The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 88

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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 88】

 

“What exactly is different from before?”

 

An impatient Foreign Ministry official asked.

 

“If you look at the corners of her mouth, they’re slightly more downturned than before. Plus, wrinkles have formed between her brows. It means she doesn’t like it.”

 

“Well, even hearing that, I can’t really tell…”

 

“For reference, her expression just changed, and that expression is ‘calm’. That side dish must taste decent.”

 

Asil explained kindly, but the others couldn’t find any difference in Rianel’s expression from before.

 

‘What really changed?’

 

However, when people who couldn’t give up like this widened their eyes and examined Rianel’s face.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Just now?

 

Deep furrows formed between Rianel’s brows, and she set down her tableware with a sharp sound.

 

At this clearly visible change, everyone rushed to offer their interpretations.

 

“I can definitely tell what that is! Disgust! The soup the advisor just ate must have had an indescribably terrible taste. It wasn’t fit for human consumption!”

 

“Well… I think it’s closer to a contemptuous expression. Her gaze briefly turned elsewhere – didn’t she see a bug or something?”

 

“That can’t be. At the last company dinner, a caterpillar fell next to the advisor, but she didn’t react like that then.”

 

“Really?”

 

Then what could it be?

 

While people were puzzled.

 

Asil urgently stood up from his seat and said.

 

“Everyone, straighten your posture. His Majesty the Emperor is coming soon.”

 

“???”

 

People were even more confused.

 

‘That expression meant that?’

 

‘Why would she make that face when the Emperor is coming?’

 

* * *

 

To conclude, Asil’s judgment was correct.

 

The Emperor was indeed approaching from afar.

 

The fact that they were having an informal after-party lost all meaning. Those in power had the ability to turn any situation into ‘important business’ simply by appearing.

 

“Everyone sit comfortably. I didn’t come to disturb you.”

 

Though the Emperor said this, people just stared blankly at each other, reading the atmosphere.

 

They reluctantly sat down, but the air had already frozen like ice.

 

Their cheeks, flushed from drinking, cooled instantly. The warmth that had filled their bellies turned into awkwardness and discomfort.

 

They came to understand Rianel.

 

‘After all, who would be comfortable drinking with their boss?’

 

Moreover, this wasn’t just any boss, but the ultimate authority figure.

 

“I came to find you all to offer praise.”

 

The Emperor smiled gently, but he had ulterior motives.

 

His goal was to approach Rianel using the alcohol and atmosphere.

 

To strike up conversation, extract personal information, and plant seeds of affection.

 

But there were no empty seats at the table where Rianel sat.

 

The woman he had his eye on was receiving all the attention from the civil servants.

 

‘I’ll have to retreat for today.’

 

Of course, if he had planned to leave without doing anything, he wouldn’t have bothered speaking up.

 

The Emperor instructed his attendants to distribute the gifts they had brought to everyone.

 

Since Rianel seemed to care about others’ attention and disliked special treatment.

 

‘If I call her aside to give her something, she’d never accept it.’

 

So the Emperor fairly distributed imperial gifts to everyone.

 

“You achieved such great results in diplomacy, it would be disappointing if there were no rewards. These are silver cutlery sets given in recognition of your contributions.”

 

People looked unenthusiastically at the tableware decorated with golden eagles, the Empire’s emblem.

 

Many of the Foreign Ministry officials were educated abroad and were fairly well-off. None of them lacked silver cutlery at home.

 

Moreover, since these were imperial gifts, they couldn’t casually sell them to supplement their household items…

 

“We are deeply grateful.”

 

However, they faithfully spoke the social language with their mouths, proving they were civil servants.

 

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s care for us, the Empire enjoys peace today.”

 

Automated flattery flowed smoothly.

 

“Of course, bonuses will be provided separately.”

 

“Wooooo!”

 

This time the reaction was much more enthusiastic.

 

Money was definitely a reliable tool for motivating people.

 

Passion and responsibility were important too.

 

But ultimately, what moved hearts was the bank account balance.

 

“Then everyone have a drink. Yes, you too, the main contributor to this success.”

 

The Emperor’s voice rang out lightly.

 

While people were checking their respective gifts.

 

Rianel also opened the box containing the silver cutlery and paused.

