Civil Servant Marygold (5)
8. Kaaaaang! Intense explosive sounds erupted without respite. Just hearing them made one's breath catch in terror.
"Young master…."
Up until the fight began, the knights had believed without a doubt in Adelhart's victory. After all, he was always the one attacking, while Lancel seemed to merely deflect and retreat every time.
But as one minute, two minutes passed, and five minutes dragged on, the knights' expressions began to crumble bit by bit.
"Urgh!"
A groan escaped Adelhart's lips. For some reason, his body was covered in wounds. Every time he charged, small scratches accumulated, soaking his entire form in blood.
Even though Lancel was still only defending.
"You're a genius, sure, but you're still a long way off, Adelhart."
Lancel's eyes gazed coldly at him.
"Your sword isn't even a fraction complete yet—not even a third of that."
Incredibly, Lancel seemed a little disappointed. He looked bored by the fact that his opponent was far weaker than expected.
Adelhart was overwhelmed by an emotion he'd never felt before in his life.
"Raaargh!"
A roar burst from his mouth. It was a desperate outburst to vent the frustration building in his chest. At that exact moment, intense mana boiled up from his entire body.
Adelhart's blade vibrated, emitting a bluish glow.
"Adelhart!"
Not even the urgent cry from Count Runter could stop him. All he cared about was cutting down the enemy before him.
Kagagang!
The blades clashed once more.
And that was the end.
Adelhart's grip tore open, and his sword shattered into three pieces. The hilt alone clattered to the ground.
His knees, drenched in sweat and blood, buckled.
Count Runter rushed over belatedly.
"Adelhart."
The count's face twisted in anger—not at Lancel, but at his own son.
"To resort to mana in a knight's duel… It seems I've failed to teach you properly."
"…I'm sorry, Father. I couldn't control my emotions in the moment…."
"You fool. For a knight, passion is an invitation to death. To dare harbor hatred in a duel of honor—do you intend to tarnish your father's name? Is the great name of Runter still too light in your eyes?"
"…I have no excuses."
"I will hold you strictly accountable. Prepare yourself."
"…."
The knights, moved by the voices of father and son from the Runter house, had bloodshot eyes.
Hmm.
Lancel could only watch the sinking atmosphere in silence.
"Lancel Dante."
Count Runter spoke without taking his eyes off his son.
"You have won. Take what you desire."
Concession.
Count Runter acknowledged his defeat. He seemed more pained by his son's mistake than by the loss itself.
Lancel now understood a little how absolute 'chivalry' was to him.
Lancel silently placed a hand over his heart and bowed in respect.
'To think a man like that becomes a rebel in the near future.'
The world was full of wonders.
But it wasn't his concern.
"Sir Lancel!"
"Congrats on your release, Archivist Mary."
Soon after, Marygold emerged from the tower, her eyes brimming with tears. In her hands were the report returned by Count Runter—and, oddly, a bowl of oatmeal porridge.
A lunchbox, perhaps?
"Hwah!"
"What're you doing."
Lancel quickly scooped up the girl as her legs gave out and she collapsed.
9. With Marygold on his back, as they exited the lord's castle, dawn was breaking on the distant horizon.
The two rode in silence for a while. All he felt was the pulse of Marygold against his back and the faint warmth of her arms around his neck.
She clung very tightly.
"I must stink of sweat."
"It's fine."
She buried her face even deeper.
"Why'd you decide to become an administrator, Mary Archivist?"
"Huh?"
"With academy top honors, you could've picked something easier. Why the Imperial Administration Bureau of all places?"
It was a genuine question. He'd never heard why the girl who'd walked the barbarian path last loop had suddenly become an elite administrator this time.
"I have dreams."
"Everyone does."
"Not like that. It's just…."
Marygold paused, then continued.
"Sometimes… I dream that this world is growing unhappier, heading toward ruin."
"Sounds like a nightmare."
"Right?! It's not often, but it's always the same dream. Exactly the same."
She nodded along, tightening her arms. Lancel's neck felt squeezed.
"I just didn't want the world I live in to end up like that. But what can I do? Even if I go to the capital, one body can't change anything."
"You could've cleaned inns or something. As a commoner."
"H-how'd you know?"
"I have my ways."
"…Anyway, so when I saw the academy recruiting, I jumped in. Being an administrator has to be different, right?"
"Joining to change the world? That's some ridiculously grand ambition."
Lancel chuckled.
"One administrator can't change the world, Mary Archivist. Better ditch big dreams early."
"I know. I just want to do what I can."
This loop alone, without him, she'd have been detained far longer. Or caught by the militia even sooner.
'So why'd she keep her distance from me at first?'
As Lancel opened his mouth to ask—
"Just watch me, Sir Lancel."
Marygold's voice suddenly brimmed with resolve.
"Watch what?"
"Even if I'm like this now, someday I'll rise high—and become someone so amazing even you cling to me."
"…Doubt I'd ever need to cling to you, Mary Archivist…."
"You never know. If I become the empire's top administrator."
A declaration of intent to become High Official Marygold.
"If that happens, I'll grant you one wish."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Anything."
"A-anything…!"
Marygold's voice trembled.
"For real? Anything?"
"I said yes."
"No take-backs later!"
"…Now I kinda want to."
"Eek! No! Keep your promise!"
It was an empty check anyway, but Marygold seemed pleased. The incident at Count Runter's castle wrapped up just like that, overnight.
Soon after returning to the capital, Marygold safely submitted her report.
It detailed violations of imperial law centered on Count Runter.
