I Didnt Mean for Them to Come to My House (2)

My eyes, hands, and feet started to tremble. The evil superiors didnt hesitate to ruthlessly tear apart the miserable underling.

Having guests who came for travel purposes stay in the palace is too much. The procedures for entering and exiting cant be omitted, so wouldnt it be a waste of time?

The Imperial Households Minister, who supported the Crown Princes idea, began explaining what good it would do. But wasnt it him who first suggested a room in the palace? He had somehow eliminated the palace as an option. His ability to turn the tables around was impressive.

Of course, the palace wasnt a local inn, so it could be considered an excessive measure. Even diplomats on official visits had to go through all sorts of procedures to enter and exit the palace, and they could only move within a set range.

If we only consider hospitality, there was no place capable of treating the guests as lavishly as the palace. However, holding the travelers in the palace could be awkward and bothersome for both parties. A lodging where one couldnt move or go out as they pleased was a bit too much, right?

Even if it isnt an Academy schedule, its true that they are students and they belong to the pastry club.

At those words, the expression of the Minister of Internal Affairs twitched slightly. It seemed like he was about to burst into laughter as the cute term pastry club was mentioned while discussing serious plans for welcoming Princes from other countries and a future saint.

Isnt the Executive Manager the advisor of the club? It wouldnt be weird for the advisor to stay with the members. Fortunately, the Executive Manager is known for having a good relationship with the members.

Good? Me, with them? What the hell is their standard for a good relationship?

Youre right. Since it isnt an official visit, it would be hard for administrative officials to step in, but its possible for the Prosecutors Executive Manager.

Yes. After all, the Prosecutors Executive Manager has built a relationship with them from the Academy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded at the words of the Imperial Households Minister. As the Minister of Justice also agreed with them, my hope for an escape route was cut off.

Still, I glanced at the Governor, who might be reluctant to let the members stay within the Capital.

Its over.

But after seeing his expression, I sensed my doom. That old man, whod lived his life as a loyal servant of the Imperial family, didnt seem to have the intention of going against the Crown Princes opinion.

Yes, it was unlikely the Governor would have any trouble. After all, it would be rough only on the first day they came to the Capital. After that, I was the one who would deal with them, so there was no reason for the Governor to be bothered at all.

Indeed. Theres no one closer to them than the Prosecutors Executive Manager.

As the Ministers agreed or remained silent, the Crown Prince turned to me while smiling.

Dont overthink it. Just think of it as doing what you did in the Academy in the Capital instead.

Its none of your business, so its easy to say that.

My teeth were chattering, but there was nothing I could do.

It seemed like the Crown Prince and the other Ministers had no objections to this decision. From the Ministerss point of view, the welcoming process was important. Where the members stayed afterward was not.

Still, it will be problematic if the Executive Manager is lacking in treating the guests. Minister of Finance, provide him with ample support.

Yes, Your Highness.

At least it seemed like I would receive proper support, which was a relief.

Anyways, Im glad. I had to think that way to calm myself down.

The meeting ended smoothly for everyone except for one Executive Manager. From the beginning, the matter that brought the most headache was the members of foreign royal families coming to the Capital, not the reception itself. It would be strange if the Empire, the center of the continent, couldnt handle a single reception properly.

Thus, the Ministers and the Governor left the conference room.

You dont know how reassuring it is to have the Executive Manager.

Thank you for your kind words.

The Crown Prince and I were left alone. I initially intended to leave immediately, but this guy held me back, saying that he had something to say.

I hope Im not bothering the busy Prosecutors Executive Manager with something trivial.

= Hey, are you annoyed?

Its a subordinates duty to follow Your Highnesss orders.

= If you know, then shut up.

His saying that was nothing more than trolling. Even if Im the advisor of the club, wasnt offering my residence too much?

When he said that it was better to stay in the Capital rather than the Academy, I naturally thought he would arrange a room in the palace for them. Even that sly Minister of the Imperial Household thought that at first. Why summon me to the Capital if he were going to attach them to me?

Youre already busy with work related to the Prosecutors Office. To think you wont even be able to rest in your home. How sad.

That doubt was immediately answered by the Crown Prince. The reason he brought me to the Capital was because I wouldnt be able to go to the Prosecutors Office if I stayed in the Academy. The target wasnt the members, but me. Damn, are you even human? Since youre the son of the Emperor, maybe you arent human.

