Civil Servant in Romance Fantasy-Chapter 117: What a Long Vacation (3)
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ā What a Long Vacation (3) ā
Since I possessed this body five years ago, shouldnāt I be considered six years old instead of 21? If that was the case, then the eldest son wasnāt me, but Erich. Thatās why the pressure to marry should fall on Erich and not me. Thatās how the universe should balance things out.
Of course, this was all nonsense. I would probably be sent straight to the mental health facility at the temple if I said something like that.
āYouāre talking about getting engaged?ā
āYes. Youāre over twenty, arenāt you? If you delay any longer, people might start spreading rumors.ā
That was certainly true. For nobility, where producing an heir was seen as basic etiquette and the highest duty, how could someone be not engaged when they were past the prime age? Unless someone was visibly incapable of marrying, that wasnāt something people usually accepted.
Unfortunately, I didnāt qualify for such exceptions even with my status in the Prosecutorsā Office. Noble engagements were almost sacred.
Iāve barely passed my twenties, so it was quiet for now, but give it a few more years and people would start questioning my sexual preferences. Just the thought of it fills me with dread.
āWhat should I do about this?ā
This was a legitimate concern for a mother. Even though I wasnāt her real son but a counterfeit, we havenāt officially severed our mother-son relationship. It would be odd to completely disregard her worries.
But agreeing to an engagement right here and now? That was laughable. I already turned down Marghettaās proposal because I wasnāt ready, and now I was supposed to accept another? It felt like a joke.
The problem was that rejecting it was even more problematic. Rejecting Marghetta twice? That would be inhumane. I would rather bite my tongue and die before being beaten up by the Iron-blooded Duke.
And there was also a slim chance that Mother might bring another lady if I turned Marghetta down again. That would be just as bad.
āAh.ā
There was a good excuse. It was a good thing that I remembered it just in time.
āYouāre right, that might happen in a few more years.ā
āIndeed. There are always those who want to tarnish peopleās purity.ā
As I agreed, Mother continued unabashedly. Her high praise of me was almost embarrassing.
āBut imposing my situation on someone else wouldnāt be fair.ā
That comment made even my aggressive mother pause for a moment.
Mother seemed to have taken a liking to Marghetta. I wonder what happened in such a short time that she captivated Motherās heart, but suggesting that Marghetta had circumstances would make anyone think twice.
Maybe that was the reason why Marghetta and I hadnāt formed any relationship yet. Then, Mother would be the one making a fuss for nothing. That was probably what was going through her mind.
Of course, that wasnāt true. It was just an excuse I came up with on the spot.
āIsnāt Marghetta in the Academyās student council?ā
Everyone knew that Mother considered Marghetta a suitable match for me, and that included me, her, and the head maid, so I went to the point.
āIāve heard sheās very busy, but the engagement will be brief during the holidays. So, it shouldnāt interfere with her duties in the student council, right?ā
āThe student council is a problem after graduation.ā
I went on to explain. The Academyās student council was typically where students interested in government positions gathered. If Marghetta wanted to pursue a government career, being engaged or married to me would be a burden.
āIf being a civil servant is her goal, then itās best to avoid marriage right after graduation. Marriage isnāt a short affair, and time is needed to adapt to the partnerās family afterward.ā
āIs that so?ā
āYes. And by the time she gets through that, the junior members of the student council will have graduated. Isnāt it difficult if she had more competitors?ā
Mother, who had lived a life far removed from the Academyās student council or the life of a civil servant, quietly lowered her gaze at my words. She was unable to refute it since she had no experience firsthand, and because the person she was talking to was the Executive Manager of the Prosecutorsā Office.
If an expert said it, then it had to be true. Despite being pushed around in the administration, I was still considered a high-ranking official outside.
āOf course, engagement and marriage are different, but even an engagement could pressure Marghetta, who wants to be a civil servant. She might even give up her dreams because of me.ā
āThat would be wrong.ā
āExactly. So letās wait a few years until Marghetta has established herself as a civil servant.ā
Mother nodded in agreement, and the head maid sighed softly as if there was no other choice.
āThis actually worked.ā
To be honest, I didnāt really know whether people avoid marriage right after graduation and wait until after theyāve established themselves. Iāve never had a normal civil servant life to know that. I just made it up after remembering a subordinate who once took a leave for his wedding.
It was a flimsy excuse to anyone familiar with my field of work, but Mother didnāt know much about it. Besides, I was the Executive Manager. Who would doubt the Executive Managerās words?