"Don't send it to the Administration Bureau—straight to the palace. Faster that way."
Following Lancel's advice, Marygold's report bypassed all channels and rocketed to the emperor (fake).
Lancel had pulled strings in the middle.
Marygold's bold bypass of protocol threw the Imperial Central Administration Bureau into chaos for a while.
A newbie administrator sending a report straight to the palace without upper approval? Hard to stay quiet.
Of course, the uproar settled soon enough.
"Archivist Mary has been awarded a commendation from His Majesty the Emperor!"
As if waiting for a chance to make an example of a provincial noble, the emperor (fake) immediately granted Marygold a cash bonus and medal.
"Effective today, Archivist Mary is promoted three ranks to Records Administrator. Along with ten gold coins, His Majesty bestows an imperial brooch."
Soon, an investigative team formed from the palace.
Heading to Count Runter's territory, they confirmed Marygold's report over several months.
The count received a light warning.
"His Majesty asks that such incidents not repeat, Count Runter."
It seemed minor, but it was huge. The lord's honor was tarnished.
Nothing mattered more to nobles. Especially Count Runter.
Either way, Marygold's path to success began that day.
"Promoted from archivist to records administrator in under a year…?"
"Incredible rise."
"She caught His Majesty's eye, so it makes sense."
But it was also the start of her grueling path.
After becoming administrator, Marygold drowned in overtime every day.
10. "Baron Durk insists my garden is his land! Does that make sense? Tell the palace to mediate now! I can't take it anymore!"
"P-please, calm down first…!"
"I've said my piece! Why is it yours? Our butlers measured it all—still gonna deny it?"
"Now, now, let's talk it out…."
"Fine, you asked for it. Set a date! We'll settle it with a duel!"
"Eek! No swords here!"
"Just what I wanted, old man. Been counting days to poke holes in you! Mary Administrator, set it up now. No hassle—just swords."
"Stop, stop! Everyone, please stop!"
Whenever Lancel visited the bureau, he saw the dark circles under Marygold's eyes deepening.
Records Administrator oversaw administrative issues in the capital… in name only.
She was an administrator tormented by nobles. A shrimp between whales.
"Mary Administrator. I think His Highness the Prince likes me. The vibe was good at the last ball. But he won't approach first."
"Ah, yes, I see."
"Could you send a signal for me? Let him know I want to get close too."
"…."
"If I approach first, it might seem too easy. He'd lose interest. Got it? Please, Mary Administrator."
From petty romances to…
"Adel is gone! Adel! Mary Administrator! Get the administrators and guards to find Adel now!"
"Adel? Who's that?"
"Family!"
"Your child?"
"Raised him like one!"
"Like a child…?"
"The mouse! Mouse!"
"Ugh?"
…errands of all kinds.
Marygold had become the bureau's punching bag, battered by nobles' malicious complaints.
"Still alive?"
Lancel found her at night, slumped blankly in her office.
"Hey."
"…."
Marygold stared with dead-fish eyes, half her mind gone. Pinching her cheek or lifting her nose got no reaction.
Lancel inwardly held back laughter at her plight.
'Now you get it. The Administration Bureau's a black company.'
No labor laws in the empire. Nobles treated it like a servant guild or thieves' den. Marygold had no days off.
What could she do? Against nobles and royals.
Just bow and scrape.
Seven days a week, 120 hours. No rest, just work, work, work.
"Ughhh, Sir Lancel, I wanna quit!"
"Where's that eighteen-year-old administrator who wanted to change the world?"
"Hwaaaaa!"
"My ears hurt."
"I need a break too, hngg…!"
"Take vacation."
"Denied."
"Oof."
"Hwaaaaaaaa!"
One year. Two. Three.
Thus, Marygold turned twenty-one.
"Lancel, you heard?!"
Baron Ivil Shen arrived, face drenched in sweat.
11. "War! War, war!"
"War?"
Whatever he'd seen outside, Baron Ivil Shen's face glowed with excitement.
"Something happened in Count Runter's territory. Imperial troops are pouring in. Big war brewing after ages. My horses' prices'll skyrocket! Uhahaha!"
"…."
Already?
Lancel's mind sharpened at the baron's next words.
"Oh, Mary Administrator went too?"
"…Pardon?"
"Saw her mixed in with the reinforcements. She's close to you, Knight Lancel, right? Or not? You two hang out a lot."
"…We are, but why's she suddenly there?"
"That's the weird part."
Baron Ivil Shen shrugged.
"5th Prince is leading, and he specifically called her. Must like her."
What now?
"Come to think, Mary Administrator's rising fast? Gotta butter her up from now. Was that why you two were buddies, Knight Lancel?"
Lancel's brain froze.
Why the 5th Prince suddenly? Why tangled with Marygold?
He'd exchanged daily greetings with her for three years, but first time hearing of this connection.
At the bureau, same news.
"Haven't seen Mary Administrator?"
"She left urgently for Count Runter's territory. Wanted me to pass on the message…."
What the hell was going on?
Lancel grasped it that afternoon.
Favorability Event!
5th Prince Erwin Kol Phrigia shows interest in Marygold.
Current favorability stage: Favor.
※She has been brought along for rebel suppression.
Isn't this a golden opportunity to build achievements?
"This bastard?"
Empress Marygold route? This suddenly?
'I won't let that happen with my eyes open.'
He'd scrap the loop before making Marygold empress.
He knew it led to her unhappiness. No way he'd fail this regression.
Lancel finished preparing and left the mansion at once.