Chapter 433: With a Fresh Start (3)

It’s the end of the year, with only a few days left until the New Year’s audience. Usually, this is the time to wrap up the year’s work and prepare for the coming year—but as a wanderer who’s been roaming outside all year, there was extremely little for me to do.

If anything, I’ve been stamping documents next to the busy Vice Minister preparing for the Ministry of Inspection’s establishment, and encouraging the office workers who look like zombies. Essentially, I’m more like a cheerleading totem.

I’m glad I started in the field.

I quietly turned my gaze away from the growing pile of coffee cups on the Vice Minister’s desk. Seeing that horrific sight, I’m genuinely grateful that I started my civil service career in the field rather than in office work. If I’d started in office work, I might be rolling around like the Vice Minister.

Of course, the Vice Minister also started in the field, but I decided to forget that for now. After all, I’m the one who stuck him in office work.

That’s why I’m always grateful and sorry to the Vice Minister. Let’s stick together for life…

Huh?

Just then, the communication crystal in my pocket vibrated. Seems like someone sent a message.

It’s not particularly strange. The period from the end of the year to the beginning of the new year is when communication between civil servants explodes. I might not have anything to say to anyone, but someone might have something to ask me.

So I casually checked the device, only to freeze.

[I have urgent matters to discuss. Come to the Sun Palace.]

I bit my lip at the Emperor’s short and concise summons. Someone does have something to ask me, but I didn’t expect that someone to be the Emperor.

Does this guy have nothing better to do? Why does he keep calling innocent people for no reason?

The path to the Sun Palace was peaceful. This time, there was no His Chicken Excellency escaping to become a nugget, nor did the Situation’s carefully raised Bremen Town Musicians appear.

It’s bizarre. Does it make sense to worry about encountering rampaging animals on the way to meet the Emperor in the Imperial Palace?

But unfortunately, it makes sense now. With the Situation standing above the Emperor, it can’t be helped.

“Long live Emperor! Carl Krasius of Tailglehen, head of House Krasius, comes to see the noble Sun of the Empire.”

Anyway, as soon as I entered the Emperor’s office without any commotion, I prostrated myself and greeted him.

“You’ve come. The conversation might be long, so sit comfortably first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I instinctively frowned at his words. It’s annoying enough to be suddenly called, but now the conversation might be long? What on earth does he want to talk about?

…What’s this?

And only after raising my head to check the Emperor’s expression did I flinch. It wasn’t his usual expression with a subtle sneer or worn out from fatigue, but a thoroughly expressionless face. A face devoid of any emotion – like the Situation during his reign.

So I carefully sat on the sofa and silently watched the Emperor. That bastard only makes such an expression when he’s emotionally complex or about to make an insane decision. Neither is particularly welcome.

It’s been quiet for a while.

I racked my brain as I watched the Emperor, seated in the place of honor, remain silent for a long time. The last time I saw that expression that looked like he was about to kill someone was about three years ago, when the Emperor, then the First Prince, had just become Crown Prince.

Back then, every time he made that expression, he’d order someone to be dealt with, and I’d run around like a dog. I didn’t expect to see that expression again now.

“…Right. Welcome, Minister. I had something to think about for a moment.”

Finally, the Emperor smiled and opened his mouth.

“My, how embarrassing. I invited a guest and then got lost in my own thoughts.”

He even laughed, making me inwardly sigh with relief. Thankfully, there’s no need for rogue activities like in the old days.

However, the Emperor had clearly been on the verge of issuing an ‘inspection’ order. Even if he abandoned the idea, the fact itself is not insignificant.

“How can you say such things? Even this foolish subject knows that Your Majesty is always deeply concerned for the peace of the Empire and its people.”

“Haha, is that so? As expected, the Minister understands my heart well.”

When I said the most pleasing words possible, fearing he might have another fit, the Emperor nodded with an even deeper smile.

That glib response was rather welcome. Yes, just naturally move on like this-

“Actually, I was thinking not about the peace of the Empire and its people, but about the Empress Dowager.”

Oh shit.

As soon as the word ‘Empress Dowager’ came out of the Emperor’s mouth, I unconsciously clenched my fist. Of all words, the one I least wanted to hear popped out.

Of course, if there’s anyone the Emperor wants to kill at this point, it’s only the Empress Dowager. Although the Emperor thoroughly erased traces of the Second Prince by killing him and crushing House Epsilon, even he couldn’t touch the Empress Dowager.

While it’s possible to deal with a defeated brother hated by all in the succession dispute, killing one’s nominal mother is unfilial. Killing his father’s wife is too burdensome for a son. Not for moral reasons, but for reasons of justification. That’s why the Emperor killed the Empress Dowager in the form of confinement. Unable to kill her physically, he killed her socially.

But now he mentions the Empress Dowager? Now, when the Emperor’s authority is firmly established, why bother?

He’ll just get cursed at for nothing.

And perhaps my confused emotions showed on my face, as the Emperor lightly shook his head and continued speaking.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of causing an uproar in the Imperial Family at this point. Nor do I want to taint the beginning of my reign with unfilial conduct.”

“…I apologize.”

“What does the Minister have to apologize for?”

The Emperor chuckled and stood up, walking towards the window.

“The Minister already resolved my greatest regret three years ago. That’s enough. Going further would bring no benefit.”

