Chapter: 656
I put up with the hassle of reporting to the Prosecutor’s Office for a couple of days as per the Emperor’s request.
Although he said I could just relax, take a nap, or play chess while I was on leave, who really goes to work just to mess around—especially when everyone else is busy doing their jobs?
So, I ended up gathering with the Minister’s secretary, the Executive Manager, the Senior Manager, and somehow the Information Manager also joined us for a quick drink before we quietly got to work. To be fair, my job mostly just involved stamping documents prepared by the secretary.
After two days of becoming a literal stamp machine, I returned to the mansion,
“Back, are we?”
“Father-in-law?”
Surprisingly, my first father-in-law was waiting for me.
I was a bit taken aback by this unannounced visit. The whole Empire knows the first father-in-law dotes on my youngest, Mar, and his grandchild, Pedi, but he had been trying his best to avoid visiting our home too often, considering it might be rude. He’d just been waiting for Mar to come over on his own!
And now, here he was, the Duke himself, popping in unexpectedly without any heads-up to his son-in-law on leave.
“My apologies for not greeting you sooner. If I had known you were coming, I would’ve rushed over to greet you rather than keep you waiting…”
I hurried to say something, staring blankly at Father-in-law. I mean, who keeps a Duke waiting except for the Emperor?
“It’s alright. There were plenty of people to welcome me even if you weren’t here,” he nonchalantly replied, patting Pedi’s head in his arms.
“When your daughter and grandchild are happy to see me, who needs the son-in-law?”
“If it weren’t for that son-in-law, there wouldn’t be a grandchild either…”
In response to my pitiful retort, Father-in-law just scoffed lightly.
It was a bit sad, but that gruff manner is his own version of affection, after all.
“Pedi, go play with your mom now. Grandpa needs to chat with your dad.”
“Do I not have the right to stay?”
Anyway, Father-in-law gently set Pedi down, who had a complete 180-degree mood shift as soon as he let her go, instantly beaming at her with affection.
“It’ll get boring being with me. If you go play with your mom and siblings, I’ll join you soon.”
“Okay!”
Pedi nodded at Father-in-law’s persuasion and waddled down the hallway.
She really gave in easily to grandpa’s words. Our Pedi is such a good child.
“She’s growing so fast. Soon she’ll be up to my waist.”
Then, I instinctively glanced up and down at Father-in-law as he beamed happily.
‘Soon…?’
It’s true that Pedi is growing, but to reach the waist of a two-meter tall Duke like him will take quite a while. Probably at least a couple more years.
But I didn’t say anything to upset Father-in-law’s mood.
“Let’s head to the reception room. We can’t keep Pedi waiting.”
“Yes, of course.”
After watching Pedi’s retreating figure for a while, Father-in-law walked ahead toward the reception room.
Now that I think about it, he could just have stayed in the reception room or in Mar’s room, so why was he just hanging out in the hallway?
‘Was he playing with Pedi?’
Seeing a grandfather carrying his grandchild and strolling around the estate is truly a warm and tender scene, but the fact that this grandfather is a Duke complicates matters.
If our mansion’s servants weren’t already used to the trickiness of his personality, they would have all fainted in fright.
As soon as we sat down, Father-in-law got straight to business.
“I heard there was a proposal from the Imperial Counts to increase the number of council members.”
“I am nothing but overwhelmed by His Majesty’s kindness in considering the requests of such humble and foolish people.”
I nodded as I lowered my head at Father-in-law’s words. When the Emperor declared the expansion of council members and the establishment of the Commoner Chamber, he had indeed claimed it was in response to the proposal from the Imperial Counts, and Father-in-law certainly must know this.
Then again, he might have heard the news even before the gossipy nobles squawked about it.
“It was a tradition upheld for 300 years across sixteen emperors. Even with the council’s requests, it was not something to be accepted lightly. His Majesty made quite a significant decision.”
At this, Father-in-law crossed his arms and looked straight into my eyes.
“Still, will you be alright?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Although you may have appointed a deputy, you are still the Duke. Some might point fingers at you for standing among those who haven’t even earned titles.”
“Isn’t position separate from status? If position equaled status, then all ministers would be orphans.”
My response earned a chuckle from Father-in-law, who seemed to find it humorous.
Sure, in the administration, there’s already a legendary figure from an orphan background who climbed to the rank of minister. If one wanted to criticize local governors or mayors for attending the council, they’d first have to get rid of the Minister of Charity.
“Moreover, isn’t merit-based advancement one of Kefellofen’s boasts?”
“True enough. It’s a testament to the great Amanca; those who are capable are rewarded and rise higher. The establishment of the Commoner Chamber embodies that ideal.”
