Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

‘The affairs of the Inner Palace are over.’

I can confidently assert this. The first task has been successfully completed.

Using the authority of the clerk, I conducted a special audit. Under that pretext, I suppressed the resistance from other departments and expelled the ones slacking off.

For those who worked hard and produced results, I offered praise.

For those who made mistakes or wandered off course, I provided encouragement and advice.

I promised positive reflections in the performance evaluation or, in the case of those who acted arrogantly based on their connections, I amiably thrashed them. I darted around every section, and thanks to that, the week passed in a flash.

“Clerk sir! Thank you very much!”

“If you need our help, please let us know whenever!”

It was the last day at the Inner Palace.

Since the task had been concluded, I was about to leave quietly, but the bureaucrats from the 3rd Management Support Office, who had abandoned their own work, came forward one after another, expressing their gratitude.

Compared to when I first met them, their faces were much brighter.

It became awkward to just leave, so I shook hands with everyone individually, and then I spoke to Martin who was standing by silently observing.

“Senior Clerk Martin.”

“Yes! Clerk sir!”

Since the bald section head was in a state where he couldn’t move, there was a need for someone to oversee the support office, so I temporarily elevated Martin’s rank.

Although it’s temporary now, it will become official when I visit the administrative office.

“I know all of you work hard. Thanks to you, the imperial citizens can sleep peacefully. Though I am but a minor noble from the frontier, on behalf of others, I express gratitude for your dedication and efforts.”

With that, I bowed to the lower-level bureaucrats, including Martin.

“I hope you will continue to aid His Majesty and the Empire.”

By the time I finished speaking, Martin and the other lower-level bureaucrats were wiping their eyes with their sleeves.

Martin, who shook his head first, showed respect with a stern face.

“Glory to the Empire! It was an honor to work with you, Clerk Sir!”

With the farewell from the 3rd Support Office bureaucrats, I headed straight to the Southern Administrative Management Office.

Knock. Knock.

“Excuse me. Temporary 2nd Class Clerk Macbilian.”

– Enter.

As soon as I arrived at the administrative office, I knocked on the head of office’s study and walked through the suspicious bloodstains on the floor to deliver the document to the middle-aged noble who was frantically handling business.

Millede Hoswynd Baron, upon reading the inspection report I provided, murmured.

“Inspection… Indeed.”

The report contained the inspection process and results for each department, as well as the possibility of similar crimes recurring in the future and measures against them.

‘Making that report was quite a hassle.’

The week of time that seemed to have vanished was because of that inspection report.

Between reviewing the format and searching the legal code to deal with the idle ones, including the bald man, using the empire’s laws, much time was wasted.

Although it was troublesome and tiring, it was something necessary. I was only going to work at the Inner Palace for a week, after all. There was a high possibility that those bald ones would cause chaos again once I left.

I had to ensure that they wouldn’t revert to the old ways after I left.

“…Good work. You’ve helped to clean up the trash. I, as the head of the agency, express my gratitude.”

Millede carefully placed down the report and smiled slightly.

“Lord Macbilian. How about a meal together sometime later? I know a good place.”

“Thank you. Baron Hoswynd. I’m currently in the middle of the selection process, so I’ll contact you later.”

“Understood. We’re both busy now, so there’s nothing we can do. I wish you the best of luck.”

Leaving behind Millede’s oddly friendly invitation, after completely wrapping up the Inner Palace duties, I returned to my room.

*

The day after the first task ended.

During the daytime, Alberto stopped by to inform me about the next task and I exchanged trivial chit-chat about life with Master or Ruben.

The start date for the second task planned to take place at the Foreign Palace is three days away.

In the meantime, there’s set to be a simple check on basic knowledge, manners, and history.

Alberto left the room, saying there’s no special schedule for today, telling me to rest.

Until sunset, I walked around the palace grounds to get familiar with the way, and in the evening, I filled my stomach with food that still had poison mixed in.

‘This isn’t a mixture today.’

The moment I scooped a spoonful of soup, a burning sensation went down my esophagus. Judging by the tingling on the tip of my tongue, it seemed to be quite a strong poison.

‘But it tastes good, doesn’t it?’

The food in the Altain Empire resembles Western cuisine.

Having lived here for twenty years, I’ve somewhat adapted, but many things still taste oily or greasy to my Korean palate.

‘This counts as spicy, right?’

Because it’s poisoned, it feels like chili or hot sauce has been added. A feeling of missing some void gets filled despite constantly eating delicious food.

‘Perhaps I should occasionally try being poisoned.’

Anyway, since poison doesn’t affect me, I can use it as a seasoning. Once I catch the perpetrator, I’ll have to check what kind of poison it is.

After a fairly satisfying dinner, it was time to play with Rani.

“Master. It’s Rani.”

Rani has been getting progressively more well-behaved.

She only stays still when standing quietly, but outwardly, she resembles the composed maids strolling casually around the palace. She appears quite elegant and composed. There’s just a problem with her short stature.

“How was your day?”

Upon asking if she’s getting used to her work, Rani, who had been sitting seriously, opened her mouth excitedly.

“I ate lots of delicious food!”

Rani enthusiastically recounted her day, playfully touching her soft cheeks.

Today, she learned etiquette, some cooking recipes, and how to brew tea properly.

Going above and beyond practical content, she even shared distressingly interesting rumors about servants and maids falling in love.

Initially, I thought she must’ve been a bard who couldn’t sing in her past life. The chatterbox Rani here was different from when she was with Ruben.

‘She seems to be enjoying herself.’

Her smiling face was incredibly cute.

When I first met her, she looked like a dying corpse, but seeing her now brighter made me genuinely happy.

After spending a little teatime with Rani, who had carefully brewed the tea,

“923! 925!”

I began my physical exercise.

