Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 981



981 – A Crazy New Year’s Eve – 6

The craftsman’s sword was temporarily recovered.

Even if it was a sword bestowed by the Emperor, it would be difficult to carry it around in the palace, especially during the New Year’s greeting ceremony where all the nobles of the Empire were gathered. As a result, the attendant who had brought the sword suddenly disappeared with the sword in his hand.

It was indeed fortunate. Even though it was a small sentence, it was large enough to be noticed if you looked closely. If you were to walk among nobles with such a sword? The question, ‘What is the sentence engraved on the hilt?’ would have been asked.

If that were the case, there would have been a commotion from the New Year without even going until February. The first sentence I saw was engraved on my gift, and only the Emperor and the Duke can have personal crests. If the Duke’s husband had a personal crest, wouldn’t all kinds of speculations run wild? Among them, there would certainly be talk of succession to the Duke’s throne.

‘If such speculations come out, things will get complicated.’

We plan to hand over the position of Commander Servet in the format of Duke (Mom) – Proxy (Dad) – Next Duke (Daughter). This is something we have decided on since early last year, so we have prepared thoroughly for it.

But if the nobles gossip under the misunderstanding that ‘the Duke of Servette will be inherited by a married couple!’, there is nothing more terrible than that. We had intended to inherit by proxy from the beginning, but it seems as if we have given up on the Duke’s succession due to the opposition of the nobles and the public’s uneasy sentiment.

Of course, if you actively explain, it will be resolved somehow. Still, it is right to avoid things that you don’t have to experience. Even if it is just a proxy, you cannot cover up the beginning of the Servette command tower with gossip.

‘I’m so shocked.’

I sighed in relief and looked up at the emperor on the podium.

That damn yellow guy. He must have picked up the sword right away because he knew it would be troublesome if he got caught, but if he hadn’t engraved the emblem in the first place, there wouldn’t have been any trouble, right?

I can’t understand it. It’s like I’m a crazy person who enjoys the thrill of seeing how far they can tease me, how far they have to go before a disaster occurs. If there was a nuclear launch button in the empire, I’d press it alone and cancel it alone, repeatedly playing around.

Then, if you stop just before launch, you’ll be happy and say you’ve set a new record. There’s no such thing as a crazy strong man.

“Congratulations.”

“Ah, Master.”

As I was watching the emperor step down from the podium, I immediately lowered my head at the voice of my eldest father-in-law.

“I cannot express how honored I am to have received Your Excellency the Craftsman’s masterpiece through the hands of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Soon, I started reflexively responding with flattery that wasn’t flattery.

The craftsman knows that the craftsman’s sword is destined to become my sacred relic. He was speechless for a moment at the fact that his ancestor’s sword was designated as a sacred relic, and that it was the sacred relic of his son-in-law who was still alive.

However, he tried to convince them of the necessity of designating it as a sacred relic and the grandchildren’s affection, but in front of all the nobles, his ancestors’ work had evolved into a treasure that would open a new heaven. It was an extremely satisfying thing for the craftsman.

“That’s why I said congratulations. It is a wonderful thing to have obtained the masterpiece of masterpieces. Didn’t you receive it from His Majesty in front of everyone?”

“It is truly an overwhelming grace.”

“At the same time, the Black Empire that opened up a new sky will be remembered forever in the history of the continent. This is also the joy of me and Valenti.”

In fact, the craftsman’s expression was filled with gentleness and happiness.

Since it was a sword that would become the son-in-law’s relic and be buried in the ground anyway, if it was given publicly like this, it would remain in everyone’s memory forever.

‘It is said that the masterpieces of one’s direct ancestors, not those of others, are recorded in history.’

It’s something that makes me laugh just hearing it. As a descendant, what could be happier than this?

And the fact that it was buried in the ground was just a metaphor, and upon closer inspection, it wasn’t really buried underground. It was actually kept in the cathedral’s basement. This meant that if my father-in-law requested it from the Archdiocese of Dani, he could see it at any time.

At this point, things are better than when he was sleeping in the Imperial Treasury. This is evolution and advancement from the sword’s perspective.

“by the way.”

My father-in-law, who was stroking his beard and raising the corners of his lips, brought his face close to my ear.

“What is the sentence on the sword hilt?”

‘ah.’

And then he whispered directly to me something I didn’t want to mention.

Yes. Even though the craftsman was a random noble who had stepped down from the dukedom, he was still the closest to the throne as a former duke and the biological father of the current duke.

Even the physical abilities of the craftsman were amazing. There was a verse I had never seen before on the sword of my ancestors in my son-in-law’s hand? It must have been so clear that it felt like I was seeing it right in front of my nose.

“That’s it.”

So I racked my brain desperately.

You can’t deny what you’ve already seen. Moreover, if there are sentences in your ancestor’s masterpiece that have been modified into vulgar language that even your descendants don’t know about, it’s enough reason for your father-in-law’s joy to turn into anger. If you just keep silent or make a lame excuse, you’ll end up like a flip Z in your father-in-law’s hands.

“Your Majesty, this is still a secret known only to Your Majesty, a few ministers, myself, my ladies, and Servette’s vassals and retainers.”

