The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 125

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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 125】

“I hear the Imperial Palace has been quite chaotic lately?”

The Empress Dowager lifted her head while caressing the rim of her teacup.

“Yes. I understand there has been some commotion.”

“Those petty scoundrels, honestly.”

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue, feeling a familiar sense of fatigue. The Head Maid silently wore her practiced smile.

The reason the Imperial Palace was noisy was because nobles who had offered bribes to the Temple were being dragged in one after another.

Associates like Kairen had caused a ruckus outside the Imperial Palace, but once they were brought inside, they kept their mouths firmly shut. They had become frightened after seeing all those who had been backing them get arrested.

However, the nobles were different.

[I never thought we’d suffer such humiliation because of the dead Empress.]

[The bribes are just an excuse, aren’t they? They’re using this as a pretext to suppress the Temple.]

[And while they’re at it, they’re establishing discipline among us as well.]

[So when do you think we’ll be released?]

[At most three days?]

[I’d bet on four days, haha.]

Rather than repenting for their crimes, they interpreted this situation through political logic.

They rationalized that they were simply unlucky and had bad timing.

Some even boasted that they would be released without charges since bribery was difficult to prove.

“Yes. I understand well enough.”

There were many enemies and many mountains to overcome.

Yet there was no one to help.

The Empress Dowager missed her daughter-in-law who had passed away first.

“Did that child feel this way too?”

Had she left so suddenly because the world was such an ugly and lonely place that she couldn’t bear it?

“Fish that live in clear water find it difficult to survive long in downstream waters.”

“Yes. That child was so upright that it must have been even harder for her to endure.”

The Empress Dowager sighed.

In preparation for another person like her daughter-in-law to enter the Imperial Palace, the Empress Dowager had been reforming the Empire.

She had certainly thought things were gradually improving since her daughter-in-law’s death.

‘But perhaps it’s still far from enough.’

For that child, this place might still be toxic and unbearable land.

‘Still… I must believe it’s getting better.’

That’s why she was still remaining in this position.

The Empress Dowager lightly massaged her shoulders, then looked toward the Main Palace where the Emperor stayed.

Even though it wasn’t late at night, the room was dark. Her brow furrowed involuntarily.

“The lights in the Main Palace are out.”

Recently, as nobles who had been close to the Emperor were being gossiped about one after another, his political power was also being devalued.

When rumors spread that he had failed to protect the Empress and instead allowed the nobles to devour her, her son once again secluded himself.

‘He’s always done this when problems arise. Never once has he properly faced them.’

Even as a child, when given tasks, he never completed them properly.

Now that he was grown, he had become someone who chose avoidance rather than achieving results.

“Pathetic.”

The Head Maid knew exactly who those words were directed at.

The Empress Dowager drew the curtains to block the unsightly scene.

“I’m thirsty. Bring me some tea.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

The Temple side was equally chaotic.

In terms of the scale of chaos, it was even worse than the Imperial Palace or noble houses.

This was because the Temple was a place open to everyone.

“What did you do with my donations, you bastards!”

“The Temple should disclose its ledgers!”

“You think the Temple is some kind of sanctuary? Just crush those guys!”

Shouts and curses echoed over the walls, but the Temple’s doors remained firmly closed.

Cardinal Janol ordered the windows to be closed. However, the buzzing noise still came through the glass windows.

“Start with the status report.”

Janol received reports on behalf of the Pope and Saint who were in seclusion.

“Donations have decreased significantly.”

“There are hardly any believers wanting to purchase Sacred Flowers…”

Flowers that would normally be sold out were now piled up like mountains beside the altar.

‘Damn it.’

The fragrance alone was enough to rot one’s nose.

A Novice Priest who had not yet received ordination hesitantly spoke up.

“Um… Cardinal. Since people are so angry, isn’t there a way to calm them down?”

“Calm them down? How exactly?”

“Couldn’t you just say a word to them? That the donations are being used legitimately. Then those Special Tax Bureau guys or whatever wouldn’t be able to make an issue of it—”

“That’s impossible.”

