Chapter 91: - My Home, but with Unexpected Guests (2)
The butler greeted the club members as they started coming down from the carriages. They were no different than luggage, so I would have preferred to leave them to the other servants. However, to avoid any backlash, the highest-ranking person in the mansion had to guide them personally.
Based on my experience with them so far, the trio probably didn’t care about who guided them. Was it because all commoners and most nobles were underneath them, either way?
“This is quite a splendid mansion.”
“Such a scale in the capital…”
I could hear the voices of the club members who were walking behind the butler. The mansion was indeed large. Even for the Executive Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office, it was too much to be used by a noble child who didn’t even have a title yet.
But what could I do? The Crown Prince was the one who told me to use it. I wanted to refuse it at first, but I decided to use it with gratitude since it was where the Marquis of Asilon used to reside. It would feel great to tell them, ‘I’m using your mansion very well.’
Thanks to that, Ainter, who was already quiet, became even more silent. It had been a while since he cut off relations with the mother’s side of his family, but this situation must feel strangely ironic to him.
‘I’m sorry.’
However, this situation isn’t my fault. Blame the Crown Prince for this situation, not me. Whenever something happened, it was because of the Crown Prince about half of the time. That was why cursing him was okay.
“So there’s a reason why hyung didn’t return to the territory.”
“Haha, with such a place nearby, why would he take the long way?”
I heard Erich’s mumbling voice. It seemed like he’d interpreted that I hadn’t returned to the territory because I had this mansion.
However, I just used this place for sleeping purposes. I often slept in the Prosecutor’s office. To think he’d he would treat my hardships as wallowing in luxury because of this mansion…
Once Erich graduates, I’ll have to write him a recommendation letter. He has to experience the life of a Civil Servant to empathize with me. The family’s patriarch handled legislation and I handled administration, so sending Erich to the judiciary would be perfect.
‘Krasis’s separation of powers.’
My chest swelled with pride.
I felt hopeless the first moment my mansion degraded into being an inn, but after arriving at the mansion, I found it peaceful. Well, the mansion wouldn’t suddenly split in half or explode just because royalty was coming.
It was just regrettable that a space that should have been used for rest was being eaten up by work. Either way, I just had to suppress those emotions and things were more or less okay. Yes, it was no different from when I was at the Academy.
Since I had butlers and servants here, things would be more comfortable than in the Academy. In a way, the situation here was better.
“I heard the square of the Capital is beautiful.”
“They did decorate it well.”
Everything was good until Rutis spoke. The kids had been quietly unpacking things, so I didn’t expect them to demand to go out right after arriving. Weren’t they tired from being in the carriage for a long time?
“Aren’t you tired from that long journey? Why not rest today? There’s plenty of time.”
“Wouldn’t it be a waste only to see the Capital during the vacation? We have to travel a lot while we can.”
How much were they planning to roam around? Hearing him talk frightened me. It seemed like they were planning to fill the entire vacation schedule with travel.
I briefly imagined myself contacting the Governors of famous tourist cities every day, repeatedly saying, “Members of the royal family are coming today.” From the point of view of the governors, I would probably be like a grim reaper.
‘I’m going to get cursed in the social world.’
People might even start saying that the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager beats up people with connections rather than strength. They probably won’t think about the fact that I was also suffering because of those connections. They usually just do it because they want to.
“Shall we eat before going up?”
“Ah, we’re planning to eat outside.”
“Alright. Let’s go out later.”
“Haha, I’ll be waiting.”
Although it was bothersome, I said yes to Rutis and sent him back. They came here to travel, so I couldn’t stop them. Many things had to be prepared because they were going to have to visit the square, which was usually crowded with people, and eat in a restaurant in the Capital.
However, I didn’t really know any good restaurants in the Capital, and I couldn’t take the royal family members just anywhere. I was afraid to ask the butler since he would probably come with a huge list.
After pondering for a while, only one person came to mind. So, I contacted him through the communication crystal.
— Executive Manager? Did something happen?
“Do you know any good restaurants near the square?”
The 2nd Manger scratched his blonde hair. Since he actively roamed around the Capital more than anyone, he would probably be able to come up with an answer.
— There’s a three-story building with a red roof on the southwest side of the square. That place’s good.
As expected, he didn’t betray my expectations regarding things like this.
“Any another place?”
— There’s also one on the east side… But why? Are you thinking of conducting a tax investigation by focusing on famous restaurants? I’m sure something will come up.
