The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 100

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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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100.

“That is not possible, First Consort.”

I answered directly without hesitation.

Of course, this could cause First Consort to turn against us and trouble Casian and the Winter Palace.

Until now she had been suppressed by Scaletti Zamotti’s influence, but with practically only Empress Trisha above her now, there was no telling how she might act.

She had a prince of her own, after all.

‘Really, what an unhelpful father His Majesty the Emperor is.’

So many consorts, so many children.

And he barely cares about raising them.

Lately he’s been playing with Prince Joel a bit, but Empress Trisha clicked her tongue watching that.

‘He must be feeling some crisis, thinking that at this rate he won’t have any children who actually like him.’

She said that in quite a sharp tone too.

Anyway, I judged that First Empress had proposed a deal disguised as a request.

Nevertheless, my answer was still a refusal.

‘His Highness wouldn’t want such a deal either.’

Just watching how he treats the Royal Guards shows how much he cherishes his people.

While he occasionally acted petty toward Francis Ashwood, he had never treated him unfairly.

Most importantly, Francis Ashwood was a precious colleague who had walked into the Winter Palace on his own feet when the gazes toward it were far from gentle, unlike now.

Back then, even the Fourth Consort was still an empress wielding her influence splendidly throughout the palace.

To use a colleague who had shared such hardships as a bargaining chip – that wasn’t something a decent person would do.

As I organized my thoughts and tried to stand up, First Consort hurriedly spoke.

“Wait a moment, Salice Advisor. I’m not asking you to just send him away. Since this is a request, I was planning to offer you something helpful in return.”

“First Consort, I’m grateful and pleased as a colleague that you think so highly of Ashwood Aide’s abilities.”

I continued speaking, careful not to let any light emotions seep into my words and weaken my firmness.

“However, Ashwood Aide’s whereabouts are not for me to decide. If he wants to go to the Second Princess’s Palace, naturally we cannot stop him.”

Though my heart would be torn apart.

It would be like a carefully nurtured work colleague quitting and going to a competitor.

“Therefore, I cannot make deals with you, First Consort, over where Ashwood Aide goes. It’s not my right to begin with.”

First Consort looked at me with somewhat surprised eyes.

“…But you could persuade him, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Ashwood either.”

Abandoning the Winter Palace environment where he’s built up all the work systems and routines to go to the Second Princess’s Palace…?

Even when there’s an administrator he’s worked with for months and coordinated perfectly with?

I truly felt that First Consort was someone very far removed from practical work.

Unlike my increasingly cold thoughts, First Consort spoke while cupping one cheek with her hand.

“I thought Salice Advisor would agree and understand. It’s truly the best choice we could make for our child.”

“Of course, Ashwood Aide’s work abilities are excellent, but…”

“That’s not it!”

First Consort hurriedly cut off my words.

“I want to create the same situation for them as you and Prince Casian have.”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of environment do Casian and I have?

Competing over who does more work and staying in the office until late at night?

“Watching you two, I realized that being an advisor is the optimal position for naturally developing affection.”

My thoughts seemed to stop for a moment.

Advisors, romance, what now…?

So to summarize, First Consort was thinking of Francis Ashwood as…

‘A marriage partner for the Second Princess…?’

*

Just as her confident attitude when facing the Fourth Consort had been a lie, First Consort poured out her story.

How much she had suffered living as First Consort.

How she wanted to find the best partner for her daughter because of that, and though it was a bit wicked of her, she coveted him even more because Scaletti Zamotti had struggled so hard to find him.

While I tried to organize my thoughts at this completely unexpected topic flow, she spoke quickly, perhaps thinking this was her chance.

Of course, it was such a shocking train of thought that I only caught a rough summary.

‘Where should I even start correcting this.’

That Casian and I have a contract engagement?

I can’t reveal that.

That we didn’t just meet as advisor and superior but had connections from childhood…?

‘If I say that, it’ll just create unnecessary fantasies, so that’s inappropriate too.’

I felt like I understood very well who the Second Princess had inherited her excessive tendencies from.

She would act as if she were the tragic protagonist of some great misfortune, sometimes startling those around her.

