591 – If I Work, You Work Too – 1
A few days after the permanent preservation spell was placed on the chocolate given by the Crown Princess. The emperor’s summons were issued.
At first, I flinched for a moment. When I received chocolate from the Crown Princess, the emperor’s venomous eyes passed through her head.
But I soon shook off my anxious thoughts. I can’t say that there have been instances where the Emperor has put his emotions on me, but at least he has never tormented me by making me do something that had to be done. The problem is that they throw out work I don’t know where it came from.
So you can rest assured. There is nothing the emperor can throw at me. Over the past few days, I have been approving overdue documents and keeping up with the domestic situation, but no matter how many times I look at it, there is nothing I can do about it.
‘There wasn’t much of a fuss abroad.’
The only thing to keep in mind is Tanian’s pilgrimage to the sacred site, but hasn’t the escort and crowd control support plan already been signed?
So let’s not be afraid. I guess I got at least some chocolate thanks to begging the Crown Princess. He must have summoned me to show it off to me. It will definitely happen.
“I think the minister should join the pilgrimage group.”
It definitely had to be that way.
‘Is it a dream?’
For a moment, I denied reality.
Why do I join there? As the highest decision-maker of the Ministry of Inspection, I have already sent support personnel to the pilgrimage group.
“Your Majesty. Your Majesty is well aware of your concern for your distinguished guests, so you have already sent brave and capable people to the Holy Land on pilgrimage. So, do not worry—”
“Apart from that, the minister has to go.”
My hand almost went to my waist when I saw the emperor decisively interrupting me.
Let’s be patient. The b*stard in front of me is not an enemy, he is just a b*stard. It’s not a mortal enemy that needs to be cut in half and killed, he’s just a b*stard.
Since I’m not wearing a sword in the first place, there’s nothing I can do even if my hand reaches my waist.
“Minister. Calm down and listen to me first.”
Before I knew it, my eyes had turned into those of a traitor, and the emperor spoke hastily.
In the meantime, he says it’s me, not a burden. Something like this.
‘I’m trying to be emotional again.’
It was a tactic that had already been used when I was dispatched to the Kingdom of Leon, so I was just furious. Do I look like someone who will get hurt twice instead of getting hit once?
“Originally, I didn’t plan on sending a minister. No, I didn’t think it was right to send a minister.”
After saying that, the emperor handed over the document next to him.
I wanted to tear it up for a moment, but I held back. If you make a hasty move here, you will actually be giving the emperor a reason to be punished.
“It is said that the next saint will hold a year-end service. If a high-ranking member of the Holy Church holds a service within the empire, it is customary for the empire to respond by sending a corresponding high-ranking official.”
That was something I knew, so I nodded calmly.
The relationship between the empire and the church has been strong since the founding of the country. That is why they are sparing no effort in providing all kinds of support to ensure that there are no inconveniences in the activities of the pilgrims to the Holy Land, and they are trying to send imperial dignitaries to the worship service conducted by the next saint. Every little action shows off the friendship between the empire and the church.
“Since this is a service attended by the next saint and the saint of the Congregation for Canonization, it is right to send Cardinal Lisciuco, the highest priest in the empire…”
After mentioning Cardinal Liciucco, the emperor touched his forehead and sighed.
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who is higher, a cardinal or a blessed?”
“That’s it…”
Of course, my mouth was frozen as I was about to answer that it was a cardinal.
‘Who is higher?’
Soon, even his head his his his froze. A cardinal, the position immediately following the Pope, and a Blessed, who performed miracles with the blessing of God. Who is higher among the two?
Considering the actual authority within the denomination, cardinals are higher. A person is respected by believers and blessed is not a position involved in religious affairs.
However, when considering authority, the Blessed is overwhelmingly superior to the hundreds of cardinals who exist in one era. Unlike cardinals who are appointed by the Pope, a Blessed is a servant chosen by God. Even the cardinal cannot treat the blessed person carelessly if the blessed person is alive and not deceased.
‘Who is it really?’
Confusing. Honestly, I think the Blessed should be treated higher, but since there is a hierarchy within the Order of Dawn, the Cardinal cannot be placed below.
But is it right to place those who have been blessed by God below human positions? The ranks and positions within the religious order were ultimately created by humans.
No, if you look at it that way, Bokja is also a concept created by humans.
“Like the minister, I had a lot of worries. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come to a clear conclusion.”
The endless worries were cut off thanks to the emperor’s voice.
“So, I formally inquired with the pilgrims to the Holy Land. Who is higher, a cardinal or a blessed?”
This means that we should listen to the answers from experts instead of worrying among non-experts.
It is truly a standard and clean method. What would be the point if we thought about it for 100 days? Anyway, if the denomination comes to a conclusion contrary to ours, that will be the end of it.
“But there has been no answer yet. It seems that opinions are divided even within the pilgrimage group.”
‘Damn.’
However, if even experts cannot reach a conclusion, the story is different.
If you send a cardinal, those who support the blessed person will feel sorry, and if you send a blessed person, those who support the cardinal will feel sorry. A situation unfolded that was worse than not asking.
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty…”
“I’m sorry, but I think not only Cardinal Lisciucco, but also the minister and his wife he will have to go.”
“…”
“Don’t look at me like that. Are you really sorry?”
It was the emperor’s apology, but it went unheeded.
