The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 52
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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 52】
This was thanks to the fact that ‘noodles’ weren’t completely unfamiliar food, and they emphasized that it could be enjoyed as convenience food, reflecting Mel’s advice.
Moreover, near the Imperial Capital, there were frequently people living alone or dual-income couples who left only their young children at home while commuting to work, so convenience food spread like a trend centered around them.
“It’s good because even children can cook it easily.”
“And it’s easy to store too.”
In the slums, it became popular for different reasons.
“To think this tiny thing could expand this much! Truly a miraculous food.”
It was understandable enough to relate to the legend of feeding crowds with five loaves of bread and two fish.
“Is this really made from wheat flour?”
“Goodness, has this person been fooled their whole life.”
Moreover, thanks to building the factory near the waterway, noodles spread rapidly throughout the entire Empire.
One day.
The Emperor summoned the Princess and Rianel to the audience chamber.
The moment the splendid scenery of the audience chamber came into view, the Princess hunched her shoulders.
Her relationship with the Emperor was awkward beyond measure.
Still, since he was the only blood relative she could lean on, she harbored vague admiration.
But now that brother had called for her.
‘I’m nervous…’
She felt excited along with the tension.
Her brother, who had always been indifferent to her, was showing direct interest.
“The Princess has accomplished something great this time.”
The Emperor greeted them both with a smile spread across his face.
“You stabilized the plummeting wheat prices and even solved the unemployment problem. Having such a sister is truly the Empire’s blessing and my good fortune.”
“Th… Thank you.”
When the Princess’s face flushed red with joy at being acknowledged.
“However, I think this might be too big a task for the Princess to handle alone.”
The Emperor brought up his main point.
“Pardon?”
“So what I’m saying is, wouldn’t it be better for the Empire to directly operate that business? To spread your intentions widely under the Imperial Family’s name, so all the people can enjoy those benefits.”
It was nothing less than a nationalization proposal.
On the surface he was giving praise, but it meant he would subsume the Princess and Rianel’s achievements under the Imperial Family’s name and place them under his control.
‘This bastard?’
Rianel quietly clenched her fist.
* * *
She wanted to kick the Emperor if she could.
Was he so lacking in things to do that he’d snatch away his sister’s business?
‘But I can’t do that.’
The opponent was the Empire’s highest authority figure.
“Aren’t you frustrated?”
Well, that’s what happened.
The Princess, who had only stared at the floor until leaving the Emperor’s main palace, smiled with self-mockery.
“Of course I’m frustrated. Naturally I’m frustrated.”
She had stayed up nights pondering and talking, dreaming dreams.
Dreams of expanding the business built under her own name and being loved by the Empire’s people.
But all those efforts would become meaningless, and her name would be erased.
“But I also think it can’t be helped. I actually did something bad, you see.”
Rianel pretended not to listen, but her ears naturally inclined that way.
“Because I pretended not to know even while knowing Sister-in-law was suffering…”
I did so even while knowing you were withering away in the Imperial Palace.
‘Because I was lonely.’
Because you, the only one who treated me kindly, were so warm.
“I turned away from reality while thinking it would be okay.”
It probably wasn’t that you didn’t know how to escape and stayed.
You could have lived receiving support from the Academy as a scholar.
I knew that one of the reasons you stayed in the Imperial Palace was me.
Because the young Princess whom no one cared for weighed on your mind.
“If I had known you would die like that, I should have at least told you to get divorced.”
I should have said I was fine, so don’t worry about me and run away.
The Princess smiled softly.
That smile was sadder than crying.
“I’m really terrible, aren’t I.”
Rianel looked at Tiren silently.
She didn’t know what words to offer to a child who spoke apologies that even the Emperor hadn’t brought up.
“Will you forgive me?”
“That’s not my place.”
“It’s okay to blame me. Honestly, I deserve to be punished.”
Yet on that subject, she had added to the donation asking not to be hated even after death.
People said the Head Maid could deceive Tiren because she was young, but that was half right and half wrong.
Tiren wanted to be deceived by her words, so she was deceived.
The words ‘if you donate, Sister-in-law can go to a better place’ were so sweet.
“As I said again, I’m not someone who judges right and wrong.”
Moreover.
“I don’t understand why you’re apologizing to me.”
She wasn’t ‘Ensilen’ anymore, was she.
“Um, I don’t know if I should say this…”
The Princess rubbed the floor with her toes, hesitating for a long while before difficultly parting her lips.
“Young Lady is just like Sister-in-law.”
The more she looked, the more it seemed so.
“So I keep talking about Sister-in-law.”
“….”