I will make efforts to lessen your burden, so dont worry too much.

While I was internally thinking of ways to troll the Crown Prince, he casually made a hopeful statement. Even the Crown Princes sparse conscience seemed to think that hed gone too far.

There are some extra hands in the Ministry of Intelligence, so they can provide some help to the Prosecutors Executive Manager.

Thank you for your generous consideration.

I began thinking about the Crown Princes offer of providing me with support from the Ministry of Intelligence. I was surprised that the Minister of Intelligence had remained silent during the meeting, but it seemed like hed already talked with the Crown Prince beforehand.

While I had gone to the Academy alone due to negotiations with the three countries, the Capital was not the same as the Academy. It was natural for the Empires forces to roam around, so those forces being seen around my residence could also be considered as just another coincidence.

It wasnt a bad support. It was better to have eyes and hands ready to intervene in situations involving the club members than to handle them alone.

And it would be troublesome if the Executive Manager is absent often, wouldnt it?

Thats true.

I nodded vigorously at the Crown Princes words. I even received permission not to attend the Prosecutors office daily. Rather than going to the Prosecutors Office every day and being tied up late, I was advised to stay at my residence most of the time and appear only when necessary.

I was prepared to do remote approvals from the Academy. If I could commute from the Capital, there was no need to go to work every day. Even intermittent attendance was more efficient than working remotely.

But whats this? The terms were surprisingly good. Support was coming to me from both the Finance and Intelligence Departments. Not only that, but I didnt need to go to the office every day. Wasnt this too generous for the price of offering my residence?

Why is he being so generous?

The Crown Prince smirked as if hed read my thoughts.

Youre going to take care of important foreign guests on behalf of the Empire, after all.

In other words, he was taking care of me since it was something related to the prestige of the Empire. With those words, the Crown Prince left first.

Its a gift from His Highness.

At that moment, the Crown Princes secretary approached me and handed me a pouch. When I opened it, I saw ten shining gold coins. It was exactly twice the amount I had lost at the Boyar casino.

Indeed, His Highness the Crown Prince wasnt someone who overlooked the efforts of his subjects and warmly embraced them. He was someone who would become a great ruler in the future. I always believed in the Crown Prince.

You jerk.

I will let this pass since the support was greater than expected.

* * *

I returned to my office after the unexpected meeting.

How bothersome.

I massaged my stiff neck while sitting down in my seat. The Emperor was getting older, and my workload had increased. Hearing the news that royal members from other countries would be coming to the Capital made me wonder what was going on.

If it were for me, I would block them from entering the Captial and ignore them. However, this was an issue related to the Empires prestige. After suffering for two years because of the traitor, the Empire received suspicious and challenging gazes from various countries on the continent.

Weve finally been able to put many of those uncomfortable eyes to rest. But if we give a less-than-stellar welcome to royalty from other countries even if its unofficial, they might rear their ugly heads again. What a nuisance.

At least I dont have to worry about Ainter.

However, one thing had become clear through this event. Ainter had no ambition regarding the throne. If he did, this kind of situation wouldnt have happened.

Even if he had connections with foreign princes or future saints, so what? The Emperor and the nobles support me. If he were aiming for the throne, he wouldnt openly flaunt his connections and come to the Capital.

He isnt someone who cant even do such simple calculations.

Ainter was a guy with good reasoning and social skills. If he had other intentions, he definitely wouldnt have come to the Captial. Even if he did, given the current situation, he wouldnt pose a threat. After all, this had proved that Ainter couldnt control the other princes.

A royal visit was annoying and bothersome, but I was able to reconfirm Ainters intentions, so it wasnt bad in every sense. After all, I just had to show up for a short time and shake some hands.

The only one whos going to struggle is the Prosecutors Executive Manager.

I chuckled after remembering the Prosecutors Executive Managers bug-chewing expression. It was regrettable, but what could I do? It was the best solution. I wouldve considered them if there were other options, but there wasnt.

Moreover, he always brought above-average results, even if he complained. How could I not trust him? He quickly loosened up and moved if you gave him moderate support and greased the wheels.

Not using him would be strange.

A subordinate who was capable, diligent, and didnt hold any grudges. Moreover, he was young. If someone else was in my position, they wouldve probably used him more.

At least I was more human than that bastard Dorgos, who was probably in Hell.

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