Like sitting alone on a swing in the garden wearing only a thin dress on rainy days, shedding tears.

Or when work piled up even a little, coughing excessively to appeal to her own fragility – displaying phenomena that girls her age might show when going through puberty too intensely.

Everyone was just keeping quiet, worried that after she grew up a bit more, she might destroy all the bedding in the palace from embarrassment.

Having barely regained my composure, I spoke to First Consort again.

“First Consort, no matter what you say, my answer remains unchanged. Even if you have good intentions, this is not something to discuss with me.”

Setting aside whether this would truly be good for Francis Ashwood…

That stone-faced man who had gained just a little flexibility since coming to the Winter Palace, with that Second Princess…?

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t picture it well.

The age gap between them was quite significant too.

‘Of course, Princess Alexis and the Second Prince, who also had a large age gap, did get married.’

But at least Princess Alexis was good at accommodating him.

And even after going to the Kingdom of Anden, she was apparently managing him well and he was obediently receiving proper education, so it was a happy ending all around.

But this case…

‘I accidentally overheard her ideal type once.’

The Second Princess’s recent ideal type was definitely a lonely, wounded underworld figure who had to live hiding his identity.

Especially having dark black hair so he could blend into the darkness was important – she had shouted about it so much that it was quite unforgettable.

But trying to pair her with silver-haired, extremely upright Francis Ashwood was completely opposite to the Second Princess’s tastes.

No matter how I thought about it, First Consort needed to consider her daughter’s preferences.

Thinking there was no value in further discussion, I stood up with the real intention of withdrawing.

“You’re more naive than I thought, Salice Advisor.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you think Prince Casian would gain significant benefits from this? Aren’t you curious about the compensation I’ve prepared for you?”

“How could I ask when I come empty-handed.”

“What if it were Scaletti Zamotti’s weakness?”

First Consort sent me a sharp look with a gambler’s face.

“Aren’t you curious? How I, who barely managed to give birth to the Second Princess, was able to safely have the Third Princess and Fifth Prince?”

A moment of silence flowed through the drawing room.

First Consort seemed to think this was a positive sign for her, as she opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Think about it carefully. Now the Winter Palace has applicants for advisor positions overflowing, unlike before. If you want, I could personally introduce good people to you. And.”

First Consort met my gaze directly.

“I know my children’s capabilities well. My plea to His Majesty not to make the children independent wasn’t false, and I don’t think they could compete with Prince Casian who has someone like you by his side.”

So if this worked out, she wouldn’t interfere in the succession struggle?

I thought this was a natural way of thinking for someone who had lived long in the Imperial Palace.

She would have endured in this treacherous place dealing with various people.

From her perspective, I might seem strange for stubbornly refusing to ignore another person’s will.

Nevertheless.

“I understand First Consort’s goodwill well. But my answer still doesn’t change. That is not within my authority. Therefore, it’s not possible.”

My answer remained unchanged.

Both freedom of career choice and the right to choose one’s romantic partner were not things I could control.

After bowing in farewell, the expression of First Consort that entered my vision was full of bewilderment.

He seemed to want to resent me a little, but even so, my decision remained unshaken.

*

Of course, just in case, I returned to the Winter Palace and asked Francis Ashwood about it indirectly.

Since I could find out the Fourth Imperial Concubine’s weakness on my own anyway, I wasn’t particularly disappointed, and while the other conditions weren’t appealing, his opinion itself was important.

If he said it was fine, I thought it might be okay to arrange for him to meet Her Highness the Second Princess somewhat naturally.

“Are you perhaps interested in romance, Ashwood Aide?”

So I asked as naturally as I could manage.

Though I originally had no talent whatsoever in this category…

“…When you say interested, what kind of approach do you mean?”

As expected, whether it was because I was clumsy or not, he looked at me in confusion.

‘Wow, this person has as little interest and ability in romance as I do.’

So to prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings, I didn’t beat around the bush anymore and asked directly.

“For example, as a romantic partner?”

“Rom-, what?”

Thud thud thud thud thud.

Francis Ashwood’s eyes shook more violently than ever before, and the documents he had been holding to report scattered and spilled all over the floor.

As if he had experienced a serious malfunction.

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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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