༺ There was a Brief Commotion (4) ༻
My sumr working hours were similar to the sun’s working hours. It was hard to guess the passage of ti due to the long daylight, leading to an unfortunate overti. How unfair. I don’t work shorter hours in the winter because the days are shorter, so why do I voluntarily work longer hours in the sumr? Maybe I’ve developed a slave ntality over the past four years.
Ideally, I’d like to enjoy punctual arrival and departure tis. But then, the tasks I had to do would pile up, and things could get disastrous at the end of each quarter. This was just a matter of dying now versus later.
That’s why I couldn’t get back to the mansion until it was late in the evening.
“Welco back, Carl.”
Marghetta greeted at the mansion’s entrance.
“Mar? Why are you out here at this hour?”
Although I said late evening, it was practically night. By this ti, everyone should have finished dinner, had a short chat, and retired to their rooms.
I wondered if the thing I’d been worrying about had finally exploded. Yes, I had neglected the guests for too long. Such behavior would typically be considered a great insult.
The reason why things hadn’t exploded until now was because Marghetta had been understanding given that it was due to work, but anyone else would’ve felt slighted and left after two days.
“I will never forget this! I will formally protest in the na of the Valenti Duke’s na!”
I could imagine Marghetta’s face as she shouted these words, her face flushed with anger. It pained to think that I had upset soone who’d remained calm even after her marriage proposal was rejected.
First, I should apologize. The fact that she hasn’t left without a word ans there’s still a chance to nd things.
“You must be tired. Here, drink this. I heard that honey water is good for fatigue.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Marghetta handed a cup before I could say anything.
“You’ve been working hard despite the weather being so hot. You aren’t pushing yourself too much, right?”
I felt awkward after hearing her gentle voice, which was filled with concern. It felt weird being worried over by soone younger. It’s always been a bit embarrassing, even when Louise used to fuss over .
I nodded to reassure her, and she finally smiled.
“I’m well aware of how hard you work, Carl. So you don’t have to worry about the club anymore during the vacation.”
Marghetta then added that even advisors deserved a holiday break, which made the corners of my mouth go up a bit. I was thankful for her words, but it was hard. It wasn’t that I was doing this because I liked it. It was just that there was no one else who could handle those idiots without .
The mont I abandoned my post saying, ‘An advisor deserves freedom!’ the situation would explode. And the Crown Prince? He’d probably demote from a noble to a slave.
Wait… Maybe I was a slave from the beginning.
“I’ve lived up to the trust Carl has placed in , so I hope you can rest a bit.”
“What?”
What was she talking about?
I was feeling already guilty for neglecting Marghetta, so I would have been crazy if I had expected sothing from her under these circumstances.
I felt stumped, so I just stood still. It seed as if she interpreted my reaction differently. She raised her head with a hint of pride, though it was more like she was looking up because she was shorter than .
“Today, the princes were talking about going outside of the Capital.”
Damn it.
I was shocked by the words that ca out of her mouth. Go where? Outside of the Capital? Those bastards. It was already troubleso to have them in the Capital; what nonsense was this?
‘These damn build-ups.’
Their intentions were clear. They weren’t trying to do it out of genuine interest in other areas. They probably wanted to go to Louise’s territory and make connections with the people who were close to her. But heading straight to Louise’s territory would be too obvious, so they’re trying to build a justification by exploring other areas.
You bastards. Instead of trying to court those around her, you should be courting Louise herself.
“They seed more interested in the Capital, though, so they withdrew their words.”
I was trembling in anger, but Marghetta’s following words cald down. It was fortunate. I almost had to undertake the Prosecutor’s Office’s duties and a business trip abroad simultaneously.
Only after calming down could I see things clearly. She waited for outside until late at night and had purposedly told about what had happened. Then, that proud look on her face, and those words about trusting her.
‘So she stopped it.’
Marghetta had stopped things from going out of control. Otherwise, there was no reason for her to act like this.
When I invited Marghetta to the mansion, I did hope she would stop them if they wanted to do sothing reckless. However, that was rely a faint hope. I never really thought of throwing such a massive responsibility on her.
It seed that there was a small misunderstanding between Marghetta and .
‘I’m glad.’
But thanks to that misunderstanding, I was saved.
