The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 130

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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 130】

Rupert had not met with Rianel separately during this time.

It was awkward, but also because there was no occasion to encounter her.

Most importantly, he wasn’t in a position to freely come and go from the Imperial Palace unless there was something special.

‘It’s not like I want to see that slippery bastard’s face anyway.’

Moreover, Asil wasn’t such a terrible person that he would desperately oppose him as Rianel’s partner.

‘At least he’s better than the Emperor.’

So Rupert’s interest shifted from Rianel’s marriage to his relationship with Rianel.

‘Is it okay to keep acting like strangers forever?’

The form of address was also a problem.

It was unclear whether he should call Rianel younger sister or older sister.

‘Ah, is that why she hasn’t come over here either?’

Thinking that way, he couldn’t help but laugh.

What, this older sister is kind of cute.

“Ahem.”

Rupert deliberately cleared his throat to organize his emotions.

They couldn’t stay like this forever.

He put his hand on his waist and struck a serious pose.

“We’re neither strangers nor enemies, so is there any reason we should keep our distance, I mean, is there?”

“….”

“You don’t have any ill feelings toward us either. Then couldn’t we interact as family?”

“….”

No answer came back.

“So at least once a month we could have dinner at the mansion, no, maybe once every two weeks would be more appropriate… ah, no, once a week would be too bothersome, wouldn’t it?”

Rupert was practicing alone while looking in the mirror.

Checking if his pronunciation was clear, if his expression wasn’t too serious.

But it shouldn’t sound like a joke either, so he was practicing while revising his sentences several times when.

“Would that really be persuasive?”

He heard a tongue-clicking sound from behind.

Without turning around, Rupert recognized the owner of the voice.

“…Father also thinks it would be nice if older sister visited the mansion, doesn’t he?”

“Well, do your best.”

It was a tone that didn’t contain even a speck of expectation.

‘Just wait and see. Soon you’ll be asking me for my secret method.’

Contrary to Rupert’s determination.

The actual conversation with Rianel rolled in a direction he hadn’t expected.

“What reason should make dining together essential among family members?”

“Huh?”

“Is there verified academic evidence for the claim that such behavior redefines relationships or strengthens bonds?”

“No, that’s just what people commonly say…”

“The standard for the expression ‘commonly’ is unclear. Are there statistical data or clinically verified cases?”

Rupert was left speechless.

The words he thought were logical crumbled powerlessly before the sentence ‘provide evidence.’

“Well… th-there might be?”

“Since you haven’t presented concrete evidence, I cannot trust that claim.”

Who provides evidence when family members suggest having a meal together?

“No, but still.”

While Rupert was stammering and somehow trying to continue speaking, scratching the back of his head.

“Excuse me.”

A servant carefully approached and handed him a handkerchief.

“The gentleman over there sent this.”

Inside the neatly folded handkerchief was a piece of paper.

What was written inside was just one character.

-Lol.

“Father!”

How could this be so humiliating!

Crumple, the paper crumpled in Rupert’s hand.

* * *

“I heard that older sister is taking revenge. I happen to have a lot of resentment built up against the Temple too. Since our goals are the same, wouldn’t it be better to work together?”

Rupert’s voice carried desperation, but Rianel remained expressionless.

“Why do you judge collaboration to be efficient?”

Rianel wasn’t refuting Rupert’s words, but questioning them.

“If we collaborate, the number of people who must share secrets increases, and the possibility of information leaking grows accordingly. The cost of controlling this also increases, making it inefficient.”

She even presented reasonable doubts.

“What, are you now assuming I’m someone with loose lips? Do I seem that reckless to you, older sister?”

“Even now you’re speaking loud enough for everyone around to hear.”

Swoosh swoosh.

Only then did Rupert look around.

This wasn’t the Imperial Palace ballroom but a reception room located inside Asil’s mansion.

After the ball celebrating the Emperor’s birthday ended.

Rupert had been coming to Asil’s mansion every day to meet Rianel.

It felt burdensome to visit the Special Tax Bureau office without any business.

But today too, his attempt to invite Rianel to the Vincenheim mansion seemed destined to fail.

‘Damn it.’

There were only three people in the reception room, with no servants present.

Though there were no listening ears, Rupert hurriedly lowered his voice.

“St-still, there’s nothing bad about working together-“

“If you want to persuade me, submit evidence that joint work would be beneficial.”

‘This is why scholars!’

Rupert almost got angry at Rianel’s words.

“Just, you could give me a chance at least once. To confirm whether family can be helpful to you or not.”

“Blood relationships are established regardless of proof and are not redefined by necessity.”

“That…”

That was also correct, so Rupert momentarily closed his mouth.

At the same time, he felt a little excited.

‘So you do think of us as blood relatives.’

But that emotion didn’t last long.

“Just because we’re blood relatives doesn’t mean we must necessarily interact and maintain intimate relationships.”

“Still… fa-family is special, and don’t you get lonely when separated?”

