MLIIWTFL Chapter 168

 

 

“There is no precedent of awarding a house as part of a severance package. I appreciate your concern and the trouble you’ve gone through, but I’ll resolve this within my means. I don’t want to escalate the situation.”

 

“Then let’s settle it by introducing the villa for you to purchase. Please don’t refuse even this.”

 

“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

Matthias’ firm words were no different from an order.

 

Still, knowing that this was already a major concession on his part, Ezkhiel bowed his head in gratitude.

 

Despite being a Crown Prince known for his strictness, cold demeanor, and workaholic nature, he showed great generosity to his people. Because of this, even though serving him had been tough over the past four years, Ezkhiel had never seriously considered resigning.

 

“That aside, is the report regarding the welfare issues discussed in the parliament this quarter ready?”

 

“Yes, I have it with me.”

 

“And the opinion papers from the lower-ranking officials that I ordered?”

 

“I have prepared those as well, but…”

 

As he spoke, Ezkhiel voiced the question that had been bothering him throughout the preparation process.

 

“Since there’s no precedent for this, and because the subjects of the survey are not the usual beneficiaries of welfare, most of the opinions are uninformed or indifferent. Some officials from commoner backgrounds did submit their opinions, but they don’t seem to accurately reflect the real conditions, so it’s difficult to incorporate them…”

 

This wasn’t just Ezkhiel’s doubt.

 

Everyone involved—the officials conducting the survey, the recipients of the survey, and those compiling the results—all failed to grasp the true purpose of this investigation.

 

Though he reassured them that the Crown Prince must have his reasons, Ezkhiel personally thought it would have been more rational to gather expert opinions or feedback from actual members of the affected class.

 

However, Matthias did not provide a clear answer to Ezkhiel’s question.

 

“There must be some among the lower officials who hold valuable opinions. I simply thought it unreasonable to disregard them just because of their low rank.”

 

“I see… Then, would you like to review this report first?”

 

“No. I’ll take a walk for now.”

 

Matthias casually placed the report he was holding onto the desk and stood up. Seeing that, Ezkhiel checked the clock and realized it was around the time when Matthias had been going for his frequent walks recently.

 

‘Lately, His Highness is taking more time to rest. That’s truly a relief.’

 

No subordinate can relax when their superior is hard at work—and even less so when that superior is the Crown Prince.

 

Thus, Ezkhiel had long encouraged Matthias to rest more. Yet Matthias would always tell his subordinates to rest on their own while he himself kept working, which inevitably meant that the others, unwillingly, had to keep working too.

 

However, for some unknown reason, a few weeks ago, Matthias suddenly began going out for walks twice a day on his own.

 

Thanks to that, the other aides could finally take genuine breaks, leading to improved work efficiency, and Ezkhiel too could catch his breath, even if only briefly.

 

“Understood. Then while you’re out, I’ll organize the reports that came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

 

“You’re always so reliable, even without specific instructions. It’s truly a comfort.”

 

After Matthias left for his walk, Ezkhiel also returned to the office where the other aides were working. Once he confirmed that Matthias had indeed gone, Ezkhiel raised his voice and gave an announcement to the others.

 

“If we can just finish summarizing the reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before His Highness returns, you’re free to rest afterward. Anyone who finishes, please submit your work to me.”

 

“But Sir Bright, I actually have something I want to ask first!”

 

It was Percy, the youngest and most energetic among them, who raised his hand and shouted.

 

“Is it true that you’re seeing Lady Sharon?”

 

“What? Lady Sharon?!”

 

“Sir Percy, where did you hear that?”

 

“I have a friend at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he said he saw you this morning at the Grand Park! You and Lady Sharon were taking a walk together!”

 

“…I see. So someone among the officials spotted us after all.”

 

With a slightly awkward expression, Ezkhiel admitted it.

 

Since he rarely talked about his personal life with his colleagues, bringing up matters like dating felt strangely uncomfortable to him.

 

“So when did you two start seeing each other? If you were walking together at the Grand Park, does that mean an engagement is coming soon?”

 

“It hasn’t even been a month yet. As for the engagement, we haven’t set a date yet, but I have met with the Count to greet him.”

 

“Wow… I’m seriously jealous. I can’t believe you’re dating Lady Sharon…”

 

“What’s your secret, Sir Bright? I want to date a beautiful woman like her too!”

 

“Exactly! You’re even busier than we are—how did you manage to win over this season’s top bridal candidate? You probably didn’t even have much time to date!”

 

“Well, as for a secret…”

 

“There’s no real secret, is there? If you’re the Crown Prince’s chief aide, even if you had zero charm, you’d still never end up an old bachelor.”

 

As the aides bombarded him with eager questions about his romantic success, Ezkhiel found himself cornered and flustered.

 

At that moment, Tenant—who always seemed unable to stand seeing Ezkhiel doing well—once again picked a fight.

