༺ Is the Executive Manager Really Satisfied? ༻
The banquet, which was the last event of the Fair, ended without any incidents.
“Mar, I’m really sorry. I didn’t an to…”
“It’s okay. Sir Carl did a favor, didn’t you?”
Excluding the tragically stepped-on Mar’s foot incident, that is. Despite being cautious, I ended up stepping on her nurous tis. However, I did my best to avoid putting too much pressure on her foot and avoid hurting her.
If I had properly stepped on her foot even once, a major disaster would have happened. Mar’s foot would’ve broken, and the news of the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager assaulting the Duke’s daughter would have spread. And then, I would’ve been visited by an angry, Iron-blooded Duke. Then I would’ve probably been sent to prison.
“Next ti, I’ll be more careful.”
“Oh, are you asking to be your partner for another ti?”
“Only if Mar is okay with .”
I felt relieved after seeing her smile. Luckily, it seed like she wasn’t angry. It was entirely my fault, so even if she had gotten angry, I would have humbly accepted it.
Feeling apologetic, I wanted to escort her to her dormitory, but she strangely refused. It wasn’t just a few polite refusals; she seed genuinely determined to go alone, which caught off guard.
“I want to take my ti and go back leisurely on my own.”
She said that so what could I do about it? I planned to accompany her out of guilt, but it would be wrong to drag soone who didn’t want to by force.
“I’m sorry for today.”
“I had fun. Carl, I hope you also had a good ti.”
“I’ve enjoyed it too.”
Watching Mar retreating, Louise, who’d been standing behind , quickly rushed toward her.
‘I told her not to run.’
She wasn’t running, per se. But what’s the difference between that and running?
Still, it seed like she’d gotten the hang of it as she arrived next to Marghetta without any incident. They exchanged a few words, but I couldn’t see their faces, so I wasn’t sure what they were saying.
“Did sothing happen?”
“There was sothing I had to tell Senior.”
Seeing how she smiled, I figured she had no intention of telling . Since Marghetta didn’t seem upset either, it probably wasn’t a problematic conversation. Louise would know well enough to distinguish that much.
“Let’s go back. Everyone, good job.”
Now that Mar was no longer in sight, I addressed the crowded mbers behind . With the big event of the fair finally over, my mind felt clearer.
Although the exams were approaching, that was a schedule that had nothing to do with . I didn’t have to worry about torturing myself with studying.
* * *
I managed to walk as naturally as possible until Carl couldn’t see anymore.
“It hurts…”
After checking that there was no one around, my legs finally relaxed. My legs had done their best to resist as much as possible. I felt disappointed when I had to refuse Carl’s proposal to escort , but I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to resist until I reached my dormitory.
I saw my swollen red foot after taking off the high heels. The pain made tear up, yet I couldn’t help but smile while thinking about the banquet.
At first, when Carl accidentally stepped on my foot, I found it fun to think that even he makes mistakes. But as it happened two, then three tis, it wasn’t funny anymore. It reminded of sothing I heard by chance.
So young nobles pretend to step on their partner’s feet during a dance if they don’t like them. At first, I dismissed the idea, thinking that no noble with dignity would do such a thing. Besides, Carl wouldn’t do that even if I were an inadequate partner.
But now that I experienced it myself, I realized how embarrassing it was. Just dancing with Carl made happy. I’d been holding on while waiting for this mont, but it seed like I was the only one who was happy. Does Carl hate ?
I was about to cry when I thought about it, but I couldn’t help but smile after seeing Carl’s expression. He seed to be embarrassed, and his eyes showed that he didn’t know what to do. I could see that he was trying to make it as less painful for as possible.
‘He’s just bad at dancing.’
It was simply a beginner’s mistake. It wasn’t that Carl didn’t like . He didn’t have any experience in dancing.
‘I was Carl’s first.’
First partner. I was the first person who danced with Carl. I, Marghetta Valenti, was the first one.
Fufufu…
“Hehehe… Ah.”
In a mont of distraction, I let out an undignified laugh. Although there was no one around to witness it, I cleared my throat awkwardly and glanced down at the small vial in my hand.
“If you apply it to the sore area, you should feel better.”
A while ago, Louise approached and gave the dicine. Apparently, it was obtained from the dical personnel stationed in one corner of the banquet hall, just in case of any unforeseen incidents.
“It was oppa who asked for them, but he felt embarrassed to give it to you himself, so he asked to do it instead.”
