The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 24

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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 24】

Asil sat in his chair and leisurely lifted his chin.

“Please, measure away.”

It was a display of magnanimity born from pride.

However, he simultaneously expressed doubt.

“But measuring just my shoulders won’t give you much to compare with.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already secured the measurements of the control group.”

“….”

What would she have done if he had refused? Had she really prepared the State Minister’s shoulder width in advance?

Asil was both bewildered and dumbfounded.

“But what happens if my shoulders are broader?”

“You’ll become someone with broader shoulders than the State Minister.”

‘…Of course you would say that.’

It was an answer that could have been either a joke or serious. Asil let out a laugh mixed with a sigh, then froze.

The sight of Rianel approaching with the measuring tape.

The moment she lowered her head and placed her hands on his shoulders.

Even the motion of her dusting off her hands and straightening up as if the task was complete.

All of it….

‘It felt like Master was approaching.’

The retreating expressionless face was so regrettable that Asil unconsciously swallowed dryly.

He feared he might rashly reach out if he didn’t collect himself.

“…So what were the results?”

“Bureau Director, you are 0.7cm broader. Congratulations.”

‘Is that really something to congratulate?’

While bewildered, he felt an odd curiosity.

“Is there going to be a trophy ceremony or something?”

For being the person with the broadest shoulders in the Empire?

“That’s impossible. What I did was merely satisfy personal curiosity. I only measured a sample of two people, so I can’t tell you where Bureau Director’s shoulders rank in the Empire.”

I simply confirmed that they’re broader than the State Minister, who served as the control group.

It sounded logical and flawless.

‘It’s still nonsense after all.’

Asil saw through to its essence.

Speaking nonsense with a serious face was his master’s specialty.

“Ha, haha….”

It was certainly amusing.

Yet it was also melancholy.

Because he knew she wasn’t his master, and that he could never meet that person again.

Asil felt a sting around his eyes but forcibly suppressed it.

Now wasn’t the time to become some random guy with a sob story.

Above all, there was an important matter that had to be decided before the ball.

“Strictly speaking, as your partner, I should visit your residence to escort you, but….”

Rianel’s shoulders stiffened slightly.

The narrow rented room where she lived was packed so tightly with neighbors that they could share each other’s breathing through a single wall.

The access road was so narrow that if one person passed through, someone coming from the opposite direction would have to step aside.

It was a place where even bringing in a single horse would be difficult, let alone a carriage.

Asil smiled gently.

“You probably wouldn’t want to reveal your home address to your superior anyway.”

He scribbled an address on paper.

He wrote down a third location that was neither his residence nor Rianel’s home and handed it over.

“Let’s meet there.”

Rianel took the paper and carefully rolled it up in her grip.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

And as time passed,

the day of the ball arrived.

* * *

The place Asil had written down was in front of a fountain located not far from Rianel’s home.

It was both a consideration for herself, whose only means of transportation were her two legs, and chosen as a place people commonly used as a meeting spot to reduce anxiety.

“Have you been waiting long?”

After standing there for a while, a carriage rolled up and its door opened.

Rianel carefully placed her hand over Asil’s palm, then suddenly looked up.

She had first seen Asil when he turned ten years old.

The Asil of that time had lost his parents and was resenting the world.

Rianel had washed, fed, and put to bed the child who swore he would never return home even if he died.

However, back then she was living on the meager salary of an assistant professor, so money was tight.

Unable to help it, Rianel had gotten spare uniforms from the Academy and dressed Asil in them.

Perhaps it was because he spent his formative years in such an environment.

Even after becoming a teaching assistant and reaching an age where he no longer needed to wear uniforms, Asil showed little interest in luxury or adorning himself.

Asil as Bureau Director was the same.

His attire was always neat but far from splendid.

So Rianel hadn’t expected much either.

“What’s wrong?”

Today’s Asil was truly different.

The formal attire made from navy blue fabric was tailored to fit perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and tall, slender frame.

Gold embroidery running along the shoulder lines and sleeves covered every part of the formal wear without gaps, and the luxurious buttons combined with the shirt pleats visible inside the jacket created an almost painted sophistication.

An outfit that could be considered somewhat excessive in some ways.

But it was also true that it suited Asil well.

Rianel felt a slight tightness in her chest and pride.

‘My goodness.’

Whose student could be this handsome.

Rianel, who had been staring blankly for quite a while.

“Do I look that strange?”

Finally came to her senses at the gaze studying her intently.

“No, that’s not it….”

While hastily denying it, she blurted out what she should say.

“It’s because it suits you so well.”

