753 – It’s Not a Faction – 4

Today, the fishing rod with no news felt cruel.

It’s a strange thing. Even though it is obviously the same place and the weather is similar, sometimes fish are caught non-stop and sometimes there is no profit for an entire day. The world of fishing is fascinating.

“Now that I think about it, Wilhelm. Did you hear that?”

“Did you hear? What?”

I answered Georg’s words with my eyes fixed on the fishing rod.

Originally, the three of us were going to come to Walter, but personal matters came up and Walter couldn’t come. Thanks to this, I came to the lake alone with Georg, who was not only a friend but also an in-law.

To be honest, it’s a disgusting face. At this point, it seems like the face I see the most after my wife and children.

No, the children are independent except for Teresa, so this guy could be right after his wife.

“Your eldest son. I heard you’ve been snooping around the system lately?”

“A knife?”

However, I looked at Georg’s bored face after hearing the next words.

“There are rumors that he is meeting new officials from the administrative and military departments. We didn’t know much because we only went fishing sometimes, but these days, there’s no one among the institutional officials who doesn’t know him.”

“No, why suddenly?”

“Do I know something that even you, my father, do not know?”

I felt a little uncomfortable seeing Georg shrug his shoulders.

After arousing curiosity, he pulled out. Isn’t this an extremely insidious act?

“Anyway, I don’t know the reason, but the Minister of Inspection, who is on vacation, is meeting new recruits and can’t be quiet. There is a saying that His Majesty moved the Minister to establish discipline in the administration, and the ministers of each department are using the fear of inspection to attract enthusiastic new recruits. Some say it is for control.”

“Both stories are unconvincing.”

“In situations where the cause is unknown, there are only groundless speculations.”

It wasn’t a mistake, so I replied calmly.

His Majesty moved the sword to bring discipline to the administration? If His Majesty wishes to control the administration, he does not need to recall ministers on leave. Because, among the tasks of the Imperial Assembly, there is checks and surveillance on the executive branch.

But did the ministers of each department decide to use the sword to discourage the new recruits? This makes even more sense. You can tame new recruits by mobilizing the abilities of others rather than your own. A person like that wouldn’t have even risen to the position of minister.

Therefore, as Georg said, all kinds of speculations were attached to this unknown situation. It must have been going on for quite some time if it even reached our retired ears, but the cause has not been revealed.

“So—”

“If you’re curious, ask directly.”

“To be merciless.”

I glanced at Georg, who clicked his tongue slightly, then turned my gaze back to the fishing rod.

What Georg is trying to say is obvious. Since your son is acting strangely, I guess you, his father, would like to find out the truth. For retired people like us, even small news like this can be a joy.

But I have no intention of doing so. I left everything to Karl and stepped down, and Karl is a nobleman and head of the family who can move forward without my interference. He is an outstanding bureaucrat who reigns as a pillar of the empire.

Therefore, we should not question Karl’s actions his. Even though it may be a strange behavior to others, it means that if Carl did something like that, there was definitely a good reason. I believe in my son—the pillar of the empire.

‘You can’t block a stream of water that flows by itself.’

A gently flowing stream can move forward alone without anyone’s help. It flows and flows, so you can go to the sea you long for.

However, if you block the steady and fast-flowing water stream with a stone, wouldn’t the water that would have flown to the sea on its own scatter in all directions? This is precisely the situation in which I contact Carl. As a father, I cannot help my child, but I am only a hindrance.

“I’m not even a stranger to the Crasius family! If my son-in-law’s brother is doing something unusual, I have the right to know!”

“Since you have the right, shouldn’t you ask directly? Is there anything you can’t do when you’re not even a stranger?”

“Anyway, if you can’t even talk.”

I ignored Georg’s grumbling and looked at the lake.

Just as if you throw a small stone into a calm lake, the surface of the water fluctuates, even your once peaceful daily life can be shaken by small variables. Right now, that small variable is probably Carl’s external activities

I hope that Karl’s actions will be serious, but that his daily life will not be violently shaken. Carl may also have thoughts, but it’s not very pleasant for his son to wander around and suffer while he’s on vacation.

“…Is this really not possible? I’m so curious that I don’t think I can sleep.”

“I don’t have any ideas, so why not ask your son-in-law?”

“Seeing as you are changing the person in charge, you have not yet become a member of the National Assembly.”

Since it was an obvious statement, I responded with silence.

How many years have I been a member of the Imperial Diet? I wonder if my habits have already disappeared.

***

Carl started going out.

I was happy at first. I feel sorry and heartbroken to make this comparison to my beloved Carl, but Carl, who stayed in the mansion because it was hot, was as strong as mold growing in a corner. So much so that I was seriously worried that it might become one with the bed.

However, Carl went out on his own decision without anyone’s urging. Not to go out for Titi’s spring day, or to take our children to Helen─ purely for my own reasons.

“I think I’ll keep going out for a while. Still, I’ll be eating at the mansion, so don’t worry.”

“Don’t force yourself to come to the mansion, just eat lunch outside. Instead, do you have to come back by dinner?”

