The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 46

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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 46】

 

“That meeting might not end as a one-time thing!”

 

A meeting at home could lead to meetings outside. And then one day, it might even lead to meetings in bed.

 

“? I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”

 

Even at this moment, Rianel remained calm.

 

Only then did Asil realize there was a huge difference in thinking between him and Rianel.

 

For that to happen, one premise had to be in place.

 

“Do you think Norman Rikel will reject the marriage proposal?”

 

“Of course—”

 

Before Rianel could finish answering, the government building door burst open.

 

Other Tax Bureau people came running in, gasping for breath.

 

They had rushed here so frantically that their faces were all flushed red.

 

“What? Team, no, Team Leader, are you having another political marriage?”

 

“Who is it this time? How much tax did that guy evade?”

 

Wilbrin leaned forward with her hands on Rianel’s desk, and Til joined in. His eyes showed a craving for dopamine.

 

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I’m the one who submitted this marriage proposal.”

 

Everyone’s expressions became strangely distorted.

 

“Why? Why on earth would you do that?”

 

Just recently, didn’t she say she would dedicate her life to the Special Tax Bureau? So why?

 

“Because that person is the owner of the bank.”

 

Such a brief answer.

 

Wilbrin was shocked.

 

“No, just how money-minded are you?!”

 

It took some time for their misunderstanding to be cleared up.

 

* * *

 

And there was one more person who was horrified.

 

“This is ridiculous.”

 

It was Duke Vincenheim, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

 

He pushed through the government building door as if he would break it and immediately approached Rianel’s desk.

 

Neither Asil nor the other Special Tax Bureau people had time to stop him.

 

He was showing restraint by not slamming the desk.

 

“What are you lacking that you would marry such an old man…!”

 

“The term ‘old man’ is inappropriate language. The age difference between President Rikel and you, Duke, is only seven years.”

 

“You’re even going to marry someone older than me! Is your mind properly intact? Do you truly feel no sense of problem with this? On top of that, he even has a son!”

 

“I know. He has a son who turned fourteen this year.”

 

“Knowing that, you still want to marry him?”

 

The Duke looked up at the sky in frustration.

 

Asil, who was coming out of the Bureau Director’s office, froze awkwardly. He saw himself in the Duke, who had just been cornering Rianel.

 

“What’s your reason for submitting a marriage proposal to him? Money again?”

 

“No.”

 

Arman Bank was on the verge of bankruptcy, so Norman belonged to the category of those with poor economic power.

 

“Then tell me. What are his strengths!”

 

“He’s capable and has excellent financial sense.”

 

“Even though the bank is on the verge of bankruptcy?”

 

“Ah.”

 

Rianel, rarely refuted, corrected her words.

 

“That was past tense.”

 

“Are there no strengths in present tense?”

 

Rianel pondered for 10 seconds.

 

“He’s more mature than I am.”

 

“Of course he is! Naturally he would be!”

 

How old is that guy!

 

The Duke went through the five stages of acceptance just like the other Special Tax Bureau people had.

 

Unable to accept the situation momentarily, he went through denial and anger stages, pouring out his emotions, and was now immersed in emptiness.

 

Having heard the whole story, he was now slumped in his chair like wrung-out laundry.

 

Of course, understanding the situation didn’t mean he had completely accepted it.

 

“Aren’t you thirsty? Shall I bring you some water?”

 

Then Asil, who had been observing the situation from inside the Bureau Director’s office, stepped forward.

 

It was a scheme to score points with the Duke for the future, but the Duke, unaware of Asil’s intentions, readily nodded.

 

“Give it to me.”

 

The Duke gulped down the water and started round two.

 

“Was there a reason the way to meet President Rikel had to be a marriage proposal?”

 

“That was the most efficient method. Above all, we could expect guaranteed results since the recipient would definitely send a reply.”

 

The Duke swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out and rubbed the back of his neck.

 

“…If you had told me, it would have been resolved more easily.”

 

Rianel stared at him for several seconds.

 

“If you had submitted the marriage proposal, Duke, a rejection letter would have come before you could even reach President Rikel’s mansion.”

