The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 63
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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 63】
A maid who had been sweeping the corridor approached stealthily, pretending to dust.
“Wasn’t the master in a one-sided relationship?”
Wasn’t he cultivating a wasteland all by himself?
“No. They just exchanged rings and did everything, you know.”
“My goodness, what’s gotten into him.”
The maid covered her mouth with both hands and stamped her feet as if she herself was excited.
She couldn’t contain her surprise at the thought that her master, whom she thought had kidnapped a sick person, was actually paving a shortcut straight to newlywed life.
“But are they skipping the engagement process entirely?”
“Maybe they already did it. You saw all those people rushing in earlier, right? There’s talk that they’re here to witness the wedding vows.”
“Really?”
The rumor, which had been mere speculation until then, rapidly gained momentum when it was revealed that Rianel’s family was among the guests.
And the rumor that had been inflated like that finally.
“What? That bastard is getting married? Without consulting me even once?”
Reached Asil’s grandfather, Hulbert, who was in the territory.
* * *
Two weeks had passed since Rianel stayed at Asil’s mansion.
Her physical condition had improved sufficiently that she seemed ready to leave.
But Rianel’s daily routine hadn’t changed much.
“Today I’ve prepared solid food for you.”
Stew still came out, her student still pestered her, and her living space was still confined to the small room.
If there was anything different, it was perhaps the meals?
The meat in the stew had changed to larger pieces and the vegetable chunks had become more abundant.
“Now that your digestive function has recovered stably, transitioning from liquid to solid food is an appropriate decision.”
It could be called a positive change in that she could consume essential nutrients like dietary fiber and protein.
However.
“My condition is perfectly normal, and I can hold tableware by myself.”
She wondered why Asil was still trying to attend to her meals.
“Don’t you still have a slight fever?”
“Humans generate heat to maintain a constant body temperature. This level is within the normal range.”
But Asil was persistent.
“The angle at which you hold your tableware is awkward. Wouldn’t it be better if you received my assistance?”
“This is actually a natural angle. Normal people don’t eat at right angles.”
Finally, Asil revealed his true intentions.
“Oh my. I thought you’d gotten used to me these past few days. I’m disappointed that you’re already saying you don’t need me.”
“I merely received help temporarily to maintain my daily routine. Now that I can live independently, there’s no reason to receive help from others.”
“Just live a life where you can’t do without me.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“You’re being too harsh.”
Still, just once more.
When the persistent Asil picked up the spoon again.
An old man with one foot on the threshold clicked his tongue.
“You’re just dying of happiness, dying of it.”
Rianel looked back while sitting on the bed, and Asil straightened up and turned around.
“How long ago did this old man send a letter saying he was coming, and here you are holed up playing at romance?”
Rianel felt a strange sense of déjà vu as she observed the old man.
‘No wonder the voice sounded familiar.’
It was indeed that old man who had come all the way to the Academy and caused a ruckus demanding his grandson back.
If there was anything different from then, it was that his cheeks had become gaunt and dried up, and mean wrinkles had formed around his mouth, making his expression even more cantankerous.
Asil brushed off Hulbert’s harsh words as if they were routine.
“What are you talking about when you only sent the letter yesterday?”
Asil clicked his tongue.
“So what brings you all the way here?”
Someone who usually stays holed up in the territory and never comes up.
Hulbert flew into a rage.
“How could a grandfather just sit still?”
Rumors of your marriage are spreading throughout the entire territory!
Hulbert strode into the room, stood before Rianel, and cleared his throat.
“Anyway, I should introduce myself. Nice to meet you. I’m this fellow’s grandfather.”
“I’m Rianel.”
“Isn’t that introduction too brief? Tell me more in detail. What do you do for work?”
“I serve as a team leader at the Special Tax Bureau.”
“I see, so you’re workplace colleagues.”
Hulbert nodded and asked again.
“What about your family house? Your family relations?”
“I’m registered with House Vincenheim. As for family, I have my father who is the Duke, and one half-sibling.”
“Half-sibling?”
Hulbert tilted his head.
“Did Duke Vincenheim remarry?”
“No. It’s because I’m an illegitimate child.”
Hulbert coughed awkwardly after hearing the unnecessarily detailed explanation.
“Aren’t you being too honest?”
“It’s a well-known fact and not confidential. There’s no benefit to be gained by hiding the truth.”
