The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 98

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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 98】

 

The day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday commemoration ball.

 

The maids of the Novantium Ducal House were gathered closely around Rianel. It was to dress her up.

 

Rianel initially refused their service.

 

“My body is in good condition and my visual perception functions are normal. The assistance of others is unnecessary.”

 

“Oh my, but we’re here, so how can you try to do such things alone?”

 

“If you do that, we’ll get scolded by our butler for neglecting our duties.”

 

When they said that much, Rianel had nothing to say.

 

The maids were excited.

 

‘If we just dress up Madam a little more, it would make such a difference…’

 

Of course, she was already sufficiently beautiful and eye-catching, but it had been disappointing that she always stuck to neat attire. Opportunities to dress her up were rare.

 

“Should we put your hair up like this?”

 

“Please tie it loosely.”

 

“Ah, do you want a natural style?”

 

“It’s for scalp health. Giving unnecessary physical stimulation to the scalp increases the risk of scalp tissue damage, which can cause hair loss.”

 

“But you have thick hair and good hair quality?”

 

They wondered if it was a joke, but looking at Rianel’s expressionless face, they couldn’t tell whether it was a joke or not.

 

The dress Rianel chose was cream-colored. Except for the full hem and lace decorations, it wasn’t much different from the dresses she usually wore.

 

‘Isn’t this too plain?’

 

People were briefly disappointed, but were surprised when Rianel finished dressing.

 

The neat clothes transformed into elegance the moment they touched Rianel’s body. The outfit that fit her body perfectly revealed a noble yet graceful dignity.

 

‘As expected, what’s important isn’t the clothes but the clothes hanger…’

 

‘If there was a magazine like “Madam of the Month,” I would have subscribed immediately.’

 

While the maids were gushing and admiring.

 

Asil’s voice was heard from outside.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“Not yet!”

 

The maids answered in unison.

 

There was still work left to arrange and spread the dress hem.

 

Asil looked at the pocket watch he held in his hand. He had deliberately come a little early.

 

Because he wanted to see his master’s appearance sooner.

 

But just hearing her voice was also good.

 

Waiting was always his joy.

 

The fact that he could stand before her earlier than anyone else was enough.

 

“I heard you helped Her Highness the Princess.”

 

Rianel answered calmly.

 

“Since she requested help, I merely offered my opinion within the necessary scope.”

 

“Opinion, you say. You personally kneaded the wheat flour the Princess brought and baked it into bread to feed her.”

 

Didn’t that mean Rianel had done most of the work?

 

“But it was Her Highness the Princess who provided the direction.”

 

What kind of gift the Empress Dowager would like, how to satisfy her who values honor over wealth.

 

And how to utilize that gift to make herself stand out.

 

It was the Princess herself, not her, who grasped that flow.

 

“Well, that’s true too. Her Highness is quite intelligent for her age.”

 

Asil also nodded.

 

Unlike the annoying Emperor, the Princess definitely had talent.

 

The Empress Dowager also knew this and had protected the Princess in her own way.

 

If she showed favoritism carelessly, it was obvious she would face checks from the petty Emperor.

 

So outwardly, she treated her as just ‘a princess who would marry for political alliance,’ and the Princess herself knew this.

 

However.

 

Rianel had seen it.

 

[I want to create my own faction within the Imperial Palace.]

 

The real will hidden beneath the goal of celebrating the Empress Dowager’s birthday.

 

[Being loved is good. How could I dislike it? Someone’s heart given for me.]

 

The Princess also knows.

 

That both the late Empress and the Empress Dowager had protected her.

 

However, knowing that she could only grow and stand properly by stepping out of that shadow, she revealed her will.

 

[I don’t want to live being swayed by others’ will, nor do I want to end my life as a princess in name only.]

 

Just like the late Empress.

 

Because she wanted to become someone who chooses rather than someone who is chosen.

 

[I’m going to become Emperor.]

 

The Princess was still young and had no plausible faction.

 

So no noble tried to curry favor with her.

 

The Princess knew this too, and sometimes deliberately acted more foolish and naive.

 

‘But she suddenly revealed her ambition.’

 

Rianel thought that was unexpected.

 

Of course, it could have been a child’s vague aspiration.

 

But seeing the flashing eyes and the firm will flowing from deep within, she had this thought.

 

That the Princess might have a future.

 

Then.

 

“Shall I open the door?”

 

When the dressing was somewhat finished, a maid asked carefully.

 

“Please do so.”

 

When Rianel nodded, the door soon opened.

 

Just as Asil looked at Rianel, Rianel also came to see him.

 

Asil was leaning against a pillar, alternately looking at his pocket watch to gauge the time.

 

Just as Rianel hadn’t chosen fancy attire, Asil had also selected neat and clean clothes.

 

The clothes made of black fabric naturally clung along his body lines. The clothes devoid of unnecessary decorations transformed his lean physique and handsome appearance into a weighty presence.