“It seems like no matter what I say, Young Lady would say it’s no big deal.”
Whether it was something done well or poorly.
She wouldn’t praise excessively or worry overly, but.
“Sometimes that calmness… can be comforting.”
As if saying it would be okay no matter what misfortune one experienced.
“…This isn’t a big deal either, right?”
“Yes.”
“It will all pass.”
“It will.”
Rianel nodded calmly.
She had passed through countless crises worse than this in her lifetime.
‘But why is it.’
The reason a cool sensation was running down her spine.
* * *
Saint Yuna had heard about the Princess’s noodle business a week ago.
After the Emperor’s explanation, Yuna’s eyes widened when she saw the actual products being sold.
“Pasta!”
“?!”
“This is pasta noodles!”
The Emperor was bewildered.
The Saint who came from another world sometimes said things like this that he had never heard or seen before.
“Is this a sustainable business?”
“Of course!”
Yuna nodded firmly.
“In the world I came from, they also made noodles from wheat flour and dried them to make transportation easier!”
How fascinating that the same thing was happening in this world too.
Then the Emperor seized the opportunity to bring up the ‘real reason’ he had started this conversation.
“Perhaps that’s why the Empire’s citizens have been praising the Princess endlessly lately. Even in the morning newspapers, the Princess’s name appears more often than mine.”
“Oh my!”
Yuna exclaimed with exaggerated loudness.
The reason the Saint could receive the Emperor’s favor over the Empress was because she had seen through his personality.
This man might seem like he was born as the legitimate heir and walked a smooth path, but in reality, he was forced to live as a ruler while being demanded perfection at every moment.
The Empress Dowager had also pressured him by comparing him to other capable peers of his age.
‘In other words, a wounded man!’
The key to conquering wounded men was sunlight-like comfort that penetrated the heart.
“What a truly regrettable situation. All of the Empire’s achievements should remain as Your Majesty’s accomplishments, yet the Princess is receiving all the glory alone.”
Yuna smiled gently and said the words the Emperor desperately wanted to hear.
‘That’s exactly what a salvation heroine should do!’
“Moreover, Her Highness the Princess is clearly a member of the Imperial bloodline, so I think it’s inappropriate for her to conduct business privately. Rather, wouldn’t it be better in terms of stability to operate officially under the Imperial name?”
“I think so too, but I fear people might misunderstand. It would be troublesome if others saw me as a ruler who covets and steals his half-sister’s business.”
The Emperor lowered his eyes, and that sight caught Yuna’s attention.
‘This is the melancholy gaze of a wounded man!’
What was needed at times like this was encouragement.
“How could that be? This is also for Her Highness the Princess’s sake. The Princess’s business will soon hit its limits anyway.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the Princess’s capital has its limitations. Moreover, exports require national approval, so converting to a state-run business would allow skipping various procedures and help the Princess too.”
“Is that so?”
The Emperor slightly raised his chin, unable to hide his interested expression.
“Of course. If I also participate in that business, we could add the message that it carries divine blessings, making it even better for educating the people.”
In the midst of this, Yuna also inserted her own spoon into the mix.
‘This is a business that will succeed!’
“Yes, if the Saint says so, I’ll consider it.”
The Emperor never admitted until the end that he had brought it up first.
Having taken over the entire business from the Princess, Yuna immediately summoned the person in charge.
“Could you call the Factory Manager?”
If she simply continued the Princess’s business as it was, it would be no different from ‘stealing a successful business’ as the Emperor had said.
‘This is when I need to show the power of a modern person!’
“You called for me…”
The Factory Manager who arrived was intimidated by seeing both the Princess and the Saint, but was startled when he heard Yuna’s words.
“You want me to fry the noodles?”
“Yes! That way they’ll cook much faster when prepared, and the taste will become more savory too.”
Moreover, while dried noodles couldn’t be eaten as is, if made into fried noodles, they could be eaten without cooking.
However, rather than getting excited hastily, the Factory Manager first presented the problems.
“Um, we would need frying pots for that.”
“We can’t skimp on initial investment costs. I’ll provide the support.”
Yuna had a lot of money.
This was because she received ‘gratitude offerings’ in exchange for turning a blind eye to excommunicated priests issuing fake donation receipts or selling holy water on the black market.
The wealth accumulated this way was considerable.
“The pots are a one-time purchase, but the oil costs as consumables are also substantial…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Yuna waved her hand dismissively and smiled confidently.
“This is a business that will succeed.”
Its name: ramen!
Wasn’t this a proven business even in modern times?
However, ten days later in the evening.
“A f-fire, you say?”
Yuna received the report that the entire noodle factory had burned down.
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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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