432 – With a new heart – 2
As soon as the next morning, we moved to the mansion in the island. I wanted to stay at the estate until the New Year’s wedding, but since the academy was also on vacation, I couldn’t relax.
If you play around at home for no reason, it’s obvious that the emperor will catch you. You are working, but your subordinate is playing illegally? Honestly, if it were me, he would have kidnapped me and then given me all kinds of work. I can’t stand the shame.
Of course, my parents were sad to leave after just one day, but they let me go since they could meet again during the New Year’s celebration. It’s a good thing, because if you had recommended me to sleep in for a few more days, I would have been shaken.
“Welcome, master.”
And then he nodded at the greeting of the butler who came to the front door to greet the owner. He said there was no need to drag the other servants out, but only the butler came out as requested.
“It’s been a while, butler. How have you been?”
“My master’s dignity is increasing day by day, so I am also having fun.”
I burst into laughter at the joking flattery. Certainly, as the status of the serving master increases, the servants under him can also shrug their shoulders. Is it possible to say that a nobleman’s dog is treated better than a commoner’s dog?
In that sense, the prestige of a butler would have risen to the same level as that of a considerable noble. It’s an embarrassing thought because it feels like I’m putting gold on my face, but who could treat a butler who serves a double count and current minister carelessly?
Perhaps people who treat butlers have forgotten that the butler’s status is a commoner. If I treat someone carelessly like a commoner and the butler says something bad about me, the possibility of that person being ‘investigated’ will slightly increase.
‘It’s status.’
I looked at the butler with my mouth shut for a moment. The person who served Karl the longest as an individual, not as a family successor or public official, and the person who excellently managed the mansion when the owner was often absent.
Nevertheless, he was a loyal employee who quietly handled his work without using his power to satisfy his personal greed.
‘It would be a waste to just entrust the management to the mansion.’
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I’m not saying that managing a mansion is an easy task, but considering the butler’s abilities and personality, it’s okay to entrust him with a bigger job. Since he has been my butler so far and has had experience with various nobles, there will be no trouble if I entrust him to him right away.
“Butler. Don’t you ever want to become a nobleman? I’ll give you a baronetcy, so I’d like you to take on the role of chamberlain in Wiridia.”
The butler’s eyes opened wide at those words. Even though he was a butler, he looked agitated because he didn’t expect the title to be mentioned, but he soon calmed down and burst into laughter.
“I have already received a favor from my master that I cannot repay even if I work until I die. If you give me an even greater favor, even if I live for hundreds of years, it will not be enough.”
I was a little embarrassed by the answer that I would not accept it because it was too much. Like now, every time the butler says grace or something, I feel embarrassed.
The relationship between me and my deacon is not a one-sided favor, but a two-way transaction. I hire a butler with money, and the butler gives me his skills equivalent to that amount of money. Isn’t this an extremely capitalist method that can’t be seen as grace?
“I said this because I thought a butler would be good at manor affairs. I’m saying this sincerely, so think about it seriously.”
So I recommended it one more time. He may have refused out of courtesy, or he may have thought it was a joke.
“Thank you for your words, but I want to make managing this mansion the last task of my life.”
However, I gave up due to the firm answer. Having said that, it would be embarrassing to recommend more.
“Ah, I haven’t been able to say hello to the prospective wives yet. Well, I guess it’s because I’m getting older too.”
And then, as if he noticed that I had given up, I started laughing again at the sight of the butler quickly changing the subject.
Yes, it would be difficult to find someone who manages the mansion and its residents as well as the butler. Let’s get someone else, not the butler, as the chamberlain.
“Is it okay if I call you Madame now? I heard you’re getting married soon.”
“Call it whatever you want.”
“Then I’ll call you Madame.”
The butler who said that approached the lovers with a deep smile, and anyone could see that it was the appearance of a servant treating his hostess, so the lovers also smiled as if they were happy.
Perfect. No matter how many times I see him, he is the perfect talent to be entrusted with the role of chamberlain.
…
‘Isn’t a title something like putting on sleeves?’
You put the situation and the emperor really well.
I am worried. Should we just start conferring titles while the butler is sleeping?
I was torn between reason and desire for a moment, but I was able to suppress it and go to work safely. If I force my sleeves in and the butler turns dark, I’ll only be in trouble.
Furthermore, I know better than anyone else the anger of someone who has been overloaded with excessive positions and tasks. Wasn’t I also a case of dark evolution like that?
“There is a saying that people are promoted until they become incompetent. The butler’s abilities may be at the level of being the chamberlain of a county, but it would be a good idea to stop at the current position.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. History proves that.”
However, I couldn’t help feeling sad and frustrated, so I complained to the conductor instead of complaining, and the conductor calmly supported the deacon’s decision.
