Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 924



924 – A Farmer’s Daily Life – 1

Today again I got out of bed before the sun rose.

It’s been several years since I stepped down from the throne. The habit of reducing my sleep time as much as possible has not disappeared. It’s as if my body itself can’t accept waking up when the sun is up.

The only good thing is that I’m going to bed earlier than when I was the emperor, so the time I can give my body some rest has increased.

‘They say it’s normal to open your eyes early when you get old.’

I looked outside, where it was still dark but at the same time a faint dawn was breaking, and collected my thoughts.

The old man next door, who had thrown away both his title and position, seemed to have completely returned to the past, and at some point began to act like an older brother. According to the old man, who was older than me, the older I got, the earlier I opened my eyes.

So it’s not unusual for me to wake up at this hour. It’s definitely different from the past, because when I open my eyes, my head doesn’t feel throbbing or my shoulders don’t feel like they’re being weighed down by something.

If you don’t force yourself to wake up at this time, but wake up according to the natural order of things, then your body won’t scream.

‘I feel like I’m at a bit of a loss.’

Since I have nothing left to carry, I can sleep until the sun reaches its zenith. No one in this empire can object to my sleeping hours.

But my body, of all things, refuses to sleep in. It’s an unexpected ambush.

‘…If I were born a commoner, I wouldn’t have the luxury of sleeping comfortably.’

However, if you think of this as practice for the future when you will meet Selenden again, you can gladly accept it. If you were an ordinary old commoner who was not in a position of abdication, you would not have the luxury of sleeping in.

So let’s start the day willingly. Let’s spend the day welcoming the rising sun.

– Kkokkiooo!

‘hmm.’

Soon, a familiar cry rang out and I started walking.

Maybe it’s because the owner starts the day early, but this guy starts his day a bit earlier than the other chickens. He’s a really smart guy for a chicken.

If I had known he was such a smart guy, I would have named him something else instead of Nugget. What a shame.

– Kkokkiooo!

– Gogogogogogok!

Then, the cries of the fried chicken and the oven rang out loud.

It’s time for other beasts to wake up from their slumber.

Now I’m somewhat used to farming and taking care of livestock. I’ve long since shed the awkwardness and burden I felt when I first started.

Of course, compared to experts who have been working in this field for decades, my skills are insignificant, but considering that I started at a late age, I think my level is not bad. Even before I ascended to the throne, I was a nobleman. I was far from farming or raising livestock.

So there is no need to be impatient. If the soul remembers this action, it will be advantageous when reborn. It will be able to reduce the trouble of meeting Seleden again.

“You eat well.”

– Ummmmmm.

As I filled the feeder with food while slightly raising the corners of my mouth, Yellow No. 3 buried his face in it and started eating. When I stroked Yellow No. 3’s head, he let out a clear and peaceful cry.

Every time I see this guy grow up, I feel so happy. He was a small calf at first, but he grew up so well under my care. It is like a symbol of my growing cattle skills, so how can I not be happy?

“You guys eat a lot too.”

Of course, in addition to Yellow No. 3, many other guys grew up under my care. Blackie with a nugget on his head, and Whitey No. 1 and 2 who ran around the yard and came close to food after finding it late.

“Your Majesty, I greet you.”

“Are you here?”

While I was watching the guys eating together in such a crowded manner, I nodded to the greeting of Roman, who happened to be coming to work.

Just as these animals have changed, so has Sir Roman. At first, Sir Roman was the one who tried to stay by my side every day as the head of the guard, but now he has entrusted his knights with the guard and has been working every other day.

This is also a happy thing. Sir Roman is a talented person who has risen to the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights. If such a talented person loses his energy while protecting this old man, it is not a great loss. No matter how much a knight boasts superhuman stamina, it is right to save stamina when you can.

“Are you giving it to me today too? Or ask me to do it for you─”

“It is meaningless to borrow the power of others. After all, if it is a place where you will be leading others, why did you create this place?”

“Even a farmer who farms on the outskirts of town relies on the help of his family and neighbors. Who can blame a knight for using his power for His Majesty’s sake?”

Today, as always, Sir Roman bowed his head.

Since it was something that happened all the time, I didn’t respond properly and just patted him on the shoulder. Since I started farming and raising livestock, Sir Roman has said that every day as if he were greeting me.

Although it was a little annoying and tedious, I didn’t scold him because I knew how Sir Roman felt. Which knight in this world would welcome his lord suffering? It would be stranger if he didn’t show any reaction.

-Wah! Woof woof!