Janol spoke firmly.

“Excuse me?”

The priest didn’t understand and just blinked several times.

“If that were possible, the situation wouldn’t have reached this point.”

“Then are you saying those voices claiming we’re corrupt are telling the truth?”

The priest who had been speaking fell silent when Janol didn’t answer, and the room became quiet.

“But Cardinal, you are innocent, aren’t you? You’ve never personally touched the donations…”

“I chose to turn a blind eye rather than correct my colleagues’ wrongs, so I too am guilty.”

Janol didn’t want to curse the Special Tax Bureau.

‘Something that was bound to explode someday has now been revealed.’

Hadn’t the Temple’s corruption been going on for more than just a day or two?

They had simply done the right thing.

‘The most wicked one is not Bureau Director Novantium, but me.’

However, even knowing this, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

He was someone who always chose the middle ground, lacking both the courage to report his colleagues and the will to step forward and rectify the situation.

“Are His Holiness the Pope and the Saint still not responding?”

The priest who received the question trailed off and bowed his head.

His awkward gesture was answer enough.

“Please tell them that I have something urgent to discuss and must see them.”

“Yes, Cardinal.”

However, at that same moment.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to come to the Imperial Palace?”

Yuna was,

“Before the Temple abandons you.”

facing the Emperor alone.

* * *

“It’s already autumn. Or is it almost winter?”

Mel pulled a blanket around himself. Being very sensitive to cold, he wasn’t pleased about autumn’s approach.

He sneezed lightly and closed the window.

Wilbrin watched this and shifted her gaze toward the window.

“Come to think of it, today marks exactly one year since Team Leader joined our department, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

So today was once again the third quarter performance deadline.

“Still, I’m glad the schedule is relaxed this time.”

“Just don’t go bragging about it to other departments. We’ll end up with extra work for no reason.”

“Ugh.”

Wilbrin shuddered.

How long had it been since Rianel came to the Tax Bureau? She had already gotten used to leaving work on time before regular deadline periods.

And so another day at the Tax Bureau passed without any particular surprises.

“Ah, it’s lunch time.”

Wilbrin responded, and other Tax Bureau employees also stood up, organizing their desks.

“Well then, we’ll be back.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

After that, the voices discussing where to go for lunch and what to eat gradually faded away.

For nearly a month, Rianel and Asil had been having lunch together alone in the government building.

Those around them thought the two were having meals together as dates, and it wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Today it’s sandwiches again.”

Lunch was a sandwich that Asil had packed himself.

Rianel took a bite of it while gazing out the window.

The scenery she faced again after a year was surprisingly identical…

“It feels surreal.”

It felt as if nothing had happened in the meantime.

Despite all the incidents that had occurred and quite a few people being called in for investigation as involved parties.

“It’s an incident from several years ago, isn’t it?”

“I know.”

Rianel hadn’t started this work to punish the nobles either.

She had approached it thinking it would be nice if it became revenge, but even if not, it was official duty that had to be done.

Still, such a major incident that made most nobles visit the Imperial Palace at least once ended up just catching a few small fry.

“…The world hasn’t changed at all.”

It was approaching four years since Ensilen’s death. The world was still corrupt and unchanged.

“But hasn’t there been change in Master’s life?”

At least now he was by her side.

“I brought flowers today.”

And there was also newly found family.

“Take them. I just brought them from the garden.”

Duke Vincenheim came to find Rianel every lunch time.

Not knowing how to treat his daughter, he would bring different items each time, presenting them as gifts.

Rianel only looked at the dahlia but didn’t take it.

“I don’t prefer flowers.”

It was the Duchess who liked dahlia flowers, not Rianel.

“I-Is that so?”

He smiled awkwardly and hid the flowers behind his back.

He hesitated in that position for a while, then couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“You’re eating lunch properly, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I was in the middle of eating.”

The Duke raised his eyebrows upon seeing what was in Rianel’s hand.

