433 – With a new heart – 3
The end of the year, with only a few days left until the New Year’s wedding. Normally, at this time, one should organize the department’s work for the year and prepare for the coming new year—but there was very little for a wanderer who wandered around the world all year long to do.
The only thing he did was to stamp his name next to the deputy director who was busy with the founding of the Ministry of Inspector General and encourage the office workers who were dying like zombies. In fact, it would be accurate to see it as a cheering totem role.
‘I’m glad I’m from the field.’
I looked at the coffee cups piling up on the conductor’s desk and then quietly looked away. When I look at that terrible scene, I feel truly fortunate that I started my civil service career as a field worker rather than an office worker. If I had started my career as an office worker, I would have been rolling like a deputy manager.
Of course, the deputy director was also a field worker at first, but I decided to forget about that for a while. Because I was the one who put a deputy manager from the field into an office position.
That’s why I’m always grateful and sorry to the conductor. Let’s go forever…
‘Huh?’
Then, the communication port in my arms vibrated. It looks like someone sent a text message.
It’s not particularly strange. Isn’t the period from the end of the year to the beginning of the year when communication between public officials increases rapidly? I don’t have anything to say to anyone, but someone might want to ask me something.
Because of this, I checked the communication port with a light heart, but it froze.
· [There is something to discuss in depth, so please come to Taeyangjeon. ]
I secretly bit my lip at the short and concise text calling the emperor. It’s true that someone wanted to ask me something, but I didn’t expect that someone to be the emperor.
But does this bastard have nothing to do? Why do you make a fuss by calling someone you don’t know so often?
The road to Taeyangjeon was peaceful. This time, there was no such thing as His Excellency Gyegong escaping to become a nugget, and the Bremen Music Band, which the situation had carefully fostered, did not appear.
This is a strange thing. I’m on my way to meet the emperor at the imperial palace, so does it make sense to worry about running into a rampaging animal?
But unfortunately, it makes sense now. It can’t be helped since the situation is hanging over the emperor.
“Long live your Majesty the Emperor. Carl Crasius of Tyglehen, head of the Crasius family, sees the sun of your precious empire.”
Anyway, as soon as I entered the emperor’s office without any fuss, I bowed down and bowed.
“You’re here. The conversation will likely be long, so please sit comfortably first.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
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I instinctively frowned at the next words. It’s annoying to suddenly call you, but the conversation seems like it’s going to be long. What on earth are you going to say?
‘…What is it?’
And only when he raised his head and saw the emperor’s expression did he flinch. Instead of his usual subtle sneer or tired expression, his expression was completely expressionless. A facial expression that shows no emotion, as if it were a situation from the time of the emperor.
So, I carefully sat down on the sofa and looked at the emperor in silence. The only time that kid made that kind of facial expression was when he was emotionally complicated or when he made a crazy decision. Either way, it’s not very pleasant.
‘It was quiet for a while.’
He rolled his head as he looked at the emperor who was silent for a long time while sitting at the head table. The last time I saw him look like he was going to kill anyone was about three years ago, when the emperor, who was the first prince, had just become crown prince.
Back then, whenever he made that kind of expression, he would give me an order to deal with someone and behave like a dog. I never thought I would see that look on my face again.
“…Okay. Welcome back, Minister. I had something to think about for a moment.”
Finally, the emperor smiled and opened his mouth.
“This is true. It’s so embarrassing to think of something else while inviting a guest.”
I breathed a sigh of relief because I even burst into laughter. Fortunately, she no longer needs to engage in crazy activities like she did in the past.
However, the emperor was clearly on the verge of issuing an ‘inspection’ order. No matter how much you may have given up on your intentions, it is not something unusual in itself.
“How can you say such a thing? Even a foolish person knows that Your Majesty always takes pains to ensure the peace of the empire and its subjects.”
“hahahaha, is that so? As expected, the Minister knows Jim’s feelings well.”
I said something as pleasant as possible to avoid having another seizure, and the emperor smiled even more and nodded.
That sly reaction was actually pleasing. Yes, it goes on naturally like this─
“She was actually thinking about the Empress, not the peace of the empire and her subjects.”
‘What the f*ck.’
As soon as the word Empress Dowager came out of the emperor’s mouth, he inadvertently clenched his fist. Suddenly, the word I wanted to avoid coming out the most came out.
Of course, at this point, if there is anyone the emperor wants to kill, the only person he wants to kill is the Empress Dowager. He was an emperor who thoroughly erased all traces of the 2nd prince by killing the 2nd prince and destroying the Aesilon family, but even such an emperor could not touch the Empress Dowager.
It is possible to deal with the younger brother who lost in the succession dispute and was hated by everyone, but killing the mother in name is immoral. Killing his father’s wife is a huge burden for a son. This is not a moral reason, but a justifiable reason. So the emperor killed the empress dowager in a form of confinement. Since they cannot be killed physically, they are killed socially.
But now you’re mentioning the Empress Dowager? Now that the emperor’s authority is strong, why bother?
‘I’ll just get criticized for no reason.’
And as if a confused emotion appeared on his face, the emperor shook his head slightly and continued speaking.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of causing an uproar in the imperial family now. I have no intention of staining my first year on the throne with immorality.”
“…I apologize.”
“What does the minister have to apologize for?”
With a chuckle, the emperor stood up and walked towards his window.
“The Minister already resolved my greatest resentment three years ago. That is enough. There is no benefit in going further than this.”
After saying that, the emperor closed his mouth again.
