The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 90

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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 90】

 

Meanwhile.

 

The people at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were drooping like dried squid.

 

In addition to the already sweltering summer weather, one person’s absence was significantly dampening their motivation.

 

“It feels like we had a midsummer night’s dream.”

 

In fact, Rianel had only been at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for about a month, a short period of time.

 

But her absence felt enormous.

 

They would all turn around and say “Assistant, could you help with this?” or “No, me first!” only to realize Rianel’s absence and feel dejected.

 

However, they chose to face reality rather than dwell in memories. It’s not like Rianel would come back just because they did.

 

So they chose a proper target for their resentment.

 

“Those damn Tax Bureau bastards!”

 

“If they’ve been living comfortably all this time, they should have been more accommodating!”

 

When they were sharing farewell drinks in their drunken state, they thought ‘we could keep her if she wanted to stay, hehe,’ but facing the inconvenience of Rianel’s absence made them burst with frustration.

 

“Humanly speaking, shouldn’t those bastards pay double taxes?”

 

“Or receive half their salary.”

 

They were really unlucky bastards anyway.

 

But that was only temporary.

 

“D-did you hear?”

 

New news was about to drop.

 

“The Saint is being appointed as Deputy Director of the Special Tax Bureau?”

 

At the sudden personnel appointment news.

 

“Wow, the world is so fair.”

 

They gained the heart of sages.

 

‘Indeed, the world doesn’t give everything to the Special Tax Bureau.’

 

They spent time mourning for the Special Tax Bureau.

 

Because they could foresee the chaos they would experience.

 

* * *

 

“Please give me just one chance, Your Majesty. I’ll repay you with definite results.”

 

Yuna becoming Deputy Director of the Special Tax Bureau was partly due to her own wishes, but the Emperor also had his calculations.

 

The Special Tax Bureau had recently been used like a weapon targeting tax-evading privileged classes.

 

Moreover, as the Special Tax Bureau’s reputation grew, voices blaming the Emperor’s misrule for failing to crack down on corruption were also growing.

 

‘Besides, I didn’t like how that Bureau Director looked at the Princess.’

 

Having been exceptionally good at noticing when someone coveted what was his since childhood, the Emperor immediately recognized that Asil had romantic feelings for Rianel.

 

‘I need to separate that guy from the Princess somehow.’

 

In the midst of this, Yuna was displeased with Rianel.

 

‘If I just put her in the Special Tax Bureau, she’ll isolate the Princess from the Special Tax Bureau without me having to instigate anything.’

 

Additionally, he could bury the Saint’s incompetence in the Special Tax Bureau to reduce her influence, and all the side effects that occurred could be blamed on the Saint.

 

There was no better tool to use than this.

 

Of course, the Empress Dowager strongly opposed it.

 

“Does Your Majesty truly wish to ruin the Empire?”

 

The Empress Dowager, who had thought she could finally step back from politics and be comfortable now that the Emperor was attending Administrative Council meetings, was boiling with anger.

 

Her son wasn’t doing what he should be doing and was just playing politics!

 

The Emperor had prepared words to persuade his mother.

 

“If the Saint becomes Deputy Director of the Special Tax Bureau, we can draw the Temple’s power into the Imperial Family. Imperial authority will be strengthened and the Imperial Family’s reputation will rise, so it’s absolutely not a loss.”

 

The Empress Dowager, who had been pretending not to care while obsessing over honor and reputation, hesitated.

 

But that was only momentary.

 

The Empress Dowager, like someone who had handled government affairs for many years, pointed out the most problematic part.

 

“Does Your Majesty think the Saint has the capability to do such work? The Saint might ruin the Special Tax Bureau!”

 

It was questionable whether the Saint could even adapt to the position of Deputy Director.

 

The people of the Special Tax Bureau were known for their good unity, which meant they had strong exclusivity toward others.

 

“Then that wouldn’t be a loss for the Imperial Family either.”

 

The Emperor raised the corners of his mouth.

 

That would be the Temple’s failure, not his own.

 

“How could I miss the opportunity to weaken the Temple’s power?”

 

The Emperor preferred this outcome more.

 

If Yuna failed, the Temple would discipline her. The Saint had participated in Imperial politics and damaged the Temple’s prestige.

 

‘I just need to wait until then.’

 

He could get rid of the annoying Saint without lifting a finger.

 

“….”

 

The Empress Dowager was both dumbfounded and lost in thought.

 

Not because she was impressed by her son’s cunning, but for another reason.

 

‘I can’t rule out the possibility that the Temple killed my daughter-in-law.’

 

It was the suspicion that the Temple might have killed Ensilen.

 

Of course, it was still just suspicion with plenty of circumstantial evidence but no proof.

 

At the time when Ensilen’s health was deteriorating, there were traces of the Temple purchasing poisonous herbs, so she wanted to investigate this aspect.