Father-in-law nodded in agreement, perhaps satisfied with my addition.
In fact, both the Krasius family and the Valenti family can trace their roots back to commoners. They were families that earned titles through great deeds when Amanca established the Empire.
While no one refers to them as newly risen nobility now after 300 years of tradition, their ancestors were certainly less noble than today’s local governors or mayors. Complaining about the Commoner Chamber would be akin to spitting in the faces of their forebears.
“Maintain that mindset. No matter what others say, it is His Majesty’s noble decree and a stepping stone for the Empire’s prosperity.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Though it was a warm word of encouragement, I felt a bit dazed. Was this really why a Duke personally came here?
“To remind you that you are not merely a Duke but the Minister of the Information Department as well.”
‘Ah.’
I realized instantly that the true purpose of this visit was to warn me about the nobles who might covet the Nobility Chamber more than the Commoner Chamber.
“Of course. I have not forgotten for a moment.”
After hearing the same sentiment from the Emperor, I nodded without hesitation.
I’ll never forget that ugly title that’s been marked on my path to retirement.
*
Looking into my youngest son-in-law’s eyes, it seemed I really didn’t need to come to the court today.
‘Worrying too much about family, huh.’
Thinking it over, it was probably excessive worry. He became the head of the Intelligence Department at just nineteen and worked as the Emperor’s right-hand man, swiftly dismantling the remnants of the Second Prince faction. He was even responsible for the destruction and rebirth of the Aeshilon family, a cancerous entity in the Empire.
Even though he recently stepped back from frontline duties due to being dispatched to the Academy and getting married, let’s not kid ourselves—it was strictly a case of other circumstances pulling him away, not an indication of failing ability.
He even fought in wars while on assignment to the Academy. He was as sharp and fierce as ever; definitely not a calm or mellow character.
‘I’ve only been seeing his soft side lately.’
Without knowing it, I smiled to myself. The moment my youngest son-in-law was marked as family, he became part of us. So, rather than seeing him solely through the lens of his capabilities, I’ve started focusing more on his character and conduct. He’s soft with his wife and children, crawling around with them like a big puppy.
“Heading to see your youngest brother-in-law? You do realize you might just be in the way, right?”
That thought suddenly brought to mind something my son said before I came here.
While I had high hopes for my youngest son-in-law as my future son-in-law, my son viewed him more objectively. Looks like I’m getting old.
“Your youngest brother-in-law went to the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday, and the moment news of that broke, the nobles became unusually quiet. The only one who still sees your youngest son-in-law as a child is you.”
My son’s nagging echoed in my ears again.
I should have just listened to him and stayed at the palace.
‘While I’m here, I might as well see Mar too.’
I already had a long chat with my youngest son-in-law before he got off work, but a conversation between a father and daughter only gets better with more time together.
I should bring the handkerchief my wife made for Mar and give Pedi a piggyback ride, too.
*
Three days later, all 100 Commoner Chamber members were selected and announced.
At the same time, the Emperor declared the official establishment of the Nobility Chamber and the Commoner Chamber. Until their new building is completed, the two chambers would share the existing Imperial Council hall.
Naturally, though, the Nobility Chamber became a family sharing the same roof with the Commoner Chamber.
“Honestly, the Council hall was large enough for thirty members. Did we really need to build a separate place for the Commoner Chamber? We could just designate different floors for different purposes.”
The person directly involved, Erich, seemed indifferent to it all.
True, the Imperial Council hall was massive, but it makes sense; it’s one of the pillars supporting the Empire alongside the executive, judicial, and military branches. It’s simply too spacious for a mere thirty people.
Of course, that number doesn’t include auxiliary staff. If they did, the count would easily go into the hundreds, but even taking that into account, the hall remains more than sufficient.
“Hey, brother. Is something going on these days?”
“Huh?”
I squinted slightly at the sudden question.
There wasn’t much on my mind—I had my busy days and now all that was behind me. There was no need to come into the office anymore, and I didn’t expect the Crown Princess to drop by for a while either. She was probably busy having fun being pampered by the Emperor at this point.
“No, it’s just that since my colleagues have been dropping by or reaching out more often to inquire after you, I figured something might be up.”
“Oh, that?”
I chuckled at that remark. The nobles must have been trying to check how I was taking all of this.
“Just tell them my face is a little more serious than usual. That should suffice.”
“Maybe mention that I get a little loud sometimes?”
“That might be pushing it.”
Considering how sharp Erich has become politically, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his suggestion.
While the expansion of council members was significantly shaking the political world, it seemed things would settle down soon enough.
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