The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 22

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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 22】

He wanted to become a different adult from his parents.

One who wouldn’t constrain his children, wouldn’t interfere in every little thing, and would respect the path his children walked.

He wanted to become the ideal parent he had wished for.

But.

‘Perhaps I did that because it was the easier path?’

Using non-interference as an excuse to neglect them, and under the pretext of respecting the path his children walked, he only had to accept the results instead of discussing things with them.

Perhaps he did that because wrapping it up as love and making excuses was truly the easy way?

…In truth, it was just indifference.

The Duke covered his face with both hands.

‘It’s all my fault.’

He shouldn’t have blamed Rupert or Vanessa.

Three years ago, when Rianel said she wanted to leave home, he should have stopped her.

He should have looked into and understood why she wanted to leave, what difficult circumstances she had.

The Duke suddenly realized that leaving her alone back then under the reason of respecting his daughter’s wishes must have deeply wounded that child.

He stayed with his face covered for a long while, then came to his senses when he heard a knock.

“Come in.”

The person the Duke had called was the retired former butler.

He was someone who had taken care of the family’s affairs before Vanessa came, faithfully filling the void left by his deceased wife.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to bring back the elderly man, but.

“I’m ashamed to say, but there’s no one I trust as much as you.”

He needed someone to handle the void created by sending Vanessa away.

“Not at all. I was just getting bored with my life of only tending to the garden anyway. I’m glad you called for me.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

The Duke smiled along, but soon lowered the corners of his mouth bitterly and added a word.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“…It’s about the young lady, isn’t it?”

The Duke nodded.

Ater was indeed comfortable to be around. He understood what he wanted without lengthy explanations.

“You must have heard many stories on your way here.”

Ater smiled.

“Yes. She has grown tremendously.”

Ater remembered young Rianel.

The child starved for affection was always emotional and impulsive. To put it nicely, she was honest; to put it bluntly, she lacked patience and was simple.

Because of this, there were many people around who tried to use her, but.

“I heard that recently, many good things have increased thanks to the young lady.”

Instead of recklessness decreasing, wisdom had increased.

“I heard that donations and relief supplies flowing to the Medical Center and orphanage have greatly increased. There have also been frequent cases of people voluntarily reporting unpaid taxes after seeing her expose Lady Violen’s case.”

On the other hand, Rupert, who was engaged to Vanessa who had evaded taxes, had lost popularity, but he didn’t mention that part.

“Hmm.”

The Duke fell silent.

While he was proud that his child had become an adult in his absence, he also felt bitter about it.

“Actually, I called you because I wanted to pour out my heart.”

Ater was a loyal person with a tight mouth.

The Duke poured out everything from his inner thoughts to what had happened with Rianel and what the current situation was.

“What do you think I should do?”

“I think it would be presumptuous of me, a third party, to speak about matters between parent and child, but…”

Ater glanced at the Duke before speaking.

“I think you should have a conversation. Only then will the feelings you harbor reach the young lady.”

“…You’re right.”

Sitting here thinking about Rianel would only remain as futile feelings and worries that don’t reach the person in question.

“Since there’s going to be a ball at the Imperial Palace, how about using that as an excuse to call her? Attending together with the young lady would also be a special time.”

“Not bad.”

The Duke nodded.

However.

“If it’s the ball, I’ve already arranged to attend with someone else.”

The Duke’s eyes widened upon hearing these thunderbolt-like words from Rianel.

* * *

After freezing and gaping in bewilderment for just a moment.

“Wh-what kind of bastard are you going with…!”

The Duke barely managed to stammer out the words.

Rianel’s partner was obviously going to be a man.

“The Bureau Director suggested it.”

“Bureau Director? You mean Duke Novantium?”

The Duke was confused since he had conversed with Asil before.

‘Wasn’t he an eccentric who admired his teacher so much that he took a position far smaller than his capabilities to monopolize that legacy?’

For such a person to turn his attention to someone else, especially to his own daughter, was incomprehensible.

“What on earth is your relationship with that bastard…!”

“He is my superior.”

Rianel’s answer was concise.

The Duke felt a bit deflated.

“Is that all?”

Rianel pondered for about 3 more seconds.

“He’s not my direct superior, but a superior higher than that.”

“…”

The Duke, who had felt momentarily stunned, barely collected himself.

“Originally, balls are places to go build private relationships. So wouldn’t it be better to go with me, your father, rather than a superior?”

“I’m attending as a civil servant. The purpose is different.”

The corners of the Duke’s mouth trembled. He took a deep breath and calmed his other emotions.

He tried to use a gentle voice, as if teaching a child who knew nothing about the ways of the world.

“Whatever your purpose, the partner you bring to such occasions should be dependable enough to protect you. In that regard, this father is qualified.”

The Duke straightened his upper body so his broad shoulders would be clearly visible.

“That young man may have an impressive build like his late father, but not enough to surpass me. With shoulders like that, he couldn’t protect anyone, what?”

“I don’t understand why you’re so confident that your shoulders are broader than the Bureau Director’s.”

Did you measure them by any chance?

Even in this situation, Rianel’s intellect that distinguished illogic and discerned truth from falsehood remained unbroken.

“You can roughly estimate that much just by looking, can’t you!”

“I don’t trust words without evidence.”

“…”

The Duke’s mouth closed for the second time.

As he had felt before, Rianel had a natural talent for leaving others speechless.

The Duke let out a long breath.

The partner proposal would be nice if accepted, but it couldn’t be helped if not.

After all, he had a different purpose for calling his daughter.

The Duke drank water to wet his parched throat. Even then, his mouth wouldn’t open easily, so after hesitating for a long while, he finally managed to speak.

“I’m sorry.”

“…!”

“I’ve only now realized that I’ve been far too indifferent all this time. My failure to notice that Vanessa was embezzling your living expenses was clearly my mistake.”

The Duke was genuinely regretful.

He didn’t evade his responsibility and honestly admitted his fault.

Rianel didn’t think his sincerity was worthless.

It was just unfortunate.

“It’s already too late.”

That child is no longer here.

“You should have said those words before.”

When Rianel was becoming isolated in the mansion.

When she eventually left home as if being chased away.

When she was studying alone in that cramped rented room.

You should have said it when she was falsely accused and driven out of the Ministry of Finance she had barely managed to enter.

Before her false accusations were cleared.

Before the Empress Dowager recognized her abilities.

Before the shameful secrets of the Finance Ministry people were exposed.

“….”

The Duke had nothing to say.

After all, it was he who had carelessly missed so many moments, so many opportunities.

“My acceptance of the Bureau Director’s proposal wasn’t just because he’s my superior.”

Rianel knew many ways to resist unreasonable orders from superiors.

“It’s because the Bureau Director, and the Tax Bureau where he works, is a special place to me.”

The people at the Tax Bureau also looked at Rianel with suspicious eyes at first.

But that attitude didn’t last long.

Unlike the Finance Ministry people, they didn’t ostracize or exclude Rianel. They chose to accept, acknowledge, and work together with her.

Now that fact, that daily life, was more important than anything else.

“Since you seem to have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave now.”

Rianel stood up with her bag slung over her shoulder.

As her footsteps faded away, the room became quiet again.

The Duke remained still for a long while with his face buried in his hands.

He was ashamed.

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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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