The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 103】

 

When Rianel was Empress.

 

She had no family, no faction of her own. If such a person suddenly died leaving behind a large sum of money?

 

Naturally, she thought someone would embezzle that money along the way.

 

So she placed part of her assets in a secret account at Arman Bank.

 

As reserve funds to be used in case of disaster befalling the Empire, and if not used as reserve funds, to be used as dowry when the Princess grew up and came of age.

 

The royalties from her books would continue to come in even after her death, so she set them to be tied to a foundation.

 

The will she left along with this was as follows.

 

[The chairman who will serve as the foundation’s representative should be appointed as someone who is sincere and honest, has a desire for learning, and understands desperation.]

 

She believed that only those desperate for learning could truly understand the feelings of those who couldn’t study due to lack of money.

 

However, after the Empress closed her eyes.

 

[Doesn’t this refer to the Saint?]

 

Susan took that will and went to find Yuna.

 

[Me? Can I really take on this role?]

 

[Where else in this world could we find someone as faithful and pure as the Saint? You’re someone who empathizes with and grieves for the pain of the Empire’s people, so there couldn’t be a more appropriate choice.]

 

Yuna was purely delighted.

 

[Well… if there’s really no one else to take it on, I’ll do it.]

 

[I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully.]

 

There was no way Saint Yuna could properly handle the foundation chairman duties.

 

Most of the work was handled by Head Maid Susan.

 

[But what’s good about becoming foundation chairman?]

 

[You get the fortune that the dead Empress saved up her whole life for free. Such a large sum should be used by a precious person like the Saint, not wasted on ignorant fools.]

 

[Hmm… is that so?]

 

After that, whenever she wanted a new dress or wanted to have a luxurious meal.

 

Whenever she needed money, Yuna would reach out to Susan.

 

[This time I processed it as consulting fees.]

 

[Thank you as always.]

 

They used foundation funds with all sorts of excuses like ‘operating expenses’ and ‘activity costs.’

 

Naturally, Susan helped with all the ledger manipulation. Yuna didn’t have the ability to do it in the first place.

 

It was also natural that they didn’t select any scholarship recipients.

 

This foundation wasn’t originally for scholarship projects, but was used for private embezzlement under the pretext of the Former Empress’s will.

 

Any normal person wouldn’t put someone like the Saint as foundation chairman.

 

So Susan composed the board of directors with temple figures she knew.

 

That board unanimously appointed Yuna as chairman and even left a resolution stating she was suitable for the position.

 

The procedures were somewhat sloppy.

 

But anyway, up until the moment Yuna became chairman, they barely maintained the facade of being ‘legal.’

 

“The problem is the part where foundation funds were privately embezzled.”

 

Other directors tried to register houses or buildings under the foundation’s name to hide assets and receive tax benefits.

 

But Yuna used foundation funds directly to buy luxury goods.

 

“Foundation funds can originally only be used for predetermined purposes. If you used them for other purposes, this constitutes embezzlement and breach of trust.”

 

This was such a serious crime that tax evasion would look trivial in comparison.

 

“I checked and you even touched the basic endowment fund. You can’t do that.”

 

Til clicked his tongue.

 

To establish a foundation, a minimum asset above a certain amount is required.

 

That essential asset is called the ‘basic endowment fund,’ and this money absolutely cannot be touched arbitrarily.

 

If it must be used unavoidably, approval from the relevant government office must be obtained.

 

Under Imperial law, all authorization and supervision related to foundation corporations was under the Administrative Department’s jurisdiction.

 

“But when I checked, no approval application had ever been submitted to the Administrative Department.”

 

The Saint had depleted all those funds in exactly 3 years and even touched the basic assets that shouldn’t be touched.

 

And still short of money, she was inducing donations and taking incentives.

 

“So you’re canceling the authorization? There aren’t no people selected as scholarship recipients. There definitely are some!”

 

“Yes, you only selected them in the first year after the foundation was established.”

 

That foundation was established by the Former Empress to help students with tuition and living expenses. Since they bought luxury goods with it, there was no way money would be left over.

 

“Anyway, with this much, it seems there was no intention to maintain the foundation.”

 

With additional taxes piling up into a mountain of money to be repaid, and facing prison as chairman responsible for everything, Yuna:

 

“A-actually, this was all Susan’s doing.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“I really didn’t know anything. She just said she’d give me money… I admit I was a bit reckless, but I didn’t know it was such a big deal. I’m wronged!”