I was sad that there was no one on my side, but it wasn’t wrong. If you put too much pressure on a butler to be the chief chamberlain and find it difficult, wouldn’t it be sad for you, sad for the butler, and sad for the estate? In that case, there is no need to send the butler to a strange place.
“Then, if I’m incompetent, can I go down again?”
“…….”
The conductor kept his mouth shut at the words he had inadvertently uttered.
I was hurt. Why are you keeping quiet there? Even if it’s an empty phrase, ‘maybe it’s possible.’ Can’t you just say that?
I have already reached the level of minister and have no place for further promotion. Therefore, if you prove incompetence, it is not a matter of blocking promotion, but it is more profitable to suffer at least a demotion.
‘The best punishment a minister can face is demotion.’
Yes, unless you want to make a position higher than the minister by using harsh words.
‘…Above the minister.’
Even though I only imagined it for a moment, my mind became dizzy. He is above the minister and is an evil being that should not exist in this world.
‘Instead of Prime Minister?’
I almost shook my head instinctively at the ugly word that soon came to mind.
Even if the sky falls, nothing like that will happen. This is the imperial family, which is wary of the second-in-command’s dominance, and has even made the minister of palace affairs the first in the ranking of ministers. Although it is acceptable for someone to be at the forefront among ministers, it will never be tolerated for someone to stand above the minister.
“So, are the preparations for the founding going well?”
That’s why I changed the topic by pushing the word ‘Prime Minister’ into the back of my mind. If you think negatively at the end of the year, when you should be ending the year on a good note, you cannot welcome the new year beautifully.
“Yes, it is progressing smoothly. I think it will be completed as early as next summer.”
“It’s okay.”
I nodded lightly as it was a positive report.
This is the task of creating a new provincial-level department. Being able to start such work this year and finish it next year means that it is the result of investing all human resources and budget first.
“But don’t overdo it. If we finish it quickly, the official launch will be around the New Year’s celebration next year.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
I patted the conductor’s shoulder as he bent down. If the result of rushing is summer, it doesn’t matter if you take it a little more leisurely.
“The creation of the Inspector General was the last royal order given by His Majesty the King. As a child’s duty, I will reveal His will in a splendid manner, so the Minister should know that.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor had already decided to declare the official launch of the Gamchal Castle during the New Year’s celebration. That bastard may not have a conscience, but he is intelligent, so of course he’s talking about the next year.
If you are planning a New Year’s wedding ceremony next year, you will have to prepare for the worst. Shouldn’t you also know that if you give a sh*tty order, you could end up in trouble yourself?
“Then let’s go in now.”
“Ah, yes. Good work.”
I nodded at the conductor’s words and let him go.
I was holding on to someone who came out to smoke for too long.
***
A plan to connect Ainter with the Marquis of Barandiga’s wife.
It was a plan that suddenly came to mind, but the more we reviewed it, the more attractive it became. This is an act of reassurance to the northern nobles, who may be confused as they have just been incorporated into the empire, and it is also a way for the Marquis of Barandiga to solidify his authority as the only Marquis of the North.
We should refrain from allowing the Marquis of Barandiga to subdue all northern nobles by force, but we should tolerate him ruling with authority. If the nomadic counts began to look down on even the marquis right next to them—what would the distant emperor think?
So this is the best. The marquis strengthens his authority by uniting with the imperial family, and the marquis passionately supports the imperial family. It’s not a bad result.
‘I will have to give you plenty of wedding items.’
I looked through the imperial family’s assets and organized the appropriate items one by one. First, I will bestow the Marquis of Idrafen on Ainter and take care of several buildings in the islands and farms in the metropolitan area.
And it would be a good idea to allocate land in rural areas to an appropriate size. Even though it is officially a title with no fiefdom, it is a harsh treatment for the emperor’s younger brother to not have land to live on. Even commoners can manage land if they have money.
‘It would be better to give mainly things rather than gold coins.’
Yes, considering that trade with the North is not yet smooth, it would be better to give in goods rather than currency. What’s the point of giving gold coins if you don’t have anything to buy them?
‘I have to discuss the rest with the empress.’
I looked over the list and let out a small sigh. It would be a good idea to bring jewelry or a dress for your wife-to-be, but it is better to leave this to the Empress rather than relying on your own aesthetic sense.
By the way, it’s a strange thing. I never thought that the day would come in my life when I would be able to take care of my younger brother’s wedding gift.
‘Won because there are few members of the royal family.’
Originally, if the emperor’s siblings were to marry, it was customary for the previous emperor’s wives to manage it. It is possible that the current emperor may feel unfair towards the siblings and deal with them insincerely, so it is nothing but the final consideration for the royal family.
However, Sang-tae only had two wives, and those two…
Let’s stop thinking. When she thinks of her mother, she feels affectionate, but when she thinks of the other one, she becomes bitter.
‘Damn.’
When she dealt with the 2nd prince, she should have dealt with that woman as well.
The Minister of Inspector General would have handled it well.