Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 1000



1000 – The Work of a Romance Agent (Agency)

Beatrix Catovan of Servet, Duke of Servet and descendant of Roberto Catovan of Servet, Duke of Servet, has officially abdicated as Duke of Servet.

Tricky ascended to the throne of the Duke of Servette in 1277. At the time, Tricky was only 20 years old and a young adult. What a painful beginning it must have been, considering that her mother died just a year later.

But Trixie did not fall, but went on. From 1277, when she became the Duke of Servet, until 1384, when she declared her retirement, she reigned as the pillar, shield, and symbol of the empire for a full 107 years. In fact, she was a great noble who led a third of the empire’s history.

‘A nobleman who led one third.’

I looked at Tricky, who was receiving tearful greetings from the wizards.

It is not one-third of a person’s life, but one-third of a nation. Over 100 years is enough time for a newborn baby to see his or her great-grandchildren.

And Trixie has endured those long years alone. For over a hundred years, without parents to support her, without siblings to go through it with, without friends to confide in.

‘It would have been better if we had lived in peaceful times.’

Even the period during which Trixie served as a duke was a time of crisis for the Empire.

A country in ruins, the authority of the royal family being driven to the ground, and the people wailing, howling, howling, howling, howling, could an ordinary person have done it? Could even the great men who left their names in history have done it?

First of all, I don’t think I could have done it. If my family and friends had also endured for 100 years, then maybe it would have been different, but I wouldn’t have been able to endure the history of our country’s ruin alone.

That’s why I felt both respect and sadness for Trixie. I love Trixie for holding on until she met me, until she met her grandmother, until the triplets were born.

“Oh my! Your Excellency the Duke! It’s finally time to greet you!”

‘ah.’

But was it presumptuous of a young child who had not even lived for 30 years to dare to judge Tricky’s years? The gods sent a disaster upon me.

This familiar voice and tone. A gruff attitude that makes you feel uncomfortable just by hearing it.

“You came too.”

I burst into laughter at the sight of the information officer approaching me, giggling.

In fact, the statement that you came too is not right. In the first place, I am the one who invited that guy to this place. Not only the information director, but also the minister’s secretary, executive director, executive deputy director, and other executives from the old inspection department, as well as all the other inspection department executives.

That is the moment when the Inspector General ascends to the position of acting chief of staff. Wouldn’t it be strange if the Inspector General’s officials did not attend such a meeting? It would only lead to talk of discord between the Inspector General and his executives.

“Of course I should have come! Actually, I wanted to greet you a long time ago, but Your Majesty, there are a lot of big shots around, so I came only now. Do you think a mere baron would be scared to come here?”

“Now, your superiors are big shots. Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?”

“Your Majesty, I’ve always seen you as a big shot, so it’s okay. We’re like family.”

At those words, the information officer and I both laughed at the same time.

‘That son of a b*tch.’

Now, there are only a handful of people in the empire who are bigger than me. While I find it difficult to treat those who are smaller than me, I treat my superiors, who are bigger than me, with the greatest comfort.

But I’m not angry or disappointed. If this guy were to notice my reaction and distance himself, that would be even stranger. He would approach me like he usually does, and if something happens to me, he’d be the first to react.

‘In some ways, it’s the original Nureongi.’

My gaze involuntarily went to the head of the information officer.

Before I started to suffer from the Emperor in earnest, this was the yellow-haired beast to me. Thinking back, I’ve had a bad relationship with yellow hair since then.

“Your Majesty, I sincerely congratulate you on your ascension to the throne of the Duke.”

“Thank you. I leave all the inspection work to you, but I’m the deputy in other places.”

While he was contemplating whether to vent his pent-up feelings toward the Emperor to the Deputy Chief of Information, this time the Minister’s secretary approached him and offered his congratulations.

Just looking at him made him look strong, and just hearing his voice made him look strong. He had a strength that was different from any other yellow dog, so he patted the minister’s secretary on the shoulder.

“I heard that the work of the Duke’s agent is actually done by the butler─”

“Agari.”

The information officer’s intervention was met with a very slight blow to the abdomen.

Thanks to that, the information officer fell to the ground and did a freestyle, but it was okay. I’m good at controlling my strength against these things. It hurts like hell, but it’s not so bad that anything breaks or bursts.

“The head of the information agency must always have a hard time. How much of a headache would it be if a subordinate like this were the deputy chief?”

“I always receive help from him as he is a capable manager.”

The head of the information department behind the minister’s secretary responded calmly to my words.

“I see.”

However, he did not deny the words hardship and headache. It meant that he was a capable subordinate, but also a subordinate who made things difficult.

‘Cheer up.’

Without realizing it, I looked at the information chief with a hazy look.

It was a terrible experience when the information director was the second section chief of the inspection department, so what would it be like if he was the deputy director right below him? It’s a disaster I can’t even imagine.

“What about the other guys?”

He looked at the information chief for a moment and then quickly turned his gaze towards the minister’s secretary.

If I look at it too blatantly, the chief of the intelligence agency will be able to read my sympathy. Then, it will only make us feel awkward when we meet again after a long time.

And actually, it’s questionable that the other executives are not visible. I’m sure I saw them when they were on the podium.