Having said that, the Emperor fell silent again.

It’s maddening. He should either not bring it up at all, or finish what he’s saying instead of cutting off ambiguously, making my heart race even more. It feels like finding an unexploded bomb in the city.

But along with resentment, a sense of pity also raised its head. While the Emperor’s greatest regret might be the Second Prince in hell, that doesn’t mean the Empress Dowager was innocent and kind. She was the second biggest bastard after the Second Prince, yet the Emperor has to keep her alive without being able to kill her. He has to serve her as the Empress Dowager, even if only nominally.

In terms of my life, it would be like having to keep the former Head of the Inspection Department alive. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.

“Ah right, I called you because I had something to discuss, but I’ve been saying strange things.”

The Emperor, having apparently calmed his surging blood, turned to look at me.

“Minister. Have you seen the daughter of Marquis Barandiga?”

“The daughter of Marquis Barandiga, you say?”

Surprised by the unexpected question, I was momentarily flustered, but quickly pulled up information from the back of my memory.

“Yes. During the northern expedition, when negotiating with Marquis Barandiga, I saw his daughter who was present as a guard.”

“Excellent.”

The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, then sat back in his seat and pulled out a piece of paper from his breast pocket.

“Take this.”

“Ah, yes.”

After skimming the paper for a few seconds, the Emperor naturally handed it to me.

It’s packed.

That was my first impression upon receiving the paper. As if the office had run out of paper, both sides were densely covered in writing.

It’s troublesome. If the Emperor is being this frugal, what are his subordinates supposed to do? Does this mean the Inspection Ministry should start using scrap paper-

“It’s a list of Ainter’s dowry items.”

My gaze, which was about to focus on the text, returned to the Emperor.

Is he crazy? Why is he showing me his brother’s dowry list?

“I was thinking of matching Ainter with Marquis Barandiga’s daughter, and I’m relieved to hear that the Minister has seen her too. I’d like you to lend a hand.”

What…?

My hand trembled for a moment. This crazy bastard, now he wants to use me as a matchmaker?

This is an excessive workload beyond my authority. What emperor in the world would entrust matchmaking to the Minister of Inspection? It’s clearly crossing a line, an order that defies common sense.

So I summoned the soul of a brave beast into my heart. To such an unreasonable order, I should firmly—

“It might be difficult to connect two people who haven’t even met. So, don’t come to work for about a month and focus solely on this task.”

…

“Leave it to me, Your Majesty. I will do my best for the prosperity of the Imperial Family.”

At what was essentially an offer of a month’s vacation, I cast aside the specter of the filthy beast.

From today, I am the Old Man Under the Moon. Even if I have to kidnap them with a red string, I will definitely connect them.

It is said that all titled nobles of the Empire must attend the New Year’s audience. This is an absolute duty that even a duke must follow, except for margraves guarding the borders.

Of course, I too was preparing to attend the New Year’s audience as an imperial viscount. Though preparation merely meant assembling my entourage.

However, I found myself preparing for something unexpected.

“…Count, excuse me, but could you repeat that? It seems my ears have gone bad from overwork lately.”

— Oh my. You should be careful in this cold weather. Aren’t you the pillar of the North, Viscount?

My confusion deepened at the sight of the Count of Wiridia—no, Tailglehen—smiling through the communication crystal. Judging by his reaction, it seems I heard correctly.

— His Majesty the Emperor wishes for your daughter to become a companion to His Highness Prince Ainter.

It was indeed correct. Even hearing it twice, it was exactly as I had heard.

Yet I remained confused. The fact that I heard correctly doesn’t mean my confusion should disappear.

Companion?

Though it’s a bit roundabout, I know that ‘companion’ means spouse.

His Highness Prince Ainter?

I also know that the Emperor has only one brother.

But our Shati, marrying the Emperor’s blood relative? And not a distant relative, but his only brother?

Is this a dream?

For a moment, my vision went white. I almost wondered if the Count was joking, but he’s not the type to make such jokes. Especially not jokes involving the Imperial Family.

I feel like crying. Hearing that someone wants Shati as a wife makes all the frustration from the past feel like it’s about to explode. I feel like wailing at the fact that this person is even a member of the Imperial Family.

How painful those years have been. How agonizing that time has been.

“I don’t want to get married! I’m going to be a priestess like Father, so I’ll maintain my purity!”

“What, did I pick you up from under a rock? Even priests get married and have children!”

Shati avoided men by mentioning the priestess position.

“I’m not interested in weak men. I’m going to be the chief who leads the tribe, so I can’t have a weak person by my side!”

She also brought up strength when the priestess shield was broken.

“Physical strength isn’t everything. Intelligence and manners are also part of strength!”

She even added another shield even before the strength shield could be broken.

It was maddening. Other tribes’ daughters get engaged and married before coming of age, but why was my daughter like this?

So I had given up on Shati’s marriage. I thought she’d just be a filial daughter who’d live with her father forever, exchanging jokes and getting along well.

Not anymore.

As if the heavens took pity on me, a powerful being appeared who could easily sweep away Shati’s shields.

— Of course, marriage is a matter for the individuals involved, and between families, isn’t it? If you don’t wish for it, Viscount—

“I will bring Shati to the capital.”

I ignored the Count’s visible flinch at my resolute answer.

If I miss this chance, there won’t be another. I felt this instinctively.