“How can that be considered a meal? Is your salary insufficient? This won’t do. I’ll give you allowance-“

“Sandwiches contain carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a balanced way, making them nutritionally adequate food.”

“You’re short because you eat so poorly.”

The Duke clicked his tongue.

“If one consumes excessive calories after growth plates have closed, there’s a high possibility of changes only in body shape, not height.”

Even in this situation, Rianel was only stating facts. The Duke’s lips trembled.

“More importantly, what is the purpose of your repeated visits to me? Do you have business with me?”

“What reason does a father need to visit his child?”

“According to my observations, the State Minister not only has no business with me, but also continuously expresses discomfort during these times. I find it difficult to understand the motivation for continuing such inefficient activities.”

“That’s…!”

The Duke couldn’t continue his words.

Embarrassingly, he couldn’t deny the point about feeling uncomfortable.

“T-That may be so, but we’re family. It’s not right to maintain a relationship worse than strangers.”

“I don’t understand what a relationship worse than strangers means.”

Rianel responded calmly.

“Humans are inherently independent entities and don’t form hostile relationships simply because others are strangers. Humans are animals that form social relationships based on necessity and choice, and blood relations are not essential for social relationships.”

“So what you’re saying is… family and strangers are essentially no different?”

Rianel’s logic was clear, and therefore sounded even colder.

“There’s no reason for them to be different.”

You didn’t even notice that the owner of this body had died, did you?

Just like everyone else.

The Duke stood speechless for a long time.

After a long silence.

“Fine! Let’s stop all of this! If my existence interferes with your independent life, what’s the point of staying here longer!”

He stood up irritably from his seat.

“Do whatever you want with those flowers. Since they’ve left my hands, they’re no longer my property!”

He left the flowers as they were and departed.

The abandoned dahlia seemed to hang its head dejectedly, even though no one had touched it.

Asil scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Why did you do that?”

It wasn’t because you disliked the Duke either.

“Because the Duke was also finding our encounters awkward and uncomfortable.”

From his attitude of hovering around not knowing what to do and pondering without being able to continue speaking, she could roughly guess how uncomfortable he felt.

“I judged it rational to reduce the discomfort both parties would feel.”

The Duke had lived well without a daughter named Ensilen until now, and maintaining this would cause no problems in his life.

But why was he trying to restore that relationship now?

‘What is family?’

“Well…”

Asil thought for a moment before continuing.

“Of course, family are strangers. I agree with that premise as well.”

All humans cannot completely understand each other. They could become emotionally close, but eventually had to make judgments alone and bear their own burdens.

“But humans are also unstable beings who cannot exist completely alone.”

That’s why society exists.

“Perhaps people try to prevent situations where they become isolated through blood relations or institutions.”

Starting families with people who don’t share a drop of blood might be for that reason too.

“Just like Master and I.”

And just like the Emperor and the Saint.

Rianel thought for a while, then nodded.

“That might be possible.”

She turned her gaze to the daily newspaper on the desk.

-[Exclusive] Imperial Family attempts to change situation with new face. Saint mentioned as new Empress of Imperial Family.

It was news of the remarriage of someone who had once been her spouse, but Rianel felt no emotion whatsoever.

‘Is that union happening because the Emperor loves the Saint? Or is it a choice based on necessity?’

Rather than revenge, she was curious about the Emperor’s intentions and plans.

Anyway, seeing such articles circulating, it seemed the Imperial Family’s functions hadn’t stopped.

“Still no response from the Imperial Family?”

She couldn’t understand why approval for the marriage proposal letter hadn’t come down.

“It seems the reply must have been lost.”

Asil responded nonchalantly.

If the Imperial Palace had any objections, it would be natural for them to convey a clear position.

“I’ll send it again.”

However, a few days later.

“…?”

Instead of a reply letter, Rianel heard rumors that the Imperial Palace was planning to erect a statue of the founding Emperor.

Along with talk that the statue’s face would resemble the current Emperor Torbiyan.

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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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