The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 121

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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 121】

At the same time.

“You despicably reported all of that?”

Wilbrin was caught by Kairen in front of her house.

With his hat pulled down low, standing there as if present yet absent, Wilbrin hadn’t even noticed he had come.

‘How did he find out my home address?’

Until recently, Kairen didn’t know Wilbrin’s home address and had to visit her workplace, so she never imagined he would be waiting near her house.

Wilbrin was flustered but tried to smile leisurely for now.

“That was the proper procedure. We’re not family, just a relationship of convenience, right?”

When she threw back the words Rianel had once said, Kairen’s brow furrowed sharply.

“Hey, don’t act all literary when you look like that.”

Kairen lowered his voice even while confirming no one was around.

“Help me.”

Even uttering those words seemed to wound his pride greatly, as his voice trailed off and his gaze dropped downward.

But that was Kairen’s problem.

“When I sent tax bills and delinquency notices several times, there was no response, so I thought you had died suddenly or something. You’re surprisingly still alive?”

Normal people, when receiving a large tax notice, either come to dispute the detailed items or pay the amount.

Kairen did neither, so she thought he had moved or fled, not that he had simply ignored the notices.

“What kind of nerve is that? Don’t you know late payment incurs interest?”

“Huh? I thought that was just formal paperwork they send out.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Who would waste paper sending tax bills as a joke?”

Wilbrin was appalled.

“I thought having a civil servant in the family would come with that kind of privilege.”

“Would it really?”

“Since you’re my family, can’t you pay it for me?”

“I’ve never taken money from you like Father did. Why should I pay that?”

Wilbrin’s voice cracked with excitement, but Kairen remained shameless.

“Don’t be like that. What’s the point of having family?”

When Kairen casually approached and tried to put his arm around her shoulder, Wilbrin dodged without a moment’s hesitation.

“Don’t you remember? We got along pretty well when we were young. You were proud that I became a famous actor too.”

“That’s your delusion, and I didn’t like it at all.”

Wilbrin irritably increased the distance between them.

Kairen shrugged off his embarrassment with a shoulder shrug.

“Anyway, can’t you pass along a word to that Team Leader? It’s not like I’m asking for something difficult.”

“Why are you being so persistent? The charity events ended long ago.”

“Ah, this time it’s not about that, it’s something else.”

Kairen’s voice dropped even lower.

His expression, which had seemed lighter than clouds, also sank seriously.

When Wilbrin learned why Kairen had come looking for her, she let out a hollow laugh.

“Art trading?”

The art trading case that the State Minister was personally investigating.

One of the operational forces that manipulated market prices in that case was Kairen. He had obtained the roles he wanted in exchange for participating in the operation.

When things were going well, he had focused all his energy on reducing income tax.

But when the situation reversed and the parties involved were designated as co-conspirators, he came looking for Wilbrin, his only connection to the Imperial Palace.

“What a fine thing to do.”

Wilbrin clicked her tongue.

To think this was the end for someone who had looked down on people since childhood, claiming he’d become a great actor.

But Kairen was persistent.

“Ah, are we strangers? You’re really being cold. And your Team Leader has family too. If you appeal to family affection, wouldn’t she at least pretend to listen?”

That was truly nonsense that wouldn’t work at all.

“Hey, our Team Leader is even more merciless with family.”

[If there are suspicious points, recording them is natural. There are no exceptions.]

If this guy had seen Rianel say that directly, he wouldn’t be spouting such nonsense.

‘Of course, it doesn’t matter.’

Wilbrin also had no intention whatsoever of helping him just because they were blood relatives.

“What’s the point of succeeding that way? You end up getting caught like this anyway.”

It was mockery mixed with a bit of satisfaction.

At that moment, Kairen’s lips twisted.

Realizing he couldn’t get help from Wilbrin, the personality he had been forcibly suppressing burst out.

“You’re only at that level because you live so honestly. What’s the point of receiving such a meager salary for life? Even when you achieve results, all your credit gets announced under the Imperial Family’s name, and you’ll just suffer your whole life and die. Living the life of a petty, insignificant salary worker, forgotten by people without being remembered. Ordinary.”

Wilbrin hesitated.

Her brother had always been the object of comparison. Despite sharing the same genes, he always outshone her.

Next to him, Wilbrin existed not as Wilbrin, but only as Kairen’s younger sister.

