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Witnessing your child getting married was something that you never became fully prepared for no matter how many times it happened, even if said child wasn’t your biological one but someone you just held dear in your heart.

My niece had navy blue hair, resembling her aunt. She wasn’t my biological child so there was much I didn’t know about her and we hadn’t spent much time together. Yet, perhaps it was for that very reason that her polite and modest attitude made her even more endearing to me.

Unlike my own children, who unfortunately inherited my complete lack of charm, she took after my wife’s youthful personality. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t fond of her or that didn’t want to look after her.

“Uncle! Look, a dragonfly!”

“Yes, it’s a big one.”

From a young age, she never feared my rather stern appearance and always welcomed me warmly. I would hoist her up onto my shoulders and we’d tour the land together every time I visited Count Iris’s territory.

Now, she’d grown into a young lady who blushed at the mere mention of such childhood memories. However, the bond we formed back then remained, making her feel more like a daughter than just a niece.

“Time truly flies.”

The little girl who once laughed with her missing front teeth was now a bride-to-be. It truly made me feel that so much time had passed.

Though the outcome of that passage of time was a bit… unfortunate.

…My nephew-in-law.

I turned my gaze to the man standing quietly with his eyes lowered—the 2nd Manager, who had become my niece’s fiancé.

Christina’s choice of partner was truly unexpected. The 2nd Manager and I had worked together in the Finance Ministry so I was familiar with him professionally, but I never imagined that I’d be connected to him in a personal context.

To be frank, I wasn’t thrilled about it. In fact, I initially wanted to oppose it. After all, I knew well enough about his colorful and varied romantic history. I feared that my niece would end up as just another fleeting chapter in his life.

— Uncle, is it true that Mr. Lafayette works under you?

I was fully prepared to convince Christina to break it off when she first reached out to me through the communication crystal.

And after that, I planned to deal with him personally. He went on a work assignment, seduced an innocent woman, and didn’t even bother to use an alias? What kind of lunacy was that? They said that crazy bosses tended to have crazy subordinates, and the Prosecutors’ Office was the perfect example of that.

But in the end, I failed. Rather than break apart, their bond only grew stronger and their relationship became officially recognized.

They say no parent can win against their child.

Though I wasn’t her biological parent, my parental instincts were my downfall. How could I refuse when a child who had always been so modest and unassuming looked at me with such earnest eyes and pleaded for my approval?

My niece, who had chosen the hard path of being a teaching assistant despite her status as a Count’s daughter and the Finance Minister’s niece, had finally set her heart on someone. If I had forced them apart, she might have been hurt and closed her heart forever.

It still drove me crazy. Why did she have to choose the 2nd Manager out of all the men in the world?

“Here, take this. It’s what you asked for.”

Pushing aside my negative thoughts, I pulled the ring box from my coat pocket.

Regretting it now would only make her uncomfortable. Since I’d given my permission, I might as well fully embrace it.

“Th-Thank you so much!”

Seeing her eyes light up as she took the ring box dispelled any lingering discomfort I had.

Come to think of it, I wasn’t exactly the most ideal husband before I married, either. Just as meeting my wife changed me, perhaps this nephew-in-law of mine would change for the better, too.

Anyway, Christina, her face flushed with excitement, opened the box and smiled as brightly as she could when she saw the half-ring inside.

Does she really like that so much?

I couldn’t understand what kids these days were into. She had never been one to ask for anything, so I went along with it when she specifically requested it. But why was she grinning so cheerfully over a split ring?

Regardless of whether I understood it or not, that bizarre ring was going to set a trend. It was already drawing attention because that guy—who everyone had been curious about—wore it. And the Crown Prince, Princess, the Mage Duchess, and a duke’s daughter were all wearing one, too. It was an unstoppable tide. If people didn’t ride that wave, they’d be labeled as an outdated noble.

— I completely forgot to buy proper couple rings. I split one in a hurry, and she seemed to like it…

“If you don’t want to get divorced, then keep that story a secret forever.”

The saying ‘ignorance is bliss’ couldn’t be more true. If I hadn’t known the backstory of how that ring came to be, I would’ve just thought, ‘Oh, so that’s the style nowadays.’

Honestly, that kid was already showing signs of early-onset dementia. What kind of man forgets to buy a couple’s ring for his fiancée?

“Look, Mr. Lafayette, isn’t it pretty?”

“…Yes. It’s very beautiful, like a treasure you’d keep for a lifetime.”

As Christina showed the ring to her fiancé while grinning from ear to ear, he hesitated for a moment before answering.

I understood him. He must know the secret behind that ring, after all. The very ring he once scoffed at had now made its way back around to his own hand. He must be feeling quite conflicted.

