The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 107

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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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107.

On the morning of the advisor selection exam, the scroll wrapped around my arm heated up enough to be bothersome.

‘Lost another 3 minutes of sleep.’

Was this what I got for ignoring that lukewarm sensation and trying to sleep until the last possible moment?

How precious is sleep time before work for a working person!

I was getting annoyed internally when suddenly laughter escaped me.

Because I could feel that I had completely regained my condition.

It was all thanks to Casian.

It was really fortunate that we didn’t pretend to be strong with each other and talked about everything without covering up the strange things that had happened.

Additionally, after hearing my request to check the surroundings, Casian looked around other palaces that day, but fortunately, it seemed that only the two of us in the Winter Palace had experienced the strange phenomena.

One thing.

‘The Rose Palace was a bit suspicious though.’

However, the problem was that we had no way to dig deeper right now.

After being humiliated by the First Consort, the Fourth Consort was truly living in seclusion, whether due to surveillance or her own decision.

Even in our Winter Palace where we felt the biggest changes, nothing special happened to the other palace servants who worked that night.

Either the changes were so small they could go unnoticed when mixed in, or it was something that only happened to the main characters in the original story.

For now, we could only speculate like that.

So we concluded not to worry too much, but to prepare thoroughly.

This was definitely not a matter worth investigating at the risk of danger.

Rather, it was closer to an area that would gradually be revealed if we solved things sequentially.

I opened the fussy scroll and burst out laughing in disbelief.

The letters on the scroll were glowing bright red as if giving a warning.

‘Are they trying to provoke me, or do they think this would be threatening?’

Or are they making threats that we’ll never be able to solve this properly?

I thought this wasn’t related to whoever sent the scroll, but rather to something they couldn’t prevent.

Since the identity of those who sent the scroll were mages, I couldn’t trust them completely.

They were very cunning beings who only cared about themselves.

Since those prideful creatures asked us to prevent the worlds from mixing, I came to speculate instead.

This incident wasn’t unrelated to them either.

Therefore, at least the fact that the worlds mixing was a loss for them was clear, so I judged it was fine to trust and take information up to that point.

However, one thing that became complicated because of this was.

‘The point that there might be one more being we need to find?’

I hoped that what the mages found out was everything.

I looked with disbelief at the scroll that was now changing the font size to bold and even showing bouncing effects as if giving feedback to my nonchalant appearance, then simply closed my eyes.

I’ll just cover it up and consider it a decent wrist warmer.

When I thought that way, the scroll soon quieted down.

How cunning…

Meanwhile, I thought of a being who might be able to answer the curiosity I had been wondering about.

‘Flare Dragon.’

True to my nature of swallowing what’s sweet and spitting out what’s bitter, I boldly prayed in my heart for a Q&A session.

“…”

Well, as expected, no response came.

I shouldn’t think strange thoughts and should hurry up and prepare for work.

Today was the day of that advisor exam, so I had to put in even more effort than usual.

*

Due to the massive advertising, more people than ever applied for the advisor selection exam.

Until now, even when public announcements were posted, people gathered within the expected range due to attention or practical problems, but this time was different.

[Will the door to central advancement open wide for provincial nobles!]

[Administrator exam wide open even for people without titles.]

It was thanks to journalists pouring out various special articles based on materials distributed by the Imperial Court.

There was even a journalist with such thorough professional spirit that they submitted an application to cover the administrator exam that was being held together.

Thanks to this, the entrance closest to the palace designated as the exam venue was bustling.

“You can do well, our daughter!”

“Sister, fighting!”

“Senior, we’re cheering for you!”

Like the college entrance exam day I experienced in my previous life, not only test-takers but people of all kinds had gathered.

Thanks to them, accommodations and shopping districts in the capital and nearby areas were bustling, and His Majesty the Emperor showed great satisfaction about this too.

‘As expected of someone from the Winter Palace, to prepare for such crowds even for a first-time event.’

Of course, if we hadn’t prepared for crowds and sent official documents to the shopping districts, criticism would have come back instead.

His Majesty the Emperor was always like that.

As I thought that self-deprecatingly and turned my gaze, I could also see Wilhelmina and her brother getting off a carriage in the distance.

I really wanted to greet them, but I had no choice but to hold back.

“She’ll prefer meeting after the exam results come out.”

“I know, rather, if I acknowledged her now, Wilma would scold me instead.”

Since she could prove herself fairly with her abilities, my precious friend would definitely say she didn’t want any actions that could be misunderstood.

In fact, as soon as the exam announcement came out, it was Wilma who first said it would be better to refrain from contact for a while.

I was moved by her very characteristic letter and soothed my regretful feelings.

