The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 56

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

【Chapter 56】

 

“Is distinguishing between them important?”

 

After all, aren’t they both you?

 

“I might not be the person the Bureau Director knows.”

 

It wasn’t simply a statement denying his identity.

 

It meant there could be another side to the essence of the ‘Master’ that Asil knew.

 

Above all, there was a possibility that Asil’s love wasn’t romantic affection.

 

The beginning of their relationship started when Rianel, who was an assistant professor, took in a child exhausted by hunger and cold.

 

Asil didn’t become a student because he had an interest in academics, but because the person he relied on was at the Academy.

 

So just as parents develop attachment toward their children, he might have mistaken the emotions of relying on and idealizing his master for romantic love.

 

“Perhaps the Bureau Director wants to return to a time when you relied on someone.”

 

“Humans are inherently social animals. Healthy relationships mean revealing weaknesses to each other and relying on one another.”

 

“People must live independently once they become adults. It’s an adult’s duty to think for themselves to solve problems.”

 

“I’m not trying to refute Master’s philosophy, but…”

 

Asil clicked his tongue.

 

“You’re too independent.”

 

That’s why you always try to handle everything alone.

 

Even when you’re really about to die, you’re the type to embrace everything alone without showing it until the very end and die that way.

 

I understand you don’t want to shift responsibility to others, but from the side, it’s often frustrating to watch.

 

Like now.

 

“Is there a reason to take flying stones alone?”

 

Even beatings hurt less when shared among several people.

 

“Having multiple people take flying stones is inefficient. It increases the number of injured. It’s more utilitarian for an individual to bear it.”

 

This person is doing it again.

 

Asil shook his head in disbelief.

 

Because he thought, this person really is my master.

 

“Yes, I understand what you’re saying.”

 

Anyway, the essence of the topic was one thing.

 

Whether his feelings were genuine or a mistake.

 

“Even lovers harbor similar doubts and quarrel.”

 

Do you love me seeing my essence, or do you love me seeing my shell?

 

Are your feelings genuine, or are you mistaking other desires for romantic love?

 

Of course, human nature isn’t easily visible, and even what seems like nature is first seen through the parts the other person reveals.

 

“Of course, I know there may be parts of Master that I don’t know.”

 

Your taking me in might have been a momentary whim. Or perhaps you did it to use me after finding out my status and background.

 

‘Anyway, only you know the correct answer.’

 

It was you who taught me that digging into areas that cannot be reasoned through academics is meaningless.

 

What he could do was just.

 

“What can I do? I’ve already fallen in love even knowing I might be betrayed.”

 

Face and reveal his own emotions, that’s about it.

 

“I won’t change, Master.”

 

“…”

 

Rianel quietly gazed at him.

 

Agitation could be felt from her rigid face.

 

“I know. I was a bit hasty today.”

 

It seemed like you were trying to run away, so I unknowingly became impatient.

 

Rianel still had an expressionless face.

 

At first glance, she seemed to maintain composure, but in reality, she was probably shrunk up like a cat with all her nerves on edge.

 

It was your habit to hide your words the more tense you became.

 

“Still, don’t run away.”

 

Since everything’s been found out anyway.

 

“…”

 

After a long silence, Rianel suddenly blurted out.

 

“Clever brat.”

 

It was as good as confessing who she was.

 

“Ah.”

 

Her student, who had been dazed for a moment.

 

“I wanted to hear those words so much, Master.”

 

Soon smiled like a flower.

 

Ah, how happy.

 

* * *

 

Once the situation was resolved and the victim count was finished, Rianel calculated the compensation.

 

The first place she visited afterward was the Temple.

 

Since the main cause of this disaster was the Saint.

 

“I don’t know anything about it!”

 

The Saint turned them away at the door several times, but when Rianel and the Factory Manager kept visiting, she finally screamed and chased them away.

 

“I told you it’s not my business anymore! It has nothing to do with me! I don’t want to care what happens to those people, so you handle it yourself!”

 

In the midst of that, it was fortunate that she revealed she had no intention of continuing the business.

 

‘At least there won’t be reconstruction costs.’

 

She didn’t visit the Emperor.

 

Because it was obvious he would make excuses that he was merely swayed by the cunning Saint’s instigation and knew nothing.

 

Even when he stole the Princess’s business, he was someone who couldn’t even say he stole it out of greed for fear people would criticize him.

 

Such a person wouldn’t have the courage to face people’s criticism head-on now.

 

So Rianel went to work at the Special Tax Bureau.

 

Since it was within the Imperial Palace, the Princess was there too.

 

“Right, what will you do about the factory?”

 

There was a reason Wilbrin asked this question.

 

The ball had returned to the Princess as the Saint withdrew from the business.

 

“Of course I’ll rebuild it.”