I’m going crazy. It would be better not to say anything at all, or to talk vaguely and then cut off, which would make my heart tremble even more. I wonder if this is what it would feel like to find an unexploded bomb in the city.
But along with resentment, sadness also rose. It is said that the Emperor’s greatest regret is the Second Prince, who will be in hell, but does that mean the Empress Dowager was innocent and good? Her second principle was the Empress, and the emperor should not kill the dog. She must serve, however nominally, as her mother, the Empress Dowager.
If I compare it to my life, it would mean that I have to keep the former head of the inspection department alive. Just thinking about it makes my blood rush.
“Well, I called you because I had something to discuss, but you only said strange things.”
The emperor must have calmed down the backflow of blood before turning his body to look at me.
“Minister. Have you ever seen the daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga?”
“Are you speaking, Lady of the Marquis of Barandiga?”
I was taken aback for a moment because it was an unexpected question, but I was quickly able to pull out information from beyond my memory.
“Yes. During the Northern Expedition, when Barandi was negotiating with the Marquis, he saw the lady who participated as an escort.”
“Good.”
After nodding his head as if satisfied, the emperor sat down at the head table again and took out a piece of paper from his chest.
“Take it.”
“Ah, yes.”
After looking at the paper for a few seconds, the emperor naturally handed it to me.
‘It’s dense.’
This is the impression that came to mind as soon as I received the paper. As if the office had run out of paper, there was writing written on both sides.
I’m embarrassed. If a guy called the emperor is this frugal and frugal, what should his subordinates do? From now on, I’ll have to use the inspection ability, even if it’s on the other side–
“This is a list of Ainter’s wedding items.”
The gaze that had just been looking at the letters turned to the emperor.
Is he crazy? Why are you showing me the list of your brother’s wedding items?
“I was already wondering if I should set Ainter up with the daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga, but I am relieved to hear that the minister also saw the daughter. The minister should use more strength.”
‘What.’
For a moment, my hands trembled. You crazy bastard, are you trying to use me as a matchmaker?
This is an excessive workload that is beyond my authority. What emperor in the world would entrust matchmaking to the Minister of Inspector General? This order clearly crosses the line and goes beyond common sense.
That’s why I put the soul of a brave beast into my heart. I am resolute in response to such unreasonable orders.
“It must be difficult to connect a man and a woman who have never met each other. So please don’t go to work for about a month and just focus on this.”
…
“Please leave it to me, Your Majesty. I will do my best for the prosperity of the imperial family.”
In fact, the ghost of a dirty beast was lifted by the words of a month’s vacation.
From today, I am Wolha Old Man. Even if it means kidnapping them with a red rope, they will definitely be connected.
***
It is said that if you are a noble of the Empire, you must participate in the New Year’s ceremony. This is an absolute obligation that even a duke must follow, with the exception of the margrave who guards the border.
Of course, as a marquis of the empire, I was also preparing to participate in the New Year’s celebration. Preparation is all about forming an entourage.
However, I had to prepare for something unplanned.
“…Count, please excuse me, but could you say it again? It seems like my hearing has gotten worse because I’ve been overexerting myself lately.”
– Like that. It’s cold, so you need to be careful. Isn’t the Marquis a pillar of the North?
Confusion increased as I saw Wiridia—no, Count Tylglehen—smiling beyond the communication port. Looking at the reaction, I think what I heard was correct.
– His Majesty the Emperor wants His Excellency the Marquis’ daughter to become the companion of His Highness Emperor Ainter.
It was really true. Even after listening to it twice, it was exactly what I heard.
But it was still confusing. Just because what I heard was correct doesn’t mean my confusion will go away.
‘Companion?’
I may have said it a bit differently, but I know that the term “Partners” Means a couple.
‘His Majesty Emperor Ainter?’
I also know that the emperor has an only younger brother.
But our Shati is marrying the Emperor’s blood relative? And with my only younger brother who is not even a distant relative?
‘Is it a dream?’
For a moment, my eyes turned white. It almost makes you wonder if the Count is joking, but he is not the type of person to make jokes like this. He would certainly not be the type of person to joke about the imperial family.
I feel like crying. When I hear that there is someone who wants Shati as his wife, I feel like all my sorrow will explode. It seems like he would even cry over the fact that he is a member of the royal family.
What a painful time it was. What a heartbreaking time it was.
“I have no intention of getting married! I will follow in my father’s footsteps and become a priest, so I will remain chaste!”
“No, I must have picked you up from under a rock! Even the priests get married and have children!”
Shati was reluctant to marry men, citing his position as a priest.
“I’m not interested in weak men. I’m going to be the leader of the tribe, and I can’t have a weak man next to me!”
Shati used force because the shield of the priest was pierced.
“Physical strength is not everything. Intelligence and courtesy are also part of strength!”
Shati put on another shield even before the shield of force was pierced.
I felt like I was going crazy. Girls from other tribes find fiancés and get married before they become adults, so why on earth is my daughter doing that?
So, I was giving up on Shati’s marriage. She just thought that she was a dutiful daughter who would spend her whole life with this Abby, exchanging jokes with her and getting along well with her.
‘Not anymore.’
As if the heavens took pity on me, a powerful being appeared that could easily remove Shati’s shield.
– Of course, marriage is a matter between the parties involved and between families, isn’t it? If the Marquis doesn’t want it—
“I will take Shati with me to Seoul.”
I could see the count flinching at the firm answer, but I ignored it.
If you miss this moment, there will be no next time. I instinctively felt that way.