 

Everything was perfect, but if there was one flaw.

 

“Why haven’t you buttoned your front buttons?”

 

A couple of Asil’s shirt buttons were loosely undone.

 

“Isn’t it still hot? I’ll button them properly when we enter the banquet hall.”

 

The reason Asil had been standing like this was simple.

 

Because he wanted to catch Rianel’s attention with his slightly disheveled appearance.

 

There were also the words praising his shoulders, and he wondered if she might be interested in his body.

 

And indeed, the grown Asil’s appearance was attractive enough to captivate many people’s gazes.

 

The collarbone revealed through the slightly open buttons, the familiar line following the neckline.

 

Below that line would be nail marks that only Rianel knew.

 

Rianel strode toward Asil.

 

Dismissing the glances of the maids looking around as if covering them with her hand.

 

“What’s mine must always be neat.”

 

She roughly grabbed and pulled him as if seizing his collar, and in a brief moment, all of Asil’s undone buttons were fastened.

 

“Don’t carelessly show what belongs to you.”

 

Asil momentarily swallowed dry saliva.

 

Even trying to maintain a sly attitude, his heart stirred.

 

Because Rianel’s appearance up close, the emotion she showed, made him breathless.

 

“Time has been delayed. Let’s go.”

 

“Let’s.”

 

And the moment the two naturally clasped hands.

 

Even those who had thought their relationship was somewhat dry while watching them.

 

‘Ah… so it’s mutual.’

 

Confirming that it wasn’t just Asil’s one-sided love, her cheeks flushed subtly red.

 

‘Oh my, how sweet.’

 

Indeed, watching other people’s love stories had its own charm.

 

* * *

 

The Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet wasn’t mandatory attendance, but most people from the Special Tax Bureau were present.

 

‘We already went to the Emperor’s birthday banquet, so how could we possibly skip the Empress Dowager’s?’

 

Above all, it was the Empress Dowager who managed overall state affairs.

 

She handed down disciplinary actions, held personnel authority, and even issued work orders.

 

Though they attended to make a good impression, their mood wasn’t particularly good.

 

Among them, Til’s mood was the lowest.

 

“Brighten up your face, Team Leader. They say frowning makes you age faster.”

 

Even Molly, who usually interfered less in her subordinates’ affairs, was checking on Til’s complexion.

 

“Tsk. Don’t call me Team Leader. My dreams are already nightmarish enough.”

 

[Accounts payable is a liability, so it must be recorded on the credit side! You can’t put it on the debit side! Don’t damage the ledger just because you made a mistake! If you correct the ledger, everything must be recorded! Please, if you don’t know something, can’t you just ask?]

 

Yesterday too, Til had dreamed of cleaning up after the Saint, who was the Deputy Bureau Director.

 

[Oh, right. That person can’t come to work for a while, right?]

 

She woke up and wiped her sweat-covered forehead with the back of her hand, breathing a sigh of relief.

 

It was a case of ‘Phew, thankfully it was a dream’ rather than ‘Damn, what a nightmare.’

 

As Til was pressing her temples firmly, she saw the Saint approaching.

 

“I congratulate Her Majesty the Empress Dowager on her birthday.”

 

She was wearing gorgeous, luxurious Saint robes and was even accompanied by priests.

 

The design was different from typical dresses. Though not puffed with ruffles, the gold thread and high-quality fabric were eye-catching.

 

“Come to think of it, don’t religious people pay taxes?”

 

“Donations are funds used for public purposes, so they’re tax-exempt items.”

 

“Wow, how enviable. Even when we don’t want to pay, they automatically deduct it from our salaries.”

 

Then Rianel quietly added.

 

“That’s not correct. Even religious people must pay taxes if they generate income.”

 

If they received separate salaries or earned royalties from publishing books, they could become subject to taxation.

 

And one more thing.

 

“If money received as donations is used for purposes other than public benefit, it can be detected as embezzlement.”

 

“For example… like that?”

 

What they pointed to with their chins was the expensive gift in the Saint’s hands.

 

She didn’t know where the Saint had gotten the money to purchase that gift.

 

‘But the source is definitely suspicious.’

 

The Empress Dowager’s expression twisted sharply.

 

“You right now…”

 

It was the face of someone 3 seconds away from exploding in anger.

 

Someone who was already disliked offering an expensive gift seemed to make her even more hateful.

 

Well, how badly the Saint would get crushed wasn’t Til’s concern.

 

“Could we report her for embezzlement?”

 

“Even if it turns out to be a gift purchased with her own money rather than embezzlement, it would mean she omitted that much income, so we’d be able to collect taxes.”

 

Since they also knew the scale of income the Saint had reported to the Empire so far.

 

“Additional collection would be possible.”

 

Only taxes! More taxes and dopamine shall make us prosperous.

 

‘How can I be this excited?’

 

Til, the leader of the Dachung Sect, once again deeply reflected on ‘Dachung’ today.

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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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