Having reality pointed out by the opponent she had always wanted to beat was bitter.

“You’re right.”

Wilbrin acknowledged it.

“I’m foolish, stupid, and have no remarkable talents. So I’ll probably never stand out or get promoted in my lifetime.”

Wilbrin had grown up under a single father, and her father had devoted all his energy and love only to Kairen.

Since Kairen had worked as a child actor from a young age and supported the family’s livelihood, it might have been natural.

‘I know, but… I was also a child then.’

One day when she got lost.

Wilbrin cried and finally arrived home with the help of strange adults.

[Oh, you’re back.]

However, Father didn’t even know Wilbrin had disappeared.

The moment she confirmed that Father was indifferent to her remained as a deep wound in Wilbrin’s heart.

Realizing she wasn’t a special existence to her parents meant she would have to endure life’s various hardships alone without anyone’s help.

“You’re right. I’m a person without talent, and the only virtues I could maintain were honesty and diligence.”

Wilbrin knew too.

That becoming a civil servant was the result of the few strokes of luck overlapping in her life.

The place she entered was the Special Tax Bureau, a department whose very existence was uncertain.

‘But this is all I can do.’

To keep even that position, she went to work early every day.

There were no solicitations or bribes that civil servants supposedly received, but she thought that was actually better.

The pride of working through honest methods and taking home her salary became Wilbrin’s dignity.

‘This is originally a place where such people gather.’

“I’m going to live maintaining my foolishness.”

While broader human relationships are said to be better, some relationships are better cut off quickly.

“I believe I can live ‘adequately’ even without family.”

So.

“Let’s not know each other from now on.”

Now and forever after.

* * *

Kairen, who had received a declaration of estrangement instead of resolving the situation, muttered in bewilderment.

“Even if that’s how it is for me, what about Father?”

It was an attempt to offset the antipathy toward himself with affection for their father, but it was of little use.

“Father will be fine. He’s someone who cares more about scratches on his son than my life or death.”

Actually, when Wilbrin had conveyed the news that she had become a civil servant, Father’s reaction was this:

[At least you won’t be a burden for food.]

Without congratulations or encouragement, just an expression of having one less burden.

‘Actually, I wanted to have a good relationship with Father too.’

Wilbrin was gripped by a sense that she had done something wrong every time she faced her father’s cold attitude.

Because it seemed like the reason she couldn’t receive the love from her father that her brother naturally received was her own fault.

‘I once thought that if I became a more useful daughter, things might change.’

Wilbrin decided to change her thinking.

‘There are families like this in the world too.’

People don’t necessarily have to have an ideal family to be complete.

“No. But still-,”

Before Kairen could continue speaking, a third party’s voice interrupted.

It was an Imperial Knight.

“Excuse me. Are you Weave Irax, currently using the stage name ‘Kairen’?”

“What, what…”

Before they knew it, Imperial Knights had surrounded the area. All escape routes that Kairen could use were blocked.

While Kairen was frozen in place, someone approached him.

“You, you!”

It was Rianel, whom Kairen had so desperately wanted to meet.

“Identity confirmed.”

Rianel held up a lantern to check Kairen’s features, then immediately stepped back. Her attitude was dry, as if she had no other business.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Mr. Weave Irax has been confirmed as a major accomplice in this case, so we will begin temporary detention procedures for further investigation.”

It was called detention, but with tax evasion charges also pending, there was no telling when he would get out of prison to see daylight again.

As the knights grabbed both his arms, Kairen struggled while pouring all his resentment onto Wilbrin.

“Wilbrin, did you deliberately stall for time?! Are you really blinded by achievements?”

Because he thought he had been betrayed and arrested by his own blood relative, making his waiting in hiding meaningless.

“No, let go of me! I haven’t finished talking yet! Hey!”

However, his voice gradually grew distant and eventually became inaudible.

“Um… did you hear that?”

The remaining Wilbrin rolled her eyes in embarrassment.

Late summer, on the street.

After the knights and Kairen disappeared, she regained her original composure.

The only evidence that personal emotions had been exchanged was her choked voice and reddened eyes.

Asil, who had come with Rianel, was uncomfortable, but.

“Ah, well.”

“There were no other noises and no other obstacles, so I clearly heard the conversation.”

Rianel conveyed the facts without a trace of falsehood.

“From, from when did you start listening?”