 

“It’s fortunate amid misfortune that you received all the initial investment costs when it became nationalized…”

 

The Saint had returned all the investment money from Arman Bank and the Princess to eliminate their stake percentages. Thanks to that, there was sufficient funding to rebuild the factory.

 

Moreover, there was no need to find workers because.

 

“Most expressed their intention to work again.”

 

“If you’ll have us, we’ll do it.”

 

“We had nowhere else to go anyway…”

 

“I’m glad you’re calling me back. I was wondering where I’d find another job.”

 

It was thanks to the existing factory workers saying they would work again.

 

“Wow, now we really just need to build the factory.”

 

“Before that, compensation must be paid.”

 

Rianel presented documents with roughly estimated amounts.

 

“We plan to pay compensation to the families of the deceased and medical expenses to the injured.”

 

Moreover, since most of the workers were breadwinners of their households, living support funds had to be provided for those whose livelihoods became uncertain.

 

“Even considering all that included, the compensation seems excessive?”

 

“That includes lost income for the deceased and seriously injured as well.”

 

The Princess asked with wide eyes.

 

“What’s lost income?”

 

“It’s the amount the victim could have earned if they had lived and continued working.”

 

“Ah….”

 

Most of the budget was scheduled to come from the Special Tax Bureau.

 

There were still additional taxes and collection fees to be gathered from the Ministry of Finance people, and the late interest that Vanessa would pay was also steadily accumulating.

 

In other words, there would be no shortage of funds.

 

‘But it will take time for that budget to come in.’

 

This year’s budget had already been finalized at the end of last year. They couldn’t rashly reduce amounts or change items.

 

So Rianel went to find Norman.

 

“Please unlock the account.”

 

It was to unlock her secret account that had been dormant at Arman Bank.

 

There, the salary she had received during her time as a professor and the severance pay she had collected were accumulated.

 

“You mean to say you’ll use that money for this?”

 

Norman was shocked.

 

“No matter what, paying out such a large sum as compensation….”

 

“It’s money I can’t use privately anyway.”

 

To use the funds from the secret account, she would need to prove her identity.

 

Norman knew that Rianel was the Former Empress, but officially proving that was a separate matter.

 

But if Norman contributed those funds under the name of donation? All problems would be solved.

 

When Rianel opened the secret account, she had left a will stating that all her assets should be donated in case of her death.

 

“Don’t you find it regrettable? People won’t remember your efforts.”

 

What’s so surprising about that.

 

Rianel thought it was nothing new.

 

‘All the efforts I’ve accumulated so far have been forgotten too.’

 

“Money is meant to be used for such purposes.”

 

Money isn’t saved to be hoarded.

 

It’s saved to be used well.

 

That’s what Rianel believed.

 

And so the compensation and living support funds were distributed under the name of the Former Empress.

 

A few days later, strange rumors began circulating at the accident site.

 

“This special fund was paid out from the legacy left by the Former Empress.”

 

“Wasn’t she someone who fell out of the Emperor’s favor due to misgovernment?”

 

But what’s this about a legacy?

 

“A legacy is private wealth, so it’s separate from policy. And she didn’t misgovern either. She had far more good policies. Oh, you know those people who came down to assess our compensation? Do you know which organization they’re from?”

 

“The Special Tax Bureau?”

 

“Right! That was also created by the Empress. She made it to help people like us who have nothing, using taxes.”

 

“What? Wasn’t she collecting taxes to indulge herself?”

 

“No, she was squeezing money from the wealthy.”

 

“So that’s why the nobles were foaming at the mouth and throwing fits?”

 

“Anyway, the wealthy are the worst.”

 

There were also people telling stories from a different angle.

 

“By the way, that minister who fled this time. He was someone appointed by the Emperor, right?”

 

“Really?”

 

“Even when the charges were revealed, he turned a blind eye after receiving bribes.”

 

The reason such rumors could spread was.

 

“That’s right. When the Inspection Bureau disappeared, there was no department left to monitor corruption in the Ministry of Finance.”

 

“Oh my, such an important person has come all the way here.”

 

“Is it alright for someone who’s a Bureau Director to come to a place like this?”

 

“It’s fine. I’m just stopping by briefly.”

 

Because Asil occasionally visited the accident site to spread rumors.

 

“The Former Empress was also the one who created that Inspection Bureau. But it was abolished immediately after the Former Empress passed away.”

 

“Those damn bastards!”

 

While it was pleasant to hear her ex-husband being cursed, seeing her student running around excitedly gave her a strange feeling.

 

‘Why is that kid so excited?’

 

Because it had been a long time since she’d seen her student looking so happy.

 

Anyway, just as the situation was being resolved.

 

“The Saint is coming to the joint funeral?”

 

At this newly arrived news, the atmosphere that was about to settle down heated up again.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————