Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy

427 – Anyway, the year passes – 3

After Villar returned, he absentmindedly fiddled with his pocket watch.

A suitable size that fits in one hand, as if portability was considered, and an appearance that is both glamorous and elegant, as it was a gift from the owner of the continent’s second largest country. Perhaps because it was prepared with great care, the watch itself was at the level of a work of art.

Of course, the appearance is good from the moment the Robens royal family emblem is engraved.

‘I get all sorts of things in life.’

It’s not something someone in their 20s would want to do, but it can’t be helped. How would an imperial noble receive a gift from King Armaine?

In a peaceful atmosphere, only high-ranking diplomats who visit Armain receive gifts in the king’s name, which are usually things like silk or jewelry. I can’t even imagine an object with the royal emblem engraved on it.

But then such an item came into my hands. I didn’t even have to go all the way to Armain to get it, but I got it delivered right where I was sitting.

‘The gap in national power has become worse.’

I continued fiddling with my pocket watch and burst out laughing. A country second only to the Empire in national power, a kingdom of knights, the number one virtual enemy of the Empire, etc. There are countless modifiers for Armain.

And what those fancy modifiers mean is simple. It is close to impossible for Armain to defeat the Empire, but this means that the Empire will also have to prepare for a lot of damage to completely subdue Armain.

As such, Armain showed diplomacy that co-existed both humility and pride towards the empire, and suddenly gave a noble a gift with the royal family’s emblem engraved on it. It is an acknowledgment that the gap between the two countries has widened significantly.

‘It’s even weirder if you don’t admit it.’

Actually, it is not surprising. As the north fell into the arms of the empire, some of the imperial troops guarding the northern border moved east, and the nomads of the north were converted to cavalry of the empire. If you remain stiff even after doing this, it is not courage, but arrogance. At least the King of Armain is a monarch who knows how to distinguish between courage and brutality.

‘Good.’

I put the pocket watch in my pocket and took out the communication device. If the other party acknowledges the superior-subordinate relationship, the empire will be happy. There is no need to use force to establish a hierarchy.

“The North is peaceful thanks to the Emperor’s protection, so I only hope that true peace and order will be established in the East as well.”

When the emperor had just ascended to the throne, he had been reduced to being the emperor’s favorite toy and walked around with him. He lamented that since he had conquered the north by strengthening the national power of the empire, he wished that the east would remain quiet.

It was a lament that was completely understandable. In the northern conquest, the nomads were treated as stateless and could be easily swallowed up, but the eastern kingdoms had clear nationalities and borders. If it eats its territory for no reason, it takes a long time to make up for it, and if it retreats without taking over its territory, it doesn’t take long for it to crawl back up again.

In such a dilemma, the emperor wanted to organize the ranks without war. Just as King Armaine does not wish for war, the Emperor also has a pro-coin tendency.

– King Armaine sent a gift?

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

That’s why the emperor smiled at my report. The Eastern Kingdoms, especially the Empire’s number one virtual enemy, learned of the topic and bowed their heads? From the perspective of an emperor who has just ascended the throne, this is news that can bring both prestige and practical benefit.

– It seems that King Armaine was also impressed by the minister’s hard work. It seems Prince Lyutis spoke kindly of the Minister.

“I just did what my convictions told me to do.”

– What could be more difficult than that? There is nothing more important than doing your duty.

The emperor burst into laughter, soon calmed his expression and quietly opened his mouth.

– I will have to send an envoy to Armain soon.

“This is truly a wise decision.”

He bowed his head towards the emperor and gave a formal answer.

However, the answer was not filled with only ritual. As the Emperor said, there is a need to send an envoy to Armain. Although Armain did not submit to the empire by sending an official envoy, he contacted the current emperor’s closest associates and expressed his intention to surrender. Therefore, the empire can save the face of Armain, who surrendered first.

For example, the peace between the Empire and Armain was achieved not because Armain surrendered first–but because Armain held the hand that the Empire extended.

‘You have to be considerate of that.’

If you save your opponent’s face like this, they won’t hesitate to stab you in the head.

A bastard who only believes in his own strength and plays tricks will eventually accumulate karma and fail. Apels in history and Leon in the present are proof of that.

– But, Minister. It seems that the King of Armaine is very interested in the minister, and perhaps Armaine—

“I’m sorry, but Sosin has a lot of things to take care of in the empire.”

In the meantime, he shook his head with a straight face at the emperor who mentioned joining the delegation. Is this damned bastard trying to send me overseas because it’s not enough to just go home? There is no way.

– Is that so? Too bad.

Fortunately, the emperor quickly gave up and retreated, as if the recommendation had not been taken seriously.

Of course, I know what you were thinking when recommending it. I guess he meant that I should just go and keep my position, as I could put pressure on Armain just by sticking around like a totem between the envoys. Saving Armain’s face means saving him, and Silly needs to be pulled out as much as possible.

