About Consul's decisions, we choose by vote. Create a new thread 'Emergency vote due to Consul's absence'. We could suppose it's just a sickness.
OR the heir can assume temporary leadership of the Republic. It will also permit him to have a preview of what will be required of him later on.
A last possibility is that, at the start of the Consulship, the Consul designates a Co-consul, who will assist him in the necessary manner. Anyone could be Co-consul, and during the leader's absence, will have full powers.