Civil Servant in Romance Fantasy - Chapter 343

Chapter 343: Khan (4)

The Emperor announced the mobilization of forces from three different army corps to assemble an expeditionary force, and the nobles, swept up in the fervor of patriotism and loyalty (pushed by public opinion), had willingly pledged soldiers and war funds.

In the end, it was fair to say that this assembly ended in the Emperor’s one-man show and complete victory. Even if the imperial army suffered heavy losses in this Northern expedition, it wouldn’t just be the Emperor’s army going to hell, but the territorial lords’ armies, too.

The Emperor should’ve left after achieving this complete victory, and the nobles who’d been duped should’ve muttered something similar to ‘Life sucks’ and returned to their territories or departments. However, the Emperor didn’t allow even this small dissatisfaction.

He dropped another bombshell that instantly blew away their memory of being completely fleeced by the Emperor’s schemes erupted at the end of the assembly.

“It’s true that the Executive Manager’s merits are great, but to think he’d receive a count title in one go...”

“And it’s a hereditary title with territory. Wiridia is a northern frontier territory, but if the Northern expedition ends successfully...”

“Incredible. For a commoner-born official to earn a title by proving his ability.”

The sudden announcement of my appointment as Military Inspector along with the granting of the Count of Viridia title left the nobles in a state of disbelief. Some even remained in the assembly hall, murmuring amongst themselves.

They might have accepted it without much fuss if he’d bestowed a lower title like a viscount or baron. If it wasn’t hereditary, it would have been somewhat understandable. But he bestowed a count title, a bona fide high nobility as a hereditary title, and even attached territory. It was by no means a light matter.

Damn it.

I could feel my lips going dry. He gave a count title to me, who’d naturally become an Imperial Count over time? This could only mean one of two things: either I had achieved something truly extraordinary, or they were planning to work me to the bone.

Unfortunately, it seemed like both applied.

Even the Imperial Counts didn’t know.

Glancing towards where the Imperial Counts were gathered, I saw that even those who led the pro-war public opinion looked visibly flustered. I wonder if the Emperor didn’t feel the need to consult them about the title bestowal issue, or if it was a sudden idea and there wasn’t time to talk it over.

Actually, that didn’t matter now. The matter was sealed once the Emperor had declared it.

“Congratulations. You’ve got more titles to pass on to your many children.”

“No, that’s not—“

I almost flared up at the Minister’s provocation, but I calmed down after seeing his awkward smile. He seemed confused as well, judging by his expression. Despite that, he forced a joke to escape this awkward situation.

Erasing his smile, the Minister quickly whispered in a low voice.

“Leave as naturally as possible. If you do, they’ll think you received separate instructions from His Majesty and won’t approach you.”

“Understood.”

With the Minister giving me a discreet push and the other Directors offering supportive nods, I left the conference room.

He was right—if I walked out confidently, people would think I was in on the Emperor’s plan, stopping them from pestering me. They’d eventually figure out I wasn’t, but the initial chaos would have passed by then, saving me from the worst of it.

This is driving me crazy.

I hurriedly moved as soon as I left the conference room. I needed to hide, whether that meant holing up in the Prosecutors’ Office or my mansion.

Damn it, I didn’t think I’d receive something like a count title, either.

***I entered the mansion and went into no-visitors mode. No matter how I thought about it, the mansion where I could lock my door was definitely safer than a government building where other civil servants or nobles could enter.

Of course, I told the Mage Duchess via communication crystal that I was hiding in the mansion, and she rushed over by teleportation as soon as I revealed my hideout.

“Baby, what’s going on? Why do you have to be the Military Inspector?”

Seeing her so genuinely concerned warmed my heart. She wasn’t focusing on my new title or the sudden rise in status—her worry was entirely focused on the fact that I’d have to go to war. To have someone care so much about my safety... maybe I hadn’t lived such a meaningless life, after all.

“Did you know about this too?”

“No, I didn’t know, either. Really.”

I firmly shook my head at the Mage Duchess, whose eyes were starting to sharpen.

I was thinking of participating in the war, but even I was looking for a justification to participate. I didn’t think the Emperor would include me in the expeditionary force. Who would have known he’d do that by saddling me with this inspector position and title?

“Then it’s His Majesty’s decision.”

Muttering this, the Mage Duchess bit her lip lightly and fell into deep thought.

This was something even the Mage Duchess couldn’t stop. The Emperor had acknowledged the crisis of the empire and the Mandate of Heaven and declared war at the request of all high-ranking officials (albeit with public opinion manipulation). In such a high-stakes campaign, no noble—even the Mage Duchess—could stand up and say, ‘Leave my future husband out of this.’

“Don’t worry. It’s not like we’re facing the Rebel. Dorgon might not be weak, but he’s not unbeatable.”

