Chapter 179

It’s true that setting the Chancellery’s recruitment exam questions is my responsibility. Even if subordinates write the questions, I approve them, so it’s correct that I’m the decision-maker.

‘What, asking so bluntly like this.’

A rumor I heard back in high school about a top cram school instructor meeting the national exam committee played out before my eyes. And I understood why exam setters can only give formal answers.

“If you study diligently based on the textbooks, you’ll be able to get a good score.”

‘I can’t believe I’m saying something like this.’

Still, the professor in charge of management and administration didn’t give up.

“What kind of talent we want, or what abilities would be good…”

In a way he could be a sincere professor who cares about the students. A top cram instructor’s salary varies with the universities and number of students, but academy professors have a fixed monthly wage. Even if he couldn’t reveal exam questions, he could at least say this much.

“You know well that no matter how well you do on the written test, it’s useless if you fail the interview. The Chancellery constantly fights various sudden situations. There are certainly unfair things. What matters is flexibility, diligence, perseverance in responding to these, and, as an institution for the empire’s citizens, a mindset not to squander taxes. Anyone can pass the written test, but I advise you to prepare well for the interview. Also think carefully whether it’s suited to your temperament.”

“I see. It’s interview-focused… that’s unexpected.”

“This isn’t a test that ranks you as at the academy. It’s a question of whether to spend money to employ this person or not. If someone is to be paid a salary, they must demonstrate potential or something. Central ministries aren’t directly tied to profit, so it’s like this here, but places that generate revenue like a large merchant guild/house will be even more stringent.”

They said it’s hard to fire people, but the market eliminates those who don’t produce results. If a business fails, how could employees remain? Compared to that, central ministries are stale but relatively safe. Though unlike my previous world, there’s the difference that one can be cut off by a superior’s mood. Here, systems like personnel, labor, and welfare were almost non-existent.

“This has gone on. I’d like to hear about Rio and Marcella, too.”

She immediately changed the subject before a follow-up question could come up. I have to go see Rio!

“Since getting better, Rio has liked using his body. He seems more interested in swordsmanship than studying. He was a bright child even before recovery, but afterward kids often follow Rio like he’s the leader of the neighborhood.”

“Does he perhaps bully friends by gathering a group…”

I asked out of concern, but the professor shook his head with a laugh.

“Not at all. He rather punishes kids who torment others because they trust their family. He looks after many weaker friends.”

Perhaps because he himself had been in a weak position, those friends stick in his mind. He always seems like a baby to me, so it’s surprising that others follow him. Next was Marcella.

“Marcella, despite joining the swordsmanship class at a late age, has truly grown enormously. It’s only been just over a year and even I was surprised. He leaves earliest to practice and trains until the latest, and now I think he can fully fulfill the role of a knight. Many students were motivated by watching him.”

I hadn’t realized he worked that hard. With Ren’s tutoring added, his skill would inevitably skyrocket. Still, having a profession would help for marriage prospects, so that was a relief. From the current situation, if Marcella marries Kiara he’ll become a son-in-law by living with her family, so Julie is likely to inherit the household.

‘That, of course, depends on whether she herself wants it.’

Since the title no longer existed anyway, I didn’t intend to force it. It can be passed on when a suitable person appears.

After an interesting parent-teacher meeting, I moved with Ren to the lower-year building where Rio was. Ren was from the academy and insisted he could guide us, and he actually managed to pry the headmaster away. He’s quietly persistent, I tell you.

“This is the dorm I stayed in.”

On the way to Rio’s building, I heard about Ren’s academy life.

“What were you like? Were you a prankster?”

“Well… I think I was always busy studying and practicing swordsmanship. I majored in both Management and Administration and swordsmanship.”

“Double major?”

He nodded to indicate it was similar. What the—Hermes or whatever… He’d clearly led an extremely busy life since childhood. If I scrambled day to day for a living, he had taken on a grueling path to fulfill duties matching his authority. I always think he’s truly remarkable. And he didn’t go astray amid it all.

When we arrived at the lower-year building, a boy ran toward me.

“Sister!”

“Rio?”

He must have heard the rumor and came out early. True to being Julie’s sibling, Rio flung himself into my arms. When I ruffled his hair, Rio grinned.

“I was going to surprise you. Class?”

“It just ended! I saw sister and brother through the window so I came out. Hello.”

If I’d kept talking with Julie’s professor longer, we’d have been late. Ren scooped Rio up. In a year he’d become much closer to his younger siblings and fairly informal with them. Julie was actually more wary of Ren than Rio was. Rio giggled in Ren’s arms. We went straight to the auditorium where the graduation ceremony was being held.

“Sister! Duke!”

“Over here!”

Julie and Marcella, who had arrived earlier, waved us over. The graduation was in full swing. Everyone looked splendid in formal graduation robes and caps resembling mortarboards. The headmaster was handing out diplomas one by one.