Hulbert became uncomfortable.
Because her skill at silencing others with truth alone reminded him of someone.
‘Wasn’t my grandson’s teacher like this?’
Hulbert pressed his throbbing forehead.
His grandson, who had said he wouldn’t see his grandfather’s face until he died, had left the Academy and become a bureau director for the sake of his teacher.
He was someone who couldn’t escape his teacher’s shadow that much.
‘I thought that fellow had finally healed his wounds when he suddenly brought a woman home.’
Now he could see that was his mistake.
‘Now he seems intent on embracing his teacher’s ghost and dying with it.’
Otherwise, where would he have picked up a woman exactly like his teacher?
“Come over here for a moment.”
Hulbert called his grandson to the corridor and whispered.
“Are you really thinking of marrying that woman?”
“Yes. It’s my wish.”
Even while talking to Hulbert, Asil’s body was already leaning toward the room.
‘He’s severely afflicted, severely.’
Hulbert was dumbfounded.
“Why didn’t you hold the ceremony and even see grandchildren before I arrived?”
Asil shook his head slightly and smiled.
“Right now I’m in the position of clinging to her one-sidedly. I’m trying not to do anything that would make her hate me.”
Not only does the other party not like him, but his own grandson is the one doing the clinging!
“What exactly is lacking in you that makes it like this!”
“As you said, Grandfather, I really am a pathetic grandson after all.”
He had certainly called his grandson to scold him, but seeing him dejected for failing to win the heart of his beloved made his heart soften.
“Still, seeing that young lady sitting inside the mansion, it seems she’s not entirely uninterested.”
“I wonder.”
However, Asil’s response was hardly reassuring, so Hulbert eventually returned to the room to ask directly.
“Why are you staying here, miss?”
“I was about to enter the Medical Center when the Bureau Director made this suggestion.”
Is that really all?
Hulbert asked again.
“Then, how do you feel about this place now?”
Even if the beginning was humble, a good result was all that mattered.
Who knows? Perhaps during her stay here, his grandson had managed to win even a little favor.
However, Rianel’s answer was beyond anything he could have imagined.
“The host was kind, the hygiene standards were excellent, and the stew was wonderful.”
“What.”
“So I’d give it 5 stars.”
“Do you think this is a lodging establishment?”
Hulbert was shocked.
* * *
“My grandson must have gone mad.”
Otherwise, there was no way he would cling so desperately to a young lady who had not even a speck of interest in him.
Just because she resembled his teacher!
“What do you think?”
Hulbert was in the guest room.
Behind him stood only Butler Joseph, who had come up from Novantium Main Castle with Hulbert.
“I think it’s truly regrettable. The young master is a brilliant person, but having spent his formative years in the confined space of the Academy, doesn’t he lose his composure over certain matters?”
“Absolutely right.”
Hulbert agreed emphatically.
His grandson was someone who lived seeing only his teacher in this vast world.
“That’s why I’m suggesting this – how about staying here for a few days to help the young master make the right decision?”
“Help, you say.”
“Yes. A person’s true nature can only be understood by observing them over time, can’t it?”
“That’s right, you make a good point.”
Since he had come all the way to the Imperial Capital anyway, it seemed good to personally verify whether that woman was suitable as his grandson’s match.
“I’ll make sure there are no inconveniences during your stay here.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
Joseph bowed his head respectfully like an obedient butler, but his inner thoughts were different.
‘A mistress must never enter the family house.’
Hulbert’s presbyopia was severe, so he hadn’t looked at the ledgers in a long time, and Asil was indifferent to the main house’s affairs.
No one knew that Joseph had been embezzling the ducal house’s assets while managing the Duke’s main castle.
‘But if a mistress enters?’
His crimes would be exposed immediately.
Overseeing the family’s internal affairs was the mistress’s role.
‘Eventually a mistress will enter the ducal house, but not now.’
The birth of a new Duchess had to happen after he fled abroad with the money he had accumulated.
‘I must somehow persuade the master to drive that woman away.’
Erasing the evidence remaining at the main castle would come after that.
Joseph quietly clenched his fist and solidified his plan.
However.
“Multiple unnecessary expenses have been identified in the maintenance cost records. Have you been embezzling?”
“Wh-what!”
His scheme was exposed in just one turn.
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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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