“We’ve been monitoring the situation since receiving a suspicious report from a nearby resident about spotting a person suspected to be the suspect.”

“?!”

When Wilbrin’s eyes widened, Rianel continued matter-of-factly.

“However, since you seemed to be having a personal conversation, we waited without immediate intervention.”

“Then you heard everything!”

Wilbrin’s face turned red.

She had been inwardly proud of finally cutting off that tiresome connection, thinking it was an admirable decision.

But they had been watching that whole farce from the sidelines.

‘And it wasn’t just one or two people either!’

Not only Rianel and Asil, but also the knights who formed the perimeter. There were at least ten witnesses.

“Is that a problem?”

“Of course it’s a problem!”

It’s embarrassing!

Wilbrin found this situation even more mortifying because she didn’t want her personal affairs to be exposed.

[So… the reason you became distant from your family is because your father only looked after your brother?]

[Isn’t it natural to invest in the side that shows promise from childhood? I would have done the same if I were your father.]

People who heard Wilbrin’s story generally said she was being dramatic.

Of course, Rianel was not a typical person, but her reactions always exceeded Wilbrin’s expectations.

“Are you uncomfortable having spoken with a criminal suspect?”

Excuse me?

“I think the fact that a family member is a criminal could be burdensome. Identity protection is natural, so you don’t need to worry.”

“No, that’s not what I…”

So Rianel was viewing Wilbrin as a victim for being involved with such an economic criminal.

Wilbrin felt like she had become a fool.

“But, Team Leader. That person is quite a famous actor and… very popular. You know that, right?”

Didn’t you say you knew him before?

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Aren’t you curious, Team Leader? About why I don’t look anything like that person.”

“While genetic factors do play a role in appearance formation, the genes that determine physical features are very complex. Which traits will be expressed depends on chance, so blood relatives don’t necessarily have similar appearances.”

‘Hmm?’

Wilbrin’s shoulders trembled as she received an unnecessary genetics lecture.

It was both absurd and amusing.

The humor had the effect of easing the atmosphere. Wilbrin asked in a somewhat more relaxed state.

“This might be strange for me to say, but honestly, isn’t that person handsome? He has a memorable face.”

“The Bureau Director has more handsome features and a well-balanced physique. Especially broader shoulders.”

‘Is she bragging about her lover at a time like this?’

Watching his mentor not forget to praise shoulders even in this situation, Asil unconsciously touched his own shoulders.

Rianel handed Wilbrin a handkerchief.

“I thought you might need it.”

Only then did she realize she had been grinning with tears welling up in her eyes.

To show such a state on the street, even if it was night.

Wilbrin rubbed her eyes with the handkerchief, wiping away the tear stains.

“I, I don’t usually cry!”

I’m a working adult!

She knew that adding unnecessary excuses looked pathetic, but she was too embarrassed to help it.

“To, today is just… there were some family matters.”

“Yes.”

Wilbrin, whose nose was tickling and had blown her nose into the handkerchief, made eye contact with Rianel who was staring at the handkerchief.

‘Right. This isn’t mine, is it?’

“I’ll… wash it and return it to you.”

“Since the recent action reduced its remaining value to zero, you can dispose of that item as you see fit.”

‘Isn’t that too harsh?’

Is my snot that bad?

Still, she wasn’t hurt.

‘Well, that’s just how Team Leader is.’

“Then, then I’ll keep this.”

“Please do.”

“I’ll brag to the Bureau Director. That it’s a comfort gift from Team Leader. I’ll put it somewhere visible every day and treasure it like a precious item.”

That way I’ll make him jealous.

She muttered while pretending to be mischievous to erase the awkwardness, but.

“That won’t happen.”

Even in this moment, the voice conveying only truth was stark.

“It’s a mass-produced item.”

Swish.

Asil pulled out several similar handkerchiefs in different colors from his chest.

“If you need one, I’ll give you whichever color you prefer.”

‘What is with this couple, really?’

Somehow she felt like she was the only one who had fallen into a strange land.

“Oh, purple please.”

Wilbrin used this situation as an excuse to cover her face with the newly received handkerchief.

‘I probably look a bit unsightly right now.’

Otherwise, there was no way to hide her flushed face.

“What brings the State Minister here at this hour—”

“My, my daughter….”

They couldn’t even imagine that yet another encounter would take place here.

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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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