༺ This Place Is An Excellent Source of Civil Servants (2) ༻
The Student Council had seven officers including the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Accountant, Secretary, Leader of the Student Body, and the P.R.O. Except for the Vice President, who was the only second-year student, all of them were aspiring civil servants about to graduate.
In other words, this meant that six outstanding interns with three years of experience were being produced each year. They even spent three years enduring and competing against the noble children from higher backgrounds.
‘They’re abundant human resources.’
It wasn’t an infinite supply, but having six fresh talents with clear identities and abilities? That was fantastic. Why bother with the cumbersome process of testing them? They should just be taken in.
You wouldn’t find such a stable supply network anywhere else. The Academy had existed since Apel’s era, so it wasn’t like it was suddenly going under.
In my heart, I’d like to increase the number of student council members to increase the number of prospective civil servants. However, the abilities of the current student council officers were the result of carefully chosen elites. Increasing their quantity would only lead to a decrease in quality.
“I’m looking forward to next year’s student council.”
“Don’t worry. There are plenty of talented students among the second-years.”
“Oh, really?”
“If they don’t catch Carl’s eye, then I’ll train them diligently as the President.”
I smiled awkwardly as Marghetta giggled. I had just decided the future of a bunch of faceless second-years.
Although it was a conditional statement – ‘If they don’t catch my eye’ – in reality, Marghetta would make sure to work them hard for a year.
‘I’m sorry.’
Still, enduring a year of hardship in exchange for decades of stability wasn’t a bad deal, was it? It might be a bit harsh for the intern in charge to deal with a Duke’s daughter for a year, but positively thinking, it was an opportunity to learn how to handle superiors.
Besides, regardless of the department, people from noble backgrounds tend to rise to higher positions. So, their resilience would definitely build up. It was actually a good thing.
“I trust Mar.”
“I won’t disappoint you.”
Those words filled me with hope. If it was Marghetta, then she would definitely do well.
“I’m looking forward to the future.”
We would have the officers, including the current President, next year. Meanwhile, the officers raised by Marghetta would be harvested the year after. Two consecutive years of excellent recruits would breathe life into the administrative department. It was satisfying outcome indeed.
“Mar, have you decided which department you’ll go to?”
And what I was looking forward to the most was Marghetta. If she was a member of the nobility and was willing to volunteer for the student council, I could only imagine her enthusiasm.
“Ah.”
However, Marghetta’s body stiffened as she replied curtly.
Apart from her stiffening body, her trembling pupils worried me enough that it made me wonder if I had said something wrong.
***
If I were alone, maybe I’d be clutching a pillow and rolling around.
“Is repeating a year not an option?”
Fufu…
“I want you to stay by my side instead of leaving first.”
Fufufufufufu…
‘This is the best.’
I savored the happiness while barely holding on to my expression, which was seconds away from melting. I felt nervous because I might show a shameful side of myself to Carl if I let my guard down even a little, but even his trivial words were filled with affection towards me. It was remarkable how I was able to hold out for this long.
When he told me everything back in the Capital, I made a mental note to myself to wait even if his wounds took only a year or ten years to heal. I even promised myself that I would wait by his side even when I turned thirty or forty.
Carl showed me his wounds ahead of anyone else. He would eventually come to me, so I chose to wait even though it would be a period filled with uncertainty.
But Carl looked at me right away.
‘I’m happy.’
One year? Ten years? Carl smiled in just one day. Of course, it didn’t mean his wounds had already healed. He probably hadn’t forgotten the past yet.
Still, true to his words, Carl showed his true self and was honest with me.
‘Carl’s sincerity.’
Seeing such warmth, I’m sure that Carl must’ve had feelings for me, too. That meant that all the efforts I made weren’t in vain.
I have no regrets. I feel really happy right now.
I’m already looking forward to having about five children with Carl and seeing the youngest get married. Once all our grandchildren had graduated from the Academy, I could say that I have truly lived a happy life.
‘I wouldn’t mind if I died then…’
Of course, I would probably die later than Carl. I can’t leave before Carl does.
Ah. It’s tough to live in a world without Carl, but I can’t give him any more wounds. So, I’ll have to endure.
To live longer than Carl, I would probably have to reach over 90 years old—
“I’m looking forward to next year’s student council.”
“Don’t worry. There are plenty of talented students among the second-years.”
I quickly responded as Carl’s voice reached me while he signed business cards. Even to my own eyes, I responded quite quickly.
Anyway, when I would be the President next year…
‘I must not have any flaws.’
I can’t afford to disappoint Carl while I’m the President. I must, absolutely, create the best student council to satisfy Carl.
I can do it. My time in the student council so far hasn’t been just for show, and I’ve learned how to run the student council while observing the President over the years.
The new civil servants need to be competent to make Carl comfortable. Carl needed to be comfortable for there to be more flexibility, and that way, we’d have more time together.
‘Let’s stay strong.’
For the sake of our five future children.
“Mar, have you decided which department you’ll go to?”
