Historically, the heart of the continent was the Empire, and at its core, the system itself. It can be said that the system was both a representation of the Empire at that time and a symbol of its divine mandate. Today, the capital, Ausen, remains a city of eternal light, a symbol of prosperity and glory.

The year-end period is when the system becomes especially active. All noblemen with titles gather for the New Year's greetings, and the attendants required to serve the nobles flood the capital. As a result, the already busy streets of the capital become even more chaotic.

Even the increase in people brings its consequences, especially when those people are the wealthy nobles and their attendants. Naturally, with the influx of such powerful figures, the merchants in the capital find themselves delighted, as the bustling city is filled with a positive kind of noise.

Simultaneously, the previously quiet noble districts, where the grand estates of the nobility are located, regain their warmth in preparation for the return of their masters.

"As soon as we arrive at the capital, to meet the Chief of the Inspection Department—what a pleasant surprise," I said.

Just like now.

"I'm glad I could bring you joy, Your Excellency," I bowed my head and greeted Marquis Iones, whose face radiated joy, as if the word "happiness" had been written across his expression.

‘Well, this is quite the meeting.’

It was a delicate situation, meeting my fiancé's father in his estate. However, it was hardly an ambush from the marquis.

Though the 1st Section Head often uses the Masallo family estate as his private residence, the owner of the estate is still the head of the family, Marquis Iones. It wasn't unusual for the master of the house to return to his estate.

The problem was that it was an unexpected meeting. I had assumed the 1st Section Head would arrive later, but to my surprise, he had planned this meeting today.

‘That sneaky move.’

I glanced at the 1st Section Head, who awkwardly avoided my gaze. He had insisted we stay for a meal, and I wondered if something was up. Had he planned this surprise?

His attempt to avoid eye contact confirmed it. He had clearly known the marquis would arrive and kept silent to prevent me from turning down the invitation. If he had told me about the marquis's visit, I would have likely declined, and he would have been furious, demanding to meet with the marquis at once.

‘It wouldn't have mattered if I knew.’

I felt a bit sorry for the 1st Section Head, who was orchestrating such a meaningless scheme. It wasn’t a problem to meet someone a little earlier than expected, especially someone I would be seeing at the New Year's greetings ceremony anyway. If the marquis had been hostile toward me like the Iron-Blood Duke, it would have been different, but the marquis and I were not awkward at all. In fact, our relationship could be described as quite friendly.

Personally, the marquis was the bureaucrat who had dismantled the powerful Aeshlon family, the most prominent noble house among the marquis's peers. And when the Aeshlon family was brought to ruin, it was Masallo who benefitted from the aftermath, making me appear quite favorably in his eyes.

"How do you feel? Are you happy to see your future son-in-law?" the 1st Section Head asked with a subtle smile as he crossed his arms.

Though to the marquis, it may seem like his precious daughter was now sharing affection with some stranger, his expression was surprisingly gentle.

No, in fact, he seemed as if he had just fulfilled a lifelong wish.

"Yes. Seeing my daughter finally find a partner—it's a bit emotional," he said, his voice thick with sincerity.

That short sentence left me—and even the 1st Section Head—speechless.

In those words, I could feel the marquis’s years of worry. Even the coldest of battle-hardened soldiers would be moved to tears hearing such a statement.

And frankly, he had every right to feel that way. Even I, at 21, was reaching the edge of the acceptable age for marriage, and for the 1st Section Head, the worry must have been even greater. He probably spent years panicking as he watched his daughter reach this age, wondering if she would ever find a suitable match.

And when his daughter’s profession was as an Inspector... he must have resigned himself to the fact that, despite his position and family, marriage might not be in the cards for her.

"I was so worried for so long, but if this meeting with the Chief of the Inspection Department was the time it all came together, then it was worth it. Yes, it was worth it," the marquis continued, his words filled with a deep sense of relief.

However, it was clear that the marquis’s current demeanor was free from all worry and despair. He had come to terms with his daughter’s long wait, knowing that it was all in pursuit of finding a worthy partner.

"Thank you, Chief of the Inspection Department. I truly appreciate you not forgetting my request," the marquis said, taking my hand in both of his, his voice trembling with emotion.

Request? I had rarely met with the marquis, so I couldn’t remember ever having been asked for anything. I wondered if he was referring to something I had missed.

...?

‘Wait, could it be...’

Was he speaking not as a superior, but as a father asking for my care toward his daughter?

"Although I’ve lived a life without lacking anything, the only thing that has troubled me is my daughter," he continued, not noticing my confusion.

The marquis was the head of a noble family, wealthy and well-respected. He had grown children, all of them successful and dutiful. Yet, his one regret was that his daughter had not yet found a partner.