“The Deputy Chief of Staff is greeting His Majesty the Magi. As a magician, he cannot help but be shaken by His Majesty’s retirement.”

“That’s true. That’s true too.”

First of all, I immediately understood the fact that the special agent’s departure and whereabouts were indeed plausible.

If you’re a wizard, you have to go to Trixie. Honestly, I would have done the same.

“The Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director, His Majesty’s wives are looking for a moment…”

“Eriji?”

“…The head of the special task force is also there.”

This time again, I was convinced that it was a valid reason.

The executive director and the deputy executive director are Eri’s colleagues from the Inspection Department. They were promoted to executives at the same time, and they were comrades who worked together until the establishment of the Inspection Department. It’s not strange that they are holding each other for a moment, glad to see each other again after such a long time.

Fine, too, was immature in expressing it on the outside, but like Eri, she would have been happy to see the executive director and deputy director.

…

‘Then why this kid?’

I couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of the information officer still acting freestyle.

This guy seemed to prioritize teasing me over talking to his long-awaited colleagues. The other guys agreed with his priorities and sent the information officer.

Is this extraordinary?

“I’ll bring it to you right now.”

“No, it’s okay. It will come when the time is right.”

Anyway, I tried to dissuade the minister’s secretary, who was about to arrest the executive director and deputy director at any moment.

If we’re here, we’ll meet eventually, sooner or later. If it comes down to it, I can just go to Eri and Fine.

Even if we can’t meet today, it doesn’t matter. I plan to invite the inspector generals to my mansion for a meal soon.

‘We should enjoy the slope together.’

First of all, I am the Minister of Inspection and Inspection, so I think it would be right for the officials to gather together for the Minister’s celebration. But it would be a bit much to have a dinner to commemorate the ascension to the position of Deputy Minister of Public Works at the restaurant in the building.

“I’ll say it again, thank you all for coming despite your busy schedule.”

After setting the date for the meal around mid-March, I shook hands with the Minister’s Secretary, the Director of the Information Agency, and the Deputy Director of Information.

He even showed consideration to the information manager by personally waking him up. Where in the world can you find such a kind boss?

‘…thanks.’

I looked at the information officer who was grumbling and laughed again.

When I first joined the Inspectorate, I was just a mere successor. Then I was dragged into the Great Suppression War and earned merits, and because I monopolized the glory that should have been enjoyed by seven, I was quickly promoted to the position of Inspector General.

Then, after meeting many people, experiencing many incidents, and making many achievements, I was able to rise to this position. From a deputy chief to a minister, to a successor to an imperial count, and finally to a nobleman among nobles, a ‘duke’.

Thanks to that, I felt refreshed when I saw the executives from the Inspectorate. Although the guys who were with me from the beginning went to heaven first, the guys who were with me the second time are still on earth.

Because they are a symbol of the journey I have walked so far, and they are the ones who will walk the journey ahead with me.

‘Is this how it feels to return to the starting village after seeing the ending?’

In this case, the starting town is the level that the player who saw the ending has come to, but I think it’s a similar feeling.

“dismissal!”

‘hmm?’

Then I heard a familiar voice and turned around.

A very familiar head was shining brighter than anyone else’s.

“Sorry! I had to take care of something else for a moment so I’m greeting you now!”

“I’m sorry I’m late, Your Majesty.”

It was so shiny that the chief executioner, who was right next to him, noticed it only a little later.

“The kid got promoted to manager and then disappeared. His superior became deputy manager and now he’s here?”

“Of course I wanted to come right away. But what can I do if the Duke’s wife is holding me back?”

I thought for a moment as I watched the executive director laughing awkwardly.

Should I try headbanging after a long time? The executive director has been an expert at headbanging since he was the head of Section 3. He was able to become one with the floor because there were no cumbersome accessories on his head.

‘Okay.’

Of course, the worries just ended up as worries.

Even for the sake of the department head’s reputation, he should avoid making a fuss in front of others. If the minister destroys the department head, who will respect and fear the department head?

And the reason why this guy and the chief of staff were late is completely understandable. There is no justification for going after them.

“It’s okay since you both came now. If it was too late, I would have gone and found you myself.”

With those words, he patted the executive director and deputy director on the shoulders.

If Eri and Finedo had come together, it would have been the first time in a long time that the Inspectorate was fully formed. That’s a bit of a shame.

“dismissal.”

“Yeah, why.”

“His Excellency the Marquis of Barandiga and His Excellency the Marquis of Idraphen are coming.”

I turned my head again, following the gaze of the executive vice-chairman, and saw Marquis Barandi and Ainter approaching, leading the northern faction members.

“I think we’re going to have an important conversation, so I’ll leave for a moment─”

“It’s okay. Everyone is here.”

He stopped the chief executive officer who was trying to step down as soon as he arrived.

It’s not the full group, but it’s a lineup that’s been together for a long time. If you ask who my closest aides are, these are the guys who come to mind first.

If so, it is right to continue to be together on this slope. How happy I would be if the Northern faction members and my old associates could become friends.

“Hello, Your Excellency the Duke!”

“Welcome, Marquis. You are finally speaking.”

“Haha, that’s true!”

Soon, Barandi approached with quick steps and shook hands with the Marquis.

My subordinate smiled as if he was genuinely happy to see me, so I smiled back.