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0% Morning broke. Although my careless slip of the tongue yesterday had made bedtime somewhat awkward, the misunderstanding hadn’t turned into reality. Penelia also quickly regained her composure after her initial panic.

Instead, the servants and Masked Unit members I met while walking around the mansion greeted me with knowing looks. They clearly knew it was a misunderstanding, but they seemed to enjoy teasing their master whenever the opportunity arose. How truly exasperating.

And Penelia had to face those looks simply because she was standing next to me.

“I-I’ll make sure to speak clearly to my subordinates.”

“It’s fine, so don’t worry about it.”

It was admirable that she was expressing such brave determination even while stuttering, but this was a problem no one could solve. Only time would sort it out.

Besides, if Penelia alone reprimanded them, I could already see them teasing her even more. While Penelia led her troops well as their captain, her speaking skills weren’t exactly her strength.

“It was bound to happen someday anyway, so let’s just let it slide.”

I whispered, pulling her gently closer by the waist. Though the current misunderstanding wouldn’t immediately come true—after all, the order between wives mattered—it would eventually become reality someday.

“Still, I’m sorry for making you expect unnecessarily.”

“N-no! I wasn’t expecting anything!”

When I added a joking apology, Penelia hurriedly shook her head, at a loss for what to do. It was as if she felt honored to receive my apology.

Hmm.

“Really? So Penelia isn’t particularly interested in such things.”

“Th-that’s...”

I could feel her trembling through my hand resting on her waist.

Though I felt slightly guilty about it, Penelia’s reactions were just too good. Her responses made even the smallest teasing worthwhile.

However, she might end up running away while crying if I continued teasing her like this. That would be problematic.

“I’m joking.”

I kissed her forehead with those words, and the vibrations stopped as if by magic. Unfortunately, it seemed like I still had a long way to go before casual physical affection with Penelia became natural.

...Actually, maybe Penelia wasn’t the only one with a long way ahead, but anyway.

***Before returning to the academy, my last official stop in the capital was a visit to the Prosecutors’ Office. After safely returning from the North, greeting the Senior Manager and the Managers was the least I could do. I hadn’t been able to do that yesterday due to the Emperor’s sudden summons.

As soon as I arrived at the Prosecutors’ Office, the Senior Manager, who was the only one at work, handed me a thick book.

“We’ve updated the list since the Six Swords received Count Livnoman titles.”

Ah.

I quickly scanned the book—the Prosecutors’ Office’s official roster—and saw their names now listed under the nobility category.

This record contained the names of every civil servant who had served in the Prosecutors’ Office since its establishment.

Previously, my name and theirs appeared on different pages due to our different statuses.

But now, all seven of us were listed together.

It was possible now since they’d received noble titles.

I hadn’t even thought of this. I was so focused on them receiving titles that I didn’t consider the Prosecutors’ Office.

“...Thank you. I should have done this.”

“The final approval of the updated roster must come from you, Executive Manager.”

I couldn’t help smiling at his subtle way of passing me the credit. Wouldn’t the Senior Manager, who was acting in my place, have the authority to approve a mere list? He clearly intentionally didn’t approve it and waited for me to come.

The Senior Manager was indeed the pillar of the Prosecutors’ Office. Without him, I probably would have died of high blood pressure long ago or been detained indefinitely for causing a major incident.

“Alright, I’ll handle it.”

As if he’d been waiting for it, the Senior Manager handed me a document when I held out my hand.

I almost laughed when I saw the title. I couldn’t remember approving the 1st and 2nd revisions, but the 3rd was already here, waiting for my approval.

No. Come to think of it, I wonder if my approval was even necessary. The thick roster book in front of me had clearly already been updated. Everything was finished, leaving just a meaningless signature for me to add.

In the end, I couldn’t help but chuckle, and the Senior Manager also lowered his gaze slightly, as if embarrassed.

I don’t know if I’m lucky or unlucky with subordinates.

Looking at the Senior Manager, Penelia, and the 5th Manager, I’d say I was blessed, but considering Elizabeth and the 2nd and 3rd Manager, I couldn’t confidently say so.

It was an absurdly perfect balance, one I didn’t need at all.

“Ah, what about the Minister?”

“He’s in his office.”

I got the answer I wanted when I asked while returning the signed document. By the time I finished bickering with the Minister, the other Managers would probably have arrived.

And if anyone was still missing by then, they’d experience the ‘come to work’ service where their superior personally visited their home.

***There was a knock on the door not long after I started work.

“Minister. It’s me.”

At the familiar voice, I turned my gaze from the documents to the door. That cheeky bastard. He should have come to greet me the day he returned after the war ended, but he was only coming now.

But it might be fortunate that he came today, not yesterday. If he’d seen me then, I’d have been sulking.

“Come in.”

