Chapter 217: A Day to Remember (1)

Chapter 217: A Day to Remember (1)

I dashed towards the Crown Prince's palace after being caught sleeping by the cemetery caretaker with the sky as my blanket and the ground as my pillow. I was determined to avoid anyone along the way, even if it meant knocking them out.

Though it hadn't been long since the incident and it was highly unlikely that anyone else knew about my embarrassing display, I couldn't bear the thought of facing other people. It felt like I’d interpret even a simple morning greeting like ‘Good morning’ as ‘How did sleeping outside feel like?’

So when I saw the Crown Princess at the palace gate, my blood ran cold.

Should I knock her out?

My resolve to avoid anyone was so strong that my hands trembled at the thought.

I never imagined that I would run into the Crown Princess. Was not meeting the daughter of the Invincible Duke too much to ask?

"Good morning, Executive Manager."

As I stood there, half-drunk and lost in thought, the Crown Princess greeted me with a smile that could warm anyone's heart.

Seeing that smile, a wave of shame washed over me.

I'm so sorry, Your Highness. How could I even think such a thing?

"Yes, Your Highness. Seeing you really does make the morning good."

“Fufu, really?”

The Crown Princess laughed softly as I bowed my head in response, easing my guilt a little.

"But Your Highness, the weather is quite cold. Why are you outside?"

I carefully lifted my head and asked.

It wasn't a pleasant morning for a walk. It was chilly as winter was fast approaching.

"I was waiting for you. I heard you hadn't returned to the academy yet, so I thought you must still be in the palace."

"Forgive me, Your Highness."

I quickly bowed my head at her words.

Damn it.

It was frustrating. If I had known that this would happen, then I would've just returned instead of wandering around and making her wait.

Fortunately, the Crown Princess didn't seem to hold it against me. She gently patted my shoulder and spoke softly.

"It's fine. I just came out, so I haven't been waiting long."

"But still, making Your Highness wait—"

"It's really fine. I wanted to thank you in person, and I would've been disappointed if I missed you."

I glanced up at her words. Thank me? Why would she need to thank me?

Before I could ask, she smiled and continued.

"Lady Elizabeth is a very dear junior to me."

"Ah."

I nodded, understanding what she meant.

I also felt relieved. So the 1st Manager didn't bite her tongue and collapse. Thank God she had an incredibly strong will.

"Both the Crown Prince and I have been comforted by Lady Elizabeth at times. She was one of the few who genuinely celebrated our marriage."

"She’s a good junior, indeed."

"Yes, a truly good one."

The Crown Princess's smile didn't fade as she reminisced.

"Now that she's found her own path, how could I not be happy?"

Her voice was filled with relief and joy that was evident to anyone listening. It was clear how much she cared for the 1st Manager.

It never ceased to amaze me. How could someone as refined as the Crown Princess be so close to the 1st Manager? How did they become friends? Did the 1st Manager use some kind of brainwashing app?

I was momentarily taken aback by his unexpected words.

I had been so preoccupied with being caught sleeping in the cemetery that I had almost overlooked the fact that the 1st Manager had a massive breakdown.

Even though it was late at night and on a deserted street, the capital was always bustling. It wasn’t unusual for there to be witnesses at any time.

It’s the perfect situation for misunderstandings.

Stories of the 1st Manager crying in front of the Executive Manager could easily spark rumors of a rift within the Prosecutor’s Office.

It could still cause problems even if people didn't know that it was the 1st Manager. In fact, it might be even worse. Imagine the rumor: the Executive Manager, who had received a confession from the Mage Duchess, was making a lady cry late at night. Wouldn’t that be an even more sensational story than an internal division within the Prosecutor’s Office?

— But it was easier than I expected. You created such a big distraction that everyone focused on that instead.

"Is that so...?"

It felt strange. I was relieved, but also irritated. It was awful, but also consoling.

— Besides, the 1st Manager was dressed inconspicuously. People knew someone was crying, but they didn't know that it was her.

"That's a relief."

— There were even jokes that the person was the Mage Duchess because of her white hair.

"Fools."

I let out a chuckle. Why would the Mage Duchess even come up in this context?

I tried to imagine the Mage Duchess crying in front of me, but it was so absurd that I couldn't even picture it. It was that implausible.

The 2nd Manager apparently felt the same as his serious expression quickly crumbled into laughter.

— Anyway, congratulations on your three wives.

"What?"

— Isn't it true? The 1st Manager just arrived, looking a little too happy.

I felt a strong urge to retort after watching the 2nd Manager laugh again.

It's five, you idiot.

I barely held back the words that were on the tip of my tongue. Besides, I had a feeling that the entire empire would know by the next day if I said anything.

"Don't worry about my wives. Take care of your own."

My counterattack shut the 2nd Manager up instantly.

He wasn’t the only one who held an advantage. I knew some of his fatal secrets, too.

"It seems like you’re going to get married before me."

My mocking words made the 2nd Manager's gaze drop slightly. Seeing that was incredibly satisfying.

I knew that he was passionately involved with the minister's niece. After all, I frequently saw him at Gerhardt's lab, and Christina herself mentioned it to me.

I hadn't realized that the situation had escalated.

— The minister summoned the 2nd Manager recently. He said that they should marry immediately since they were both of age and that they’d take it as the 2nd Manager toying with her if he delayed any further.

I had laughed for quite a while after hearing that from the Senior Manager. Despite his nomadic tendencies, the 2nd Manager was finally forced to settle down after getting involved with the wrong person.

"You’ve dated around enough, so you should try being married now."

— Why do you sound exactly like my father?

Seeing the 2nd Manager's disgusted expression helped me understand how his father must’ve felt.

The 2nd Manager must have been quite the troublemaker for his father...

He's troubled me enough, too.

He was a subordinate who drove his superior at work crazy and was also a son who did the same at home.

What a remarkable /genesisforsaken