I carefully opened my mouth to comfort the Mage Duchess, who wore a gloomy expression.

The Rebel had rallied a horde of 100,000 nomads, stood as an unrivaled force akin to a monster, and commanded warriors as skilled as the Eight War Machines. Even then, the Empire had emerged victorious.

But now it wasn’t even 100,000 nomads, and just about 60,000; Kagan was also dead, and only Dorgon was left of the Eight War Machines. While the Empire’s strength wasn’t what it once was, the northern nomads were in an even worse position. The chances of me being in mortal danger were slim—

“Which wife in the world would be relaxed when her husband is going to war?”

“I’m sorry...”

I quickly bowed my head at her words, which were tinged with faint resentment. She was right, so I couldn’t argue back.

Right, there was no such thing as a safe war. The best way to stay alive was to avoid the battlefield entirely. Dying would totally be normal once you stepped onto it, and yet here I was, telling her not to worry—it was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.

“You almost had to live with a permanent scar because of the Rebel... We could now finally erase that scar, but now this...”

Her voice was almost sobbing now, making me uneasy. I spoke as nonchalantly as possible because I wanted to join the war, but I’d probably be frothing at the mouth too if I put myself in her shoes. Even though I knew how strong the Mage Duchess was, of course I’d be worried too if she said she was going to war.

An awkward silence fell as we were stuck in a dilemma where we couldn’t refuse the Emperor’s order but she also couldn’t send me off with a smile.

“Master, are you there?”

What broke this silence was the butler’s voice looking for me, along with a knock.

“Butler? What is it?”

A bad feeling washed over me. I’d made it clear that I didn’t want to be disturbed if possible because I wanted some quiet time, but the butler, who was usually faithful to my words, came all the way to my room. It must’ve been something serious.

“Count Tailglehen has arrived.”

“Ah.”

It really was something serious.

“The Count said he’d come back later if you’re busy, but—“

“Guide him to the reception room. I’ll be right there.”

“Understood.”

I let out a small sigh as the butler’s footsteps faded away.

Even in my no-visitors mode, turning away my father—the Patriarch—wasn’t an option. Besides, there was always the possibility that he came bearing orders from the Emperor. Ignoring him could backfire.

“Beatrix, do you want to come along?”

“...No, it’ll be better for baby to go alone this time.”

After pondering for a moment, the Mage Duchess gently shook her head. The Patriarch who was visiting now was likely here not as my father and the Mage Duchess’s father-in-law but as an Imperial Count, an arm and leg of the Emperor.

***I could see the butler just placing a teacup in front of the Patriarch when I entered the reception room.

“You’re here.”

The Patriarch, noticing my arrival, calmly welcomed me. No, could that even be called a welcome?

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No need. I just sat down myself.”

The Patriarch continued in a flat voice that was neither soft nor hard. As I sat down across from him, the butler quickly bowed and disappeared.

“Congratulations. You’re now a properly titled noble, too.”

The Patriarch mentioned the title as soon as I sat down.

It was a relief, in a way. If he brought up the title, then there was a high chance he came to deliver something he heard from the Emperor.

“I’m humbled by this excessive grace.”

“There’s no need to consider it excessive. His Majesty bestowed it because he deemed it appropriate.”

When I expressed humility out of courtesy, the Patriarch firmly shook his head.

It was very unexpected. I thought he’d say something like I should repay His Majesty’s grace even more, or to not be arrogant and strive harder. Or was he saying it was inappropriate since treating the count title as excessive grace would mean that the Emperor’s judgment was wrong? That was also a plausible reason.

“But you should return it. You can say you were too surprised to speak up in the conference room.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden words.

“Have you perhaps developed a greed for a title?”

“No, not particularly.”

There was no way I could have such greed. I was already in a position where I was guaranteed an Imperial Count title and a regional territory, along with the position of an Executive Manager. While the new County of Viridia came with land and was a hereditary title, it honestly didn’t matter whether I had it or not.

“So return it. Say you can’t accept it out of humility and that you’re moved by the trust but can’t dare accept it out of regret for not being able to live up to that trust. Then, His Majesty will likely withdraw the military inspector position as well.”

Ah.

Only then did I understand the Patriarch’s true intentions. He didn’t want me going to war.

“Patriarch. While I am undoubtedly unworthy of such an honor, as a noble of the Empire, I am duty-bound to serve the Imperial Household and the Emp—”

“You have already fulfilled your duty and sacrificed enough. No one has the right to demand more of you.”

My body stiffened. That wasn’t something an Imperial Count—a supposed pillar of unwavering loyalty and service to the Emperor—should say. Selfless devotion and unending sacrifice were the cornerstones of the Imperial Counts. For him to claim that I’d already done enough, and to say that to his own heir...

“...At least, that’s what I think.”

I couldn’t give a reply to those words.