And that ring wasn’t even made by me. I asked the original creator to split it for me during the New Year’s Ball.

“Split it.”

“You’re asking me to create that monstrous thing again?”

He recoiled in disgust when I handed him the ring until I added:

“The person who’s going to wear this ring is the one whose thesis you tore apart.”

“I wish them a long and happy marriage.”

Saying just that one line, he split it right away.

Granted that she went on to successfully submit another one on a different topic after her paper got shredded, but the fact remained that he had caused the first one to go down in flames. If he had any conscience left, there was no way he could refuse.

“Let me put it on for you myself.”

“T-Thank you.”

I quietly closed my eyes while I watched as that ring, which was the result of a guilty conscience, slipped onto Christina and her fiancé’s fingers.

The process was strange to say the least, but all was well as long as my dear niece was happy.

***

The New Year’s Ball was the one day civil servants could take a legitimate break. In other words, it was back to work the very next day after the festivities ended.

So, we all had to head back to our dreary office jobs after indulging in all the lavish food at the grand banquet hall and taking naps in one of the private rooms. What a terrible fall from grace.

“…What’s going on?”

But I could tell that today was going to be different as soon as I arrived at work. This wasn’t a day of dreadful descent—it was going to be one of joyful ascension. Not a plunge into despair, but a climb up a mountain of delight.

The 1st Manager cheerfully answered my dazed question while holding up a garishly decorated banner.

“We’re throwing a party to celebrate the 2nd Manager’s wedding!”

CONGRATULATIONS! The 2nd Manager is finally escaping bachelorhood!

“Oh.”

My mind instinctively flashed back to last year and to the grand display of humiliation I endured when I was sent on assignment to the Academy. That torn banner had shredded my pride into pieces.

And now, that memory had returned to life a year later—this time to celebrate the downfall of the 2nd Manager, who had gone from instigator to victim.

“Whose idea was this?”

“Mine!”

“Good job.”

What a good girl.

I patted the 1st Manager’s head, feeling genuinely thankful. She really did well. It just wasn’t right to let a colleague’s wedding pass by without a proper celebration. It was practically a duty to create a holiday out of thin air just to celebrate the wedding of the only remaining bachelor in the office.

Feeling pleased, I glanced around. The other managers were already settling in. The 3rd Manager was laughing boisterously while pouring drinks for the Senior Manager, while the 5th Manager was rummaging through boxes, probably searching for the right bottle of liquor.

What a harmonious scene.

Seeing all the managers ready to celebrate a colleague’s marriage warmed my heart. I had never been so glad that drinking on the job was allowed, at least for today.

“Oh, Executive Manager! Would you like a drink, too?”

The 3rd Manager, hearing my conversation with the 1st Manager, waved a bottle enthusiastically as he poured drinks for the Senior Manager.

“I’ll pass. You guys go ahead.”

Of course, I declined. After all, I wanted to savor this joy and pleasure with a clear mind. I couldn’t bear the thought of letting alcohol dull this feeling. This emotion was mine alone…

“Well, suit yourself.”

The 3rd Manager decided to share his happiness with alcohol and promptly downed the bottle after I refused.

Go ahead, drink up. Today was one of those days where no one cared even if people passed out.

“The 2nd Manager isn’t here yet, right?”

I nodded to the 5th Manager as he greeted me with a slight bow, and then turned back to the 1st Manager.

Enjoying the party was important, but the guest of honor needed to be present for the celebration to truly come alive. Wouldn’t celebrating the 2nd Manager’s wedding party without him feel a bit empty?

Of course, these guys had once thrown a surprise party for me without my presence, so I shouldn’t be too surprised.

“He’s probably going to be as late as possible. I think he’s caught on to us.”

I laughed at the 1st Manager’s comment. The one who dished it out knew best where it hurts, and the 2nd Manager had provoked me countless times. He must’ve realized that payback was coming his way like a boomerang, and today was clearly the day for it.

“What’s he going to do even if he knows?”

“Exactly.”

Unfortunately for him, nothing would change even if he knew. He’d refuse to come to work? We’d go get him. Him requesting a business trip? I’d just deny it. The wheels were already in motion, and there was no stopping this.

My heart raced with excitement. Starting the new year with an event like this… I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

***

There was still no sign of the 2nd Manager as the end of the workday approached.

“Do you think he ran away?”

“Should we grab lunch outside while we go hunt him down?”

I ignored the murmurs of the managers as I stroked my chin.

Something was off. This guy wasn’t the type to be late, nor was he reckless enough to skip work without permission. If anything, he’d have requested to leave early in some bold fashion.

The answer to my question came soon enough.