The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 7

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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 7】

Rianel noticed the loss of her report draft as soon as she arrived at work.

Not only were the positions of items on her desk subtly different.

Several documents had their left edges curled and sticking out of the drawer, and the papers in the drawer that contained the report were mixed up in an irregular, jumbled order.

‘Someone tampered with it.’

Rianel quickly deduced the identity of the intruder.

At this time, there was only one place that would target the Special Tax Bureau.

But she couldn’t storm into the Ministry of Finance and demand they return the report.

‘They would obviously feign ignorance and claim they knew nothing about it.’

Instead of submitting a report full of obvious flaws from the mansion, Rianel chose to remain silent for now.

‘All the important data is in my hands anyway.’

Unless something special happened, Rianel had no intention of revealing that her report had been stolen.

‘I have no greed for achievements anyway.’

But Cedric not only submitted the stolen report under his own name, but also tried to use it to attack the Special Tax Bureau.

‘I absolutely cannot let this slide.’

Rianel found the flaws in the report that Cedric had altered.

Since she was the original author, it was only natural.

When Cedric, caught in the trap he had set for himself, was cornered and crumpled.

“Is the Special Tax Bureau not submitting anything this time?”

Finance Minister Royhum said.

It meant: don’t attack our department’s report, try submitting something yourselves.

Rianel answered calmly.

“Since the Bureau Director gave me an opportunity, I pondered solutions with my inadequate mind. However, thinking it needed re-examination, I postponed submitting that proposal.”

Rianel distributed copies of the documents she was holding to the attendees.

“Instead, I prepared data calculating approximately how much budget each department has remaining.”

From there came the supporting documents that Cedric had failed to submit.

Cedric’s eyes widened.

There was a reason Cedric couldn’t find that data.

Because Rianel had only taken the supporting documents home to write the revised version.

The Empress Dowager slowly turned through the documents.

The graphs in the data collection matched exactly with those in the report.

The last page neatly organized which documents were referenced to create this data.

The Empress Dowager looked at Cedric.

“You are the submitter of the report, but your understanding of the content is poor and you failed to submit supporting documents. This means you are not the author.”

Cedric’s head dropped so low it nearly touched the ground.

The Empress Dowager now turned to look at Rianel.

“Yes, now I understand. You were the real author.”

The Empress Dowager’s face showed relief and suppressed anger.

“You must have felt wronged, so why didn’t you speak up immediately?”

“Well, because what Count Bartello submitted was not my report.”

At the same time, Cedric glared at Rianel.

“You wrote content attacking other departments, and now you’re trying to make excuses?”

It was truly ridiculous.

“I merely requested that only the authority to allocate budgets generated from special tax collection be transferred to our main agency, as per the purpose for which the Special Tax Bureau was established. I never suggested stripping other departments of their authority.”

What was the reason the Empire collected special taxes in the first place?

To prepare budgets to be used for basic welfare projects for the Empire’s citizens.

And the Special Tax Bureau was an agency created for this purpose.

Shouldn’t it naturally have the authority to review whether special taxes are allocated according to their purpose?

“Furthermore, I have never emphasized the superiority of any specific department. The Empire’s administration is not a place maintained by the superiority of any single department.”

“That’s right, exactly!”

“Very different from certain people who think they can handle all the Empire’s work alone!”

Simultaneously, jeers toward the Ministry of Finance erupted.

The Ministry of Finance had always treated other departments as if they were their subsidiary departments. But in this report, they had blatantly highlighted this aspect.

It was enough to earn the resentment of other departments.

“Of course, unused budgets were confirmed in some departments, but this is because the Ministry of Finance allocated budgets without considering feasibility.”

Rianel separately submitted an analysis of how projects based on special taxes had been executed.

These documents confirmed that unused budgets had increased dramatically over the past three years since special tax budget allocation authority was transferred to the Ministry of Finance.

“Indeed… the budget allocation standards are a mess.”

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue.

The Ministry of Finance people remained silent with reddened faces.

Rianel had even submitted a comparative report showing that such problems rarely occurred when the allocation authority was with the Special Tax Bureau.

