to retire and relax at the mansion? If it’s for the kids’ sake, nobody would criticize it, right?
“Sure, you’re young to retire, but wouldn’t it make more sense to do so thinking of Hayang?”
Stifling my confusion, I pressed on in my persuasion. Wouldn’t it be better if one of us retired for Hayang’s sake?
Mar, Trixie, Rizie, and Lynn can stay at the mansion 24/7 to look after the kids. But what about our Hayang? She’s the only one whose mom is going out to work while her siblings are basking in their mother’s affections. It’s a disaster just thinking about it.
Of course, I could take care of her instead, but I doubt the Emperor would let me retire. If I could retire, I’d carry Hayang around all day.
“What about Fine? As a manager, it would be difficult for her to retire too, right?”
“The Manager can take a long leave as long as the Senior Manager is fine.”
“That’s true.”
Eri nodded, seemingly convinced by my argument.
As long as the capable Vice Manager is given proper authority, the Manager could be away for years without any issue. That’s a precedent I set during my time on Academy assignment.
The current Vice Manager is well-known for their capabilities, and since they’re a mage, they’re quite sharp. Even if they can’t fully replace Fine’s combat prowess, their administrative skills are actually superior.
“But if the Manager is away too long, it feels off. No matter how capable the Chief Team Leader is, they’re not the official second-in-command, and there are still hierarchy issues among the team leaders.”
“Hmm…”
“If you still have attachments to the basement, think of Hayang. Do you want to see her avoid you just because she thinks you smell weird?”
“Ugh, that’s a bit much.”
Mentioning Eri staying as the Manager made her expression twist a bit.
Right. No matter how unique and quirky Eri’s hobbies are, she’s married now. She’ll soon be officially a mother too. It’s unrealistic to carry on with hobbies from her single days.
“Can I think about it a little longer?”
“No rush. Take your time.”
I smiled at Eri stepping back a little.
This isn’t something that needs to be decided right this minute. Just bringing up that Eri is even contemplating retirement is a satisfactory achievement, if you ask me.
*
That night, after I suggested retirement to the Judicial Minister.
— Retirement?
“Yeah. They suggested stepping down from the position for now and maybe aiming for retirement in a year or two.”
I sought advice from my senior, Aria, while recounting what happened today.
“What do you think I should do?”
Aria doesn’t have experience as a bureaucrat; she’s not the best to ask about retirement issues.
But she had children before I did, and she’d borne tremendous responsibilities even before getting pregnant. She’s someone who stood at the crossroads of choosing between her child and her duties.
So I reached out to Aria. I wanted to know her feelings when our honorary niece, the Crown Princess, was born—what choice she made between the Crown Princess and her duties, and whether she regretted that choice.
— Sounds good!
Aria’s reply was quick.
— There are plenty of people who can work without you.
Wow! That rapid reply really stung.
How rude! I’m an elite managing a division here!
— There are plenty of people who could take the position of Chief Manager, but there’s only one mom for Hayang in the whole world.
‘Ah.’
The following words eased my disappointment a bit.
— I would love to personally look after Charlotte. The Minister adores her, and Charlotte is grateful and follows her well, but in truth, that role was supposed to be mine as her mom.
The hint of bitterness and regret in her voice as she said that couldn’t be missed.
I could understand. Even I, while holding Hayang, couldn’t help but find her utterly lovable and want to see her quickly. Watching the non-blood-related Crown Princess too, she is so cute that I can’t help but want to take care of her.
So what about Aria? She bore her child for ten months. Now that her child has come out into the world, watching them grow, run around, and talk while she can’t get involved… how painful must it be?
— But while I’m Charlotte’s mom, I’m also the Empress. The only Empress can’t spoil just their own child. Every citizen in the empire is like my child.
“So, what am I? Just a regular kid?”
— If you get hit, it hurts less, right?
I attempted a joke to lighten the serious mood, but it didn’t land at all.
Wow, that was harsh! I thought it would be adorable coming from a junior!
— Anyway, I chose to be the Empress over just being Charlotte’s mom, and I have no regrets about that choice. The Empire has already faced wrong Empresses before. If they ran into another shady Empress, it’d be a disaster. That’s something that can’t happen for the future Emperor Charlotte.
“That’s fair.”
I nodded, understanding. If successive shady Empresses came along, it would have shaken the royal family and the empire.
—Of course, it’s exceedingly sad. I’m doing my best to spend as much time as possible playing with her, but even that’s probably not enough for Charlotte.
Finally, with a gentle smile, my senior said softly,
— So you choose Hayang. I couldn’t, but you can.
“Yeah…”
Her advice was far better than I expected, and I nodded repeatedly.
Being the Chief Manager of the Information Department isn’t something I have to do, nor is it necessarily something only I can do. But there’s only one person in this world who can be Hayang’s mom.
“Thanks, Senior.”
— Just make sure you have Hayang healthy and safe. Charlotte’s been clamoring to see her aunt’s baby.
“Hehe. Once I have her, I’ll head over to the Empress’ Residence immediately!”
— No, you really don’t have to go that far.
After the Senior’s firm rejection, my lips pursed out in annoyance.
— …Oh wait, Eri.
“Yeah?”
— Are you planning to have Hayang work as a maid when she grows older?
“Huh?”
I blinked at that.
A maid? Me?
“Where? In the Empress’ Residence?”
— No. In the Crown Princess’ Residence.
Now, I tilted my head.
That’s a strange suggestion. My senior was the one who kept trying to keep the Crown Princess away from me, saying she should only be surrounded by pretty things. Now she’s suggesting Hayang work as a maid in the Crown Princess’ Residence?
“Why?”
I couldn’t help but ask, unable to contain my confusion. Why is the one who was trying to separate me from the Crown Princess suggesting this all of a sudden?
— By the time Hayang grows up, Charlotte will have passed the age where she’s influenced by her environment.
“Is that so?”
— Moreover, whenever Charlotte comes over to the mansion, she gets to meet you. It wouldn’t matter whether I try to block that or not.
That was a valid point, so I nodded. For my senior to prevent any interaction between the Crown Princess and myself, she’d have to control Charlotte’s visits to the mansion altogether.
— It’s unfortunate, but since Charlotte thinks of you like an aunt… it would seem better to just make her a maid.
“Kids do have a good eye for picking people, huh?”
But then my Senior’s glare intensified.
She’s suddenly on the war path after a cheeky little joke.
*
Eri’s decision came a lot quicker than I anticipated.
“I’ve decided to retire!”
Not even 24 hours had passed before she made her decision.
“Good. That’s a wise choice. Hayang will enjoy wriggling around in her mom’s arms.”
“Yeah! Even if she can crawl, I’ll still carry her!”
“Don’t do that!”
Why would you carry a perfectly healthy kid around like that?
“Oh, and I got an offer to be a maid from Her Majesty!”
“…Huh?”
“When Hayang grows up, she said I should work as a maid in the Crown Princess’ Residence!”
In that instant, my mind went blank.
I felt like the future of the Empire was about to tip over.
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