 

She began shifting all the blame to her accomplice.

 

Thus Head Maid Susan was suddenly summoned.

 

“What is this about…”

 

As she stood there with a bewildered face, Yuna rushed at her first.

 

“That’s right! You persuaded me! You said if I became chairman, you’d handle all the miscellaneous work, and I just had to lend my name!”

 

Susan’s face contorted.

 

What? After taking what she took and enjoying what she enjoyed, now she’s trying to shift all the blame onto her?

 

Of course, part of the foundation funds had gone into Susan’s pocket too.

 

She had used it to supplement her children’s allowances or prepare her daughter’s wedding funds.

 

But the Saint had definitely taken much more.

 

Moreover, recently the Emperor had been keeping Yuna at a distance, and Yuna persistently clung to Susan asking her to arrange chance encounters with the Emperor.

 

That alone was exhausting enough.

 

Now she was trying to shift all the charges onto her?

 

“Of course I helped with the detailed parts, but I only provided advice as an honorary director. The actual embezzlement was done by the Saint.”

 

“No! Rather, I was the one who did what you told me to do. I didn’t even know it was a crime! I don’t even know how to write ledgers in the first place. If you compare the handwriting in the ledgers, you’ll see it’s all Susan’s writing. I never even touched them!”

 

“Saint!”

 

Susan grumbled and then shouted.

 

“If you check, you’ll see how much luxury goods the Saint purchased each year. The Saint changes into new clothes every day and throws them away if they get even slightly stained. If you check the Saint’s room, you can confirm the luxury goods-”

 

“That’s all lies! Rather, Susan, you’re the one who bought houses for your children! If you look at the list of buildings purchased under the foundation corporation’s name, it’ll all come out!”

 

A truth battle driven by pure malice unfolded.

 

Til let out an exclamation.

 

“What is this? A battle between shit and diarrhea?”

 

“I think diarrhea is dirtier.”

 

Til was dumbfounded.

 

“That’s not what I was asking, is it?”

 

Anyway.

 

“Please don’t fight here.”

 

Til organized the situation.

 

“Both of you can go to the investigation room together, then enter prison.”

 

Since they’re both accomplices anyway.

 

Maybe their relationship will become even closer in prison.

 

Both their faces simultaneously turned black with decay.

 

* * *

 

Even so, they couldn’t just throw the Saint straight into prison.

 

There was also a request from the temple side, and on the grounds that the charges hadn’t been fully investigated yet, Yuna and Susan were confined in the ‘investigation room.’

 

The windows had iron bars and knights guarded the entrance, but the other conditions weren’t bad.

 

Meals came on time, and they were free to wash and change clothes, but.

 

‘Why do I have to be treated like this?’

 

Nevertheless, Yuna couldn’t contain the rising sense of injustice.

 

‘I’m the Saint. Someone everyone should revere.’

 

But she had been humiliated in front of all those people.

 

Moreover, all the facts about her living luxuriously and embezzling donations had been exposed nakedly.

 

She couldn’t bear the moment when her true face was exposed in front of the believers who had come out to watch the commotion.

 

But now.

 

‘I might go to prison?’

 

Embezzlement and breach of trust were never light crimes.

 

Moreover, the circumstances of even forging the Former Empress’s will to favor herself had been revealed.

 

Yuna trembled as she grabbed Susan’s hand.

 

“I was a bit harsh with my words earlier. I’m sorry.”

 

Susan’s expression softened momentarily.

 

“Saint…”

 

Yuna immediately began appealing to emotions.

 

“Actually, I’ve received so much help from Susan all this time. Earlier… I was just too scared. I know that being able to connect with His Majesty was mostly thanks to Susan.”

 

And very blatant words followed.

 

“The way you’ve been treating me a bit coldly lately… I’ll forgive you. His Majesty ordered you to do that, right? I know it wasn’t because of your own will.”

 

So.

 

“Couldn’t you help me just once?”

 

At that moment, Susan’s lips hardened.

 

Yuna continued speaking without caring.

 

“I’m going to become Empress soon. But Susan… you’re getting older now, and you’ve already raised all your children. I still have many days to live… and when I become Empress, I can reduce Susan’s crimes later.”

 

So die for me.

 

For my sake.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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