‘For such an important event, you said you’d guide us out here?’

I nearly broke into a cold sweat. Standing in the corner watching peacefully for the first time in a while, one of the staff hurried over to me.

“Good day, Chancellor, Duke. The thing is, the Minister of Finance who was to give today’s graduation address is unable to attend due to a severe cold and fever. The headmaster wonders if the Chancellor might be able to fill in…”

“Me? Um… wouldn’t the Duke be more appropriate than me?”

Why would they ask me when the empire’s most impressive man is present? The staff, looking embarrassed, said:

“The Duke already did it last year, so it would be odd to do it back-to-back…”

“But I’m not even a graduate of this academy…?”

“He said that given your achievements, it would be an honor instead.”

“I haven’t prepared anything…”

“He said that in this kind of emergency, everyone would understand even if you say whatever comes to mind.”

“…”

What on earth… the headmaster had clearly singled me out. Looking around in a panic, my brother, sister, and Ren seemed to find it amusing and nudged me forward.

“Huh? Uh-uh-uh?”

Before I knew it, the staff had grabbed me and led me to the platform. The headmaster looked at me with a wicked smile and addressed the students.

“The Minister of Finance scheduled to give today’s address is unavoidably absent. Instead, a very splendid person will give the address.”

Someone might think the Minister of Finance sent me on purpose….

“Everyone knows this person here today, right? Cornelia Libertas, the Seraphina Empire’s youngest and first female Chancellor!”

‘How do they all know…’

Caught helplessly in his web that left no room to escape, I had no choice but to go up onto the platform. I was slightly bothered by Julie and Rio’s sparkling eyes watching from afar. Standing there, the graduates looked at me with curious gazes.

‘To hell with it.’

I hadn’t written anything beforehand anyway, so I decided to say what I wanted and step down. A voice-amplifying artifact in front of me was active.

“Hello, graduates of the Seraphina Empire Academy. I am Cornelia Libertas, head of the Chancellery of the empire. I thought the Minister of Finance would be doing this, so please forgive me, a non-graduate, for giving the address. Um, what should I talk about? I never attended the academy itself… Headmaster…? I’ll come down to see you.”

Tittering broke out among the students. The awkward, chilly atmosphere softened a little.

“Finding myself fallen into the headmaster’s trap and standing on this platform isn’t actually such an extraordinary thing. Once you graduate and start doing your part, you’ll find these situations happen quite often. There will be times you have to do things you don’t want to do, times you must get along with people you dislike, and times you’ll have to swallow your pride to protect something you care about.”

From childhood, I struggled to make ends meet and never had an easy time adapting to a new life after coming here.

“Of course I was like that too. The role of the youngest and first female Chancellor you see isn’t something you can just get no matter how lucky you are. I never once dreamed of being Chancellor. Surprising, isn’t it? They wrote in the articles that I’m some greedy ambitious woman, and if that were true at least I’d be at ease about it. In truth I wanted to earn a modest living and live quietly, so the title of Chancellor still feels very heavy.”

Lies! Really? Small responses came from here and there. I laughed.

“I’m laughing with you now, but the workplace is where absurd things happen constantly. When I was a marquess’s aide I once ran an errand to the Imperial Palace Chancellery and witnessed nobles grabbing each other by the collar over an affair. It’s rather ironic that now I’m the head of that department.”

The crowd murmured and buzzed.

“Adultery, manipulation, corruption, abuse of power—these all happen in the world today. Central ministries are no exception. It’s quite a challenge for a young woman just coming of age, isn’t it? I didn’t have grand aspirations. I wanted to finish work quickly and leave, I didn’t want to see my taxes end up in someone’s back pocket, I wanted corrupt bosses punished, and I wanted someone’s effort to be judged by fair standards rather than connections.”

Seeing the color drain from the headmaster’s face, who had deceived me, amused me.

“Sure, I started because of money, but when I came to my senses I found I was more obsessed with a sense of efficacy than money, poking around here and there. That produced good results and brought me this far. It was certainly a hard road, but up until now… I have no regrets.”

In the suddenly quiet atmosphere, I felt everyone’s gaze on me.

As I spoke, I realized something I hadn’t known: that everything so far began with a single wish to live peacefully at work.

“Hearing it said that way, it’s not that grand, is it? I rambled a bit, but this is what I want to tell you as you go out into the world.”

This isn’t an answer but rather my small reflections on my experiences.

“Don’t define your dreams by position, title, or sums of money. I tried that and it was truly miserable. Life never respects your plans and throws up sudden situations. Just as I hated to see taxes spent in despicable places, if you can keep protecting the small values or beliefs of your daily life, no matter the environment, I believe you’ll become someone admirable.”