Of course, even if she didn’t get good scores on the advisor exam—though I believed that wouldn’t happen—the fact that she was my most precious friend wouldn’t change.

The bustling entrance gradually became quiet as exam time approached.

The Royal Guard dispatched for strict exam management took out a pocket watch and was checking down to the second.

When barely 30 seconds remained until closing, one ordinary passenger carriage stopped in front of the gate.

Seeing the shabbily dressed applicant who had arrived just in time, the Royal Guards began urging.

“We’re closing soon, hurry and run over!”

They showed kindness because he looked like a noble from a poor provincial area who had come to the capital to make money.

However, despite that consideration, the applicant maintained a leisurely pace.

Rather, he glanced at his pocket watch and looked at the knight as if they were making a fuss, leaving them speechless.

He even passed through the entrance leisurely and said,

“There are still 5 seconds left until the announced closing time, so is there a need to rush like that?”

He reproached the knight.

“Are you trying to quickly get rid of this as a trivial matter?”

“What do you mean!”

“If not, is there a need to get angry? I was just disappointed that the level of the famous Imperial Guard is this much.”

Arrogantly evaluating even the work attitude of the Imperial Guard, he walked proudly toward the exam hall.

Without leaving even a word of apology for his rudeness.

And the Royal Guard left behind was, unlike what he had evaluated, a well-trained person, so he didn’t leave his post to go argue.

He suppressed his displeasure and focused on closing the gate, which actually earned him good evaluation from Casian.

“I should spar with him next time.”

That meant he was worth developing.

Whether that would really be a reward for the person who would receive the training was unknown.

“So what’s Rose’s impression of seeing that applicant?”

“Points deducted for attitude.”

I said that while scoring the densely filled evaluation sheet.

There was one blind test that the applicants taking today’s exam didn’t know about.

It was an attitude test conducted with a deduction system by recording their behavior from the moment they entered the exam hall until they left.

Since it was a deduction system, basic points would actually be given except for cases like the obviously rude language just now, cheating during the exam, or interfering with others.

We weren’t the only ones checking, and other staff entering as exam supervisors also participated.

“Then one more thing, are you nervous?”

Casian also checked deductions on that applicant’s attitude evaluation sheet and asked me.

And I.

“…Are you feeling unwell?”

It was so absurd that I asked him honestly in return.

What fear could there be from someone who can’t even bend their own pride like that.

At my shocked expression, Casian laughed softly and finally showed a relieved face.

“That’s how you’re my proud advisor Rose.”

At those affectionate words, I realized anew.

How much he had been worrying about me over what happened, and how hard he had tried not to show it to me.

*

Three days later, the results of the advisor exam were posted.

The top scorer was none other than Wilhelmina, the pride of the Lopez Ducal House.

‘She didn’t graduate at the top of the academy for nothing!’

Even though it was forced study abroad, she was a sincere and remarkable person who spent her time beneficially instead of avoiding it and achieved excellent grades.

That’s why I thought Duke Lopez was an even more foolish parent.

Of course, her brother, Lopez Prince, also achieved quite decent grades. He was 5th overall.

Wilma looked at her brother and chuckled.

“You’ll keep your promise?”

“…No, that was just a joke!”

“Just a joke?”

“…Yes.”

“How should you address me?”

“Sister…”

It seemed Lopez Prince had scratched my soft and adorable lady’s pride.

She seemed to have decided to forgive him in a very elegant yet sibling-like way.

In contrast to Lopez Prince who looked tearful, his father Duke Lopez was just grinning broadly.

I was a bit annoyed, but since it was a good day for Wilma, I decided to be a generous person too.

Not only from the Lopez Ducal House, but joyful exclamations continued from those who made it within the passing range.

“As expected, our daughter is the best! Mother believed in you!”

“Senior! Please give me lessons for the next exam!”

“Today I’ll make something delicious for you, sister!”

Of course, there were far more people drinking bitter cups and grieving than those sharing joy.

But most showed mature attitudes in accepting the results calmly.

“Since the Winter Palace organized this, they’ll surely give fair opportunities again next time.”

“That’s right, mister! Don’t be too disappointed, those demons will definitely do that again.”

Though it seemed like praise mixed with some curses, I tried to be patient thinking their words slipped due to the sadness of failure.

But some types of humans.

“This is corruption! It’s impossible for me to fail! Does the Empire still speak of fairness after this?”

They would deny their lack of ability and blame others.

“An exam that didn’t properly reveal answer sheets or test scores! It’s all rigged!”

Watching him boldly shout such groundless defamation, I let a wicked smile creep onto my lips.

Then I should reveal abilities as you wish.

When I raised my hand, the Royal Guards who had been waiting immediately walked toward him in formation.

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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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