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Civil Servant in Romance Fantasy-Chapter 118: What a Long Vacation (4)
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β What a Long Vacation (4) β
A few more days passed after I received the report from the Senior Manager, and it became difficult to stay any longer. It was time to return to the capital.
The main reason I came to the territory was because Mother wanted to see me for a bit, and having the others join was more of a bonus. If there was no more reason to stay, heading back to the capital made sense.
Honestly, it was hard to stay in the County of Tailglehen, which wasnβt known for its tourism. Right now, the victims of Rutisβs Five Knight Play were quietly seething for a rematch, but who knew when these fools would clamor to go out again?
βIβm thinking of heading back to the capital.β
βThen Iβll let the others know!β
So, I tasked Louise with spreading the news. No one would probably want to stay in the territory if Louise said that we were going back to the capital. Anyone who wouldnβt be cooperative didnβt deserve to be in the pastry club.
Even Marghetta, who I was worried about, agreed to return to the capital. She seemed a bit sad, but it wasnβt like we could stay in the territory forever. We had to go back eventually, so she readily agreed.
βYouβre going back?β
βYes. Since everyone is staying in the Empire for the trip, itβs difficult to stay in one place.β
βI see.β
Mother just nodded without much reaction. The eldest son she summoned for marriage discussions was using his career as a shield, so there was no point in holding him back.
Just like that, we suddenly decided to return to the capital like how we suddenly came to the territory. Life was full of such sudden changes, wasnβt it?
βYou must eat it every day. Itβs ineffective if eaten irregularly.β
βAh, yes.β
This was also sudden.
On the morning of our departure to the capital, Mother bombarded us with a ton of gifts. After receiving the Mage Duchessβs potions, I was now receiving healthy foods. It was really too much.
Even the head maid, and not just any maid, personally explained and handed me each item. When to eat this for the best effect, when to eat that, what it does for me, and so on.
βIf you think youβll forget, tell the butler. Heβll give it to you at the right time.β
βUnderstood.β
I glanced sideways and saw that Erich was barely holding the growing pile in his arms. I thought about offloading some of my items to Erich, but that seemed difficult to do now.
Then, Mother followed my gaze to Erich and shifted her target to him. freewebno vel.co m
βI heard that the Academyβs training can be intense, so make sure to take these.β
Erich nodded blankly. With that much, there might still be leftovers even at his graduation.
βItβs Motherβs way of caring.β
It was heartwarming to see her consideration for the undutiful sons who rarely got in touch.
βIf only it had been like this earlier.β
Honestly, it would have been better if she had been like this before Erich entered the Academy. Perhaps she only realized the importance of her child who was always around after heβd gone off to a faraway Academy.
But still, it was good that she was changing now. The Patriarch might not change over time, but a warm-hearted mother would surely make Erich happy.
βI have to go now, but Iβll be in touch.β
After confirming the farewells from the Patriarch and the members, I bowed to Mother. Yeah, letβs keep in touch, even if itβs just occasionally. Erich might not contact Mother if I didnβt, and that would be troublesome.
The initial trip to the territory with those idiots felt daunting, but I was able to leave with a light heart in the end. If Erich and Motherβs relationship improved, then that alone made the trip to the territory worthwhile.
***
Theyβre leaving. I want to hold them back for just one more day, but I canβt.
Iβd be lying if I said I wasnβt feeling sad. Iβve just started to have normal, happy conversations with those kids, and I wanted to enjoy that happiness more.
But I managed to send them off, suppressing that regret. The happiness Iβve experienced now wonβt disappear like bubbles; Iβm confident that Iβll be able to experience it again.
βWhen they returnβ¦β
The kids will come back. They had to leave home temporarily due to their roles as a civil servant and a student, but they will return someday.
And then, I can enjoy that happiness again. Clinging to the present and being stubborn would only worsen our slightly repaired relationship.
βLetβs wait.β
I neglected those kids for nearly 20 years. The time I actually looked at them properly was less than 20 days, and yet, I was able to restore a relationship that I never dared to dream of in that brief moment.
I mustnβt act hastily, for the sake of those kids who approached me as their mother even though I didnβt deserve to be treated so. And also for the sake of my daughter-in-law, who helped mend our relationship.
It was only possible because of them, not me. So, I need to proceed carefully and gradually.
