Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy

977 – A Crazy New Year’s Eve – 2

The point is that Karl will not be the official Duke of Servet, but will only serve as a proxy. After 20 to 30 years, when Maria has matured, he will step down as proxy and make Maria the official Duke.

He promised these two things to his vassals and retainers. The legacy of Duke Sulgeom, the first Duke of Servet, would never be transferred to another family. Only the blood relatives of Catoban could become the Duke of Servet.

“I can swear on the path of magic I have walked and the mana in my heart.”

“Oh my, please don’t say that! My heart sinks just hearing it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty’s assurance alone is sufficient, so how can you say such a thing?”

Above all, it was a sure and unfalsifiable assurance. Thanks to this, the determined gazes of the vassals and retainers quickly became gentle.

These are the children who always believed in me and supported me. Even though the time that the duke spent in the system was overwhelmingly longer than the time that the duke spent in the territory, and even though he did not produce a successor for 100 years after becoming a duke, these are the children who silently followed me. Because they are such children, they must be convinced and happy just by my promise.

That’s why I feel grateful and sorry at the same time. They showed support rather than opposition to the unexpected decision of retirement and appointment of a proxy. Where can you find such loyal children?

“If you ever see that the agent is greedy or incompetent, tell me. I will beat him up and kick him out immediately.”

In return, he gave the children a small smile and encouraged them.

If the agent commits tyranny or makes a series of mistakes, I advise them to stand up without worrying about the fact that he is my husband. Since I, the duke, said this, these children have their own justification.

Of course, this is just a gift for the children’s loyalty. In reality, these children will never throw away the sword.

‘There was no way we could oppose it in the first place.’

Karl is already burdened by the title and position he is currently holding. He is the only one who has received the position of proxy for the future duke Maria, so how can he do something that would make his vassals and vassals object? There is absolutely no way that would happen. As Karl’s wife and soon-to-be-retired duke, I can be sure of that.

Besides, even if Karl becomes the Duke’s agent, nothing will change. He will remain in a system that is not a ducal territory like me, and will leave the ruling to his vassals, listen to their opinions, and only mediate. Perhaps these children will ask Karl to please come to the ducal territory?

‘I’ll have to stay for a few weeks, but I’ll take it.’

This is an event where someone who has held the position for 100 years steps down and a new commander ascends to the throne. No matter how much you trust and entrust your vassals, you will have to stay in Servet for several weeks – or at most, several months – to make your presence felt.

So, Karl will accept and follow that length of stay. As the Duke of Servet’s representative and the biological father of the next Duke.

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen. He is your chosen husband and your trusted representative. How could something so terrible happen?”

Finally, the head butler, understanding my regret, spoke on behalf of the group.

‘I guess so.’

As long as the sword remains in place, such a terrible thing cannot happen.

Maybe that’s why my smile grew wider without me knowing it. When I heard those words from the children, my heart became calm.

“Your Majesty, when will you announce your retirement?”

“It is scheduled to be held around February. We considered holding it right after the New Year’s greetings, but that would be right after His Majesty declared the construction of Stefan’s Glory. We can’t cover up that excitement with another excitement.”

“That’s true. It’s a historic day when a new order is being created on the continent, and announcing my retirement then would only divert attention.”

Everyone nodded at the word February.

It is best to proceed as quickly as possible. However, it would be difficult for the replacement of Servet’s command tower to attract too little attention. So, the risk of distraction should be minimized as much as possible, but it should not be delayed too much.

So, somewhere around mid to late February, that would be perfect timing.

‘I guess I’ll come down as winter comes to an end.’

After deciding on a rough time, I felt a little empty.

Stepping down from the Duke position was something I decided to do at the beginning of this year. It was a decision for the children, and I have never regretted it or thought it was wrong.

But when it actually came right in front of me, I had a complicated feeling that was hard to express in words. Was it because I had to give up the name I had held for 100 years?

Yes, that would be the case. It would be a shame to lose a quill that has been used for a few years, so how much more so would it be to lose a title that has been held for a hundred years.

“Your Majesty’s reign begins with spring. What a coincidence.”

“When His Majesty the King comes, the princesses will come with him, right? They will be five years old in February, won’t they?”

“I can finally be close to the princesses… I’m the type of person who rarely cries, but tears are flowing out of my eyes.”

Meanwhile, the children talked about the future they and I would imagine.

I felt a little sorry that they were playing among themselves while the peacock was immersed in emotions, but I like that appearance better than them opposing my decision.

***

Tricky, who had gone to the Duchy of Servet, has returned.

With the words that he had received the support of his vassals and retainers.

‘Is it time to drop out now?’

