The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 54

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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 54】

 

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

 

“What misunderstanding!”

 

Wilbrin immediately retorted.

 

Normally, she would have remembered this was the Bureau Director’s office and held back her words, but right now she couldn’t see anything else.

 

‘How could we lose the Team Leader we finally caught!’

 

Someone who stayed steadfast despite all kinds of temptations pouring in from all directions.

 

Someone who even recently rejected outside director offers and chose civil service.

 

“If she hadn’t decided to change jobs, there’s no way she’d be absent from work.”

 

‘Someone who’s so obsessed with allowances and retirement pensions…!’

 

Wilbrin’s anxiety had a reason.

 

A few days ago, when she realized she’d left her bag at the government building after work and came back.

 

She had seen it.

 

The scene of the Bureau Director openly hitting on Rianel!

 

‘Until then, I just thought I felt that kind of atmosphere…’

 

Still, she had remained silent because Rianel hadn’t pushed the Bureau Director away either.

 

‘So I thought it was mutual romance.’

 

But it actually wasn’t.

 

Now she realized the Team Leader was just a pitiful office worker who had to accept advances due to her superior’s authority.

 

In Wilbrin’s mind, the formula ‘absence = making time for interviews’ was firmly established.

 

“It’s all my fault. I should have done something instead of pretending not to see…”

 

She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

 

“The Team Leader went to handle an accident site. She didn’t go to lay groundwork for changing jobs, so please calm down.”

 

Wilbrin removed her hands and looked up.

 

Her face without tears was perfectly fine.

 

‘This person is really good at saying things she doesn’t mean.’

 

The Former Team Leader had judged people correctly.

 

“I’m a working adult, you know. I know how to manage my expressions! It’s not that I’m not crying because I’m not sad!”

 

“Yes, well…”

 

Anyway, that wasn’t what was important.

 

Asil briefly explained where Rianel was and why she had left her post.

 

“So I processed it as field work for now.”

 

“Ah…”

 

It was a relief that it wasn’t a job change.

 

“But can it be processed as field work when she went to do something unrelated to her duties?”

 

Or did she go to the accident site to collect taxes?

 

‘Are there tax evaders there too?’

 

Wilbrin shuddered.

 

It seemed like something Rianel would really do.

 

She was someone who maintained stoic composure like a heartless chunk of scrap metal.

 

“Of course she went to handle the site.”

 

“But how…”

 

“She’s assessing the scale of damage there and reviewing how much budget needs to be invested.”

 

Coincidentally, the Princess’s business had been converted to a state enterprise, meeting the requirements for public fund investment.

 

“The Empress Dowager just delegated special tax allocation authority to our agency.”

 

Team Leader level was sufficient rank to receive that kind of authority and be dispatched to the site.

 

Since the Special Tax Bureau was originally established by the Former Empress to secure welfare budget, organizing compensation with special budget would perfectly align with its founding purpose.

 

“Oh, right. That’s what happened.”

 

Wilbrin recalled what had been decided during the Administrative Council.

 

This year’s budget allocation had been completed at the end of last year, but.

 

‘Special budget is a separate matter.’

 

But there was still something she didn’t understand.

 

“But why is our Team Leader stepping forward for something even the Saint and Emperor are ignoring?”

 

It sounded nice to call it ‘damage assessment,’ but wasn’t it obvious she’d become a target for angry people’s abuse?

 

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

 

Asil clicked his tongue briefly.

 

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked down at his watch.

 

He said he didn’t know, but inwardly he knew the answer.

 

‘She’s planning to take all the blame again.’

 

Just like when she was Empress.

 

So foolishly.

 

* * *

 

The fire site was truly a scene of carnage.

 

The smell of burning filled the air everywhere, and unrecovered remains were scattered across the blackened, cold ash heaps.

 

“Sob sob…”

 

People wailing.

 

“Hey, medicine… please…”

 

Injured people groaning.

 

“….”

 

And people staring blankly at the sky with devastated faces.

 

Everyone had different appearances, but it was clear they couldn’t accept the overwhelming reality.

 

Unable to bear the emotions that had been pushed to their limits, they began to explode.

 

“Who’s the person in charge! Come out!”

 

“My daughter died! Her wedding was supposed to be next month…”

 

“I lost my arm, damn it! How am I supposed to make a living like this?”