 

A folded piece of paper was tucked beneath the silver cutlery.

 

She looked around, but she seemed to be the only one who received a letter. Most importantly…

 

‘It looked like the Emperor’s handwriting.’

 

Having lived as Empress, she was familiar with the Emperor’s handwriting, which made her even more tense.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Asil asked from beside her.

 

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

 

Rianel hastily closed the box.

 

There was no need to make an issue of it or check it here.

 

“Don’t you want to accept my cup?”

 

She pretended not to notice and raised her cup following the Emperor.

 

“Not at all. I am deeply honored.”

 

Contrary to her resolve not to drink, Rianel’s lips touched the cup.

 

As the warm alcohol flowed down her throat, the tightly bound tension loosened momentarily. A red flush spread across her expressionless face, making her appear intoxicated.

 

Asil glared at the Emperor who kept offering Rianel more drinks.

 

‘This bastard?’

 

They say when you have feelings for someone, you become able to distinguish those who look at that person with similar intentions.

 

Asil thought that while he didn’t know if the Emperor loved Rianel, he certainly harbored ill intentions.

 

‘Otherwise, there’d be no reason to scan someone with such filthy eyes.’

 

Asil slightly turned his body as if to block the Emperor’s gaze and placed Rianel’s arm around his shoulder.

 

“You seem quite intoxicated, so I should escort you.”

 

He planned to take her straight to his house, but since everyone was present, he said it that way for now.

 

No matter how shameless the Emperor was, he couldn’t say he would personally escort an intoxicated woman.

 

He still cared about appearances.

 

Rianel wasn’t oblivious either, so she pretended to be drunk and leaned against her student’s shoulder as they left the banquet hall.

 

The sound of clinking wine cups faintly faded behind them.

 

‘That was close.’

 

* * *

 

After taking the carriage and arriving at the Novantium Estate.

 

Asil loosened his shirt buttons and tugged at his cravat.

 

Rianel was sitting languidly on the edge of the bed, slightly intoxicated, when she looked up at Asil’s words.

 

“What was written in that letter to make you wear such an expression?”

 

Rianel had checked the Emperor’s gift in the carriage on the way to Asil’s mansion.

 

With indifferent eyes, she rummaged through the silver cutlery and read the letter beneath it.

 

She threw the silver cutlery to the butler telling him to melt it down, and tossed the letter into the fireplace.

 

Asil wanted to respect Rianel’s private space, so he didn’t peek at the letter. However, he couldn’t help being curious about its contents.

 

The sender was Rianel’s ex-husband, after all.

 

Even though Rianel regretted her marriage to him, he was still someone who had once possessed Rianel, which bothered him.

 

“It was just filled with worthless nonsense.”

 

Rianel grumbled.

 

However, Asil couldn’t easily accept that answer.

 

“Is that your answer?”

 

“I don’t know what else you expect. Was there some content you were hoping for?”

 

Someone with so much money wouldn’t be hoping for lottery numbers like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs people.

 

‘Surely he doesn’t think the Emperor would write gossip about him?’

 

“You burned it so decisively without hesitation.”

 

Asil wrapped Rianel’s hand with both of his, then brought her fingertips that had touched the letter to his cheek.

 

It was that smile Rianel had called wicked and detestable.

 

“I wondered if you might have lingering feelings for that man and were burning away all traces of him.”

 

The corners of Rianel’s eyes twitched upward.

 

“Seeing you talk nonsense, you must be drunk.”

 

“That can’t be. I didn’t drink any alcohol.”

 

“Then you must have eaten too few side dishes and are lacking carbohydrates.”

 

“I certainly do have nutritional imbalance. The time in my life lacking Master has been too long.”

 

“…Seeing you say strange things, you’re exactly the same as usual. I feel doubtful about myself for finding comfort in that.”

 

Asil slightly loosened his grip on one hand holding Rianel’s, then carefully caressed Rianel’s jawline with his other hand.

 

“I like the expression Master is wearing right now. You have a face that shows you’re disgusted just thinking about the Emperor.”

 

Confirming that there isn’t even a fragment of space for that man in your life is so sweet.

 

Anyway.

 

“You’re always making moves whenever you get the chance.”

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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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