Chapter 19: An Ordinary Day

Once morning training concludes, an ordinary day begins.

“You’re here early again.”

“You’ve arrived, Chancellor,” Dien said, standing up to greet him as Persian Chervil opened the door to the office. Dien always arrived earlier than him to organize the paperwork.

It had already been one month since his successor training began. Many changes had occurred in Persian’s office.

First, the documents that used to be piled up haphazardly were now organized systematically. Dien had taken it upon himself to handle the organization that the aides couldn’t quite manage.

Additionally, different legal books and reference materials were placed on the desk’s bookshelf every day. This was done so that Persian could easily find data regarding the important current issues facing the Chancellor’s Office.

“Is today’s agenda regarding the treatment of the kingdom’s technical professionals?” Persian asked, looking through the materials on the shelf.

There were documents comparing the treatment of scientific and engineering technical professionals in the Kingdom of Delos with those in other kingdoms.

“You’ve worked hard.”

This was what Persian said every morning. Dien knew that those words were the highest praise he could receive from him.

“The elders of the Enopoia Council have put forward a good bill for the first time in a while. It’s a bill regarding the treatment of scientific and engineering technical professionals in Delos, and it will likely be the main agenda for this meeting. The points of contention will probably be the scope of designated key professionals and the methods of support,” Dien explained.

Dien pointed out the likely points of contention for the meeting, and Persian listened intently. Usually, the points Dien emphasized were treated as significant matters during the sessions.

“And your opinion?”

“I believe it would be best to move in a direction where we provide them with the best treatment on the continent.”

“I see.”

Persian didn’t ask for the reason. He intended to grasp Dien’s perspective by reviewing the materials the boy had organized.

‘Impressive.’

A satisfied smile played across Persian’s face as he looked over the data Dien had prepared.

‘I can’t tell who is actually receiving successor training.’

Though he had kept Dien by his side under the pretext of successor training, it felt as if he was the one receiving an education.

While sharing an office with Dien, Persian realized the boy possessed deep knowledge and insight. He could feel his own professional competence growing just by listening to Dien’s views. His own limited perspective was broadening day by day thanks to Dien’s abilities.

Moreover, because he could logically organize his thoughts while looking at Dien’s summaries, the ministerial meetings—which used to be a burden—no longer felt daunting at all.

His voice also gained strength when expressing opinions during meetings. Thanks to this, counting the number of officials who nodded at his remarks during the sessions had become a small joy for Persian.

“Are you overworking yourself lately?” Dien asked with concerned eyes.

“I’m fine. Administrative work has become quite interesting lately.”

Persian stayed until late every night to review the tasks submitted for approval. Since he had found interest in the work, he had developed an attachment to it.

Rumors of his late departures had already spread throughout the royal castle, and those who questioned Persian’s qualifications had vanished before anyone noticed.

Not long ago, King Lonas had even lamented during a meeting that the Kingdom of Delos had lost a Sword Master because Persian, who used to only look at swords, was now entirely devoted to administrative work.

Persian took the King’s words as a compliment. He was much more satisfied now, being recognized as the Chancellor of a country, than in the past when he was recognized for his swordsmanship.

“The schedule for this week is exceptionally tight.”

Persian spoke while looking at the schedule Dien had created. Thanks to the schedule table Dien had made, which allowed him to see all upcoming appointments at a glance, the hassle of receiving schedule reports from aides had disappeared.

“You might collapse at this rate, Chancellor.”

Dien worried for him. As Persian said, his schedule was borderline murderous.

“Don’t underestimate the stamina of a High Knight.”

Persian curled the corner of his mouth into a smile as he looked at Dien.

“I heard a rumor that the Commander of the Royal Guard, upon hearing that you are only focused on work, has refused to leave the training grounds, swearing he will reach the level of a Sword Master first.”

The Commander of the Royal Guard was a fellow High Knight and Persian’s rival in swordsmanship.

Persian let out a boisterous laugh, finding those words amusing.

“Don’t worry. The stage of a Master isn’t something achieved through simple training. One needs an epiphany.”

“Hmm… and yet, to my eyes, it feels like you’re quite conscious of the Commander?”

“Hahaha! When are you going to fix that insolent attitude!”

Persian had been laughing much more frequently these days. Working with Dien had begun to blunt his sharp personality.

“I’m on your side, Chancellor. I only hope that you reach the level of Master first. Hehehe.”

“Haha! Naturally, that is how it should be!”

Dien and Persian sat at their desks, their shoulders shaking as they laughed together.

“By the way, what is this?” Persian asked, pointing to a name written on the schedule. He found it strange that the name of an aide was written in place of an appointment. “Why is Aide Marty’s name from the Cultural Department written here?”

“Ah, the name? You mean that?” Dien stood up and approached Persian. “I wrote it down because today is Aide Marty’s birthday.”

“His birthday?” Persian asked, bringing his eyebrows together.

“Yes. Since he is an aide in the Chancellor’s Office, you should take care of him.”

“Good heavens…”

“How happy would the officials be if the busy Chancellor personally remembered their birthdays?”

Dien’s words made Persian smile. He found it admirable that Dien was even looking out for his virtues as a superior.

“I’ve recorded the birthdays of everyone in the Chancellor’s Office on the schedule, except for one person.”

“One person? Who?”

A smile played on Dien’s lips.