“I understand. I must also repay Marghetta’s trust.”
At those words, Marghetta smiled, but she seed sowhat embarrassed. What’s wrong? Was there sothing else?
“Lady Louise played a significant role.”
Ah, so it was nothing serious.
“That doesn’t an you haven’t done sothing important.”
I also relied on Louise when it was about stopping those princes, so it was only natural. No, Marghetta, who quickly realized that Louise was the only brake to stop them, was admirable.
When things are peaceful at ho, one feels at ease while wandering outside. The combo of Louise, who had the power to stop those incompetent mbers, and Marghetta, with the will to stop them, was unbeatable.
With my peace of mind restored, my work started progressing more rapidly. It really does depend on one’s mindset.
— The signs aren’t good.
But no matter how peaceful things were internally, if sothing happened externally, there wasn’t much one could do.
While signing so docunts, I received bad news from the 2nd Manager who’d been sent to help Margrave Sorden.
“What happened?”
— Margrave Sorden’s concerns were valid. There are definitely many gaps in the movent of goods.
The faint hope that perhaps Margrave Sorden had miscalculated things vanished. Well, if reports have reached the central authority, I’m sure he would have verified it multiple tis. I was hoping for too much.
— I’m sure they’re hidden sowhere, but…
The 2nd Manager seed frustrated as he roughly ran his fingers through his hair. It was evident that so of the goods that had been sent to the North were missing. Soone was intentionally hiding them.
The problem was that this was all he could find out. All he could do was confirm that what Margrave Sorden was worried about was true. But what else could he do? It hadn’t been long since the 2nd Manager was dispatched.
“At least we’ve found out now. Don’t rush things.”
— Yes, understood.
While making a grim face, the 2nd Manager lowered his head. His frustration from dealing with the North combined with the anxiety that this could lead to a major accident caused his uneasy expression.
“Do you need more people?”
— It’s okay. Just our presence is already drawing a lot of attention.
Due to the gravity of the matter, I wanted to provide him with more personnel. However, the on-site worker refused. Damn it, so the North’s still a ss.
The North originally had many pro-Empire tribes. But that bastard Kagan subdued or converted all the pro-Empire tribes in the north, making the aftermath of the great war complete chaos.
The Empire had suffered a lot due to the Great War, so it wasn’t in a shape good enough to intervene or dominate the North. Not only that, but there were so internal issues regarding the succession of the throne. Also, it had been a long ti since the pro-Empire tribes were sent to heaven due to Kagan’s really spicy punch.
The Empire was already struggling because of the Great War and succession issues. Yet, it began sending a friend fee to the North. Compared to how strong the Empire’s influence over the North’s tribes was in the past, things were pitiful right now.
— Back in the day, no one would bat an eye at an imperial citizen. Now, we stand out like sore thumbs.
“Damn it.”
The 2nd Manager was a testant to how things were at the mont. Before the Great War, interactions were vibrant and the Empire’s influence was strong, so there were no issues with the Empire’s citizens roaming in the north.
But now that everything was wiped out and was being rebuilt, every move of an imperial citizen was noticeable.
The nomads looked at the Empire’s citizens with eyes that seed to be saying, ‘Excuse , but why don’t you leave the money and go? What business could you have at our place?’
It was infuriating. Would setting the northern plains on fire get rid of this ss?
“If sothing strange happens, contact imdiately. Keep up the good work.”
The only thing I was sure of was that there was nothing I could do to help apart from waiting for more information from the 2nd Manager.
— Executive Manager, could you send a—
The 2nd Manager was about to say sothing when the connection was cut off. Judging by his last words, it probably wasn’t anything important. If it was, he’d call again.
‘It was probably alcohol.’
It was obvious what that guy, who drinks alcohol like water, would ask. Well, since he was working hard, I should send him so.
***
I felt that there were many prying eyes on from all around the place. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be getting these kinds of things as soon as I finished clearing up the stacked work.
“Who sent this?”
Looking down at the letter handed over by the butler, I asked again. My happy plan to just chill at ho for a while since I had no work to do for the ti being was shattered instantly.
“It’s from the Countess.”
I received a letter from the woman who was the mother of this body.
‘A letter from mother and not the Patriarch?’
I really can’t understand what’s going on.
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