 

Criticism and screams mixed together, echoing from all directions.

 

Even Factory Manager Filson, who knew the site, staggered under the bombardment of surging emotions.

 

The only reason he managed to hold on without collapsing was thanks to Rianel standing upright beside him.

 

‘I don’t know how someone younger than me and just a Team Leader can be so composed.’

 

Filson felt respect for Rianel rising within him.

 

He thought this might be what a true noble was like.

 

At the same time, he was glad the Princess wasn’t at this scene.

 

‘Even if she’s royalty, she’s still a young child.’

 

Making her see such a horrific scene would definitely be wrong.

 

‘Besides, isn’t the Princess also a victim who had her business stolen by the Saint?’

 

Filson reached the open field where people had gathered.

 

He cleared his throat to draw everyone’s attention.

 

“E-everyone, please calm down! I’ve brought someone who can help!”

 

At Filson’s shout, everyone’s gaze turned in unison.

 

Rather than the eyes of those who had found hope, their fierce gazes were filled with suspicion and anger.

 

The silence was brief.

 

They became outraged that the person in charge who came was ‘just one low-level civil servant’ and began pouring out their emotions.

 

“Help? That woman? How?”

 

“Are you going to give us some petty change again and pretend not to know?”

 

Or not even that.

 

“So you’re the person in charge? Are you the bastard who built that shitty factory!”

 

“Save her! I don’t need money or anything like that, just save my daughter!”

 

“N-no! That’s not it! The original fault was the Saint’s—!”

 

Filson stepped forward to calm the escalating situation, but his words were drowned out by shouts and wails.

 

The ruling class always looks down on the people.

 

Because they are many but weak, fall silent when trampled upon, and do not easily resist.

 

However, they too were people who knew how to express emotions, so they knew how to be indignant and rise up.

 

Only the direction of their anger was different.

 

They turned a blind eye to the injustices stemming from the tyranny of power, but did not remain silent on matters directly related to their livelihood.

 

When the lives of their beloved family members were at stake, they raged more fiercely than anyone.

 

Their anger was a matter of survival, so it was vibrant, collective, and once they united, controlling them was impossible.

 

There is no one anywhere in the world who wants to live in poverty.

 

And there is also no one who would remain still after losing a loved one unjustly.

 

“Everyone please calm down for a moment! We can’t resolve the situation like this!”

 

Filson shouted with a trembling voice, but.

 

“What dialogue?”

 

“Are you in cahoots with those bastards too?”

 

“How much money did you take, you bastard!”

 

The people’s anger did not subside.

 

“No, these people really.”

 

Why is there chaos even when coming to help?

 

Filson was about to raise his voice as well, but Rianel stopped him.

 

“Please wait a moment.”

 

“Still—”

 

“There’s no point in arguing with overheated people.”

 

If telling them to calm down would make them calm, it wouldn’t have come to this situation.

 

‘At times like this, you must save your words.’

 

Carelessly spoken words can become excuses.

 

And excuses become an insult to their righteous anger.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Get lost!”

 

“What are they going to do by sending just one lowly subordinate in the first place?”

 

Someone picked up and threw a stone.

 

It was the moment when the crowd’s anger took physical form.

 

Rianel closed her eyes.

 

A crowd is strong, but at the same time, it’s also a gathering of fragile individuals.

 

If you accept their anger at times like this, the united crowd disintegrates and wavers.

 

Because cooled anger transforms into guilt and remorse.

 

‘So I must endure it.’

 

Rianel waited with her eyes tightly shut, anticipating the coming pain.

 

However.

 

“…?”

 

There was a sound of impact, but it didn’t hurt.

 

Rianel opened her eyes.

 

“What…”

 

She saw broad shoulders that filled her entire field of vision, and the back of her student who had grown much taller than her.

 

“Originally, when something like this happens, people with high ranks come out to act as shields.”

 

That’s why they receive high salaries too.

 

‘So.’

 

This time, Asil, who stood completely covering Rianel, whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

 

“This time, don’t endure it alone and try leaning on someone.”

 

‘I was always alone.’

 

But you told me not to be like that.

 

“I’m your superior.”

 

The feeling of being protected by the student she had raised was strange and yet.

 

‘Warm.’

 

Rianel stood there in a daze for a long while.

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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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