“I grew up in a state of not being connected to anyone, but I’ve never felt loneliness or deficiency.”

Damn.

Ensilen’s orphaned childhood was an invincible cheat key that refuted everything related to ‘family.’

Finally, Rupert declared surrender.

“Tomorrow!”

Of course, he wasn’t giving up entirely.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

He left the reception room saying he would go home and refine his logic more.

Where the door had closed.

After silence flowed, Asil clicked his tongue.

It contained a bit of fatigue and subtle irritation.

“Is there any particular reason you need to respond to him?”

“But his vocabulary is growing day by day.”

Asil’s face stiffened strangely.

“Observing this is meaningful work.”

Only at times like this does he act like a professor.

“Are you concerned about Prince Rupert?”

Asil deliberately avoided looking at Rianel.

Rianel seemed indifferent to others, yet at crucial moments, she would pierce through to the essence.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not.”

Asil leaned toward Rianel.

“I’m afraid he might take you away.”

Or that you might fly away the moment I look away, even briefly.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

A firm denial.

“I know.”

You’re someone who tries to keep the words you speak, so you’ll stay by my side.

But.

“I’m anxious.”

Asil cupped Rianel’s cheek in his hand.

Even though he could clearly feel her body temperature, he felt a precarious sense that she might leave if he let go.

‘But I can’t speak of this anxiety.’

Instead of voicing his emotions, he kissed the corner of Rianel’s eye.

“I like you.”

“….”

“I like you.”

Then he pulled back far enough that his heartbeat wouldn’t reach her.

“…So sometimes I’m afraid.”

He loved her, but he feared that love might suffocate her.

He knew that if she ever looked at him with reproach, even once, he would be so breathless he couldn’t do anything.

He pulled Rianel’s hand toward him, interlacing their fingers as he leaned forward.

Feeling the warmth transmitted through their touching foreheads, he gently closed his eyes.

Your warmth still reaches me.

You’re still beside me.

‘But.’

For a fleeting moment, Asil narrowed his eyes slightly.

How long will I be able to deceive you?

* * *

The Emperor shut himself in his room as soon as the birthday celebration ended.

His behavior of only appearing when he wanted to, then hiding again once his business was done, wore down the Empress Dowager’s patience.

“Tell me exactly what you’re so dissatisfied about.”

What could be so disagreeable that you torment this old mother so?

In the middle of the bedroom, the Emperor, who had been sitting on the floor rather than in a chair, slowly raised his head.

“It’s about Ensilen.”

“?”

“Wasn’t it truly wonderful when she was Empress?”

What did he just say.

The Empress Dowager was momentarily speechless.

It was so absurd that she momentarily forgot she was angry.

“When she was Empress, everything was perfect.”

The Empire was peaceful, and people praised the Emperor and the Imperial Family.

There were voices that disparaged Ensilen, but that was a minor issue. What era exists without such noise?

“But I don’t understand why she won’t come back.”

Why do you stay by that bastard’s side instead of mine?

The Empress Dowager felt irritation surge within her.

“What would change if you think that way now?”

Like herself, her son had contributed nothing when that child was struggling the most.

The Empress Dowager spoke irritably, then paused for a moment.

‘I too am a sinner.’

Whenever the Empress Dowager thought of Ensilen, one side of her chest would grow heavy.

She had imagined how much might have been different if she had lived longer.

But.

“If you’re going to miss her, you should miss only that child. Does it make sense to miss only what you enjoyed because of her?”

Any intelligent being with a conscience should regret what they failed to give, not what they didn’t receive.

“Are you even human after all that?”

Pathetic thing.

‘How did I give birth to such a creature from my own womb?’

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue.

She was born the eldest among many siblings and had always grown up yielding to her younger brothers and sisters.

She didn’t hate her siblings, but she retained some regret about growing up giving away what was hers.

Therefore, she had resolved:

‘If I have children, I’ll have only one.’

‘I’ll raise just one child without any lack, so they won’t know the feeling of having their things taken away.’

The child born from that resolve was Torvian.

Since he was to become Emperor, she gave him everything generously while also pushing him harshly.

A child destined to stand above all others had to be that way.

However, the child who had struggled desperately to meet her excessive expectations became an escapist.

‘I am the sinner.’

The Empress Dowager sighed deeply.

She could no longer turn away from her own mistakes.

Until now, the Empress Dowager had turned a blind eye to her son’s behavior.

For the reason that there were no other options, for the reason that the Princess was too young.

‘But I cannot entrust the Empire to someone whose sense of reality has rotted away so completely.’

The Empress Dowager made her decision.

At the next Administrative Council meeting, she spoke up.

“I would like to hear your opinions on having the Princess attend Administrative Council meetings.”

This was a question, but also a declaration.

That she would lay the first cornerstone to establish the Princess as the next Emperor.

However.

“T-This is terrible!”

It was revealed that large quantities of counterfeit gold were circulating throughout the Empire.

And somehow, rumors began spreading that the Princess was behind it all.

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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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