βWife.β
βBilly.β
As I watched the children walk away, Billy approached.
True to his word, he waited for Carl to tell me he was going back on his own. I felt a little embarrassed after remembering how I shook him by the collar during that process.
βIβm glad the collar-grabbing was worth it.β
Billy spoke, reading my thoughts. I quietly looked down. No matter how excited I was and how angry I was with Billy, I was too harsh.
Still, I would do it all over again if I had to. How could he say such harsh words about sending those kids, who were just starting to talk, back? And especially when I hadnβt even properly connected his son with his daughter-in-law?
βSheβs quite impressive for her age.β
Thinking of my daughter-in-law, a mix of regret and pride surged within me. I wanted her to at least be engaged to Carl, but it failed. How could I blame her, though? She was a child filled with a commitment to serve the Empire.
I already knew she was deep and mature. I didnβt expect her to aim to be a civil servant despite being a noblewoman, but that was a pleasant miscalculation.
Of course, as Carlβs mother, I wish she had chosen marriage to Carl over her career. The problem was that I couldnβt bring myself to say that. After all, I owed her a favor.
If Carl can convince her to choose marriage over being a civil servant and they come to Tailglehen after her graduationβ
βIβll have to teach her the duties of a hostess.β
Sheβd been preparing for a government position, so sheβd learn quickly.
***
The dissonance of being at home in the morning and at work by lunchtime was more heart-wrenching than expected, especially since it wasnβt from the mansion in the capital but from the territory. It felt like working on a holiday.
βHeβs always bothering other people.β
This was all because of the former Count Horfeld. I wouldnβt have had to go to work if he hadnβt retired so suddenly.
βIs he healthy?β
βYes, he even enjoyed hunting yesterday.β
βSo heβs still strong. I see.β
I brushed through my hair roughly at the Senior Managerβs calm response. A person whose health was so bad that they needed to hand over their title to a 19-year-old wouldnβt be capable of extreme sports like hunting. Whatβs the real story? Did he just retire to have fun?
If he had officially handed over the title, then the Emperor must have approved it. However, we had to figure out why, regardless of the approval. After all, there might be some schemes or backdoor dealings with the other nobles.
But no matter how much I looked, I couldnβt find anything. Itβs most likely that he retired just to relax.
βHow envious.β
From now on, the former Count Horfeld would be my role model.
Anyway, I moved on from the sudden escapade of the former count to the other documents. The reason for the escapade was less important than the aftermath.
βHe seems capable.β
And the aftermath was quieter than expected. The Imperial Council fluttered a bit with the sudden replacement of a member, then settled down again.
βMost of the former Countβs shares have been inherited. It seems he consulted with his vassals before retiring.β
βThat makes sense.β
Abruptly announcing his retirement publicly was one thing, but keeping it a secret from even his own vassals would be crazy.
Looking closely at the details, the Countβs vassals remained mostly the same, with the addition of just a few young subordinates. The amount of money circulated to the other members of the imperial council to celebrate their succession to the council was exactly as I expected.
And an appropriate amount of βfriendship moneyβ was deposited to the Prosecutorsβ Office.
It wasnβt as bad as I thought it would be. I was worried that he might go on a βyoung hotheadβ spree, refusing to give any under-the-table money.
βThere are no issues.β
I felt unjustly upset for having to come to work when there was no problem. It was fortunate, but why do I feel this bittersweet feeling?
Rubbing my stiff neck, I turned my attention to the Senior Manager. I came to work in a hurry today because of Count Horfeld, but I might as well handle any pending matters since I was already here.
βIs there anything unusual?β
The Senior Manager trembled at my question and cautiously opened his mouth.
βThe 2nd Manager contacted me first.β
Damn it. I was just checking, but something popped up right away.
Just hearing that there was a call from the 2nd Manager, who was stationed in the north, was enough to make my mouth go dry.
βHe asked for more liquor.β
βThat bastard.β
I was an idiot for worrying.
ββ¦Send it over.β
βUnderstood.β
I had the urge to call the 2nd Manager right away and curse him out, but I barely restrained myself.
Right, I should send it. He was struggling in the north, so that was the least I could do. I wouldnβt have let it slide if he was just lounging around here and made that demand.
It was just regrettable that the last thing I had to hear before reporting to the Minister was the 2nd Managerβs nonsense.
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