“…Huh?”
"It's been a long time since you've had a meal with your family, hasn't it?
For me, it's the same, it's been a very long time."
In fact, I was a little disturbed by the words written in his personal record: “Family relationship: none.”
I laughed lightly before continuing:
“You asked me earlier how I knew so much about writing official documents, right?
Well, there was no one to teach me.
My twin brother works at the Ministry of Finance, and I used to help him a lot.”
“He works in the Ministry of Finance?”
Kibun was surprised and dropped his spoon.
I shrugged and replied:
"I wasn't supposed to do that.
It definitely wasn't allowed… but circumstances forced me.
In fact, we're not a real family.
Well, we share a little blood, but…"
“So, you just did it for him?”
“…….”
“…Huh?”
“I asked him for some reference materials, so I learned a lot as well.
The Ministry of Finance documents are incredibly organized and easy to use as references.
So, to say I did it just for him... doesn't quite tell the truth, right?”
“Huh.”
Kibune laughed in amazement.
حسنًا، ستبدو القصة سخيفة لأي شخص.
I finished my plate quickly before I could finish:
"Helping me with that job meant I could eat dinner at home.
I was in a position where I needed to save up for dinner."
عقد كيبون حاجبيه عند سماع كلماتي، ثم سأل دون أن يلمس طبقه:
“So... during those dinners, did the family members appreciate your efforts?”
"They just asked me for more help.
They said my department, the department in charge of manuscripts or something, didn't have much work anyway."
I shrugged and motioned for him to eat quickly.
Hesitantly, Kibune picked up his fork and said:
“You must have felt a lot of injustice and sadness all this time...”
I simply answered:
"Not exactly.
I was just hoping I had family that at least knew the name of my department correctly."
Kibon remained silent.
It was fairly normal.
What response can be said when your boss shares his sad stories?
Of course, I wasn't just pouring out my heart.
“Anyway, I will refrain from suggesting that we eat together starting tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
“But if you ever feel that you don’t want to eat alone in the future, just tell me and I will join you.
You can comfortably ask me to buy food.”
“…….”
“There are days when you just feel like sharing a meal with someone, even if it's not the best option...
I don't need to say that, I already know.”
There are still a lot of meal cards that Kiaros gave me.
My intention was to use it for a young man in a similar situation to mine.
'Yes.
'I feel so wonderful.'
Maybe deep down I wish I had a boss who said things like that?
A strange orphan young man, who has always lived alone… It's normal for him to be affected, isn't it?
And at that moment, as I looked at his face, expecting to see him overwhelmed with emotion...
'What is this?' Why does he look angry?'
Although he tried to hold it back, the sincere anger was evident in his expression.
I was clearly surprised, as Kibun tried to put on a fake smile, and even the fork that had stopped started moving again.
Through clenched teeth, he said:
“But... now that you're a minister... do you feel a little better?”
“Hmm.”
I replied with a smirk:
"Not quite.
Becoming a minister doesn't mean all my shortcomings have disappeared, you know."
“…….”
“No matter how successful you are, if there is no one to share your joy with, you will feel empty.
Family is irreplaceable.”
I was not the type of person to share his stories with others.
I didn't like receiving pity, and explaining my trivial circumstances hurt my pride.
So, I didn't talk about it with anyone.
But Kibune was my only subordinate.
A foreigner, in a similar situation to mine.
Maybe that's why the words came out so easily.
'Look at that.
Even if it's not his business, he cuts the meat very violently.'
Kibun was cutting the main course as if he was slaughtering it.
He let out a heavy breath and said slowly:
“It seems that even being a minister...isn't fun for you.”
“Huh?”
I furrowed my eyebrows and immediately replied:
“What are you talking about?
It’s great.”
"Hmm?
Didn't you say you felt empty?"
“Even if there is a void, there are still good things about it.”
I explained calmly:
“Having a separate office as a minister is great, having a secretary is good, getting a pay rise is good, bonuses are great, having the authority to decide team heads is great, having no one above me to bombard me with nonsensical lectures, correcting obvious errors in documents directly, attending weekly ministerial meetings...isn't it all good?”
“Well, though, family is irreplaceable...”
“Ah, yes.”
Kibun blinked, perhaps because he was lost for words.
“It's irreplaceable.
So, I just have to move up.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe with fame, wealth, power, influence, or something like that, I can fill that void.”
“Ah, I see...”
It was better to be a single minister than a single subordinate.
This was my conclusion on my first day as minister.
Kibun tilted his head questioningly.
“But you are already a minister.
How can you move up?”
“Hmm.”
I crossed my arms and pondered for a moment.
Instead of explaining it a hundred times, it's better to show it once.
Finally, I said firmly, raising my fork:
“If you're curious, eat quickly.
I'll show you myself.”
✧✧✧✧✧✧
It seemed like Kibun had never eaten his food so quickly before, or perhaps he felt uncomfortable eating with his boss.
Either way, he didn't finish his meal, while I finished mine.
“Follow me.”
I pointed out to Kibun as we returned to the palace before the end of our lunch break.
We headed to a café within the palace grounds, where government officials who had finished their meals were buying cups of coffee.
She quietly led him behind a wall.
"What is this?"
He looked around in amazement.
Then it happened.
“Excuse me, can you clear up the space a little?”
“Sorry, but our group is a bit large.”
A group of officials surrounded the table where some other officials were already sitting.
It was clear that the surrounding group contained more people.
“We have to get back to work, this is our only break.”
“We are not salary thieves like you.”
Then the three or four who were sitting at the table got up, bowing their heads.
There was no room for any “we were here first” or “please take a seat” objection.
The problem was…
“Aren’t these people from the Manuscript Department?”
Kibun whispered in obvious shock.
He was right.
The expelled officials were actually from the Manuscripts Department, our department.
“Cheh.
Less than ten members in the department, and a 23-year-old minister?
Who wants to work under her?”
“If I were them, I would resign even if it hurt my pride.
What kind of organization is this?”
“It is embarrassing for palace officials.”
They began to chatter loudly, their words filled with sarcasm.
Then one of the officials from the manuscripts department suddenly turned around.
It was a petite woman wearing thick glasses, looking somehow funny.
“You, you, you're exaggerating too much.
This, this happened.
So, please, stop making fun.”
When she intervened, everyone burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that?
She's supposed to be the team leader of the Manuscript Department.
Can you believe how untalented they are?"
“Given the state of the department, it is not surprising that they would appoint people like her as team leaders.”
“I will not be a team leader under a 23-year-old minister.”
The mockery did not stop.
In the end, the officials from the Manuscript Department quickly turned around and left.
As for those who occupied the table, they kept laughing among themselves.
Then, Kibon said angrily as he took a step forward:
“Even officials who are supposed to work in the palace act like this...”
She quickly grabbed his arm, shocked.
“What are you doing?
Do you really intend to deliver that cliché and uninspiring statement in front of these officials?”
“Why would that be the worst thing I could do?”
“As if they would listen to an apprentice.
Are you from the imperial family?”
Comment and star encourage me?