The arm curls I started haven’t taken a single break since.

With Rani on my back to add weight, most people would start to feel exhausted when they pass into three-digit counts, but…

“930!”

My superhuman body didn’t even break a sweat, and my breathing stayed steady.

As night fell, it might have seemed strange, but this was essential.

Morning, noon, evening—

The daily routine three times a day is the shortest path to a healthy body and exceptional physical fitness. Whether it’s work that uses the brain or the body, everything ultimately requires stamina at its base.

If I had exercised hard in my previous life, I wouldn’t have met such an overworked end.

‘For some reason, she feels heavy.’

This Rani seems to have gained some weight. When she was with Ruben, I used to monitor the snacks given by the villagers to make sure her weight stayed even, but that balance has been disrupted since coming to the palace.

‘I’ll have to prepare for it.’

Once the selection is over, I’ll start. As for what lies ahead, that’s beyond my wildest dreams.

While I was doing arm curls and formulating a major plan, Rani kept enthusiastically shouting out the numbers.

“1000!”

*

When the day passed, and the next one came.

As scheduled, I visited the Hyewol Palace in the northern compound for basic assessments of common sense, manners, and history.

This intermediate assessment, which seemed like a break, wasn’t overly difficult.

When it came to general knowledge and history, I had spent my childhood buried in the library of the estate, absorbing everything patiently. Additionally, my knowledge from novels had already been organized, so there was no problem.

However, for etiquette and manners…

In fact, I hadn’t delved into them much, planning to live modestly in the frontier and later travel.

Seeing as I’d eventually end up no different from a commoner once I left Altain, it didn’t seem necessary back then.

Had my parents been alive, this would’ve been impossible, but both having passed away left no one to hold me back.

So, I found the evaluation of these particular sections a bit challenging.

‘That was suffocating.’

Thankfully, I managed to pass narrowly.

I tried to recall the manners that had been forcibly instilled by Baron Hasson and took the awkward ceremonial attire that didn’t suit me while diligently maintaining my posture.

The fiercely-looking middle-aged noble scanned me with a dissatisfied gaze but, begrudgingly nodding at what appeared to be my sincere gestures, let me pass the mid-term assessment without issues.

Leaving the Hyewon Palace with a relieved heart and thinking about the Foreign Palace task beginning the next day,

Bang.

“Oof.”

“Master!”

I could feel a dull impact on my shoulder, and someone let out a groan.

Long, golden hair. Sharp facial features, but an unpleasant expression that dimmed his appeal.

The young man’s face, with a reddened nose, seemed my age or a bit older.

When I tried to apologize for bumping into the man who had swung wildly,

A knight standing next to him stepped forward.

“You fool! How dare you block the prince’s path! What nonsense is this!”

The knight moved forward with his hand on his sword.

Another knight observing the red-nosed man also came before me. Though they were ready to draw their swords with a fierce aura, they weren’t very tall, so it didn’t feel overly threatening since I had to look down at them.

But… didn’t we both accidentally bump into each other while turning the corner?

“I didn’t see because of my height. My sincere apology.”

“Wha…t?”

Seeing my slightly dismissive response, the knight, who was clutching his nose, began to tremble. His contorted eyes glared daggers at me, but he shrank back, startled, upon meeting my gaze.

‘What’s he doing there alone?’

While calculating the space between the knights to plan to sever their arms,

The red-nosed man rekindled his spirit and spoke again.

“I am the second son of the Bradden House. Arthur Bradden. I haven’t seen your face around the palace before. Who are you?”

Bradden. A house so familiar just hearing its name.

I secretly positioned knights along the road leading to the capital.

The house I plan to eventually overturn — here we meet.

“I am Baron Cain Macbilian.”

“Macbilian Baron…?”

The fellow’s incompetent eyes swept over me.

“Imperial candidate…”

Upon checking the emblems on my collar and the sword, he contorted his face. He glared silently at the emblem for a while before suddenly taking a step forward.

“Sir Greg. We must leave as we’re in a hurry. My father is waiting.”

With Arthur’s solemn words, the knights relaxed their postures. The quickly retreating shapes of Arthur and the knights naturally attempted to exit the scene. At this point, I spoke.

“Wait. Arthur Bradden. Where are you headed?”

At my call, Arthur and the knights halted their steps.

The brash aura of the title-less man was piercing. Anyone looking might believe he is Baron of Bradden.

We are roughly the same age, but unlike him, I have inherited the baron’s title and am a member of the imperial aristocracy.

He appears to have maintained his arrogance being from the eastern faction’s core.

No chance.

“I am Arthur Bradden. Your rudeness is unparalleled. As the lord of the Macbilian family, I must stand to protect my family’s honor. I should challenge you to a duel right away to sever your head and wash away this insult with your blood.”

Grasping the sword and stepping forward, the knights also turned around and gripped their swords.

“I am not cold-blooded enough to harshly deal with such immature behavior. Apologize for your rudeness and vanish from my sight. In that case, I will consider your grandfather, the Bradden Duke, and forgive you.”

Arthur glared at me with a red face. Though he looked away immediately after our eyes met,

Arthur, who had been bowing his head and calming his anger, slowly spoke.

“…I apologize for the rudeness. Baron Macbilian. Thank you for your generosity.”

“That’s enough. I understand.”

The young man who was about to open his mouth again with an aggrieved look was calmed by the knights, took a deep breath, and turned his body.

These knight fellows seem to have decent perception. They immediately became cautious once they recognized the unfavorable situation.

With that, Arthur’s group distanced themselves from me, and I resumed my steps toward returning to my room.

Then, on the day following the minor commotion at Hyewon Palace,

I arrived at the security command of the Foreign Palace to carry out the final task and once again met Arthur Bradden, whose mouth was wide open in astonishment.

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