My enthusiasm quickly cooled with that one question.
Right… Carl thought that I would become a civil servant, too.
‘I don’t really need that.’
I wasn’t really interested in being a civil servant. In the first place, I only wanted to become one to get closer to the indifferent Carl.
But with Carl being sent to the Academy, there was no longer a need for me to become a civil servant. And as Carl warmed up to me, that wedge has been removed. If I could get closer to him without becoming a civil servant, then why should I?
Besides, how often would Carl, the Executive Manager, and I, a new civil servant, have the opportunity to meet face-to-face? Even if we did, we wouldn’t be able to engage in private conversations during working hours. It would be better to manage Carl’s mansion or territory during that time.
‘What should I do?’
Carl hoped for the student council to become civil servants. But shouldn’t I, as the future President, also become one?
“Thanks to Mar, someone missed the opportunity to become a civil servant.”
No, I can’t do that. I might be seen as a villainess who ruined someone’s future on a whim.
Should I leave the student council before graduating, then?
“So the student council was just for fun to Mar.”
That didn’t seem right, either. It might make me look like a fickle, frivolous woman with no perseverance.
Then, should I become a civil servant with my eyes closed? But it was a lie that I couldn’t get married right after becoming a civil servant.
“I wish Mar would take care of the territory as its hostess, but it’s a shame.”
Ah, no…
As my thoughts started to flow in a negative direction, everything became frightening. No matter what I thought, it felt like I would disappoint Carl.
What should I do? What’s the right answer? Should I become a civil servant since he asked me which department I would go to…?
“Mar?”
“Oh, yes. Did you call me, Carl?”
I hastily replied, and Carl looked at me with a strange expression. No, don’t look at me with those eyes…
As I instinctively lowered my head, I heard Carl’s voice above my head.
“By any chance, do you have no interest in becoming a civil servant?”
My body trembled for a moment at the words that weighed heavily on my chest. He noticed even though I didn’t directly say it. Carl and I are really in sync…
No, that’s not it. I must stop running off to strange thoughts.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
After much deliberation, I cautiously nodded my head. Since Carl had been honest with me, I decided not to hide anything from him. I made that promise, so I shouldn’t hide something as insignificant as this.
As soon as I answered, I lowered my gaze. I was too scared to see how Carl was looking at me.
“That’s a relief.”
Huh?
I glanced up at his unexpected comment and saw Carl’s smiling face.
“I don’t particularly want to recommend you to become a civil servant.”
“Is that so?”
It felt strange, especially since it was coming from someone who had just written letters of recommendation.
“If there’s no other path for you apart from being a civil servant, then I’d understand. But that’s not the case for you, right, Mar?”
However, Carl seemed to be speaking from the heart. It was as if he was genuinely relieved that I didn’t choose to become a civil servant.
“If you can avoid it, then it’s better not to become one.”
There was a hint of sorrow in Carl’s eyes as he said those words.
***
Marghetta, who had been sulking, finally regained her spirits after a few more coaxings. Did she really think I would be disappointed?
‘On the contrary, I’m glad.’
While I found Marghetta’s interest in a career in public service intriguing, it was probably because she genuinely had a dream of becoming a civil servant. In reality, it was best not to become one.
I was already rolling in this role, and now Marghetta was going to join the fray? Even if Marghetta had concerns about her career, she was the beloved youngest daughter of the Iron-blooded Duke. Why should she need to worry?
No matter how many times I thought about it, it was best not to become a civil servant. Well, except for me and the prospective civil servants out there.
“Your face is so dull; maybe that’s why your personality is also gloomy.”
“It’s your future that’s dull and not mine, you unchosen one.”
“It’s not ‘unchosen one,’ it’s ‘woman,’ you know?”
So, when would these two stop fighting?
I went to the door while thinking of going back to the club room, but I couldn’t open it because of the noise from the outside.
It seemed like the quarrel between the President’s eloquence and the Treasurer’s mental stability had gradually escalated into a physical clash. I could clearly hear the continuous sounds of someone grabbing another’s collar and hair-pulling.
Well, at least it seemed like they had a good relationship. After spending three years together like that, it was safe to say their relationship wasn’t ordinary.
“Mar, I’ll go out now.”
I deliberately spoke loud enough for my voice to be heard even through the door, and the UFC stopped.
I stood there at first because I found it amusing, but now it was time to leave.
“Are you leaving, Executive Manager?”
“Yes.”
When I opened the door, the President, who had a calm face and attire, greeted me as if nothing had happened.
However, upon closer inspection, the area around his neck was disheveled, and his hair floated strangely as if he’d been dragged by something.
And compared to the Treasurer, who lowered her head behind him, the President’s appearance was even more pitiful.
‘He lost.’
I guess he was someone who leaned more toward eloquence over physical prowess.
When I looked back at the Treasurer, her shoulders were trembling weakly. She seemed to still be in an excited state.
It feels like there might be a round two if I just left, so I should probably give her the letter of recommendation right away.
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