Was the Break This Long? - 1
The rain poured for days on end, as if the rainy season itself insisted on it. Thanks to that, all activity was confined within the lord's castle, and in the meantime chess was elevated to the official board game of the Baking Club, with a good ten matches a day taking place.
Watching the contest between true-madness Ryutis—who promoted every pawn into a knight without fail and ran a five-knight army—and fake-madness Tanian, who abandoned the bishop concept entirely and switched to queens, was entertaining in its own right. And they both played well, too. Veterans who simply enjoyed eccentric plays, perhaps.
"A knight killing a priest? Truly the end of days."
"Is not a fair and square victory the very virtue of a knight?"
It was a pity they were still clinging to those mouthy roleplays.
And every time those two raised a ruckus, Later would twist his already expressionless face ever so slightly and stare at them—with a look that said, what on earth are these creatures.
They're not normal, that's for sure.
But from where I stand, you're on the same level as them. How did only idiots like this manage to gather in one place? It would be hard even if you deliberately set out to collect them.
After watching those members who would be an embarrassment no matter where I took them, I turned away. If I got delayed for the tea-party appointment while gawking at them, it would be a problem.
It feels like I'm drinking more of this than water.
These days, when tea had started to feel like ordinary drinking water, I received Mother's summons without fail once again. Mere rain could never stop Mother's passion, after all.
Of course we didn't have to go out into the gardens. No need for rainwater topping on the black tea. The problem was that the tea parties which had begun being held inside the castle had evolved into ever more splendid affairs.
The larger the scale, the longer you had to sit. If there had at least been many people, you could slip out midway without anyone noticing—but the attendees were always the same cast. Me, Mother, Margeta. The end.
At first every guest had been invited to the tea parties. For something small it might have been different, but when the gathering was large enough to be held inside the castle, it would have been awkward to invite some and snub others. Yet after showing their faces once or twice at the beginning, they simply stopped attending.
"The prosperity of the Crassius family is a blessing to the Empire."
Wondering whether something was making them uncomfortable, I asked, and Ainter explained the reason as their representative. Roughly translated: "The atmosphere seems nice, so we uninvited guests will bow out."
Why only at times like this.
They botched their own romances, so why are they so sharp-eyed about other people's business?
If Irina was left out, she's a third party, so I understand. Luise has a good eye as well, so I get it. But fuck, you lot shouldn't do that. Thinking of me, who's suffering because of you, you really shouldn't.
No matter how positively I tried to look at it, it was infuriating. That meant they had that much sense and still acted the way they did until now.
"Hyung, I have some tact too."
And the most infuriating bastard—no, the most infuriating guy—was Erich. How dare he say that in front of me?
You have tact? Then is he the type who suddenly turns shy when it comes to his own romance or something? How did five of that type manage to gather?
Those sons of bitches.
But what good was it to fume alone? The fact that I was going to the tea party by myself didn't change.
"Young Master Karl, please come in."
"You're here. Come sit down."
Still, there were two people who looked happy, so that was fortunate. No—counting the head maid, three? The head maid's smile was far too warm today as well.
"I'm sorry for being late."
It was a gathering that was a little embarrassing to attend in the first place, but not one I disliked. At least it was better than being summoned by the Crown Prince in the middle of work, right? That bastard who drinks cheap wine alone and mutters to himself.
For a moment I imagined Margeta whining while drunk. The same action really does feel different depending on who does it.
"Young Master Karl?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
I forcibly turned my gaze away from Margeta, who was blinking at me. I had made far too rude an imagination with the person sitting right in front of me. Especially when the target was a princess raised with such care, it was even worse.
After that there was an incident where the head maid remarked, "It seems the young lord is embarrassed because the princess is simply too beautiful," but the tea party ended without further issue.
It was certain that my destiny was never to put down the pen.
If it weren't, I wouldn't be doing this. Did I grab a pencil at my first-birthday grab? Why on earth is this happening?
"With Young Master helping, it finishes quickly."
"It's because the head butler nearly finished it all already."
I handed a document to the head butler and massaged the back of my neck. I hadn't expected to be working even after coming to the territory.
No—was it rather because I had come to the territory that I was doing this? It was natural for the young lord to handle duties, but honestly I hadn't properly filled the young-lord role until now.
It's unfamiliar.
The fact of working in the territory rather than the Imperial Capital felt far too strange.
And it was sad that I had finished the Audit Department work only to find myself looking at other work.
But what could I do? I couldn't ignore the head butler who was worn down from overwork. How could I ignore a man whose dark circles were descending further toward his chin every time I saw him?
"I'll be able to sleep comfortably today."
See? Even over something this trivial he was happy.
Poor thing.
