The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 128

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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 128】

‘The Emperor said so. The Temple can abandon me at any time.’

Yuna could not deny those words.

She was the most symbolic figure the Temple could put forward, and at the same time, someone deeply involved in various incidents.

‘After Cardinal Oven, I might be the one to take all the blame and get kicked out.’

Most importantly, the Temple had that thing that could send her back to her original world.

-Please, won’t you save our world?

Once they asked her to become their savior.

Now they treated her like someone they could discard at any time, which was unfair, but Yuna was aware of how disadvantageous her position was.

‘Because I’m not a person from this place.’

The Temple could shift all responsibility to her, then send her back to her original world and be done with it.

After that, if they said Yuna had ‘fled,’ they could solve the problem without getting a drop of blood on their hands.

‘How clean would that be?’

There was only one way to prevent that from happening.

‘I have to become a necessary existence in this world.’

The only way was to take the position of Empress Ensilen, the irreplaceable heroine of this world.

“I have conditions.”

‘I can’t trust you either now.’

Throughout this journey, the Emperor was also someone who hadn’t protected her.

‘You’re also someone who swallows when it’s sweet and spits when it’s bitter.’

Yuna was learning that the Emperor wasn’t simply a character from a novel, but a human who moved according to his own interests and could stab her in the back.

“I don’t want to live on just the hope that I might become Empress.”

So she demanded.

Make me not just a lover, but a fiancée, and announce it publicly.

‘Someone like you who values appearances wouldn’t break off an engagement without any justification.’

She deliberately made it reported even in the daily newspapers with great fanfare.

Public attention would become shackles that bind you.

The next plan Yuna established was.

‘I need to create notable achievements.’

There had to be a symbol that came to mind when her name was mentioned, so no one could question why she became Empress.

Yuna tried to erect a statue to commemorate the Emperor’s birthday.

Whether that statue was actually useful to the Empire was a secondary matter.

‘What’s important is that once the statue is erected, everyone can see it.’

That’s how achievements worked.

Next.

‘I’ll dominate the social circle.’

Of course, it wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two.

But it was something she’d have to do once she became Empress anyway.

“Thank you for gracing this occasion despite your busy schedule.”

Yuna hosted a tea party in the Imperial Garden, inviting notable figures from the social circle.

As it was the first official gathering held in the name of the future Empress, those who received invitations appeared without exception.

Not attending this gathering could be seen as going against the Imperial will.

“His Majesty hasn’t taken a consort for some time since the Former Empress passed away. He must have been waiting to welcome such a precious person.”

Mrs. Moleng smiled warmly while flattering Yuna.

She quickly grasped that Yuna was weak to flattery.

“I sincerely congratulate you on your engagement, Saint.”

The other noble ladies were the same.

“The dress you’re wearing is from the Imperial exclusive tailor, isn’t it? Just looking at that luxurious lace, I can tell it’s no ordinary piece. And the necklace you’re wearing too. His Majesty must have given it to you as a gift?”

“I can see that the rumors about His Majesty having feelings for the Saint are true.”

“You flatter me.”

Yuna twisted her body and laughed, feigning embarrassment.

With that mixture of modesty, joy, and innocence that the noble ladies wanted to see.

Yuna had pressured the Emperor to get her new dresses and accessories, and her efforts shone before the noble ladies’ discerning eyes.

Since this gathering wasn’t just for congratulations, Yuna prepared to bring up the main topic.

‘Great endeavors require appropriate sponsorship.’

“Though my knowledge is lacking and I don’t know all of the Empire’s history, I heard that the first Emperor also founded the Empire based on the support of various trusted ministers and noble houses.”

Yuna lifted her teacup while scanning the faces of the noble ladies.

“The Empire is too vast to be sustained by the Imperial family’s strength alone. I believe you will gladly lend your strength to laying the foundation of the Empire.”

She didn’t directly hand out envelopes or explain that the statue production costs were insufficient.

The noble ladies at this gathering were people who could understand even when ‘give me money’ was said indirectly.

Yuna had outsourced this project to prevent agencies like the Special Tax Bureau from getting involved.

So none of those present could guess what the actual execution costs and remaining funds would be.

‘So it should be fine to skim a little.’

The noble ladies exchanged glances, pondering what they should do.

After several minutes of silence.

Mrs. Orphan was the first to speak.

“How could lending our strength for the Empire be a burden to us?”

The others tactfully nodded and chimed in.

“Rather, if you give us the opportunity, we should be the ones thanking you.”

“Our family’s long-cherished wish has been to be of help to the Imperial family. He would be greatly pleased to know this.”

“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”

Yuna smiled gently.

“His Majesty will remember your sincerity for a long time.”

They would find the immediate loss painful, but they would soon be grateful to Yuna.

This gathering had that much value.

‘People are naturally crazy about special things.’

Yuna planned to make this gathering a place that everyone in the Empire would covet.

She planned to selectively release precious Imperial information only at this gathering.

‘It’s already a precious place where only social celebrities can gather, and if rumors spread that information is also exchanged here, everyone will be desperate to come here, right?’