At the end of the year, I wanted to spend time with my family at the mansion. That small ambition collapsed in an instant. How on earth can I resolve this despair?
“It’s embarrassing to be the minister, but I plan to participate in the year-end service. It’s enough for the minister to just keep his seat.”
At those words, my frustration and anger subsided. Not only am I working, but that b*stard is also working?
Moreover, if the emperor attends the service, countless high-ranking officials will follow him in attending, so there is no need for me to be in charge of the scene. There must be someone higher in rank than me.
“And wouldn’t it be okay for the couple to attend the service and the whole family to go together? Since there is a close relationship between the minister and the next saint, the pilgrimage group will also welcome it.”
…
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
“I am always grateful for the minister’s dedication.”
After a short thought, I bowed my head.
If I were to roll alone, I would try to cajole the Crown Princess into saying ‘I hate you, Dad!’, But if I was rolling with her, I could bear it. I’m not a small person who can’t even understand that much.
‘Family worship wouldn’t be bad either.’
As a bonus, as the emperor said, if the whole family worships together, you can also enjoy some quality family time.
Although it is a pity that it is a quiet service rather than a pleasant banquet… After the service, we can have a meal with the family.
***
I was convinced and looked at the back of the minister as he left and breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I passed safely.’
Thank god. When the minister said that he thought he would have to join the pilgrimage group, his expression was so cruel that it would put anyone in fear. I think I suppressed it as much as possible, but thanks to my years of experience dealing with ministers, I was able to understand it right away.
I understand. I also had no intention of sending a minister, and it is questionable whether it is right to send one. Even I, the one who gave the order, must have felt like the minister who was the party involved.
Therefore, he raised the rare and difficult question of who is higher between the Cardinal and the Blessed, and mentioned the inevitable situation that even the Dawn Church could not reach a conclusion. In the end, he appeased the minister’s resentment by saying that not only the minister but I would also participate in the worship service.
‘I guess I’ll be busy for a while.’
I massaged the sore back of my neck and sighed again.
Participating in year-end worship services is an unplanned task. Worship doesn’t even end in one or two hours. It is convenient to think that the entire day of worship is spent on worship.
So, in preparation for that day, you need to get your work done a little early. It would be better to skip lunch for the time being or just eat bread in the office.
‘I want it because I have karma.’
To be honest, it was shameful for the emperor to keep an eye on his subjects, but unfortunately, he could not complain. I have already crossed the line because of the Leon Kingdom incident.
But you’ve already crossed the line and you’re constantly provoking the minister? Then, you can’t even guess what the minister will do when his eyes turn.
‘Stupid Asturian b*stards.’
The mixed feelings soon turned into resentment toward Asturia, the former royal family of the Kingdom of Leon.
Even if those idiots hadn’t invaded the empire, even if the number of members of the royal family hadn’t plummeted, and even if the government hadn’t cut off, there would have been no need to send a minister to the Kingdom of Leon. There was no need for me to be this careful.
I was furious when I thought that all of this was the karma of the royal family of a small country that had no idea about the subject.
‘You can’t punish things that have already failed.’
I sat down and sighed for not knowing how many times.
First, let’s send the number of worship participants to the pilgrimage group.
***
There are still a few weeks left until the year-end service. Since I didn’t have to join the pilgrimage group right away, I was able to spend my daily life leisurely.
“Dog! Let’s go!”
– Wow!
And today as well, the imperial knights and servants smiled happily at the sight of the princess riding around the imperial palace riding on the injeolmi that Saengjeong had raised, even though they did not know what to do. The innocent Injeolmi and the silver-haired baby’s outing to the imperial palace is a cute sight for anyone to see.
“Faster!”
“No.”
Of course, as a godfather, I had to protect her goddaughter’s safety her her, so I couldn’t let down my guard even for a moment. How can she turn a blind eye when she orders Injeolmi to run at a fast pace like this?
“Hey…”
“You shouldn’t look at it that way.”
I was briefly conflicted by the sullen appearance of the Crown Princess, but my intentions were not reversed.
If the Crown Princess were to give a negative opinion, many people would shed tears of blood. As a godfather, I cannot bear to see that.
“Time, time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’m a different dog. I’m happy to see it.”
As the Crown Princess quickly changed topics, the Crown Princess stroked the head of the Injeolmi she was riding.
Just as these guys knew the scent of Titi on my body, Titi also recognized the scent of these guys I left behind. Thanks to this, Titi stuck to my body violently, and the next day, these guys stuck to my body
“Doggies, why are you always showing off?”
The strange phenomenon was enough to attract the attention of the Crown Princess,
“I am raising these children’s siblings.”
“Naam-mae?”
“Yes, Your Highness. We are the family of these doggies.”
“A dog? A new dog?”
The gaze turned to curiosity towards Titi.
“See and sip! Puppy dog! See and sip!”
Thanks to you, things went this far. For a princess who loves animals, the idea of having a new animal friend must have been more fascinating than anything else.
“I will bring you when the time is right!”
“See it quickly! See it quickly!”
I just smiled sheepishly as I watched the Crown Princess starting to throw a tantrum.
Unfortunately, Titi is not the child I want to bring.
‘I’m already at the level where Pedi is the owner.’
If you drop Titi from Peddie, Peddie will wail loudly.
It’s a bit weird to make her own son cry for her goddaughter her…