“I’ll be going.”
— Oh, are you coming to the Capital?
The 2nd Manager spoke as if he really didn’t know. This bastard was supposed to deal with information, but why is he so slow to pick up on news about me?
“I’m already here. I came with the pastry club.”
— Ah.
The 2nd Manager made an awkward expression. There seemed to be something bothering him.
— So it was true.
“What do you mean?”
— I heard from the 1st Manager that you were going to come to the Capital along with members of the royal families.
“You heard right.”
— If she’d just said that, I would have believed it. But she also said that they would stay at your mansion during the holidays, so I hit her and told her not to say nonsense.
For the first time in a while, I mentally agreed with the words of the 2nd Manager. Even looking at it from the point of view of a member of the Prosecutor’s Office, it was an absurd situation. However, the Crown Prince had pulled it off. The man who would become the next Emperor was different in many aspects.
— I wouldn’t have done that if I knew that was true.
“She’ll get sulky for a long time if you don’t believe in what she says.”
— I also got hit, so we’re quits.
I should be grateful that these guys belonged to the Prosecutor’s Office. If Managers from other departments had caused such a stir, they would have been caught long ago and locked up somewhere.
Anyway, I noted down the list that the 2nd Manager told me. He not only mentioned restaurants but also cafes and theaters, as he said that restaurants alone might not be enough.
‘Damn bastard.’
I felt unpleasant at the thought that this bastard had roamed around the city and enjoyed dates while I was napping in my office, but I held myself back since I was the one asking him for a favor.
— I will inform the Senior Manager that you’re here.
“Alright. Keep up the good work.”
After ending the call, I contacted Villar. We would have to send people to places the 2nd Manager had told me to secure seats. It would be bothersome if all the escort force followed en masse, and it would drag too much attention.
‘I guess sending three or four people should be enough.’
I sighed while looking at the communication crystal. Although I was prepared, I still found it bothersome. Originally, I was in the position of receiving attention, not caring for someone else.
Thinking about these things made me pissed off towards the Crown Prince again. This bastard just doesn’t leave my head.
‘We should have just ended things as quickly as possible. Why wait until the afternoon?’
Originally, the Crown Prince should have greeted the royal members when the pastry club entered the Capital. However, he said they would probably be tired after a long journey, so the schedule was postponed to the afternoon.
It would have been better if it had been held now. Then, they wouldn’t have said anything about going to the square since I could use the excuse that there was a large crowd and that we should avoid it.
— Executive Manager?
“Ah, Sir Villar.”
However, things don’t work as I wish. There was nothing I could do about it.
“We’re planning to go to the square soon.”
It’s a good thing that there was someone else who would suffer with me.
***
The recommendations from the locals were always better than the tourist spots everyone knew. Also, the 2nd Manager was someone born and raised in the Capital.
“So there were places like this in the Capital.”
Even Ainter was lost for words.
“Thanks to the advisor, we had a good time. How did you know about such places?”
“I know someone who loves to play around. I asked, and he recommended them.”
“It makes me want to know who that person is.”
Lather nodded in agreement at Rutis’s words that were spoken with a laugh. Fortunately, it seemed like it was a satisfactory schedule even for these high-ranking people.
Wanting to see him? Both of them make me want to smack them, so they might get along surprisingly well.
“Someone fun? I’m also curious.”
Marghetta also chimed in.
Well, I’m a bit scared to introduce someone like Marghetta to the likes of the 2nd Manager. She might get culture shock, so I’d rather never introduce them if possible.
“You could meet him if the opportunity arises.”
“Fufu, I’ll look forward to it.”
That’s how the full square tourism schedule that the 2nd Manager had built concluded with enthusiastic cheers.
After returning to the mansion, an unexpected figure caught my attention.
‘What’s going on?’
Certainly, the Crown Prince said that the Ministry of Intelligence (also mentioned as the Special Service Agency) didn’t have much to do recently. The only people who had a relationship with me in that department were the guys from the Masked Unit, so I expected them to come. However, I never thought of meeting them like this.
While I was flustered, the person who had been pruning the garden seemed to sense my presence and turned to look at me. She was wearing an odd combination of a straw hat and a maid’s uniform. No, why were you pruning in the first place?
“Master.”
The woman took off her hat and bowed.
“It’s an honor to see you again.”
“Ah… yes.”
The 4th Manager had arrived.
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