717 – The Honeymoon Never Ends – 2

About three years after marrying Mar. Finally, the two of us went on our honeymoon.

Saying this makes her feel like a trash husband who neglected his family, but unfortunately, it doesn’t change the fact that she is leaving on her trip after three years. This must also be my karma.

Anyway, it was a sudden decision, but since Trixie and I had a history of going on non-trip trips to the Holy Church, the other wives did not complain. Besides, I promised to go on a trip with the other wives, so there would be no reason to be reluctant.

“I should have gone a long time ago. I’m sorry for only asking to go now.”

“It’s okay. Who you go with is more important than when you go.”

At my apology, Mar smiled and shook her head.

I’m just grateful that you said that. If Mar said to her social circle, ‘My husband asked me to go on a honeymoon only after three years of marriage.’ If I had said just one word, I would have remained an immortal piece of trash in the history of the empire. Maybe I was met with a spicy punch from my angry father-in-law.

Even now, I was able to relieve just a little of that heavy karma. Let’s be careful so something like this doesn’t happen in the future.

“But Carl. I would be happy anywhere if I could be with Carl, but why did you choose Zereno?”

“Oh, that?”

In response to Mar’s question, she unconsciously scratched the back of her neck.

Actually, there is no grand reason. Zereno is relatively close, it is a maritime country specializing in transit trade, so it is full of all kinds of tourist attractions and supplies, and it is a country that has been stabbed by the empire due to Leviathan’s great activity. Thanks to this, it became very convenient for imperialists to enter and engage in activities in Zereno, making it suitable for use as a honeymoon destination.

Although it is a marine tourist destination, it is a tourist destination where you can receive the utmost treatment. Is there any travel destination more attractive than this? It is a place where you can feel the atmosphere of a foreign country and the comfort of your own country at the same time.

“His Excellency the Golden Duke recently purchased a nice resort in Zereno. Compared to his wealth, the resort is nothing more than a speck of dust, so I’m a little curious if he’s going to brag about it like that. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take a look.”

However, in front of Mar, whose eyes were sparkling, he said, ‘Those b*stards are so much shit that they can’t say anything even if we say shit.’ It cannot be said. It’s too much to say that the reason for the honeymoon is ‘those guys are crazy.’

So I sold the golden ball. It’s true that Golden Ball boasted that he bought a nice resort around the beginning of this year.

‘Honestly, I’m really curious.’

How splendid and magnificent the place must be so that the Golden Ball is happy that it is a good resort. First of all, it will be one of the top resorts not only within Zereno but also on the entire continent.

“It must be a great place for the Golden Ball to have affection for it.”

Mar seemed to have the same thoughts as me, exclaiming and showing anticipation.

Good. Now that this has happened, let’s reserve the best room at the resort.

It doesn’t matter even if the good room is sold out. In any case, when you find Leviathan, just use the blank check you received from the Golden Ball.

Preparations for the Zereno trip went smoothly.

Since we were going alone, there was no need to pack a lot of luggage, and Golden Ball Resort had just finished remodeling, so the best room was available.

Of course, if it is a resort visited by nobles, it is normal for reservations to be crowded even during remodeling—

-They are avoiding offering all rooms by reservation. Then, wouldn’t we be able to provide good rooms when valuable guests like now come?

The Golden Ball had several rooms set aside for VVIP use only.

Most resorts and hotels do not have a 100% reservation system, so they are leaving out a few rooms. This is the first time I learned the truth because I am far from resort management. If it wasn’t for this trip, I might not have found out until I die.

– It’s your honeymoon with your wife, so you need to enjoy it extravagantly. If the Minister wants, we can also provide transportation to the resort by Leviathan?

“I am grateful just for the words, but isn’t Leviathan the best card for the empire’s maritime hegemony? I don’t want to take up Leviathan’s time with personal matters.”

– Too bad. Still, if that is the Minister’s will, let us respect it.

In the meantime, there was an offer to provide a fancy transportation service from the Empire to Zereno, but no matter how I thought about it, it was too fancy, so I declined it.

Zereno is already shaking due to the Leviathan incident. Visiting Zereno on a Leviathan? It’s not a couple’s honeymoon, but the arrival of Governor Zereno, dispatched by the empire. I’m not confident I can handle that kind of future.

“Hey, Carl?”

“Huh?”

While I was imagining the terrible future of becoming Governor Zereno instead of Minister of Inspector General, Mar tapped my shoulder.

‘Oh.’

And as soon as I looked back, I was immediately amazed.

“Huh, what do you think? It’s been a while since I thought about it, so I brought it.”

Mar’s face blushes as if she’s embarrassed, but she doesn’t avoid my eyes.

In Mar’s her hand her her her, there was a red swimsuit. It was the swimsuit she wore in the boyar duchy when she was a student at the Imperial Academy.