 

‘Until now, investigation wasn’t easy because the Temple’s power was strong, but if their power weakens, it will help uncover the truth.’

 

“Very well. Do so.”

 

The Empress Dowager ended up nodding her head.

 

* * *

 

The Special Tax Bureau people who had come to work full of anticipation that they could finally work with Rianel were greeted by the shit the Emperor had thrown at them.

 

“S-Saint, why are you here….”

 

“I received a new personnel appointment. I’ll be taking the Deputy Director position temporarily. Please treat me well.”

 

“Ah, um, yes….”

 

Til became uncomfortable.

 

Since he had recently become absorbed in another religion, he was uncomfortable with this servant of a different faith.

 

‘I came to work too early for no reason!’

 

After that.

 

“Senior, you’re also early, huh?”

 

“Why is the Saint here… Did I come to the wrong workplace?”

 

The Special Tax Bureau people went back out of the government building, checked the nameplate, and had time to face reality.

 

‘This is reality!’

 

‘Damn it.’

 

‘What did our department do wrong to deserve this!’

 

They accepted reality while suffering inwardly.

 

Since they clearly remembered the nonsense the Saint spouted during Administrative Council meetings, they couldn’t help but worry about the future.

 

Yuna alone smiled brightly as she greeted the Special Tax Bureau people.

 

“I’m happy to meet all of you, who are said to be the most capable in the Empire.”

 

“Yes… well….”

 

Then the hour struck.

 

When Rianel also arrived at work, Yuna clapped her hands to gather attention.

 

“Now everyone, pay attention!”

 

Yuna had been planning something long before she took the Deputy Director position at the Special Tax Bureau.

 

‘I need to create my own faction within the Imperial Palace.’

 

That way, she could avoid the embarrassing experience of having no one take her side at the Administrative Council.

 

However, she had suddenly been dropped into the Agency Bureau as deputy director.

 

The fastest way to join the group was to create internal enemies and divide them.

 

The person to designate as the internal enemy was naturally already decided.

 

‘That woman is a team leader? That’s ridiculous.’

 

If she kept Rianel as a middle manager, she would obviously nitpick at everything she said just like at the Administrative Council.

 

‘I’ll replace her with someone I like and get the Agency Bureau under my control.’

 

Since the Special Tax Bureau people were good at their jobs anyway, she would be able to accumulate achievements even if she just stayed still.

 

“Um, I haven’t been here long as deputy director, but there’s something I’d like to propose to everyone.”

 

And everyone’s attention gathered.

 

“How about we select a new team leader? There’s clearly a hierarchy for promotions. It seems strange that the person with the least experience in this department is in a management position.”

 

‘What does she mean by the person with the least experience here?’

 

‘Is that a self-introduction?’

 

Yuna was rather lacking in awareness. She pressed on without noticing people’s murmuring.

 

“It’s not that the Princess is incompetent, but she’s shouldering too much responsibility compared to her experience, which is a bit pitiful… I want to lighten her burden.”

 

And Rianel.

 

“Really…”

 

She opened her mouth amid everyone’s silence.

 

‘Is she trying to resist?’

 

When Yuna tensed up.

 

“I’m impressed.”

 

‘Huh?’

 

“Today, I’ve confirmed that the Temple is a very rational organization. The driving force behind securing the most believers in the Empire lies in this efficiency.”

 

‘Is she happy about this?’

 

When Rianel responded like that, Yuna became rather uncomfortable instead.

 

She also felt like she had made a big mistake.

 

“I’m grateful that the Saint has lightened the burden on my shoulders, and I will continue to cherish the 1 Gold in my pocket.”

 

“Uh… aren’t you going to donate it?”

 

“Gratitude is a word that refers to a state of mind, not an action. Since sincerity can be maintained even without leading to action, defining that only paying monetary compensation constitutes gratitude is a very narrow-minded perspective.”

 

‘What is she saying?’

 

Yuna, who hadn’t yet adapted to Rianel, tilted her head.

 

Seeing how she was spouting sophistry while trying not to donate…

 

‘Is she mocking me?’

 

She suspected that gratitude was just an excuse and she was actually ridiculing her.

 

“So who are you going to make the new team leader?”

 

Wilbrin asked with an anxious heart.

 

“I think it’s appropriate for the person with the most experience in this department to become team leader. Therefore, Mr. Til Ronel should become team leader…”

 

“That’s really gre… Team Leader?”

 

Rianel, who had been celebrating ‘at least it’s not me,’ froze in her clapping position when Til collapsed.

 

“Team Leader Ronel?!”

 

Yuna was also surprised and looked down.

 

‘Is he so happy that…?’

 

Mel, who checked Til’s condition, clicked his tongue.

 

“No, he actually fainted.”

 

“…?”

 

It took several days for Yuna to realize that ‘the person to be team leader = the person to be manipulated.’

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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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