– Woof woof!

And when Sir Roman appeared, Numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5, who had been quietly eating, rushed to Sir Roman.

They are people-loving guys, so they react like that whenever someone comes. When those guys rush in, even the stalwart Roman can no longer bend his back and endure, so this is the right support at the right time.

Those guys are happy to play with people, Sir Roman is happy to lift his waist, and I am also happy not to see the loyalist’s difficult posture anymore. I dare say that it is a happy thing for everyone.

“Your Majesty, I have an urgent report to make to you.”

“report?”

Sir Roman, who had been at a loss for a while after being caught up in four large dogs, finally opened his mouth.

The only recent reports from Sir Roman were about the canonization of Count Tylglegen, the change of Pope, and the canonization service held at the Cathedral of St. Parona. If it wasn’t something of that magnitude, Sir Roman wouldn’t have bothered to report it himself.

Anyway, since the trivial matters are explained one by one by an old man who acts like an older brother, it is enough for Sir Roman to report only the important matters.

“Speak.”

So he stopped throwing the beads on the floor and turned his gaze to Sir Roman.

If my memory serves me right, there have been no notable events since the canonization service. Neither the Empire as a whole nor the Imperial Household have had any major incidents.

In that situation, it is a matter that Sir Roman should personally report. If even a retired old man is not interested, it is a lie─

“It is said that Count Tailglen visited the tomb of the Pious Duke and offered prayers.”

…

“Since it is a prayer offered by a living saint for the deceased, there are various stories going around in social circles. Of course, most people say it is a gesture of Count Tylglehen’s sincerity for the friendship with the wise man.”

“I see.”

For a moment, my fingertips trembled.

I never thought about it. I only thought about the aftermath and benefits of having a living adult among the imperial nobility. I forgot for a moment that those who receive the favor of the gods can pray directly.

It was something that could be quickly figured out with just a little thought. If an ordinary believer could offer a prayer, there was no reason why a saint could not offer one. Anyone would want to receive the prayer of a living saint. Not long ago, didn’t the ladies of the Imperial Count’s family and the empress gather at the Count’s castle of Tylgehen and worship together with the count?

At that time, I only focused on the miracle of Enen that had come again, and did not pay attention to the worship itself.

‘Prayer for the deceased.’

I closed my eyes without realizing it.

Prayer for the repose of the deceased. A prayer offered directly to God by a living saint.

Could it really be called an ordinary prayer? If it were an adult’s prayer, wouldn’t it be more like making a direct petition to God rather than simply shouting out a wish?

Just as the cries of the common people and the suggestions of the duke reach the emperor at different speeds.

‘If. you pray for Seleden.’

I was greedy. What if the saint who boasted the highest authority in the church, aside from the Pope and the saints, prayed for the repose of Seleden? What if Seleden was embraced by an authority that no cardinal, no archbishop, or no bishop could bestow?

At the same time, I felt a sense of shame. I was ashamed that, even after stepping down from the throne of Emperor Aymanka XVI, I had put the interests of the Empire first, not Selene.

“Your Majesty, what’s the situation?”

“It is truly an interesting and touching thing. The faithfulness of the pious Duke is widely spread throughout the empire and the entire continent, so there is no shortage of the saint’s conduct.”

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Roman Sir’s voice gave an appropriate response.

Greed and self-loathing are not emotions I dare to harbor. If prayers for Seleden are to be conducted, it must be under Gilbert’s leadership.

It’s absolutely not something I should intervene in.

***

Sir Roman’s ability and loyalty are unquestionably solid. His Majesty the Emperor personally appointed him as the commander of the Imperial Knights, and after his abdication, he became the head of the guard.

If you doubt such talent, it means that more than 90% of the imperial bureaucracy is incompetent and disloyal. To that extent, Sir Roman was active as a knight of His Majesty.

“Hmm.”

But then Sir Roman sent me a report.

It was truly Roman’s response that I had to escort His Majesty and not report in person, but I let it slide since the important thing was not whether I would report in person or in writing.

[ His Majesty the Situation was disturbed by the news of Count St. Charles Crassius of Tailglehen. He was silent for a moment when he heard that he had gone to the tomb of the Pious Duke to pray. In my humble opinion, I believe that His Majesty the Situation was thinking of the dead who had sacrificed themselves for the Empire. ]

‘You’re a loser.’

Because what was important was the content rather than the form.

‘A deceased person who will shake His Majesty.’

I closed my eyes without realizing it and frowned.

Just one person. Because there was someone who came to mind.