“Of course I should. I don’t want to wander around until after dinner either.”

Until then, I was really happy. Proper rest is important for people, but on the other hand, they say that if you spend too much time without anything to do, you become a little broken. I hated seeing my beloved knife broken.

However, it seems that those wishes and wishes have reached Enen strongly.

“Mar, I’ll be back today too.”

“Yes. Have a nice trip.”

Carl started going out consistently even three days ago.

“I think I’ll come after lunch this time.”

“Yes, I will say that to the kitchen.”

Even two days ago.

“I’ll have a light breakfast. I have to go quickly.”

“Oh, yes.”

I left the mansion yesterday too. It was as if he wanted to make money outside of the time he had wasted at the mansion.

At this point, I was a little confused and embarrassed. How can we go out in succession like this? Do you go out every day for over a week, rather than once every few days…?

‘Did something happen?’

Embarrassment soon turned into anxiety.

Until now, I have not asked Carl why he is leaving. Just as Karl recognized me as the mistress of the Crasius family and entrusted me with the management of the family and the mansion, I also respected Karl as the head of the family and did not inquire into the details of the head of the house.＜ Br＞

But when things go this way, no matter how much respect you show, you can’t help but be curious.

‘Let’s ask.’

Okay, I need to find out what this is about. It’s important to respect the head of the family, but it’s natural for a wife to be curious about her husband’s affairs.

On the contrary, if I don’t show any interest, Carl may feel disappointed. She may be surprised, asking why her mother is so cruel.

“Hey, Carl?”

“Huh?”

“Is something happening these days?”

So as soon as Karl returned, he asked directly.

What on earth are you running around like this for? If something bad happens, let’s think about it together and shoulder it together.

“Something happens.”

His heart sank at Carl’s answer.

He guessed there was something, but at the same time he hoped Carl would deny it was a big deal. But Carl admitted that something happened.

What is it? What on earth is going on? Why does a minister on vacation have to wander around for several days?

“Is it important?”

“It’s important. My retirement is at stake.”

?

“Yes?”

When I heard the word retirement, a question rose.

I’ve been with Carl for several years, so I know very well that he doesn’t like working. Regardless of what he dislikes, he does it faithfully when a task arises, but it is true that he has no great regrets about being a minister.

Still, Carl is only 26 years old. Let alone discussing retirement, there are people of Karl’s age who have only just become bureaucrats.

“Oh, I’m not saying I’m retiring right away. I also have a conscience.”

‘Conscience?’

I was shocked for a moment. Frankly, considering Karl’s status and position, his strong relationship of trust with His Majesty the Emperor, and his connections with other nobles, Karl has no conscience even thinking about retirement. In the future, he even thought about retiring.

But he didn’t say that thought out loud. I don’t want to disappoint Carl, who is smiling brightly

“I’m meeting with new officials from each department these days?”

It seemed like he was trying to continue the conversation on this topic, so my hands were shaking without realizing it.

“Right now I’m a rookie, but someday I’ll become a seasoned bureaucrat, a mid-level executive, and a high-ranking executive. Because everyone starts out as a rookie.”

“Right, right? Carl started as a teammate too.”

“That’s right. And just as I, a member of the team, became a minister, there may be someone among the new recruits I meet who has the qualities of a minister.”

I nodded hesitantly at those words.

It has to be there. Although that person may not show a phenomenal promotion speed like Karl.

“But if I protect new recruits who are already qualified and motivated, they will be promoted faster. Then, the speed of promotion within the administration will be faster.”

‘No way.’

I felt uneasy about Carl’s explanation.

Fast promotion. Speeding up promotions across the administration. Even for me, who is not a bureaucrat, it was an unusual word to hear, and there was something that immediately came to mind.

“If the frequency of upward strikes increases, there will come a time when I too will step down.”

‘Ah.’

I closed my eyes tightly.

Unfortunately, my prediction was correct.

***

Weird. Mar’s reaction was beyond my expectations.

I thought Mar would be happy to hear my great ten-year plan. I thought I would like the possibility of stepping down from my position as minister and being able to focus on my family.

“Carl. “I always support and love Carl.”

“Uh, yes.”

“It can be a little difficult for Karl too. There may be times when you want to let go of everything. But don’t forget that there will always be me, the other wives, and children by Karl’s side.”

“Of course I won’t forget…”

Mar gives me a warm hug and pats my back. Marr has a strangely watery voice.

Why? Why do you pity me? Surely my plan was so intelligent that everyone would admire it?

“Knife.”

“Yes.”

“I am not a bureaucrat, so I cannot dare to give advice to Karl, but I can tell you this much.”

Marr held me tighter and opened her mouth in a low voice.

“There has never been a talent like Carl before, and there will never be one like him again.”

I quietly closed my eyes at those words.

It’s strange. It was just an ordinary compliment, but it was Mar’s lovely compliment, and her heart boiled hotly. Her head grew cold and her body became stiff.

‘Damn.’

It feels like the veil covering her eyes has disappeared.

Thanks to Mar’s words her her her, the truth she had tried so hard to ignore came into her her eyes her her her.