The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 23

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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 23】

The Special Tax Bureau building was bustling with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

There were several reasons for this atmosphere.

First, those detestable Finance Ministry people had completely disappeared, making the view much more pleasant.

Also, with no urgent work at hand, everyone’s minds had relaxed, and…

“His Majesty’s birthday ball is coming up soon!”

The fact that they would attend an Imperial-hosted ball had them all excited.

“It’s still just an extension of work though. We can’t even leave early, and we’ll have to go there and listen to boring nonsense.”

“But we get three days off after we come back.”

“That’s the only consolation.”

Til grumbled.

As an introvert, there was no worse poison for him than social parties.

“But isn’t this actually blasphemous? It’s the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, master of all things in the Empire, yet we only get four days off before returning to work. We should rest for half a month for His Majesty’s dignity to spread widely throughout the Empire.”

“Why don’t you suggest that to upper management?”

“I don’t have that much enthusiasm.”

While a few people were spouting nonsense, most were focused on the ball itself.

“Oh right, they’re serving Romanee-Conti that day, aren’t they?”

“That legendary wine? The one where a single sip costs our monthly salary?”

Wilbrin’s voice rose with excitement.

“I thought it was just a rumor too, but it seems to be true. My friend works in the Administrative Department, and she saw it being taken out of the wine cellar.”

“I’m going to drown myself in alcohol that day, just so you know.”

Half the people were interested in the rare food they would eat that day.

“Oh right, have you decided what to wear that day?”

The other half were worried about what formal attire to wear.

“I’m planning to alter the dress I wore last year. What about you, senior?”

“I’m renting again this year.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to buy one instead of renting every time?”

“Do alteration fees fall from the sky? And those kinds of clothes get ruined quickly if you don’t maintain them properly.”

“True…”

The Special Tax Bureau staff didn’t have enough financial means to purchase formal attire.

“Oh right, what’s the newbie going to do?”

One of the people in the conversation looked at Rianel.

There was expectation mixed in, wondering if she would naturally give a different answer than them.

“I’ll have it altered.”

“What? Why… Ow!”

The person who was about to ask ‘Couldn’t a Duke’s daughter afford a custom dress?’ got smacked on the back by Wilbrin and received criticism from Til calling him ‘tactless.’

It was an open secret that Rianel didn’t have a good relationship with her father.

‘Look how rotten the newbie’s expression is every time she comes back from talking with the State Minister!’

In reality it was expressionless, but Wilbrin added her own interpretation.

Meanwhile, Rianel didn’t think much of it.

“Getting new outfits tailored for every ball is excessively wasteful. Once the ball ends, new items become secondhand, don’t they? So it’s rational to utilize existing resources.”

More than anything, she didn’t want to spend money for her ex-husband’s birthday party. There was no greater waste in the world.

“Th-that’s true! It saves money too, which is good. Right?”

Wilbrin awkwardly smiled and agreed.

After everyone fell silent, they thought this conversation had ended.

30 minutes later.

Rianel was called to the Bureau Director’s office.

“About the outfit you’ll wear to the ball. Would it be alright if I had one tailored for you?”

* * *

‘This is my first time entering here.’

Rianel surveyed the interior of the Bureau Director’s office during the brief moment of opening the door and sitting down.

From Rianel’s seat, the inside of the Bureau Director’s office wasn’t visible, and even when going to the data room or looking around the building during commutes, the office door was almost always closed, making her curious about the interior.

‘The inside is… more ordinary than I thought.’

The desk and chair were the same standard equipment that Rianel used, and aside from being a private office, there didn’t seem to be any advantages.

If there was one thing that caught her eye.

‘He’s still using that.’

The fountain pen she had bought as a graduation gift when Rianel was a professor was tucked between some documents.

The fact that it was still close at hand despite so much time having passed caught her attention.

Because she was looking at that, Rianel reacted a beat late.

“What did you call me for?”

“The dress you’ll wear to the ball…”

“Bureau Director, you have no reason to make such expenditures.”

Honestly speaking, it was a waste of money.

“Of course I know you have plans. I inadvertently overheard. However…”

As Rianel said, there was no reason for him to concern himself with her dress.

He wasn’t the type to fuss over his partner’s attire either.

But when Rianel, who was known for liking luxury goods, chose alterations this year due to money concerns, he couldn’t help but worry and stay still.

‘She already reminds me of Master in so many ways, and now this…’

However, this was Asil’s personal matter.

Asil pondered how he could convey his intentions without hurting Rianel’s pride.

“You’re attending as my partner, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

“That’s the problem.”

Asil tried to make it seem like official business by mixing in a businesslike tone and putting on a stern expression.

“I am the head of the Special Tax Bureau. For someone like me to appear before people in shabby attire would be like bringing shame to our department’s face.”

In other words.

“This also applies to you, who will be attending as my partner.”

He was saying that Rianel altering her dress would reflect poorly on him as her partner.

‘Did some new custom develop without my knowledge?’

For Rianel, who had altered and worn existing dresses even when she was Empress, this was incomprehensible.

“Then that dress would be work attire worn during official duties.”

“You could see it that way.”

Worried he might be refused, Asil quickly agreed.

“Then I’ll have it cleaned and returned as soon as the schedule ends.”

Asil’s eyes wandered through the air.

Trapped by his own logic, he hesitated for a long while before honestly confessing.

“…Actually, that was a lie. I’m giving it to you out of personal desire.”

Not expecting anything in return or hoping for something.

“Just…”

“…”

“Just because I want to give it to you.”

Though it was an clumsy expression, hearing her student’s words that were clearly sincere, Rianel said.

“…Then I will accept it.”

She couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she agreed.

“Please don’t consider it a burden. I’m giving it to you because of my own selfish desire.”

Only then did Asil’s face brighten clearly.

Anyway, this concluded Asil’s business.

Now it was Rianel’s turn.

“Then may I also make a personal request that has nothing to do with official duties?”

“Of course.”

Asil nodded his head properly.

As soon as he did, Rianel pulled out a measuring tape.

“If it wouldn’t be rude, I’d like to measure the width of your shoulders, Bureau Director.”

Rianel wanted to satisfy the curiosity she’d had ever since Duke Vincenheim started going on about shoulders.

‘I’m genuinely curious about who has broader ones.’

Rianel pulled out both a small notebook and the measuring tape. A thoroughly meticulous attitude for recording precise measurements.

Asil’s eyebrows twitched.

* * *

After hearing the full story, Asil immediately straightened his posture.

With his shoulders squared and his back straight, there was an inexplicable sense of pride emanating from him.

“Mine are definitely broader.”

As if he thought doing so would actually make his shoulders wider.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If you check for yourself, you’ll see there’s no comparison with the State Minister.”

Indeed, Asil had such a broad upper body that the chair looked narrow.

The last time Rianel had seen him was when he had just become an adult.

Certainly, the current Asil had a thicker frame and had grown taller than back then.

Yes, she understood all that.

‘I had no idea he had shoulder pride though.’

Seeing him seriously boast about his shoulders like someone whose complex had been pointed out made her feel a bit embarrassed and sorry.

‘If I had known he would grow into this kind of adult, I shouldn’t have only praised his intelligence—I should have also complimented him on having a sturdy and reliable build.’

Though she was a professor, Rianel had also served as Asil’s caregiver, and she deeply reflected on this.

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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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