Chapter 2: Eternal Loyalty

In front of the royal palace.

The successful candidates of this High-Level Civil Service Examination gathered one after another.

Of course, Dominic was among them.

Dominic, dressed in a fine suit, wore a serious expression alone, unlike the others who were all beaming.

Dominic was the author of ‘I Will Revolutionize‘.

He was the one who created this world.

So he knew all the characters’ personalities and futures.

And based on that, he made a plan to escape this country.

That’s why Dominic thought there was no way he could fail.

He considered it a perfect plan.

But as if to mock him, the plan went spectacularly wrong.

It went seriously wrong.

‘Not just passed, but first place in the class…….!’

That meant….

Klaus II had become a different person from the character he had set up, and the future was moving differently from the novel’s plot.

Although he didn’t know why.

‘Could this be a butterfly effect caused by my transmigration?’

‘If so, how far would this butterfly effect continue?’

‘How would the future of this world differ from what I knew?’

Dominic was seriously contemplating that.

Without even realizing that the parents who had come with their successful children were whispering about him as they watched him.

“Isn’t that friend the one? The one who got first place this time.”

“Ah, the friend who wrote the long critical essay in the second round? What was his name again?”

“Dominic Rosenfeld, wasn’t it?”

“Isn’t he truly amazing? How could he write such an essay? Knowing full well that His Majesty would see it.”

“It just means his patriotism is that strong, doesn’t it? He wrote that essay with the sentiment that he had to say what needed to be said for the sake of the Kingdom, no matter what harm came to himself.”

“To think there’s a young person like that these days, he’s truly amazing.”

“But what is he thinking about so intently by himself?”

“Is he having some trouble? Instead of looking happy on a day like this, his face seems very serious.”

“Surely…!”

“?”

“?”

“Even on a day like this, is he worrying about the country?”

“……!”

“……!”

“Is he contemplating what would be best to do first for our Kingdom to develop?”

“As expected…! The top candidate is different!”

“It’s not just the top candidate who’s different, it’s Dominic Rosenfeld!”

Completely unaware that they were clapping in admiration, having thoroughly misunderstood.

Dominic was still lost in thought.

Then, suddenly.

‘At this rate, what if the revolution doesn’t even happen?’

The thought flashed through his mind, but.

Dominic soon shook his head.

That wouldn’t happen.

There was no doubt that this world was the world of ‘I Will Revolutionize‘.

The title itself implied it, so there was no way a revolution wouldn’t happen.

No matter how much changed, the plot point of the revolution happening would not change.

In other words, the fact that he had to escape this country before the revolution occurred hadn’t changed, and wouldn’t change in the future.

Just then.

“Enter the palace!”

The main gate of the royal palace opened, and an official who appeared from within shouted towards the successful candidates.

The successful candidates, seemingly nervous, cleared their throats or adjusted their clothes, then lined up and entered the royal palace between the guards who stood in orderly rows on either side.

Dominic also joined the line, still wearing a serious expression.

His mind was busily formulating a new plan.

With things having turned out this way, becoming an official was unavoidable.

So now he had to find a way to quit being an official.

‘It’s not like I can just quit whenever I want to……’

But there wasn’t no way.

‘If I can’t quit voluntarily?’

‘Then I just have to quit involuntarily.’

‘If I can’t walk out on my own feet?’

‘Then I just have to be kicked out by someone else’s foot.’

‘That is, I have to become an official who has no choice but to get fired, and then get fired.’

That was the only way.

So Dominic was engrossed in formulating a method to get fired.

The key depended on which department he was assigned to.

The higher the importance of the work, the more fatal his mistakes would be, and eventually the higher the likelihood of getting fired.

Thinking that way, passing at the top of the class was a blessing in disguise.

Because he would likely be assigned to work of relatively higher importance.

Just then.

“His Majesty the King is arriving!”

With the royal chamberlain’s booming shout, Klaus II appeared.

As the king appeared, the appointment ceremony officially began.

Dominic, standing at the very front of the successful candidates, stepped forward before the king.

And raising his right hand, he began to recite the oath as the representative of the newly appointed officials.

“I swear before the Lord, and before His Majesty the King, who has been granted his calling by the Lord.”

When the oath, which declared they would be officials loyal to the king and care for the people, was finished, Dominic approached the king even closer and knelt on one knee.

The other successful candidates also knelt on one knee, following him.

As the king extended his right hand, Dominic lightly kissed the back of his hand as a sign of his oath.

Towards him, Klaus spoke in a voice that was small enough not to be heard by others, but clear, like a whisper.

