I couldn’t et Irina’s confused gaze. She had saved from the darkness, and yet I had repaid her kindness with betrayal.
“Oh, so this is the Executive Manager’s lover.”
“She’s beautiful. We were worried you’d never find a match past twenty, but I guess our concerns were for nothing.”
The voices from the background made my head spin.
I might’ve escaped the stagnant hell I was in, but it seed I’d dragged the devils out with . Could I even call this an escape? Maybe I had so sort of cursed ability that turned my surroundings into a living hell.
This was truly sad. All I said was that I was going to greet an acquaintance, but the departnt directors, including the minister, were all trailing behind before I knew it. The look on their faces was clearly saying, ‘We had nothing better to do, so why not?’
“So, young lady, how old are you this year?”
The question ca from the Director of Audit, whose every word carried the weight of years of experience. Then, I noticed Count Flanbell squirming uncomfortably.
The Audit Director was the oldest of the Ministry of Finance’s senior officials, a veteran who had returned after retiring—a living legend. For soone like Count Flanbell, one of the giants in the business world, this man must’ve seed quite intimidating. After all, who would dare to take the person who oversaw the empire’s budget lightly?
Either way, Irina answered the elder’s question with a trembling voice.
“I-I’m eighteen now…”
“So young! This thief stole a precious lady away.”
“If the Executive Manager is a thief, then who will inspect him?”
The Statistics Director chid in, adding fuel to the fire of the elder’s joke.
These people—just monts ago, they were sending curses with smiling faces, but now their faces were filled with genuine laughter. I guess gossiping about soone’s love life never gets old, no matter how old you get.
“Co on, there’s only a four-year difference between us; how does that make a thief?”
I tried to protest, if only to protect my honor. If the age difference was over ten years, sure, but calling a thief for just four years? Wasn’t that going too far?
“That’s definitely a thief when soone in their twenties snatches soone in their teens.”
However, my small rebellion was swiftly crushed by the Minister’s quiet observation.
Damn these people.
***The directors eventually moved on as if nothing had happened after teasing for a while. Thankfully, they were just playful but not oblivious. Besides, soone without awareness wouldn’t have climbed to such a position in the first place.
“My apologies, Count. I’m sorry for the commotion.”
I quickly turned to apologize to Count Flanbell once the directors had moved far enough away. Those heavyweights made it seem as if I had been ganging up on him. Having the Finance Ministry’s senior officials collectively pressure a noble, especially a rchant, could easily spell disaster.
This was a nightmare. I was supposed to make a good impression, and yet everything’s been a ss from the start. Well, to be fair, things went awry as soon as the 3rd Manager got involved.
“It’s quite alright. In fact, seeing that side of them was amusing.”
The Count smiled as he spoke, but I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely okay or just pretending because complaining would do him no good.
“Please feel free to speak openly, sir. After all, what son-in-law would expect formality from his father-in-law?”
I decided to be straightforward. The Count’s continued politeness toward only showed that there was still a wall between us.
I couldn’t bla him—thanks to the 3rd Manager’s wild antics, there was bound to be so distance. But it’d be a problem if this wall stays up for life. Irina would be heartbroken if her husband and father were distant. And sure, a son-in-law might be considered a guest for a hundred years, but this felt more like being an unwelco one.
The Count’s eyes widened slightly at my words. He clearly hadn’t expected to be so direct and humble in such a public setting.
“You’re right. Perhaps it’s my age, but I find it hard to adjust to new things. However, I’ll make an effort to speak more comfortably by the ti the wedding cos around.”
“I truly appreciate it.”
I had never heard of a rchant being slow to adapt, but I couldn’t rush the Count if he needed ti.
Moreover, he had already set the wedding as the final deadline, so at least I knew he wasn’t against my relationship with Irina. For that, I was thankful.
“I should also apologize to the Countess. These folks can be a bit mischievous, and they tend to catch people off guard during their first conversation.”
I bowed my head to the Count’s wife as well. The Count, at least, had likely interacted with these directors in a professional capacity, and Irina could lean on . But the Countess? She didn’t have that luxury.
How often did a lady of a noble house need to face high-ranking officials? The interest those officials showed in her beloved daughter must have been quite overwhelming. In fact, she was probably the most affected person here.
While the Count managed to maintain a calm exterior, his wife still seed visibly shaken, her pupils trembling slightly.
“Please don’t worry about it. As you said, they’re just a bit playful.”
I was relieved that she said she was fine. That was truly a relief…
Damn them.
I glanced over at the directors who were now huddled back in the corner, engaged in so aningless conversation.
Couldn’t they be a bit more aware of the weight their positions held? There were plenty of people whose lives could be turned upside down by just a word from one of them.
***It felt like being sucked into a storm when the Executive Manager arrived with the other Ministry of Finance officials. Fortunately, they approached not as civil servants but as the Executive Manager’s acquaintances, so no harm was done.