“Is that so?”

Asil showed an attentive attitude.

Knowing this meant he wanted more praise, Rianel quickly gave the kind of compliment her student would want to hear.

“Yes. I thought the attire that highlights your broad shoulders so well was truly magnificent.”

Rianel had intended to satisfy her student’s shoulder pride, but listening Asil felt somewhat displeased.

‘I went through all the trouble of dressing up and polishing myself, and why is she talking about shoulders again.’

Even this quirky behavior wasn’t unpleasant, because he could tell Rianel was making an effort to praise him, however clumsily.

Or perhaps it was because Rianel, having shed her plain indoor dress for a party dress, looked beautiful even while feeling awkward about her own attire.

‘Even this slight lack of social skills reminds me of Master….’

No, continuing to look for his master’s shadow in another person would be wrong.

“Then let’s go.”

Asil extended his hand.

The people from the Tax Bureau will be waiting for us.

* * *

Asil had attended the Imperial Ball every year, but he never stayed long.

After all, he only attended as a bureau director and as a noble of the Empire.

Most importantly, the Emperor would appear at that event.

The person who never showed his face even once at Administrative Council meetings.

The enemy who killed his mentor.

People might not know the reason why Asil disliked balls, but they knew he would leave early.

“You’ll come without a partner again this year, won’t you?”

“And you won’t stay long either.”

The only thing he showed any attachment to was the Special Tax Bureau where he served as director.

This time too, it was obvious he would have some appropriate conversations with the Tax Bureau people and then leave, just like every year.

“We can’t even slip in to join the conversation…”

Interrupting in the middle of Asil’s conversation with the Tax Bureau people would be a serious breach of etiquette.

Most importantly, perhaps because Asil was from the National Academy, he disliked rude people, especially discourteous behavior.

In high society full of notable figures, difficult people were usually ostracized, but Asil was an exception.

‘Well, of course, since he’s Duke Novantium!’

He was worth befriending.

The owner of gold mines covering half of the Western Territory.

A person who possessed wealth rivaling the Emperor’s, and power equivalent to a king, at least in the west.

Yet he was a noble beast who had never once coveted anything beyond the west with that wealth.

On top of that, the Special Tax Bureau he commanded had been showing prominence lately, so naturally his existence was coveted.

“There’s no other way. We’ll have to approach him all at once as soon as he enters.”

“I suppose that’s our only option.”

Those desperate for networking waited eagerly for Duke Novantium to make his entrance, but.

‘…What?’

‘Right now, next to the Duke…’

When Asil unexpectedly appeared with a partner, they missed their chance to approach.

Especially since that partner was quite eye-catching.

The woman had neatly pinned up her black hair at the nape of her neck, then naturally let side strands fall to create an effortless naturalness.

That appearance exuded elegance.

The pure white fabric wrapping her body and the gold belt gave the impression of trying to minimize decoration, while the dress spreading from her waist and layers of added tulle swayed gently like spring sunlight.

Moreover, she was holding hands with Asil, who seemed to have borrowed from a night sky infused with stars.

The two outfits, seemingly unmatched, contrasted side by side, creating a strange harmony like day and night.

People who had been following their movements with their eyes for a while were shocked when they belatedly realized the partner’s identity.

“That woman is Lady Vincenheim?”

That tacky woman who used to wear dresses in deep primary colors and adorn herself with every jewel she could find?

“That’s what they say. She looks so different from what I remembered that I almost didn’t recognize her for a moment…”

“Looking at her features, it’s definitely that woman. My goodness…”

Now she appeared much more relaxed compared to last year.

With an air of indifference, she looked as if she had dressed ‘casually.’

But everyone knew that creating such a natural appearance, looking dressed up yet not dressed up, was actually more difficult.

“If she could do this, why did she go around like that last year?”

“Who knows. But what connection did she make with Duke Novantium to enter together with him?”

“Didn’t you know? The reason the Special Tax Bureau has been getting attention lately is all thanks to Lady Vincenheim.”

“Then is this a gesture of appreciation?”

“It might be.”

As they whispered among themselves.

“Receiving so much attention like that. You could say she’s tonight’s protagonist without exaggeration.”

They all reached the same conclusion.

Of course, they only said this because the Emperor, who was the actual birthday celebrant, was absent.

Meanwhile, Vanessa, who had been kicked out of the Duke’s Estate and barely managed to attend the ball by pestering Royhum, was.

‘How can someone like Rianel wear a dress by Madam Selon?’

Seething with rising jealousy and indignantly biting her nails out of habit.

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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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