But I don’t like it. Not only is diplomacy obviously not my job, but I am a soon-to-be groom who will get married early next year.

‘Should I send my husband-to-be abroad?’

I will never forgive such an evil and unscrupulous boss.

After the pocket watch incident, I was able to spend peaceful days. They say they are forming a delegation to Armenia with the Minister of Foreign Affairs as the head of the delegation, but that is none of my business, so I skipped over it.

What I have to worry about now is not the affairs of a distant system, but the love affairs in front of me.

“Brother, I heard that you also called Fenelia by a nickname… Is this true?”

During club time, I ended up keeping my mouth shut in response to Louise’s cautious question.

It is true. Some time ago, they started calling her Fenelia Dopinera by her nickname. This is her fourth nickname, following Mar, Trixie, and Eri.

From noble mtl dot com

‘…What should I do?’

However, this means that the number of nickname owners has surpassed the number of nickname non-owners. Even if non-owners are disappointed and complain, they are in a situation where they have nothing to say.

‘It’s difficult to shorten it.’

This is difficult. Margueta is Mar, Beatrix is Trixie, Erzebet is Eri, and Fenelia is Fine. It was a name that was just right to shorten, so I was able to come up with an appropriate nickname.

But how should we reduce Louise and Irina? Honestly, isn’t three letters too short?

Here with Louis? There’s something about a man’s name that sounds like the name of an animal. So what about Lina now? When you call it that, Lu and Lee sound like the same last name.

“Are you my brother?”

“Ah, uh… That’s right.”

While she was shaking her head at an excruciatingly fast pace, she barely opened her mouth at Louise’s urging.

Then, a faint moisture began to appear in Louise’s eyes. Guilt squeezed his chest.

‘It’ll be Eri this time too.’

The feeling of guilt suddenly turned into resentment. It’s clear that Eri was talking to Louise through her communication channel and even brought up her nickname. It’s all because of Eri─

‘No.’

She hurriedly cut off her thoughts. She shamefully passed her own responsibility onto others.

If I’m guilty, it’s probably my fault for not coming up with a nickname sooner. Eri is not guilty.

“Well, sorry. I don’t know how to shorten it to three letters.”

After being silent for a while, I ended up making an excuse that I thought was embarrassing. What’s even more embarrassing is that that excuse isn’t just a lie, it’s the truth.

“Oppa.”

“Huh?”

Then Irina, who had kept her mouth shut, quietly joined her.

“My family calls me Lin, so please call me Lin too.”

“…Uh, okay…”

She nodded her head in a daze at the unexpected appeal of the nickname.

Even Louise seemed not to have expected Irina to exploit her niche, so she quickly turned her attention to Irina.

“If you don’t know, you can tell me.”

Irina seemed a little embarrassed by that gaze and protested in a low voice.

However, her eyes were strangely confident. It’s as if she has no regrets about her actions.

It’s amazing. The drive to appeal quickly when the opportunity arises. Is that a merchant’s virtue?

“Well, then me too!”

Anyway, Louise, who quickly became the only owner of the nickname Rain, rolled her eyes here and there and cooed at him.

“Me too…”

However, it was only a coaxing, and Louise’s nickname could not come out of her mouth.

‘There is none.’

It was such a sad sight that I felt pity for it. Apparently, my third father-in-law and mother-in-law had the same concerns as me. Otherwise, Louise, who grew up being loved, wouldn’t have had a nickname.

“Hey, Louise?”

In the awkward silence where I couldn’t even swallow my saliva, someone opened their mouth.

“You don’t necessarily have to have a nickname to have a good relationship. My parents don’t have nicknames either, but we get along well.”

It was Sarah.

Unlike other lovers who already have nicknames and feel deceived when they open their mouths, and club members who have a history of being dumped by Louise and who seem to be put off when they say nicknames, the only one who has the right to speak freely opened his mouth.

I was moved. Meanwhile, it was back in her good graces that she helped Sarah progress her relationship with Erich. Otherwise, she can’t explain Sarah’s intervention.

“And since Louise is her real name and not a nickname, isn’t Louise special?”

Unfortunately, grace and eloquence were separate issues.

Thank you for comforting me, but to a child who is sad because he or she doesn’t have a nickname, say, ‘It’s special because you don’t have a nickname!’ Isn’t that a bit much?

‘I can’t help it.’

Louise became even more sullen and quietly closed her eyes while looking at Sarah who was at a loss for what to do.

Since Sarah began her social life for the first time this year after living in her mansion her entire life, it is inevitable that her eloquence is somewhat lacking. I should be grateful to her for just going out of her way to help me.

The lifeless appearance of Pink Capybara led to an impromptu nickname contest.

And after passionate discussion, the nickname ‘Lou’ was born. Fortunately, the idea came from my head and not someone else’s.

It is indeed a fortunate thing.