If the head butler had a sin, it was the sin of meeting the wrong boss. The family head was the type who left everything except military and diplomatic affairs to the head butler.
In fact, considering that the family head was also a member of the Imperial Diet, the head butler's overwork was unavoidable in a way. But "unavoidable" and "actually grinding" were two different things. Having a reason to grind didn't make the work any less hard.
He needs to stay healthy.
So that even when I became count, the head butler could keep working hard.
Suddenly the thought of sharing the potions I had received from the Demon Duke with the head butler crossed my mind, but I discarded it at once. Don't they say health drinks lose their effect if shared? Better to get him something else.
"Young Master. Please take care of this as well."
"Alright."
Receiving the document the head butler held out, I quickly scanned him.
They say chickens fed ginseng taste better, so a head butler fed good things would surely be more competent, right?
But if the head butler ever heard that, he would flap his wings and try to escape, so I decided to keep it in my heart. Sometimes not knowing is medicine in life.
"Ah, by the way, Young Master."
For a moment I flinched, thinking my thoughts had been found out.
"I heard that Count Horpfelt changed the day before yesterday."
"Count Horpfelt?"
The sudden news calmed my startled heart again. Count Horpfelt was one of the Imperial Counts, so I had kept an eye on him often—but this suddenly?
"People go so quickly."
And since Imperial Count families had a fair amount of private exchange, I had met him personally as well. I should at least offer a prayer for his rest—
"It's retirement."
"Ah."
No wonder it had seemed odd. He had still been hale and hearty at the last report.
"He passed the title to the young lord, they say. The reason isn't clear, but thanks to that the youngest Imperial Count was born."
"I see. Younger than me?"
"He should be two years older than Young Master Erich."
Then nineteen. Being an Imperial Count at an age that hadn't even graduated from the Academy yet—that was far too heavy a burden.
"He's still young, so it'll be hard for him."
At those words the head butler's gaze grew a little strange, but I ignored it. I was a special case. Was wartime the same as peacetime?
Anyway, since an Imperial Count had changed, the Imperial Diet would be in a stir for a while—how much of the previous Count Horpfelt's stake the current count could inherit.
I'll be busy for a while.
And every time something like that happened, it was the Audit Department that ground again. Need to thoroughly check the new count's personal details, re-examine the connected aides, check the scale of favors coming and going.
Damn it. When I return to the capital I'll have to go to work again. Why did that hale gentleman have to retire and bother people?
The lord's office that no one could approach without permission. Thus a place ideally suited for secret conversations.
— There are no suspicious movements, you say.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
It was also a suitable environment for reporting to His Majesty the Emperor.
— The Ministry of Special Affairs' report is the same as the Count's. They say it is quiet, with no movements at all.
At those words I quietly bowed my head. Indeed the distinguished guests staying in the territory were showing no unusual movements whatsoever.
When it rained they remained inside the castle; when the weather cleared they looked around the surroundings. And sometimes they even participated in my wife's tea parties—like guests simply visiting a friend's house.
It was so quiet that I had suspected they might be acting while avoiding my eyes. But if the Ministry of Special Affairs had reported the same thing, it meant they were truly set on it.
— It seems I thought wrong.
"How can you say such a thing? It is only due to our servants' inadequacy."
His Majesty spoke words that denied that keen judgment of his. No—Your Majesty is right. It is only because we are lacking that we have not yet reached the place Your Majesty is looking toward.
— They are ones who made the bold move of Academy admission. They braced themselves for three years.
But His Majesty continued without the slightest agitation.
— They are not ones who would move carelessly just because we loosened the reins for a moment.
I could not deny those words. Yes—if they had considered remaining in the Empire for three full years, they would move carefully. If it were not a case of being forcibly returned after only one semester, they would naturally be cautious.
That was right. His Majesty's words were correct. If they had been the sort who would reveal their true colors the moment the eyes of surveillance were withdrawn, they would never have come to the Empire so boldly in the first place.
— If we keep them in the Count's territory any longer, they will rather grow suspicious. Send them back at an appropriate time.
"I shall obey your command."
No matter how sudden, they were guests who had visited the Empire, and royalty at that. Leaving them abandoned too long in a place that was not the Imperial Capital was extremely suspicious.
— Still, it is fortunate that we have the Audit Department Chief, is it not?
"I am overwhelmed by your words."
At the statement that he could trust us because the Audit Department Chief was present, I could not raise my head. It was trust extended not only to me, but to my son as well—to the very future of the Crassius family.
Indeed, the masterpiece of the Crassius line. A truly excellent and outstanding son.
And with those overwhelming words as his last, His Majesty cut off the communication.
Now I must send them back at an appropriate time, as commanded. I have been sorry to my wife during this period as well.