 

However, unlike before, when Ezkhiel would just brush off such provocations, this time the other aides quickly jumped in to defend him fiercely.

 

“Sir Tenant, could you be a little more tactful? We’re just trying to ask nicely—why ruin the mood?”

 

“When a colleague finds happiness, the least you could do is offer congratulations instead of being so sour!”

 

“Exactly! And honestly, Sir Tenant, why do you always have so many complaints about Sir Bright? It’s only because he’s patient that it hasn’t become a bigger problem. From anyone else’s perspective, your behavior would be considered insubordination!”

 

“I… I mean…”

 

Tenant stammered, at a loss.

 

Before Ezkhiel could even say anything, the others had already taken turns scolding Tenant.

 

In the end, Tenant could only shut his mouth, his face twisted as if he had swallowed something bitter.

 

Meanwhile, the other aides completely ignored him and happily turned their attention back to Ezkhiel.

 

“So then, how did you two meet? Did Lord Sharon personally introduce you? Or did you meet at a ball?”

 

“I heard you even danced a waltz together! Does dancing together really help a relationship grow closer?”

 

“Where’s a good place to go for a date? If I invite someone to the theater on the first date, is that too soon?”

 

“…I’ll only answer questions from those who’ve submitted their reports.”

 

At Ezkhiel’s response, the others looked disappointed but, seeing the pile of work before them, they held their tongues.

 

While the other aides each picked up their paperwork, Ezkhiel quietly smiled as he jotted down notes on a report he had already read.

 

There were still people who tried to pick fights with him, and his family issues hadn’t been fully resolved either.

 

But even so, he could feel that his life was moving in a direction of happiness—something he had never even dared to imagine before.

 

‘If I could just continue to be this happy… that would be enough. Truly.’

 

***

 

Meanwhile, the charity concert held at Count Wallace’s estate was the center of attention as the day arrived.

 

Initially, the event only garnered interest because two of the season’s ‘Diamonds’ and five of the most anticipated debutantes (whom Lucinella had nicknamed) were hosting it together. Some even placed bets on whether nobles from different factions could truly pull off a concert without issues.

 

However, once interviews with the organizers appeared in the press during preparations, a different kind of attention began to pour in.

 

 

[When I visited, the children were wearing tattered clothes and walking barefoot. They couldn’t afford water bills, so even with summer approaching, they had no clean water and were suffering from skin diseases. On top of that, they had almost nothing to eat—they survived on thin porridge and a single piece of potato.]

 

[Did you personally visit all those orphanages?]

 

[Of course. If I’m asking for donations, I have to make sure with my own eyes that the places truly need help.]

 

 

 

Upon reading Seraphina’s interview, people were shocked that a young lady from the Great Lords family would personally visit such places.

 

Furthermore, following the policy of Sharon Jewelry, she wore simple dresses, and photos accompanying the articles showed participants appealing for attention to the orphanages rather than promoting the concert itself.

 

“Normally, charity events are just excuses for self-promotion, but these young ladies truly seem compassionate toward the orphans.”

 

Praise poured in for the seven beautiful and kind-hearted debutantes.

 

To top it off, rumors that the Crown Prince and the heir of House Averil would also attend, plus the breaking news of Letticia Sharon’s public relationship announcement right before the concert, kept the public buzzing with endless excitement.

 

As a result, Count Wallace’s estate was overflowing with guests on the day of the event.

 

“Have you finished greeting everyone, Ezkhiel?”

 

“Uh…”

 

While Matthias was momentarily engaged in conversation with the Count, Ezkhiel—who had gone to greet Lenard—looked absolutely exhausted.

 

Even before, due to his position, many would approach him, but now, following the announcement of his relationship with Letticia, he had to deal with even more people, using their congratulations as excuses to strike up conversation.

 

It was overwhelming, to say the least.

 

“I didn’t even announce a marriage or engagement, yet the congratulations are way too much…”

 

“Well, all the society papers are raving about how well you and Letty suit each other. Everyone wants to show they agree with that sentiment.”

 

“Ah… those articles…”

 

Ezkhiel’s ears turned bright red as he recalled the article headlines he had tried to stop himself from reading.

 

Lenard noticed Ezkhiel’s embarrassment and chuckled quietly.

 

Maybe it was because they had started things off on the right foot during their walk in the Grand Park, but for an entire week, the front pages of society journals had been dominated by news of Letticia and Ezkhiel.

 

Even Lucinella—who had previously championed Letticia as the Crown Princess candidate—seemed to have forgotten all about that, now publishing headlines like, <Sir Ezkhiel Bright, the Man Who Captured the Queen of Flowers’ Heart!>—pushing Ezekiel’s shame to its very limits.

 

Needless to say, he had suffered all day from the teasing glances and questions of his colleagues after those articles came out.