Seeing her like this made her both happy and satisfied. Isn’t it an item filled with memories of the time when Mar and I hadn’t even exchanged her rings, and when both I and Mar were awkward at loving her?

“Did you still have it?”

“Of course. I wore it the first time I went to sea with Carl. How could I throw away something so precious?”

Marr chuckled and moved her swimsuit to the front of her body. As if she were trying to overlap her own body with her swimsuit.

“What do you think? Will it suit me if I wear it now?”

At those words, I looked at Marr and her swimsuit in turn and burst out laughing.

Do you think it would suit me if I wore it now? There is no question with a more obvious answer.

“You will know that when you check it for yourself.”

She hugged Marr like she was hugging her princess, then smiled as brightly as she could.

“Shall we go to the room?”

Direct question ─ No, Marr’s face turned even redder at her request. So much so that there is no answer to my requests.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if there is no answer. Even though she refused, she was planning on going to her room.

***

The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a unilateral notification.

[ Our country’s Minister of Inspector General, Count Tyglehen, is scheduled to enter Zereno with the Countess. This is for a couple’s trip, not official work, so avoid contact. ]

It was a short notice, but it was by no means light.

If he were the Minister of Inspection, wasn’t he one of the 30 Imperial Hundreds who were members of the Livnoman Imperial Family, and a magnate who was equivalent to the second-in-command of the Empire today? Of course, there are dozens of people who are higher than the minister in terms of title, but the authority and prestige of the minister do not come from the title.

The current emperor’s deep trust and the title of godfather to the next emperor. The authority to inspect all nobles and officials in the empire and influence that encompasses the North. The person who puts all of this together and reigns supreme is the Minister of Inspection. The Minister of Inspector General is someone that no duke can treat with carelessness.

‘What is this all of a sudden?’

Thanks to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was shocked when it received the notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So much so that even I, the Minister of External Affairs, put off work and got in trouble.

The good news is that it is not an official visit. If the Empire’s second-in-command makes an official visit to Xereno, she must prepare appropriate protocols. It is by no means an issue that can be prepared in a short period of time.

However, ironically, the fact that it is not an official visit also acts as a disadvantage. It is impossible to know what the true intentions of the minister and the empire are, and even if the minister’s actions are questionable, no one can be attached. Externally, the minister entered the country on a private basis.

“It was only a few months ago that the Golden Ball used Leviathan to pressure our country. But this time, the Minister of Inspector General is entering the country? Is this a coincidence?”

“They have clearly increased the intensity of pressure on our country. It is clear that they are aiming for more than just revising the treat.”

Perhaps that’s why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the opposite opinion wary of the minister’s visit.

“Well, is there any need for the empire to oppress our country now?”

“Even when we competed with the Golden Duke, the emperor remained silent. Would an emperor like that take additional action against a country that had declared surrender? It is unlikely.”

“Furthermore, if pressure is to be applied, it should be aimed at the ocean, which is our country’s weak point. It is an excessive strategy for the Minister of Inspection to step in.”

Although it sent shivers down my spine, half of the opinion was that it was a coincidence.

Both opinions are plausible. It is a country that has completely bowed down to the empire due to the Leviathan incident. It is quite possible that this momentum will be used to put further pressure on our country.

However, the empire’s virtual enemy was and still is Armaine. Even though the relationship between the Empire and Armain has become good, Armain is the only country with the national power that can threaten the Empire. It is unlikely that we will waste our administrative power on our own country by sharing the border with Armenia.

Since agreeing to revise the treat in the first place, isn’t it the same as putting a rope around our country’s neck? You have no choice but to remain loyal to the empire without having to wear an additional leash.

‘Is it really a coincidence?’

Opinions that had been fiercely competing gradually became more coincidental.

No, maybe they’re just hoping it’s a coincidence. If the empire sincerely steps forward, we cannot fight back.

“… The visit by the minister and his wife is considered a private trip.”

In the end, after much thought, I came to a basic conclusion.

As announced by the Empire, the Minister and his wife are visiting for a trip. He said he came for strictly personal reasons.

“However, it is true that a distinguished guest is visiting our country, so we must pay special attention to security. I will request cooperation from the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Military Affairs.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Since it was just a canonical result, even the officials who had been fiercely debating bowed their heads.

It was bittersweet to see that. Those guys who were so fierce become quiet in an instant. Isn’t he waiting for me to take responsibility and give orders?

Of course, it is completely understandable. What bureaucrat in this world would want to take responsibility for a large-scale agenda on their own? Moreover, the position of minister is one where one is responsible, so it is right for me to shoulder the burden.

‘I hope it passes without incident.’

That’s why I prayed in my heart.

I hope the minister and his wife really came for a trip. I hope the trip ends safely without any accidents.