647 – Move the Desk – 2

After hearing the intelligence chief’s report, I thought about Eri’s treatment of her dozens or hundreds of times in my head.

In fact, I was concerned that Eri was the only one maintaining the status quo when other executives from the inspection department were promoted side by side. She said that it would be harder for her if she got promoted, or that she had to laugh at the people who got promoted, etc. She said things like that, but the reason she can’t get promoted on her own is because she’s incompetent, or it’s a matter of self-destruction.

Even the deputy chief of intelligence who was promoted to Eri’s superior was once on the same level as Eri. Of course, Manager 5, who is the deputy executive director, also treats Manager 3, who became the head of the executive department, as his superior to her, but still, did not Manager 5 get promoted ? Eri has to hire his former colleague her as his boss even though he hasn’t even been promoted.

‘I really can’t treat you like a subordinate.’

Besides, Eri is my wife. The minister’s wife is supporting her as her subordinate, so what kind of boss can handle her as she pleases? Perhaps the Director of Intelligence and Deputy Director of Intelligence will be happy that Eri is on vacation.

This is not good for Eri, the Intelligence Department, or the Ministry of Inspector General. Eri is in a delicate situation, unable to do either one thing or another, the Intelligence Department cannot smoothly control a department, and the Ministry of Supervision has to endure the creaks of the Intelligence Department. Even though there is no particular problem with Eri’s abilities

However, she does not have the right position to promote Eri. I’d like to give her the title of Chief Manager, but that’s just a play on words for someone who’s not good enough.

‘I think it would be better to have an unsecured position.’

That’s why she gradually became more and more inclined to change the position of Manager 1.

It would be better to make Eri unemployed and put her on standby indefinitely. At least it is convenient for both parties to isolate Eri from the intelligence department.

If you are lucky, you may be able to request Eri’s complete retirement from the emperor, citing Eri’s special nature and the fact that she has been out of office for a long time. It will be difficult for me to retire, but I think it will work out somehow for Eri.

‘Because there is an empress.’

The friendship between the Empress and Eri is still a mystery in my heart. Using that friendship, Eri can welcome her freedom. The empress whom she loves so much whispers in the emperor’s ear about Eri’s retirement? Then the emperor has no choice but to nod his head her her her her.

It really is a perfect plan. If I ask the Empress and her King Seungri to put their heads down, everyone can have a happy ending.

“I don’t like it?”

I thought so.

“I don’t like it…?”

“Yes. “I want to continue to stay at Gamchalseong.”

I tried asking Eri to step down from her position as Manager 1 and look for her retirement, but the answer I got was confident and firm.

I’m a little embarrassed. Eri wasn’t the type to be bothered or half-hearted about her work, but wouldn’t it be nice for her to retire and live comfortably in her mansion? If her justification is to focus on raising children, she won’t criticize anyone, right?

“I’m definitely too young to retire, but wouldn’t it be better to retire considering Hayang?”

For now, she suppressed her embarrassment and continued her persuasion again. Wouldn’t it be better for one of us to retire for our little girl?

Mar, Trixie, Rize, and Lynn can stay at the mansion 24 hours a day and take care of the children. But is it only our Hayang whose mother goes to work? While the other siblings receive love from their mother, Hayang is left alone. It is a catastrophe that breaks your heart just by imagining it.

Of course, I can take care of it, not Eri, but there is no way the emperor will make me retire. If you let me retire, I’m confident I’ll be able to carry Hayang all day long.

“Then what about Fine? Fine is the manager, so it’s hard for him to retire.”

“It’s okay for the manager to be away for a long time as long as the deputy manager is fine.”

“That’s right.”

Eri nodded her head as if she understood what I said.

As long as you give authority to a competent deputy manager, there will be no problem even if the manager leaves the position for several years. This is the precedent I created during my dispatch to the academy.

And the current Deputy Chief of Special Service was a talented person who was rumored to be capable even when he was in the Ministry of Special Affairs, and he also happened to be a wizard and had an extraordinary mind. Even if it doesn’t completely compensate for Fine’s combat power, his office skills are far superior.

“But it’s a bit like that when the manager is away for a long time. No matter how senior the team leader is, he’s not the official second-in-command, and there’s also a hierarchy issue among the team leaders.”

“Ummmm… “

“If you have any regrets about the basement, think about Hayang. Do you want to see Hayang avoid his mom by saying she smells weird?”

“Oh, that’s a bit much.”

When Eri mentioned her future when she remained as Section 1, her expression distorted a little.

Okay. No matter how unique and strange hobbies Eri has, she is now married. She even said that in a few months she will officially become a mother. So, it would be impossible to continue the hobbies she had when she was single.

“Can I think about it a little more?”

“It’s not urgent, so take your time and think about it.”

She smiled secretly at the sight of Eri taking a step back.

It’s not an issue that needs to be decided right away anyway. It’s a satisfying achievement for Eri considering her retirement.