As casual guests, the officials showed an almost grandfatherly interest in Irina, like elderly villagers offering treats to a child. With , they exchanged nothing more than simple greetings.
I suppose I should be satisfied with just seeing their faces.
If that was the case, then it wasn’t a bad eting. In the end, there was no harm done, so I’d call it a decent encounter. It was always a good idea to foster relationships with the higher-ups in the Finance Ministry, and I t them all at once today. If I had to decide whether this was a good or bad on, then it was definitely a good one.
Moreover, the Executive Manager apologized multiple tis for the unexpected eting, so there was no point in dwelling on it. In fact, I should be thankful for the opportunity to et these officials.
Yes. I should be grateful, but…
A half-ring.
I couldn’t help but stare at the Executive Manager as he spoke with my wife. More specifically, at the ring on his finger.
I’d already seen and heard about it from Irina, but seeing him actually wear a half-ring still caught off guard. It was such an unconventional concept that I almost laughed.
…Actually, this is pretty good.
At the sa ti, my rchant instincts were screaming. The Executive Manager, along with his partner, was wearing this ring—sothing no one had ever seen or imagined before. The aning behind it was also appealing. Two halves coming together as one—that was undeniably romantic.
This would sell. It was bound to sell. It would start a trend even if only the Executive Manager wore it, but now it wasn’t just him—the Iron-blooded Duke’s daughter and even the Mage Duchess were wearing these rings. And with the New Year’s Ball, where all the nobles gathered, right around the corner? It would be stranger if this didn’t beco a trend.
I happened to have quite a few craftsn under contract with our family. I should contact them after today’s events.
***I left the room with the subtle gaze of Count Flanbell lingering behind . His eyes had been locked on the ring for a while now. It must be bothering him that his precious daughter was just one of six wives.
I’m the guilty one here, I know…
“A father’s wish is always for his daughter to be the sole recipient of love.”
“I know, so please shut up.”
Unfortunately, the Minister knew exactly how I felt and couldn’t resist taking a jab at as if it was an action as natural as breathing.
As if I didn’t already know. No matter how normal polygamy was in this society, feelings were a separate matter. It was a parent’s instinct that neither laws nor customs could suppress. It was only natural for them to want the best for their child.
“But didn’t it go smoother than expected? If it were , I wouldn’t have allowed it even if I were six feet under.”
Damn it.
The Minister kept hamring with undeniable truths even though I practically begged him to stop.
To be honest, I’d do the sa if I were in Count Flanbell’s shoes. Even though it was a mistake and I already apologized, I was still the bastard who wrecked his family and stole his precious daughter. That was the kind of position that would keep anyone up at night.
I really hope my future daughter doesn’t end up with soone like …
“Minister, maybe we shouldn’t be so harsh. It seems the Count has let go of any hard feelings, so why should we, as outsiders, interfere any further?”
“You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
The Minister’s harsh truths left speechless, but the Audit Director stepped in to diate.
The Audit Director managed to defuse the situation with a hearty laugh, and the Minister quickly backed off. It made sense; while the Minister could challenge others, he couldn’t treat the Audit Director lightly. After all, it was the Minister who had to beg the Audit Director to co out of retirent and return to the Finance Ministry.
…The more I think about it, the more dreadful it seems. To be dragged back into work after finally retiring—there was nothing worse for a civil servant.
No wonder he enjoys making the most of things.
I found myself looking at the Audit Director with a pitying gaze without realizing it. Earlier, it was the Audit Director who incited the other officials to join him in his little sche when we approached Irina.
I was annoyed at the ti, but thinking of it now as his way of squeezing so enjoynt out of life almost made feel like tearing up.
I better make sure my retirent doesn’t end up like that.
Maybe I should leave the empire altogether once I retired to avoid being dragged back into work.
***The once-quiet halls of the palace were gradually becoming busier. But despite the growing crowd, the area around us remained strangely silent.
Having an official title really did have its perks. It might seem like we were discussing important policies to outsiders when in reality, the people I was with were just a bunch of retirees lanting the days until they could officially call it quits. After all, none of us wanted to talk about work during our off-hours.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
I was listening absentmindedly to the other directors complain about how their children weren’t interested in inheriting their titles when the Minister tapped on the shoulder.
“Congratulations. Looks like you won’t have to search anymore.”
His sudden remark made instinctively frown. What was he talking about?
Seeing my confusion, the Minister pointed sowhere, indicating that I should see for myself—
Oh.
I froze as soon as I followed his finger.
There, walking alongside the Iron-blooded Duke, was a blond man. Just a few steps behind them was a woman with pink hair, holding Louise’s hand.
…What?
I was utterly confused. It was clearly the Naird family given the circumstances, but why were they arriving with the Valentis?
Could it be that Marghetta and Louise were that close and decided to co together? But then, why did the Yorun family co separately? Did they just happen to et up outside?
“Now, we just need Marquis Iones to arrive.”
The Minister’s comnt was the final nail in the coffin, and I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle.
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