‘Liar.’
I was watching where Carl was and where he was going. He didn’t have ti to get this dicine. However, I didn’t say anything. I pretended not to know because of my junior’s kindness.
Maybe she was worried that I would be upset after being stepped on by Carl, or maybe she was worried because I was suffering from pain. I was surprised by her consideration of coming silently and how she made sure that the others didn’t notice before giving it to . I also liked how she gave credit to Carl.
As a lady Carl was looking after, this much was a must.
‘As expected. Lady Louise, I can forgive you for today’s incidents.’
I forgive her for being caught by Carl’s arms. After all, I would spend the rest of my life in Carl’s arms. So I could tolerate that much, at least.
…But for now, I should apply the dicine. Today was enjoyable, but it was too painful. Still, it was fine.
* * *
The regular report that ca back as soon as I was about to forget about it.
— If a knife gets stuck in your neck while walking on the road, just accept it as your fate.
“…”
Before I knew it, I found myself ntioning the disaster at the reception, and there was nothing I could say in response to the Minister’s reaction. To be honest, I was feeling the sa way.
—You coldly rejected the youngest daughter he’d raised so dearly, and now you stepped on her? Was the Duke’s daughter able to walk properly on her own after that? Even if the Iron-blooded Duke kills you, the Ministry of Justice will deem him innocent.
“I was careful, though…”
—If so, you shouldn’t have stepped on her at all. It seems like you really are crazy.
There was nothing I could say to refute, as everything he said was true. If Marghetta had shed a tear, the Iron Blooded Duke’s Knights might have co to the Academy. How terrifying.
—So, what happened today?
The Minister changed the topic. He was probably referring to that.
“We followed the imperial edict and eradicated the rebels.”
— Do you think I don’t know that? I’m asking why you clung to so ridiculous custom out of nowhere, insisting on following it, and now you’re doing things by the book.
“That’s what His Majesty the Emperor wanted. He ntioned the ‘Imperial Edict’ and the Mandate of Heaven among other things, so that was my only choice.”
— Like hell it was.
The Minister reacted as if I was saying nonsense. But once again, I couldn’t refute him.
— I told you before. The Prosecutor’s Office must act strictly based on the principles to prevent mishaps. If you create strange traditions out of rcy, you’ll be the one who’s going to get tired in the end.
Why create a tradition that won’t last even two years?
Those words of the Minister stabbed my chest like a dagger.
— Just in case, let make it clear; I’m not blaming you for doing things by the book. It’s only natural for the Prosecutor’s Office to act that way. What I’m talking about is why you created customs that could be arbitrarily established and disregarded.
“I apologize.”
— You’re quick to apologize only in situations like this.
The Minister sighed and glared at .
— His Majesty the Emperor was also satisfied with how you handled things. There were people in the Prosecutor’s Office that found it strange that you suddenly began following the traditions, but there was hardly any backlash.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
— If you returned to the principles after giving a thought, it would’ve been okay. However, judging by the reactions of the officers, it seems otherwise.
I lowered my head at those words. The Minister already knew everything.
— If you’re acting under the pretext of caring for those fellows, think about what they might say when they see you and move accordingly.
“I will keep that in mind…”
— You idiot.
That’s how the regular report ended.
Before long, I received a call from the Palace’s Minister. This ti, it was to relay the Emperor’s words.
They weren’t particularly morable. They could be summarized as ‘You haven’t acted like yourself for a while, but it seems like you’ve finally co back to your senses, and I’m satisfied.’
Yes, it seed like he was quite satisfied. After all, the sword that had beco dull was properly fulfilling its duty again.
— A sword that can be used for a long ti is one worthy of being called a masterpiece. Fortunately, the Executive Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office seems to know that.
Before ending the communication, the Minister’s last statent was explicit and concise. It ant, ‘It’s a relief that you’ve returned to your role.’
My head beca ssy as I lay in bed. I thought that was the only thing I could do. It was a tradition I had made, so I thought it would be okay to ignore it. I thought that doing so made feel refreshed.
— If you’re acting under the pretext of caring for those fellows, think about what they might say when they see you and move accordingly.
It seems like I was wrong.
‘Damn it.’
I am still a kid.
“Is it so hard to call Noona? Seeing how shy you’re, it seems like you’re still indeed young!”
“Stop spouting nonsense and go. The Manager was looking for you.”
Was this why I refused until the very end when Hecate asked to call her Noona?
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