Then the value of this gathering would rise. And the value of her own name, having created this gathering, would also rise.

The fact that she held the invitation rights to this gathering would become Yuna’s asset.

Yuna lifted her teacup, imagining people being anxious in front of her.

“Then, for the future of the Empire and the stability of the Imperial family-“

That was the moment.

“Are you indeed the Saint herself?”

A cold voice, like cold water being poured.

Everyone gathered in the garden stopped moving at once, and conversations ceased abruptly.

…What?

Though reluctant, Yuna, who couldn’t ignore the situation, also turned her head.

“We’re from the Special Tax Bureau.”

And so she came face to face with someone who seemed to have risen from hell to drag her down.

“As suspicious points have been confirmed regarding embezzlement charges, further investigation is needed. Would you accompany us?”

“Why am I a suspect?”

“Well, we already have secured evidence. We just need to confirm a few things procedurally, so it won’t take long.”

Wilbrin showed an official smile.

Yuna, who had been sitting there stunned until the investigators approached, belatedly shook her head frantically.

“I didn’t invite you! I didn’t invite you people!”

But no one paid attention to her words.

* * *

What happened that day would only be known by those involved.

“Wow, that must have been really heated, huh?”

Til summarized her impression in one sentence.

Regardless of the meeting’s success or failure, it was clear that many people would have been dying to be included in that gathering.

“Oh, it really was no joke.”

Wilbrin chimed in agreement while pretending to wipe cold sweat from her forehead.

“What, you were at the site too?”

“Well, I am a woman after all.”

Since the meeting in question was a tea party composed mainly of noble ladies, the investigators were also organized with a focus on women. Wilbrin was lucky enough to be positioned at the site.

“So how was the situation?”

Til’s eyes sparkled.

Rianel always just repeated “It was legitimate official duty,” and wasn’t the type to share behind-the-scenes stories. Til chose Wilbrin as the mouth to satisfy her curiosity.

“It was absolute chaos. The Saint kept making excuses that it had nothing to do with her, and meanwhile some noble lady was making such a fuss demanding a refund.”

“A refund? What on earth happened for such words to come out?”

Wilbrin glanced around, then whispered quietly enough for only Til to hear.

“Wow, she was trying to pull off another scheme even in the midst of all that?”

Having heard the whole story, Til clicked her tongue.

She could only admire the Saint’s creativity in utilizing even the tea party as a venue for collecting money.

The same went for the noble trying to get her money back in that chaotic scene.

“Well, what good does status do anyway?”

Having once been a noble herself, Til knew their nature well.

They only looked refined on the surface, but when it came to their own interests, their eyes would flip just like ordinary people.

“So will His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday also proceed as usual this year?”

“Probably?”

Originally, they had planned to hold a large-scale commemorative event in connection with the statue, but since the statue had disappeared, that schedule would have been lost as well.

Til looked down at her own outfit.

There were no worn parts, but it didn’t look neat due to being mended and worn multiple times.

“Should I get a new one for this occasion?”

“Are you going to have a new ball gown tailored?”

“There was something worth commemorating.”

Mel, who had been pretending not to listen to their conversation, cautiously added his own opinion.

“But would that be okay? She might become the Empress, so if we offend her…”

“Well, why should I care?”

There wasn’t even a reason to roughly consider the circumstances of a heretic.

Til snorted.

Meanwhile.

“Was that your purpose from the beginning?”

Yuna, who had been brooding over the humiliation she suffered at the tea party while pulling up her blanket on the bed, suddenly raised her head at the Emperor’s words.

“Answer me! Is it true that you approached me to obtain the Soul Identification Stone?”

The Emperor sat on one side of the bed.

The hand stroking Yuna’s hair was affectionate but lacked warmth.

“That much should be done to make it worthwhile. What have I been doing for you? Isn’t that right?”

The Special Tax Bureau presented Yuna with charges of embezzlement plus the additional charge of trying to collect funds from noble ladies under the pretext of donations.

Since clear evidence remained, it couldn’t be covered up as innocent, so the Emperor had one maid without backing take on all the crimes.

Both people could guess what happened to that maid, but neither mentioned her name.

It was merely one meaningless chess piece that had disappeared.

“You were the one who first proposed the condition, asking to be made into a fiancée.”

“…!”

“So the price for protection should be paid separately, shouldn’t it.”

Yuna bit her lower lip hard.

The Soul Identification Stone was a sacred object used to find lost people or confirm blood relations.

She couldn’t know why the Emperor wanted it, but.

‘Does he have a hidden child or something.’

At a dead end with limited choices, there was only one way for Yuna to survive.

Yuna glared at him, then suddenly smiled.

“Fine.”

“Is that really-,”

“But marry me instead.”

The Emperor’s expression hardened.

“So make me the Empress.”

As much as his confusion was readable, Yuna’s lips curved up diagonally.

The corners of her mouth, tensed with force to hide her anxiety, trembled finely.

“If it’s not that condition, I won’t give you the sacred object.”

Because she absolutely didn’t want to be abandoned.

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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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