“It’s Count Persian Chervil. I excluded your birthday from the records. Ah! But don’t worry. I’ve written your birthday on my own schedule, so you don’t have to feel left out.”

“What? This fellow, really! Pwahahaha!”

Upon hearing Dien’s words, Persian leaned back and laughed loudly. After laughing for a long while, Persian suddenly stood up and pinched Dien’s arm.

“You! Say what you said earlier again!”

“Ow, ow, ow… Yes?”

Dien clutched his painful arm and backed away from the pinch.

“What do you mean…?”

“Whose side did you say you were on earlier?”

Dien straightened his back at Persian’s question. Then came a vigorous answer.

“I am on Count Persian Chervil’s side!”

“Right. If you go anywhere else, you’re dead!”

When Persian playfully gestured toward his sword, a startled Dien pretended to run away as he responded.

“Yessir!”

***

After Persian went to the morning briefing, Dien’s next routine was to go to the aides’ office and assist them with their work.

Dien, who couldn’t bear to sit idly by in a constantly busy office, had taken over their menial tasks. The aides felt immensely grateful to him for that alone.

“Aide Petro~ you’re going to post this as a bulletin in the royal castle, right?”

“Ah! Young Lord! That’s correct. I was planning to post it in front of the West Gate.”

“Give it to me. I’ll go.”

“Hahaha. I’d be grateful if you did, but…”

“It’s fine. I’ll be back in a flash.”

“Well… thank you.”

Dien took the bulletin from Petro.

“Aide Daisy!”

“Huh?”

“That’s the expenditure document to be submitted to the Finance Department, right?”

“Ah! Yes, it is.”

“Give it to me. I was just about to head out to post the bulletin anyway.”

“Oh my! Young Lord! You really don’t have to…”

“Quickly now!”

Dien reached out for Aide Daisy’s documents as well.

“You’re so knowledgeable about the work, yet you don’t shy away from chores either.”

“How could I ever compare to you, Aide Daisy?”

“Hohoho!”

Dien gave Daisy a smile and moved on.

“Aide Carrick! You’re going to the print shop to copy the Chancellor’s Office meeting materials, right?”

“Huh?”

“Give the original to me. Twenty copies, right?”

“Hahaha. My goodness… thank you.”

Dien insisted on taking Aide Carrick’s documents too.

Normally, when a noble receiving successor training enters an office, the aides’ workload increases, but since Dien arrived, their work has actually decreased.

The aides joked that Dien was like a junior aide to them. On the days Dien didn’t come to the palace due to his academy classes, the aides’ fatigue was far worse than on other days.

“Heave-ho!”

Dien headed out with his hands full of things.

“Oops! Why do you come every time, Young Lord?”

When Dien personally visited the Finance Department to submit the expenditure documents, the startled Finance Aide jumped up from his seat.

Rumors had already spread that he acted like the youngest aide in Persian’s office. It was also well known that he was the talented young man who had uncovered the merchant guild’s corruption on his first day at the palace. Dien was already a promising talent among the aides.

“Hahaha. Does it matter who comes?”

“You’ve arrived!”

“Good morning!”

When the Finance Department aides greeted Dien, he responded loudly to their greetings.

“If anyone has documents to send to the Chancellor’s Office or needs to go to the print shop, you can leave them with me now!” Dien called out loudly to the Finance aides. He wanted to lighten their load since he was already running errands.

“Hahaha, we’re all set, Young Lord!”

“Right! Have a great day then!”

“Have a great day yourself, Young Lord!”

They felt as if they saw Dien’s face every day. He was a noble who did not shy away from menial tasks and errands.

Today, as well, the Finance aides watched the load in his hands and smiled with respect.

***

Dropping by the West Gate guard post for a moment, Dien ran into Jericho, who had tried to haze him not too long ago.

“Everything’s going well, I assume?”

“Hahaha, Young Lord! Are you here to post a bulletin again today?”

Squad Leader Jericho welcomed Dien warmly.

Dien also spoke cheekily to Jericho with a bright face.

“Actually, the bulletin is just an excuse; I came to see your face, Squad Leader. Since you won’t come to see me, I had to come here!”

“Young Lord! How could I possibly enter Chancellor Persian’s office! Don’t even bring it up. Hahaha.”

Dien and Jericho had become quite close. Since Dien stopped by the guard post to greet them every time he entered the palace, it was only natural that his reputation among the guards was soaring.

“Leave the bulletin here. We’ll post it.”

“Squad Leader, isn’t your kindness toward me a bit excessive lately?”

“You’re a young lord becoming the heart of the Chancellor’s Office; I have to get in line early. Hahaha.”

“Squad Leader! What are you saying to the youngest member of the royal castle! I’m afraid someone might hear you!”

“It’s not like it’s a lie!”

“Hehehe! My goodness… to think the Tiger of the North is this affable…”

“Well then, keep up the good work, Squad Leader!”

“Right! You have a good day too, Young Lord!”

Dien wore a pleasant smile. Now that he had become friends with many people in the castle, his successor training had become enjoyable.

He was walking with a light step when he spotted something.

He saw Carrick, the youngest aide in the Chancellor’s Office, sitting behind the Finance Department building with his head bowed.

‘Huh?’

Carrick sat with his head down and a dark expression. The atmosphere he radiated was so gloomy that Dien even hesitated to approach him recklessly.

‘Did something happen?’