It was an incredibly heartfelt plea, and even the 1st Section Head couldn’t help but lower his gaze, unsure of how to respond.

But still, the 1st Section Head—he must know how much his family cares for him. If someone else had said that, he might have dismissed it with a cynical remark, but when it came from his own family, he couldn’t help but soften.

"Though she isn’t my first wife, I trust you will treat her well," the marquis said with a smile full of warmth.

"I will live up to your trust," I replied, squeezing his hand.

The marquis smiled and patted my hand several times, his expression one of pure contentment.

This was a stark contrast to the Iron-Blood Duke, who always radiated an intense aura of coldness and military discipline. This soft-spoken marquis made me feel like I was in another world.

‘And now there are two...’

I almost let my thoughts drift toward another father-in-law (whom I’d never met). The Baron father-in-law, with whom I had no connection, or the Count father-in-law, whose family had nearly been destroyed.

It was shaping up to be quite the fiery New Year's greetings ceremony.

Thanks to the marquis, I would be returning with my hands full. The size of the gifts wasn’t large, but their value was immense. I suppose this was what happened when you were from a top-tier noble family.

Even the Iron-Blood Duke had gone overboard with dowries, and I wondered if all the nobles were now using real estate as a way to express their feelings. It was a somewhat unnerving trend. When my children got married, I might find myself completely drained financially.

"Are you not happy to be a well-loved son-in-law?" Marghetta asked with a teasing smile.

"It’s just that my position makes it a little tricky," I replied with a smile of my own.

Still, I couldn’t deny there was some truth to it. As the head of the Inspection Department, I had received numerous indirect favors from nobles, but this direct attention from my future father-in-law felt a little strange. Thankfully, I had experience with the Iron-Blood Duke’s extravagant dowries, so I wasn’t completely caught off guard.

"I suppose you’ll get used to it. I hear it’s a parent’s wish to give their son-in-law everything they can," Marghetta said with a gentle laugh.

That comment—was it just me, or did it sound like a reminder that I now had four parents-in-law?

...Still, Marghetta was right. As long as the gifts were genuine, there was nothing wrong with family members looking out for each other, sharing resources as a matter of course.

"Yes, that’s how it is. Before I’m an official, I’m a noble first," I replied.

In the end, whether I liked it or not, my noble lineage was as much a part of me as my position as a civil servant. 

"I’m sure I’ll adjust quickly to wielding a sword as well," I added with a smile.

"Thanks for the kind words," Marghetta said with a teasing grin.

I glanced around the room, noting the absence of Luise and Irina, who usually shared meals with us. Their fathers had arrived in the capital, and as expected, they had gone to greet them. It wasn’t surprising, but it did feel a little odd without them.

"Are you feeling lonely already?" Marghetta asked with a soft chuckle, noticing my glance

.

"I suppose so. If even one familiar thing is gone, it does make things feel a little strange," I replied honestly.

It wasn’t just anyone who was absent—these were my partners, the ones with whom I shared an unspoken bond.

"Make sure to tell them that at the New Year’s greetings ceremony," Marghetta said. "They’ll both appreciate it."

"If I forget, you can say it for me," I joked.

Marghetta laughed, and I realized it wasn’t the content of the joke that mattered, but the person delivering it.

‘New Year’s greetings, huh?’

As I thought about the upcoming event, I realized that Luise and Irina weren’t just stopping by to greet us—they would also be attending the ceremony. 

‘Should be interesting...’

For someone like me who had attended a few of these, I knew what to expect. The grandiose spectacle was not something the younger noble women typically enjoyed. Most of them would rather attend the private gatherings held by the sons and daughters of the nobles.

Marghetta had strongly insisted on attending the New Year’s ceremony, so here we were.

"I know that any rumors about us will spread soon enough, whether we like it or not," Marghetta said. "And for those of us in the bureaucracy, it’s no different."

"But Luise and Irina are still in the Academy, so there’s less chance of rumors spreading there. Of course, if the students share news with their families, it’ll spread, but it’s not the same as direct exposure."

"That’s why this is the perfect opportunity—to showcase our relationship publicly."

A few days ago, Marghetta had argued that attending the New Year’s ceremony was important. Her persuasive reasoning had convinced both Luise and Irina, who had listened with rapt attention.

It made sense, especially since I, as a minor noble, didn’t have the social influence of the higher-ranking families. If Luise and Irina stayed in the Academy, no one would know about our relationship unless we made it clear.

"To do it perfectly, we’d also need to attend the banquets hosted by our children," Marghetta said.

"I’ll consider it. Let’s focus on the New Year’s ceremony first," I replied, realizing there was no way out.

"I’m sure it will be a fun New Year’s ceremony after all..."