It was both fortunate and bitter. I had no intention of canceling it anyway, but all the vassals of Katoban and the lords of Servet have learned of my proxy ascension. Now, for the sake of Trixie’s authority, I absolutely cannot turn back.

In other words, the future in which I become the Duke of Servet’s deputy and remain in office until Maria grows up and gains experience is confirmed. It is a powerful future that no one can change.

“Guys, come here.”

To soothe her bitter heart, she opened her arms to the triplets who were clinging to their mother’s legs.

It’s a tough and cruel future, but I can endure it if I have these kids. So, please hold me in your arms and comfort me.

“yes!”

“I want to hug Daddy too!”

“Dad~”

At my call, the triplets ran to me and hugged me tightly.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but laugh. I love you three times more because you have three lovely kids. No, honestly, you love me more than three times.

‘This is healing.’

Healing is nothing special. You don’t need to enjoy hobbies or gourmet food. Just doing this kind of child therapy will calm your mind.

“Oh, you’re thinking of having the retirement ceremony in February?”

After patting the triplets for a while, he raised his head toward Trixie.

February is when the New Year’s fever starts to die down. It’s a good time to start a new event. Tricky must have taken that into consideration when deciding on February.

“Yes. We can’t go any earlier than that, and there’s no reason to delay it.”

“That’s true.”

Actually, Trixie also chose February for the same reasons as me.

“It’s been a while, but thank you for your hard work. You’ve seen a lot of things that are unpleasant while you were a duke.”

“Haha, what was the hardship? It was my duty as a member of Katoban.”

Tricky smiled faintly at my comfort.

Although she said so, Tricky’s hardships were not something that could be dismissed as duty. The weight of the dukedom was basic, and she had the formidable name of Majong as her nickname, and she had witnessed the era of the tyrant who took the path of ruin for the empire.

In the midst of that chaos, the dukes who were her seniors, her peers, and her juniors all passed away one by one. How heavy must the burden have been on Trixie, who was left alone.

“And as time went by, the previous emperors didn’t even pay attention to me. Perhaps they were afraid that I would try to turn the tide, but they were reluctant to actually touch me.”

“I guess I should say that’s fortunate.”

“Haha, that’s fortunate. The other dukes had a hard time appeasing the tyranny and stubbornness of the previous emperors.”

The voice was strangely full of sincerity, which made me laugh bitterly.

The Duke, the greatest wizard on the continent, and the greatest Jam King of the Empire. No matter how reckless the tyrants were, they would not be able to touch Trixie, who was part of this miraculous trinity. However, they would have been too burdened to strike her out, so they would have simply kept their distance.

‘If only one general had appeared, the history of the empire would have changed.’

It is a pity. Trixie ascended to the dukedom during the reign of Aimanka XII, and the era of the tyrants began a few years later. From then until the situation ascended to the throne, about 60 years passed.

But during those 60 years, there was no emperor worthy of being called an emperor. If there had been just one person who was human, rather than a crazy superhuman at the situation level, Trixie would have assisted that emperor wholeheartedly, but it’s true that the empire was on the verge of ruin because that one person was missing.

‘Is it fortunate that the situation has come to light, even if it is late?’

From the 12-year-old who lost his taste in his later years to the 15-year-old who was the last direct emperor. The 16-year-old who came out after the amazing 4 consecutive bombs. Wouldn’t Trixie have been happy to see an emperor who was truly an emperor after a long time?

She must have been happy. Unlike Jeon Seung-gong, Hyung-myeong-gong, and Hwang Geum-gong, who were born at the end of the ruined country route, Trixie witnessed the entire process of the empire that was normal falling apart. The difference between ‘being born into a ruined country’ and ‘being originally normal but living through it and then falling apart’ is severe. The pain that came from having a lot of time─

“knife.”

“Uh, yeah?”

At Tricky’s call, my brain, which had been spinning in circles, suddenly stopped.

“Shouldn’t we start telling the other kids about this soon?”

I was relieved that it was called for a reason other than my ugly brain.

“That’s right. If the timing has been set, there’s nothing left to hide.”

Tell the other children. This means that you should tell the other ladies about the Duke’s deputy as well, except for Trixie.

Of course. Up until now, I have kept my mouth shut to maintain strict secrecy, but the nobles of the Duchy of Servet already know about my proxy ascension to the throne. So how could my family not know?

If there’s just one thing that bothers me,

‘How will Eri react?’

Eri, who has completely shaken off the effects of childbirth and returned to her prime with 100% physical strength. How will 100% Eri react when she hears the news of my crowning as Duke Deputy?

First of all, I know you’re going to have fun.