Anyway, this would buy me a few years. How I would handle the pressure when it came was something I would leave to the future me.
āItās not like Iām just delaying the inevitable.ā
I knew that this wasnāt a real solution.
To solve this fundamentally, I would have to bring up Hecateās matter, but I didnāt like the idea of going around and using it as a way to avoid marriage.
They say that sharing the pain lessens it, but why should people who were uninvolved in it bear any of it? Did Mother, who was just worried about her eldest sonās match, deserve such pain?
And I wouldnāt be able to bear the sympathetic looks Iād receive. The more I received those looks, the harder it would be to shake them off. The Minister and the Invincible Duke were enough for that.
āMaybe Erich will marry before me.ā
āEven so, the eldest should marry first.ā
I couldnāt help but smile bitterly at Motherās firm response to my attempt in changing the subject. Well, who knows when that eldest son would be ready? freeweb(n)ovel
At least the Patriarch wasnāt pressing for a marriage arrangement. Mother was at least persuadable, but would persuasion work if the Patriarch had already made up his mind?
For a moment, I imagined the Patriarch repeatedly asking āSo, whenās the marriage?ā with an expressionless face. Hmm, that wouldnāt be easy to answer.
After that day, Mother stopped bringing up the topic of marriage.
Of course, she didnāt stop inviting Marghetta to the tea parties to subtly promote her. Only the verbal pressure stopped.
And the look in Motherās eyes when she gazed at Marghetta became more wistful, like a child told to wait even though there was a tempting fruit within armās reach.
āMother? Do you have something you want to say?ā
āNo, itās nothing.ā
It seemed Motherās heart had grown more fond of Marghetta, possibly out of sympathy. Her way of speaking to Marghetta had even become more casual.
Naturally, Marghetta was pleased. Perhaps she was one of those people who found joy in the little things and lived a happy life.
āExcuse me for a moment.ā
Feeling a vibration in my pocket, I discreetly stood up. I asked the Senior Manager to look into Count Horfeldās affairs, so perhaps the investigation was complete.
Of course, I only gave him instructions over the communication crystal since I was unable to return to the capital immediately. It would only be the initial report, so Iād have to see the detailed report in person.
Anyway, I excused myself from Mother and Marghetta and headed to a secluded part of the garden.
***
With a faint vibration, Carl stood up from his seat. It must be work-related. After all, Carl never gets a day off as the Executive Manager.
I feel sorry for him every time. I hope heāll step down from his official duties one day and live comfortably. Maybe heāll even spend quiet days with me in Tailglehenās territory.
āSomeday.ā
Someday, that will happen. Yes, it surely will.
āIt seems like being a civil servant isnāt easy.ā
āYes, thatās right.ā
I nodded and agreed with Motherās comment. From her perspective, it must be sad to see Carl living in the capital instead of their territory.
After watching Carlās retreating figure for a moment, Mother turned to me and smiled gently.
āChoosing that path is remarkable.ā
I blinked a few times at the unusual comment. Not responding to Motherās words felt impolite, but she just nodded slightly as if it was okay.
āCarl told me that youāve set your sights on being a civil servant.ā
āAh, yesā¦ thatās right.ā
The student council was typically a gathering place for students who were aspiring to government positions, so that was technically true. And I did consider joining the Prosecutorsā Office before Carl came to the Academy.
Of course, it didnāt matter now since Carl was at the Academy.
āThey said that entering government service makes it hard to marry for a few years, but Iāll support you since thatās the path youāve chosen.ā
āSorry?ā
What?
My head went blank at the incomprehensible words that came from Mother. Entering government service made marriage difficult? For several years? Really?
I didnāt know that. If I had known that, then I wouldnāt have even considered a career in the government. Why would I choose something that would hinder my time together with Carl?
āOh noā¦!ā
Mother said that she would support me. In her mind, Iāve already become a prospective daughter-in-law who would work as a civil servant for years after graduation.
No, thatās not it at all! I have no intention of waiting for years to marryā¦! We can do it right after graduation, or even today if Carl agrees!
āChoosing that path as a noble lady might not be easy, but even Billy would admire you for making this choice for the sake of the Empire.ā
However, I couldnāt bring myself to speak after seeing Mother continue speaking with a warm smile on her face. Saying āYou had it wrongā in this situation would likely turn her warm expression into a cold one.
She seemed content with the idea of me becoming a civil servant and serving the empire. What if that suddenly changed? Her current contentment and satisfaction might turn into a sense of betrayal.
āThis canāt be happeningā¦ā
Why did I do that? Why did I make that decision last year?
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