***

The night I received a recommendation from the Minister to retire.

– Retirement?

“Yes. He said it would be a good idea to step down from his position and retire after a year or two.”

She told senior Aria what happened today and asked for his advice.

“What should I do?”

Senior Aria has no bureaucratic experience. When it comes to retirement, she is not the right person to ask for advice.

However, she had a child before me, and she was a person who had enormous obligations even before the child was born. She is the first person to face a crossroads where she has to choose between her child and her existing job.

So she contacted senior Aria. How did you feel when our honorary niece, the Crown Princess, was born? To ask her what choice she made between being the Crown Princess and her work and whether she regrets that choice.

– I think it’s okay?

And her senior’s response she was quick.

– There are a lot of people who will work without you anyway.

Her answer was so quick that it hurt her deeply.

It’s too much. I am also an elite who has taken control of one of the departments!

– There are many people in the world who can be Chief of Section 1, including you, but you are the only one in the world who is Hayang’s biological mother.

‘Ah.’

The disappointment subsided after the next words.

– I also want to take care of Charlotte myself. I am grateful that her minister is kind to Charlotte, and that Charlotte also follows her godfather, the minister-but in fact, she thinks it should have been me as her mother.

There was bitterness and regret that could not be hidden in the expression and voice of the senior who said that.

I can understand. Even I, who still have White, love her and want to see her soon. Even when I see the Crown Princess, whom I am not related to by blood, she is so cute and I take care of various things for her.

So what about seniors? She said the baby she had been carrying for 10 months had come into the world. She said the child has grown to the point where he can walk and talk on his own, but she is unable to play with him. How heartbreaking it must be for her.

-By the way, I am Charlotte’s mother, but she is also the empress. She, the one and only empress, couldn’t just pamper my child. All the subjects of this empire are like my children.

“Then am I also my mother’s child?”

– Does it hurt less if you get hit?

She tried to tell a joke to lighten the serious mood, but it didn’t work one bit.

Too bad. It was her junior’s own charm.

-Anyway, I chose to be Charlotte’s empress rather than her mother, but she does not regret that choice. It would be difficult for an empire that has already had the wrong empress to meet a strange empress again. You can’t do that, even for the sake of Charlotte, who will become the future emperor.

“That’s right.”

I was convinced. If someone like the previous empress appeared one after another, the imperial family and the empire would have been shaken.

– Of course it’s very sad. I try to make time to play with her as much as I can, but even that won’t be enough for Charlotte.

Eventually, the senior smiled softly and spoke in a soft voice.

– So you choose white. Even if I couldn’t help it, you can do it.

“Yeah…”

I kept nodding my head because it was better advice than I thought.

Being the 1st Director of the Intelligence Department is not a job that only I can do, nor is it a job that only I have to do. But I am Hayang’s only mother in this world.

“Thank you, senior.”

– If you knew, give birth to a healthy baby. Charlotte wants to see her aunt’s baby.

“Hehe. As soon as the baby is born, I’ll go to the empress’ palace to play!”

– No. It’s not like that.

My lips stuck out in response to my senior’s firm refusal.

– …That’s right, Eri.

“Huh?”

– When Hayang grows up, do you want to work as a maid?

“Huh?”

She blinked at those words.

Chambermaid? Me?

“Where? The empress’ palace?”

– No. The Crown Princess’ Palace.

This time she tilted her head.

It’s a strange suggestion. She said that the Crown Princess should grow up only looking at pretty things. She was a senior who kept me and her Crown Princess apart as much as possible. A senior like that is the first to offer you a position as a maid in the Crown Princess’ palace?

“…Why?”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back my doubts and asked back. The person who was isolating the Crown Princess and me has now come and asked why?

-By the time White grows up, Charlotte will have passed the age where she can be influenced by her surroundings.

“Is that so?”

-Besides, whenever Charlotte goes to her mansion, she meets you every time. Even if I tried to block it, it would be meaningless.

She nodded because it was true. If a senior wants to prevent a meeting between her and the Crown Princess, she must control the Crown Princess ‘visit her to the mansion itself.

-It’s a pity, but Charlotte is following you like her aunt… She thought it would be better for you to be her maid.

“After all, children have eyes to see?”

Then the senior’s eyes became harsh.

Just because I made a cheesy joke, I’m ready for battle.

***

Eri’s decision was quicker than expected.

“I’m retiring!”

In less than 24 hours, I decided to retire.

“Yes. I thought well. It would be good for Hayang to curl up in mommy’s arms too.”

“Neng! Even if you can crawl, I’ll carry you!”

“Don’t be like that.”

Why are you doing this to a child who can walk around normally?

“Oh, and I was offered a lady-in-waiting by Her Majesty the Empress!”

“…Huh?”

“When Hayang grows up, I want you to become a maid at the Crown Princess’ palace!”

In an instant, my hair turned white.

It feels like the future of the empire is at stake.