It was early afternoon of the next day.
　As usual, I was in my office listening to the reports of Mimis and the other retainers.

　In a daze, I listened to the reports from Mimis and pressed the hanko in the process.

　It had been a long time since he'd become the head of the family.
　Was Mimis's report just a formality that needed my approval, or was it really something that required my judgment and choice?
　I'm starting to know that even if I'm listening to it in a daze.

　So I've been doing that in a daze.
　It's not that different from being idle, so recently I've come to think that it's okay to continue as the head of the family.

　I was thinking about carrying my sister up to the house to get off the head of the family, but that's a risk I'm taking.
　Maybe it's best to keep it that way.

　Yes, I was thinking somewhat vaguely--

Darling!
Hey!

　Suddenly, a shock came from the side of me.
　With a pretty voice, I was hugged.

　It's Erica.

　She hugs me and rubs her cheek against me.
　Erica top-notch displays of affection, skin-to-skin contact that doesn't even try to hide her fondness.
　It's something that is, if anything, quite excessive.

''Da, darin........''

　As expected, Mimis suddenly saw it and her eyes were glazed over.
　The other members of the vassals behind her are also whispering and whispering.

　After a few seconds of silence, Mimis came to her senses and hurriedly asked, "My lord?

''Gentlemen, my lord. If you are with that person--
"Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. Don't do it too soon.

　I held out my hand to stop Mimis.

　Mimis tends to be quite preoccupied.
　This is especially true when it comes to my, the head of the family's "opponent".

　As I recall, she tried to admonish me over the Ortizia incident before.
　What about the main room of a nobleman?

　At that time, Midea was there, too, and I remember the conversation got complicated.

　This time, we're dealing with the same runaway temperament Erica, fueled by favors.
　If left alone, the story could spiral out of control in a big way.

　Unlike the office, where I listened in a daze, I thought it was best for me to take the reins and take the lead here.

''But........''
I know what you mean. But you're not. I'll explain it all to you and let you off the hook for now.
Well, if the master of the house says so.

　Mimis is not quite convinced, but she still looks like she backed down after I (the head of the family) told her to do so.

　Actually, "I'll explain later" is a pretty effective killing move.
　Especially when you're as big as the head of the family.
　When you're the head of a noble family, there are times when you need to make a "high level of political judgment". Sometimes they have to move something under the water.
　You don't tell your staff every single thing you do.

　Therefore, "I'll explain later" is one of the most powerful ways to escape from a situation.

　If you pull this off, unless the person you're dealing with is so inattentive that they can't read the atmosphere, you have no choice but to back down.

　Mimis duly backed down, swallowing the question, and I was relieved.

　Erica, on the other hand, is hugging me.

'Darling, what are you doing?'

　'What do you mean?' he asked.

'What do you mean, the office, as a lord?
Awesome.

　Erica said and stared at me with a twinkle in her eye.
　I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do anything more than stare at them, but they don't seem to have any intention of leaving.

　I said I was in the middle of an office assignment, and we are in the middle of it, for all intents and purposes.

"Can I go on?
'Yes!　Erica, I'm rooting for you.

　I chuckled.
　I gave Mimis a look.

'Gosh, really. So we will resume, my lord.
Yeah ... as always, please.

　I flipped a switch in my head.
　Because it might be an opportunity.

　As usual - an office where I'm just sloppily stamping out the stamp.

　Wouldn't Erica be disappointed in me if she saw that?
　Especially Erika, who is a follower of the wise queen Rika.
　There is a great possibility that slacking off in the office - is a land mine.

　Okay, let's do this.

　I was dumbfounded.
　As I listened to Mimis' report, I kept putting the stamp on the report one by one.

"Secondly, the other day.
"Hm.
See this.

　I received the next report.
　It was some time ago, a proposal to deal with a bad harvest in the territory.

　There was a bad harvest. It's not a famine, but if it continues like this, most farmers will not be able to make ends meet.
　Next year's crop of rice will not be enough for many farmers.

　This is a report that lists several plans for the post-processing of this case.

　I read it in three seconds, grasped the concept of the project and asked Mimis.

"Is that all?
Yes. What can I do for you?
As I said before, no one should die of starvation, that's all I have to say.
Yes, sir. These three plans are in line with all three.
I guess.

　This one is a rough concept, so I could grasp it at first glance.

'On top of that, the order of the budget is from top to bottom.
I see.

　I didn't see it because I'm sure he'll explain the details and it's not necessary.

What can I do for you?
Okay, plan two in the middle, approved.

　I pressed the seal.
　It's a pretty big deal, but it's in line with the concept I've laid out before, so there's no reason to dismiss it.

　Well, how about this.
　Now, as usual, I got it pretty well in place.

　Approval without asking for an explanation, which I thought was out of Erica's league - I thought.

''That's a darling,''
What?

　For some reason, she is making her eyes sparkle more and more.
　She is looking at me with respect, as if she were looking at someone she admires.

'Well, what's the point of hanging on to it?'
'I mean the way you just handled it, darling, you're the man who rules.
Huh?

　What do you mean by that?
　Now that's the stuff of rulers...

Rulers shouldn't interfere with the people in charge, especially in times of disaster. Rulers are not supposed to get in the way of the people in charge, especially in times of disaster.
....
'Just give me an absolute direction and if it's something that's in line with that, I'll just approve it and move it. That's the best form of governance.
But.....
You can't interfere in the field, you know. You can't interfere in the field, unless you're facing the day after tomorrow. The fact that you can do this in a natural way, and in the usual way, means that you can do it on a regular basis. You are amazing, my darling!　That's a lot of ruler's sense!

　I was pokey.
　No, no, no, no, why would I?
　I'm just a regular guy, just doing things the right way.
　Why is it being interpreted that way?
　If this is the case, Erika's favorability rating will go up again...

That's exactly what it is, isn't it?

　Mimis!

　I noticed that Mimis also had a look of admiration on her face.
　No, it's not just Mimis, the rest of the vassals have the same look on their faces.

''Since the head of the family took over, there has been much less delay in political affairs. Because we have all experienced that if you follow the big policy, you won't be rejected.''
Yeah, that's right.
It just made it a lot easier for me to execute.
This time, too, it's going to speed things up so that more people can be saved.
No, that's not--
That doesn't mean that he doesn't see anything, but he does occasionally dismiss things that are out of line with his master's policies with pinpoint accuracy. It's proof that he's paying attention.
Ugh.

　That one ... I vaguely remember it.

I knew it.

　Erica's face became more and more impressed after hearing Mimis' story.
　No, no, no, wait, wait, how could that be?
　But then there was more of a chase.

"You were able to figure that out from the report in about three seconds, darling!
"Oof!
A man who understands that. You have a great eye for detail, master.
Oof!

　A double chase came.

'If you guys know that, then I'm sure you're comfortable with that, wife of the head of the family, even if you're in the main room.
Really?　Erica, I'm so happy for you!
Oof!

　It was triple hard.

　I was just doing what I normally do, but somehow I got a nod of appreciation from all over the place.