The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 80

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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 80】

 

The Emperor’s plan was simple.

 

[I’m thinking of pursuing a royal marriage between the Princess and Prince Zarban.]

 

After all, the Princess was raised to sacrifice herself for the Empire.

 

[Besides, Garta Kingdom is rich in minerals, so we’ll be able to secure a hefty dowry.]

 

The Emperor’s voice was filled with confidence.

 

[Once the Princess becomes the Crown Princess, the noodle business will belong to the state. Then you just need to sit back and wait for the business to fall into your hands.]

 

[This time, there won’t be any criticism about seizing a thriving business. The Imperial citizens will be more wary of such a large business falling into the hands of a foreign prince.]

 

Yuna knew the Emperor’s words were reasonable.

 

But Rianel irritated her hundreds of times more than the Princess did.

 

This was especially true since her plan to have Vanessa deal with her had failed.

 

‘Fortunately, I dealt with Vanessa before she could spill the truth.’

 

From the moment that woman appeared, she felt her plans slipping away, making her throat feel tight.

 

Fortunately, Yuna found a way to resolve the situation.

 

[If that’s the case, how about assigning Princess Vincenheim as the protocol assistant?]

 

‘If I can’t kill her, I can just get rid of her.’

 

To a distant kingdom where she could never return.

 

While the Princess was the chief protocol officer, Prince Zarban, who was greedy for talent, would surely take interest in Rianel.

 

Since the Princess was young anyway, Rianel would have no choice but to handle the actual work.

 

‘Well, that woman is competent, isn’t she?’

 

She didn’t think the plan would fail.

 

‘After all, I’m the Saint.’

 

In the original world, she was just another common job seeker. But in this world, she was the one and only Saint.

 

Here, she could live as the being closest to God and as the chosen one.

 

‘Without that kind of privilege, who would want to live as a possessor?’

 

Sure enough.

 

Before long, the news she wanted came from the maid she had planted in the Imperial Palace.

 

“Since His Highness is curious about the protocol assistant, Jenny, you guide the Prince to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

 

Yuna’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

 

‘See, it’s easy.’

 

* * *

 

“Everyone worked hard!”

 

“How can we skip alcohol on a day like this! Come on, drink up. Hey, no spilling alcohol on the floor.”

 

Evening.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff held a modest celebration dinner for their achievements.

 

Since Prince Zarban had publicly expressed satisfaction with the protocol at the banquet hall, that itself could be considered an achievement.

 

Moreover, since they had been busy working for several days, they raised their glasses to celebrate getting over one hurdle.

 

Of course, since there was still much to coordinate before sitting at the negotiation table with Garta Kingdom, instead of having a rowdy drinking party, they held a modest celebration in the office.

 

“Drink! Drink!”

 

“How can today’s star be missing?”

 

“I can’t handle alcohol.”

 

“Come on, just have one glass. We’ll be eating together for a while anyway.”

 

Eventually, Rianel took a small sip of wine.

 

“She drank! She drank!”

 

Rather than people who were already heavy drinkers, when someone who didn’t enjoy such things drank, it heightened the excitement of the drinking session. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff cheered and made a big fuss.

 

Since diplomatic work often involved meeting people, many in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were crazy about alcohol and company dinners. To put it simply, it was a department full of people like Wilbrin.

 

‘This isn’t particularly pleasant either.’

 

The lively excitement was short-lived.

 

“Cough?!”

 

Penny, the civil servant who was handing alcohol to Rianel, spat out her drink when a large shadow fell behind her.

 

At the same time, coughing sounds echoed from here and there.

 

Everyone knew that the owner of the shadow, Prince Zarban, didn’t drink alcohol.

 

People frantically hid bottles and cleared away glasses in a panic.

 

“You can stay comfortable. I have no intention of enforcing laws in a place that isn’t even my kingdom.”

 

People widened their eyes and looked up at Zarban.

 

“You speak the Imperial Language?”

 

“I learned a little.”

 

“A little? You seem more fluent than my son.”

 

“It’s an honor that you say so.”

 

The momentarily stiff atmosphere quickly became lively again.

 

As a department that quickly encountered foreign cultures and civilizations, the civil servants here adapted quickly to rapidly changing situations.

 

“Would you like to sit? Since you don’t drink alcohol, how about some juice?”

 

“Give it to me.”

 

The Prince naturally took the seat next to Rianel and received a glass.

 

Among all the available spots, he chose that seat because he immediately recognized who he was looking for.

