(Behind the Scenes) The Tired Pri Minister
* * *
The royal castle, towering in the center of the Ashgo Kingdom’s capital.
This castle, long vacant of its lord…… Nevertheless, it’s still used as the center of the council and the executive branch, and continues to function as the heart of politics… anyway, in a corner of this royal castle.
Even though it’s already completely dark and dinner ti, there was a man diligently working his way through a mountain of docunts.
The man’s na is Bokji.
His title is Marquis.
More specifically, he’s the current Pri Minister of this country. Simply put, he’s a very important person.
But, however, his gaunt cheeks.
The dark circles under his eyes.
His hair streaked with gray.
His tired appearance doesn’t give off the slightest hint of authority.
If he dressed more formally, he could probably look more imposing…… but right now, this old man is too busy to care about his appearance.
The biggest reason for that is, of course, the betrayal case of forr Viscount Maqueterra Lotten.
Because of that, so of the nobles who held important positions in the country were stripped of their status.
It’s a good thing that the pus was drained, but…… all the extra work has landed squarely on the shoulders of Pri Minister Bokji.
He’ll probably have to pull another all-nighter today.
The consecutive days of overwork are taking a toll on his middle-aged body.
(I want to quit being Pri Minister……)
“I want to quit being Pri Minister……”
Pri Minister Bokji, so exhausted, unintentionally voiced his thoughts out loud.
“That would be problematic.”
“Eek!?”
Suddenly, a voice called out to him from behind, and the Pri Minister jumped up in surprise.
There should have been only him in the Pri Minister’s office right now!?
He hurriedly turned around, and there stood a man dressed as a waiter, with a suspicious grin plastered on his face.
This man’s na is Gainlumi.
He’s the head of this country’s intelligence agency.
“Hey, Gainlumi, you know…… I’ve always told you, right? Knock on the door properly and co in from the door, okay?”
“Yes, yes. Since we were children.”
“If you rember, then fix your bad habits. Seriously, get the hell out of here, you bastard.”
As you can tell from his casual tone, they’ve known each other for a very long ti.
They’re childhood friends.
“……So, what brings you here? Did you co for tea or sothing?”
The Pri Minister sat back in his office chair, stretching his body with both arms raised, and asked Gainlumi.
This Gainlumi is a rather elusive person, and sotis cos to the Pri Minister’s office for no particular reason.
Visits from his childhood friend in between his busy work are actually a relaxing ti for the Pri Minister, but that aside.
“No, no, this ti I actually ca for work. I have a report.”
“Hmm……? A report……?”
The Pri Minister pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down his nose, and stared intently at Gainlumi’s face.
“Yes. Duke Daychib is…”
“What did he do? Was he playing hero again and got knocked down by a boar?”
Duke Daychib.
The na of a troubleso old man who only causes problems.
He must have done sothing stupid again.
The Pri Minister yawned and waited for Gainlumi’s next words.
“No, it seems he’s going to start a coup d’état.”
“WHAAAAAAAAAT!?”
Upon hearing that report, the Pri Minister scread in surprise and fell backwards along with his chair!
* * *
“I see…… Duke Daychib is the figurehead, and General Orbos and the Duke Faction nobles will rise up tonight.”
The Pri Minister, rubbing his aching head, stared intently at the report Gainlumi had handed him.
His eyesight had been deteriorating lately, making it hard to read the small letters.
“This isn’t his usual pretend play, right?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
They both let out a heavy sigh.
“…… Anyway, good thing you noticed. This is a great job by the intelligence agency. Did you notice so suspicious movent and were tailing them?”
“No, apparently there were several reports from citizens about strange roars coming from the Duke family’s townhouse. A subordinate infiltrated and investigated it half out of curiosity, and it turned out to be a surprisingly serious situation.”
“Don’t investigate half out of curiosity! What’s wrong with this country’s intelligence agency!?”
“Well, I am the head, after all.”
“That’s not sothing to be proud of!?”
The Pri Minister scratched his head in frustration, opened the drawer of his desk, took out a baked confectionery inside, stuffed it into his mouth, and crunched on it.
He’s going to be incredibly busy tonight.
It seems he won’t have ti for dinner.
“Haa…… But, General Orbos, a coup d’état? He’s certainly a man who can’t hide his ambition, but was he really such a foolish man?”
The Pri Minister swallowed the confectionery forcibly and muttered, tilting his head.
The duke starting a coup d’état.
Well, that’s fine.
No, it’s not fine, but he could imagine that the Duke might do sothing like that without thinking.
But Orbos is different.
He should be a more cautious and calculating man.
Even if he were to start a coup d’état, he wouldn’t be the one leading it, but would be manipulating things from behind the scenes.
Sothing is off.
“Indeed, I also feel a sense of dissonance. However, it’s pointless to think about it now.”
“……You’re right. Anyway, we need to take imdiate action.”
Nodding at Gainlumi’s suggestion, the Pri Minister whipped his tired body and stood up, giving instructions while walking towards the door.
“This is an ergency, so Gainlumi, contact all relevant parties. We’ll have a eting in 30 minutes. Gather everyone quickly. Have the soldiers on standby. We need to minimize chaos as much as possible.”
“Where are you going, Pri Minister?”
The Pri Minister stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned to face Gainlumi.
His eyes were filled with determination.
The person standing there was no longer just a tired old man.
It was a noble who had shouldered the heavy responsibility of being Pri Minister for many years.
Gainlumi unintentionally held his breath at the sight of his childhood friend’s spirit, which he hadn’t felt in a long ti.
“……This ti, the duke is being used as a figurehead. The weight of his bloodline is troubleso. No matter how wrong he is, it’s difficult to point a blade at soone chosen by God. That’s why the previous king was able to rule so poorly.”
“……Then?”
“I’m going to see…… ‘him’. I have to let him know that the introduction will be a little earlier than planned.”
Now, in terms of the story, they are behind-the-scenes characters.
Therefore, I’ll tell you in advance that there won’t be any more direct depiction of their actions.
But.
The dawn of the ‘Dawn Day’.
Until that mont arrives, their long, long night.
Was just beginning.
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