It was a complete defeat for the Ministry of Finance.

“Special tax allocation authority will be transferred back to the Special Tax Bureau. No objections, I presume?”

“Kyaaaah!”

Simultaneously, cheers erupted from behind. It was Wilbrin.

Having unconsciously let out a cry of joy, she closed her mouth again under the gazes pouring in from all directions.

However, everyone from the Special Tax Bureau was similarly smirking.

Having seen that detestable Ministry of Finance get beaten down, what could be more satisfying than this?

“There’s no budget to allocate separately at this stage, but since the Special Tax Bureau has the authority to collect special taxes, it would be fine to utilize that.”

The Empress Dowager wore a subtle smile.

“I hear there are taxes that were deliberately omitted during the public service banquet, so you can collect those.”

It meant the Empress Dowager would guarantee the tax collection from Cedric that had been halted due to the Ministry of Finance’s opposition.

Cedric, whose face had turned pale, collapsed as his legs gave out, but no one helped him up.

Naturally.

No one wanted to sink along with a ship whose doom was sealed.

* * *

“After 3, 3 years, budget allocation authority has returned to our department!”

“This isn’t a dream, right? I’m scared I’ll wake up in bed when I open my eyes.”

“Then I’d rather just die in bed.”

After the administrative council ended.

Unlike the Ministry of Finance people who disappeared with their tails between their legs, the Special Tax Bureau staff were swaying in their office, intoxicated by the afterglow of victory.

Our department, which had been treated as an exile for incompetent civil servants with the worst performance!

We never dreamed we could achieve such a triumph against the Ministry of Finance.

Rianel was not present.

Because Duke Vincenheim, Rianel’s father and State Minister, wanted to have a separate conversation with her.

Though disappointing, most understood the situation. How could they object when a father wanted private time with his daughter?

So the celebration of achievements was taking place without the person in question.

“That must be what they call genius.”

“By the way, they said she caused all sorts of trouble when she was at the Ministry of Finance, but that was all lies, wasn’t it?”

Where else could you find such a blessing?

“How can you believe what those Ministry of Finance guys say? They’re the ones who stole someone else’s report and submitted it under their own name.”

“That’s true.”

Very few people were jealous of Rianel.

Most felt awe and a slight chill.

Because Rianel had accomplished all these miracles while remaining unmoved and expressionless.

‘As if something natural had happened…’

Mel said.

“Honestly, I’m just envious.”

Another senior employee muttered.

“Me too. Being a genius from birth, it seems pretty annoying though…”

“That’s probably not the case.”

Then Asil interjected.

“…Excuse me?”

Everyone turned to look at Asil in surprise.

Since becoming Bureau Director, Asil had never once evaluated or commented on individual subordinates, so it was rare for him to add his opinion.

Two days ago, Asil had visited the Special Tax Bureau Building late at night.

He had left some documents behind.

That day.

Asil saw light leaking through the crack of the Data Room door in the middle of the darkened office.

Rianel was alone.

She was reviewing mountains of materials one by one, rewriting reports multiple times.

Her profile as she worked intently, unaware of Asil’s arrival, was still vivid in his memory.

This was why Asil had waited until Rianel presented her counterargument and turned the situation around at the Administrative Council.

Because he wanted to fully protect her efforts.

Even now, Rianel’s fingers would still have ink stains that had spread black.

Along with the dark traces of fatigue under her eyes.

These were undeniable shadows of effort.

“Ah…”

“A hardworking genius, that’s even more annoying…”

As Asil listened to the Tax Bureau staff letting out quiet sighs, he realized he too had been one of those caught up in prejudice.

At the same time, thinking that Rianel’s notorious reputation might be an inflated facade made him feel uncomfortable.

‘My teacher was the same way.’

Ensilen lived within the infamy of being called the ‘villainous Empress’ until the moment she drew her last breath. Very few people knew her true nature.

‘Perhaps Rianel too…’

Of course, it was still too early to make a definitive judgment.

However, Asil had become curious.

Was the infamy surrounding Rianel real or not?

‘It would be worth confirming.’

One victim of malicious rumors is enough.

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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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