“Welcome, Dominic Rosenfeld.”

At those words, Dominic slightly looked up at the king.

The king, whose eyes met his, was smiling brightly.

It was a chilling sight.

From his gaze and smile, Dominic strongly felt the will to ‘make full use of you as much as possible’.

‘Ugh, that’s burdensome……’

It was extremely uncomfortable.

***

‘Why am I here right now……’

Dominic was sitting across from the king in a reception room.

It was during the banquet, after the appointment ceremony had ended.

Klaus had a page secretly call only Dominic aside.

And then, without saying anything, he just stared intently at Dominic.

Just when Dominic, unable to bear it any longer, was about to ask what the matter was.

Klaus suddenly asked an unexpected question out of the blue.

“Are you not happy?”

“What do you mean…?”

“During the appointment ceremony, and at the banquet, you were the only one whose expression wasn’t bright.

While others were absorbed in rejoicing.

Are you not happy about becoming an official?”

He was hit in the bullseye.

But he couldn’t affirm it, nor could he reveal his feelings.

Dominic opened his mouth to deny it.

But he closed his mouth again at the king’s words that immediately followed.

“You wouldn’t be happy.

No, to be precise, you wouldn’t have the leisure to feel happy.

Because the burden must be great.”

The king was asking and answering by himself.

Dominic thought to himself, ‘If you were going to do this, why did you even ask…’, but he didn’t irreverently say it out loud.

“Since you wrote such a scathing criticism of the Kingdom and passed, you must feel a great burden.”

“My apologies…”

“There is no need to apologize.

Because I was impressed after reading your essay.

I read it over 10 times, and each time I read it, I was impressed.

You wrote a truly brilliant piece of writing.”

“I am simply honored by your words.”

“Even if not everyone knows the exact contents, everyone will know that you wrote such an essay.

Therefore, they will observe you with a much stricter gaze.

With the mindset of ‘Let’s see how you do’.”

He was right.

That’s also why he thought it wouldn’t be difficult for him to get fired.

Although the part about feeling burdened was wrong.

“I am prepared.

There is nothing else to do but simply work hard for the sake of the Kingdom.”

“So.”

Saying that, Klaus took a sip of the tea placed before him.

Dominic also picked up his teacup, somewhat taken aback.

The scent of peppermint filled his mouth.

Thanks to that, his tension seemed to ease a little.

“What do you intend to do first?

No, what do you think needs to be done first?”

Asking that, Klaus showed him a document listing the departmental assignments for the newly appointed officials.

Only Dominic’s workplace was uniquely left blank.

“Tell me what you think should be done first for this country.

I will decide where to send you based on your answer.

That is why I called you here separately.”

“……Anywhere, Your Majesty?”

“That is correct.”

‘This is my chance!’

Dominic inwardly cheered.

Just a moment ago, when he had decided he needed to get fired for incompetence.

He had thoughts like, ‘If I took on this kind of work, getting fired would be easier…’, ‘If I went to this kind of department, I could get fired faster…’.

But since he couldn’t decide his own workplace, those were just wishes.

Now, the opportunity for them to be realized was given.

Dominic suppressed his urge to grin and said, pretending to be resolute.

“Forgive me for speaking, Your Majesty, but if that is your will, please send me to the Royal Assets Management Bureau.”

At those words, Klaus stopped bringing the teacup to his mouth and placed it back on the saucer.

Then, he lifted his back from the chair and leaned forward.

“You said the Royal Assets Management Bureau?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You said there were many things that needed to be done for our Kingdom to become a strong nation instead of walking the path of ruin.

Reform of the bureaucracy, reform of the noble system, reform of the tax system.”

“……?”

“Is that all?

You also said that commerce and industry must be developed, magical technology must be advanced, military power, especially naval power since the Kingdom is an island nation, must be strengthened.

You also said that widespread corruption in society must be eradicated, and diplomatic policies must be changed anew.”

The king poured out his words in a somewhat agitated voice.

Dominic thought, ‘Is something wrong?’, but for now, he nodded in affirmation.

“But are you saying that the task that needs to be done before all those many tasks is to strengthen the royal finances?

And thus, strengthening and stabilizing the royal authority is the most important thing?”

‘I didn’t say that……’

“Ah, a loyal retainer for all ages!”

The king exclaimed in admiration like that and grabbed Dominic’s hand firmly.

“Yes, that’s right!

Only when the royal family stands as firmly as possible can reform or anything else be done!!

Hahaha!!!”

It seemed he had unintentionally gained the king’s favor.

‘This is driving me crazy, seriously…’