 

“Not that method!”

 

The Duke felt his subsided anger rising again.

 

He knew Rianel’s thinking was flexible and without prejudice, but wasn’t this going too far?

 

“You could have explored other methods. For instance, summoning him in the State Minister’s name.”

 

“People should live independently. Since I’ve already passed adulthood, I have the obligation to think about and decide problem-solving methods myself.”

 

“Even so! How could you decide such a big matter without consulting me? What do you think I am to you? Am I really your father?”

 

“Of course, you are biologically my father.”

 

The Duke’s face turned so red that his original skin color was unrecognizable.

 

Meanwhile, the Special Tax Bureau people watching this conversation felt uncomfortable.

 

They weren’t intervening to respect Rianel’s private domain, but as extraordinary content was being exchanged, they found themselves unconsciously perking up their ears.

 

However, since interfering would still be rude, they pretended to work, spreading out scrap paper and secretly exchanging written notes.

 

‘But isn’t Duke Vincenheim’s image too different? From what Team Leader said, I thought he was someone who only enjoyed pleasure and didn’t take responsibility.’

 

‘Right. Now he rather looks like…’

 

A father who wanted to get close to his daughter but didn’t know how and was anxiously fretting.

 

‘Honestly, Team Leader seems to be going too far.’

 

No matter how much bad feelings there were, wasn’t there no need to say that much to someone who came out of worry?

 

Til, who received the paper from Mel, scribbled a line below it.

 

‘Though she is just listing objective facts…’

 

In the midst of that, if it was an ability to deal damage to the other person without distorting the truth, then it was an ability.

 

They admired Rianel while perking up their ears again.

 

“But weren’t you the one, Duke, who left me isolated in the mansion?”

 

“That was…”

 

As the Duke’s words were blocked, the writing on the scrap paper became dense.

 

‘…This is why you shouldn’t interfere in other people’s family affairs.’

 

‘…Right.’

 

As third parties, they only saw momentary snapshots and couldn’t know the deep circumstances.

 

They almost made the mistake of hastily judging based on what appeared on the surface.

 

The Duke let out a deep sigh.

 

“Right, you won’t forgive me.”

 

“Yes, I cannot forgive.”

 

Rianel had meant this in the sense that she wasn’t the ‘real Rianel,’ but to the Duke, it sounded like a cold severance of their relationship.

 

He pressed his brow firmly and calmed his emotions.

 

Since what had already happened couldn’t be undone anyway, he decided to reach the final stage of ‘acceptance.’

 

“Fine. However, you cannot go alone.”

 

At the same time, he presented a compromise.

 

“I am your father, so I have the right to be involved in your marriage proposal.”

 

“Please do so.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I was already planning to go with others anyway.”

 

The Special Tax Bureau people who had been tactfully eavesdropping from beyond the partition gave awkward smiles when they made eye contact with the Duke.

 

“….”

 

The Duke, feeling greatly deceived, contorted his face subtly.

 

Of course, not everyone would accompany them to Norman’s house.

 

“Your Highness should stay here.”

 

Princess Tiren pouted her lips.

 

“Hmph….”

 

It was fine for the Princess to come from the Princess Palace to the Tax Bureau. It was within the same Imperial Palace, and the distance wasn’t far.

 

But going outside the Imperial Palace was a different story. Imperial family outings required guards and servants, plus the Emperor’s permission and various procedures.

 

The Princess also knew this fact, so she obediently nodded her head.

 

Though the Princess was excluded, the number of people heading to President Rikel’s mansion was not small.

 

Including the State Minister and the Special Tax Bureau Director, there were fourteen people in total.

 

When the grand group arrived at the mansion gate, the Rikel family’s butler opened the door with a soul-drained expression.

 

“Wh-who might you be…?”

 

“I’m the person who submitted a marriage proposal letter to President Rikel.”

 

Rianel stepped forward as the representative and spoke.

 

“…All of these people?”

 

The butler was horrified.

 

My master’s private life that only I didn’t know about had become excessively extensive.

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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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