“Yes.”

When the door opened, I saw his bright face, unlike his usually gloomy complexion. This bastard seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

“Finally decided to drop by now?”

“I’m sorry. I was just so busy yesterday.”

Even though I spoke gruffly, his smiling response made it obvious.

He’s finally gotten over it.

He had finally cleared all the knots in his heart.

Right, it was only natural. He personally killed Dorgon; the North became imperial territory, and those guys received Livnoman Count titles. If that wasn’t enough to cure whatever bitterness lingered in him, nothing could. Continuing to mope would’ve suggested he had a serious mental illness.

“I bet you were busy. It’s not easy to sleep when your peers suddenly outrank you, right?”

“Isn’t it still better than my subordinates outranking me?”

“You bastard.”

He chuckled at my words. Although the Livnoman Count title was a single-generation title without lordship, it was an honorable title that received higher treatment than all other counts.

Meaning that even I, a regular count, and that guy who’d someday become an imperial count, must bow our heads before Livnoman counts.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous situation. Those who were commoners were now above me. Should I bow down when I visit their graves from now on? Standing on two legs in front of a Livnoman Count felt disrespectful somehow.

“Ah, I’ve also updated the roster.”

“Already?”

I was a bit surprised to see the Prosecutors’ Office roster he proudly presented. The titles were granted yesterday, and it was updated today? This bastard wasn’t usually so meticulous—

“I had forgotten about it too, but the Senior Manager did it for me.”

Of course. There was no way this bastard could be that thorough.

“You’ve got such a good subordinate, while I have to deal with you.”

“At least your other subordinates are normal. I have three lunatics to handle.”

“That’s your luck. If you don’t like it, quit.”

Though resignation jokes were common between us, his response this time was different.

“I can’t do that. If I start talking about resignation at my age, people will curse me.”

“What?”

I doubted my ears for a moment. Coming from someone who’d submitted enough resignation letters for a lifetime, it sounded ridiculous.

“Even His Majesty handles some tasks personally. I thought I’d better step up, too.”

My gaze instinctively went to the desk drawer. What was he talking about when this drawer was full of the resignation letters he submitted?

Did he hit his head in the North? No, he should be recovering in the Magic Tower or the church if he had a head injury, not here.

“Right, work hard.”

Still, it was encouraging that he was saying he would work hard. At least I wouldn’t be buried under resignation letters anymore.

Actually, I had forgotten about it because his behavior was so bizarre, but wasn’t he carrying the blood of an imperial count? It was only natural for him to be loyal to the imperial family. It was stranger that he’d been going on about resigning until now.

...Hmm.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re not thinking of resigning, take these back.”

I showed him the drawer full of resignation letters as he tilted his head inquiringly.

Then, as if he’d seen something ugly, he started tearing up the resignation letters one by one right in front of me.

He’s gotten even crazier.

This guy, who wasn’t normal to begin with, had become even stranger.

It seems he didn’t just return after resolving his inner conflicts but also came back with a new level of madness.

***When I returned after talking with the Minister, all the Managers had gathered. Thankfully, I didn’t have to personally visit their homes for now.

Overall, the visit had been satisfying—I’d greeted everyone I needed to, and even the roster, which I hadn’t thought of, was updated.

The only blemish was the Minister forcing me to face remnants of my embarrassing past. However, by personally destroying those humiliating documents, I symbolically overcame my former self.

The weak civil servant who constantly sought resignation was gone, replaced by Carl, the devoted servant of the Emperor.

Is this what it feels like to have your head cracked open?

I suddenly felt strange, as if I was following the path of a fervent imperialist like my father.

But what choice did I have? To ignore such kindness would mark me as an ungrateful beast rather than a proper human. Starting from that day, I’d have been nothing more than a black-haired animal.

I’ll give it my best until I turn sixty.

And no more resignation letters until then.

The Crown Prince wouldn’t let me go before that, anyway. High-ranking officials retiring in their forties or fifties were extremely rare in the empire’s history.

38 years left until I’m sixty, huh...

It was horrifying. 38 more years just to consider retirement—what a nightmare. Even worse, what if my lifespan extended to match Beatrix’s?

Damn it.

I quickly shook my head to shake off the horrifying thought.

It must remain a strict family secret if my lifespan ever becomes extended. I should hide in the basement of Servette Duchy or something when I’m around eighty,

...The basement.

My gaze unintentionally fell on my right arm. Maybe I’d see the basement in eight hours rather than 80 years.

Now that I was done with business in the capital, it was time to return to the academy.

A slip-up there could easily lead to imprisonment by an enraged Beatrix.

I could somehow manage if it was discovered that I participated in the battle, but there was no easy solution if it was revealed that my arm was cut off.

So, it must remain hidden—for my sake and the mental stability of those I loved.