“You know quite a bit. Is that confidential?”

My mouth was momentarily shut by this rather logical point. It was certainly because the retirement ceremony was just around the corner, but there were quite a few people I knew who were keeping it a secret.

‘I can speak with peace of mind.’

Thanks to you, I found peace of mind again.

It’s not something to gossip about in the neighborhood, but there’s no need to hide it completely, and as a craftsman, you have enough access to information on the changes in the royal family. There’s no need to embellish this, just be honest.

“Tricky will step down from the Duchess’ chair in February.”

I felt the craftsman’s breathing stop for a moment, as if his brain activity had temporarily stopped due to excessive information inflow.

“Of course, Maria is too young to be the next duke, so I will act as the acting duke until Maria becomes an adult. The emblem you saw, father-in-law, is my personal emblem.”

There was no answer in return.

The craftsman stared at the ceiling for a while without saying anything.

The New Year’s greeting ceremony went by without much fuss.

Suddenly, I was surrounded by nobles with the stigma of being a ‘hero who cuts down the old sky and opens a new one’, but being surrounded by nobles is nothing new, as it happened last year and the year before. It’ll probably happen again next year, so it’s okay.

If there was one unique thing that happened during the New Year’s greeting ceremony that went smoothly, it would be

“Hoo. This is the Duke’s agent.”

“Wow! What the heck! Jae Lee and I are on the same team!?”

“Same class is a bit like that, but wouldn’t it be more correct to say something just below that?”

Since I already revealed the secret to my father-in-law, I just revealed it to the other dukes too.

In fact, it was ambiguous information to hide. A duke who had reigned for 100 years was stepping down on his own, so at least the other dukes should know about it. If they had kept it hidden until the very end and only found out after the incident had happened, there was a possibility that their pride would have been hurt, saying, “Other people knew, but I didn’t?”

The former dukes and several ministers knew information that I, the current duke, did not know. What could be more shameful than this? It would be a shame to the duke’s name.

“A lot of incredible things are happening one after another in the span of a year. Last year, Iron Blood withdrew, and this year, really.”

Anyway, the Golden Duke let out a chuckle at the shocking news of the Duke’s retirement for two years in a row.

But the fact that he kept fiddling with the cigar seemed to indicate that he was thinking about how to use this information to make a killing.

My heart warmed as always because he was the golden ball. That gentleman’s routine was honest and trustworthy.

“I’m worried that my youngest brother-in-law might have been burdened for nothing because of me and my father.”

“Don’t say that. Trixie had already made up her mind. She was just choosing the right time, and it just so happened that Master laid the groundwork for her.”

“Hmm. I feel relieved when you say it like that.”

Then, my brother, who had escaped from the youngest duke, patted my shoulder and burst into laughter.

Just one year after ascending the throne, a youngest son named Duke ‘Dae-ri’ appeared. For the older brother who was secretly watching the moods of the other four dukes, it must have been like finding an oasis in the desert.

The joy of my family is my joy, but the problem is that I have inherited my brother’s pain. It is a bittersweet thing.

“It seems that the Duke of Yeomyeong is relieved, but I feel a little sorry. If Karl becomes the Duke’s deputy, wouldn’t it be difficult to call him Karl? I can’t treat the Duke’s deputy comfortably.”

“No. Please call me ‘Kun Carl’. Although I am your deputy, that name does not reflect your years and experience.”

In the meantime, Jeon Seung-gong said something terrible, so I hurriedly shook my head.

I’m just a sword soldier. I’m just a sword soldier who keeps the duke’s seat warm. If Jeon Seung-gong calls me a duke agent instead of sword soldier, I think it’ll hurt his feelings a lot.

“Haha, if that’s what you want, Karl, then you should do it. From February onwards, I’ll be counting on you as fellow operatives, Karl.”

“If possible, please leave out the word ‘same’…”

“Oh, if we ignore the proxy, who will respect the proxy’s authority? Even though he is the youngest among us, he will not be treated as inferior to us, so don’t worry.”

He bowed his head solemnly at the firm words.

He is a strange person who is kind but cruel…

***

The last day of this year’s New Year’s greeting ceremony had a different schedule than previous years.

An event where all the nobles who attended the New Year’s greetings and the priests of the Archdiocese of Ausen gathered. Even His Majesty, who had strictly avoided external activities since his abdication, graced the event.

‘This is my first outdoor wedding ceremony.’

The last schedule was held outdoors, not in the palace. With the cooperation of the Magic Tower, a considerable number of people moved to Danis for the last schedule.

To open up a new sky and create a new order on the continent.

“Tear down the old sky! Shout out a new sky!”

A new history where a new order is being created. My heart began to pound at the thought that I was there, that I was leading the way.

That is why I shouted. At least now, I shouted not as the monarch of a country or the emperor of a continent, but as a witness to history.

“””Tear down the old sky! Shout out a new sky!”””

Those who had gathered in Danis also shouted the same thing as I did.

‘Ugh.’

The sky was split open. The existing common sense and order were cut off from the future.

Now we will run forward without being able to go back to the past, nor with any intention of going back.