 

‘So it’s this woman.’

 

The woman who exuded such elegance that he could mistake her for royalty showed a distinct presence despite speaking little.

 

‘There can’t be two such women in the world.’

 

Zarban brought the glass to his lips and brought up the main topic.

 

“I came here to commend the Princess. Thanks to her, I’ve been as comfortable as if I were staying in my homeland. But now I see that the contributions of others cannot be ignored either.”

 

Even those who had found Zarban, the foreign prince and distinguished guest, burdensome relaxed once they had some alcohol in them.

 

Then they began to spill information that wasn’t even asked for.

 

“Actually, this person isn’t from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She’s handling protocol work for the first time.”

 

Zarban’s eyes curved into thin crescents.

 

“You mean she accomplished such meticulous work despite it being her first time?”

 

“Honestly, she’s better than those of us who specialize only in protocol work.”

 

“Though it’s unbelievable that she dug into the ledgers as soon as she arrived.”

 

Zarban was amazed.

 

“Truly remarkable, remarkable. Please forgive me if I ask for information somewhat rudely. She’s a talent rarely seen in my homeland.”

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff hesitated when they realized Zarban had gathered various information starting from Rianel’s family background.

 

‘Wait. Isn’t this somewhat dangerous?’

 

They could sense Zarban’s intention to recruit Rianel.

 

They realized they had given away too much information, but it was already too late.

 

‘We should have been careful even if we were drunk…’

 

Zarban was a prince in the midst of succession struggles and was desperate to secure talent.

 

Not considering this was clearly their mistake.

 

At the same time, they felt wronged.

 

‘We haven’t even properly enjoyed ourselves yet!’

 

‘Surely “half-hearted” isn’t being exported already, is it?’

 

The moment they held their breath in anxiety.

 

Bang-! Boom! Bang!

 

Fireworks burst across the night sky.

 

They were fireworks commemorating the prince’s visit to the Empire.

 

Red and blue lights briefly embroidered the Empire’s sky before scattering into pieces.

 

Zarban’s gaze shifted from Rianel toward the sky.

 

“Truly amazing and beautiful. Just looking at the sky, I can feel how magnificent the Empire is.”

 

Rianel set down her cup and spoke.

 

“Actually, fireworks didn’t originate in the Empire but were invented in the Orient and came here through trade.”

 

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard of that. Some country in the Orient used to set them off during festivals to ward off ghosts, right?”

 

“Such superstitions are said to have existed, but they likely had no real effectiveness.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Ghosts have no physical form, don’t they? Since they lack physical form, they wouldn’t have auditory organs either. Therefore, it’s only natural they can’t hear sounds. No matter how loud firecrackers are, they wouldn’t be able to perceive them.”

 

Zarban was momentarily speechless and stammered.

 

“Th-that’s a novel opinion.”

 

The light of the fireworks illuminated Rianel’s profile before fading away.

 

Zarban gazed at her features as if entranced, then caught the scent of alcohol on her breath.

 

The smell that usually felt so unpleasant seemed like nothing at this moment.

 

“This is my first experience like this.”

 

Rianel interpreted it differently.

 

“That’s an excellent attitude.”

 

‘What is?’

 

“You showed curiosity about academic matters, didn’t you? I highly value such progressive attitudes.”

 

“Is that so…?”

 

It felt more like being evaluated by a superior than receiving praise.

 

‘Just like professors and scholars do…’

 

“Actually, I’m very interested in souls as well.”

 

Rianel’s explanation deepened.

 

“Rather than souls actually existing, I trust the hypothesis that they’re illusions or confusion created based on life’s anxieties. The person who presented that hypothesis was…”

 

Zarban’s expression grew increasingly haggard as he listened to explanations spanning philosophy and psychology, plus physics and religious studies.

 

Rianel was explaining so seriously that it seemed like interrupting would cause big trouble.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs people who had worried that Rianel might defect to the Kingdom.

 

‘Export my ass.’

 

‘It was for domestic use.’

 

Had a moment of relief watching Rianel speak only her own thoughts without any interest in Zarban.

 

* * *

 

However, the next day.

 

“What is that?”

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs people who had wondered why Rianel was receiving a fatigue recovery potion from Asil.

 

“So, you’re saying that was her drinking habit?”

 

Had a moment of utter chaos upon realizing that her lengthy recitation about the effectiveness of firecrackers and whether ghosts have auditory abilities, complete with academic citations, was just drunken rambling.

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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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