The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 111

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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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111.

At Gillard’s sudden accusation, the First Consort’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh my, me?”

Unlike Gillard’s voice filled with carefully crafted indignation, the First Consort’s tone was cheerful.

“This is the first I’ve heard of such a thing. I’ve never even seen that person.”

She even proceeded to calmly tear off pieces of her croissant and eat them with complete composure.

“Still, since he’s making such claims, perhaps we should request an investigation, Your Majesty?”

And at the First Consort’s cheerful words, the Emperor made a displeased expression.

Casian and I also let out hollow laughs.

“What do you think an investigation will reveal that makes you so confident!”

In this situation, only Gillard Basmach seemed unable to read the atmosphere.

His brother, the Basmach King, seemed to have caught on to the underlying situation from the First Consort’s composure and our reactions.

I suppose this is why he became a deposed prince – being so oblivious to how situations unfold.

“I’m not particularly worried because I know there’s nothing to be found.”

And the First Empress replied to Gillard in her characteristically leisurely tone.

She wiped her sticky hands with a napkin brought by a maid after eating the croissant, then smiled brightly.

“And besides, well… If you’re going to make such claims, shouldn’t you at least bring some letters that I supposedly exchanged with you?”

At the First Consort’s words, Gillard Basmach’s face became triumphant instead.

“Of course I have them!”

“Oh my.”

Of course, despite his confident voice, the First Consort showed the same attitude as always.

“Is that so, Your Majesty the Emperor. What should we do?”

She even smiled toward the Emperor as if she was delighted to be involved in such an affair.

“I suppose I’ll have to undergo an investigation?”

“…First Consort.”

“Hehe, please ask quickly. That person says he has letters I sent, Salice Advisor.”

It was the Emperor who seemed surprised by her words instead.

“Isn’t it I who should be asking?”

Then the First Consort tilted her head as if puzzled.

“You’ve always had Salice Advisor or the Winter Palace handle such matters, I do have ears to hear with.”

Then, as if she had realized something, she straightened her head and spoke to the Emperor.

“Ah, were you planning to entrust this matter to Prince Casian, Your Majesty? Then please think of my presumption as ignorance and graciously overlook it.”

She even let out clear laughter as she spoke to the Emperor in a sing-song voice.

I suddenly understood quite well how the First Consort had managed to survive in this jungle-like Imperial Palace.

“No, well…”

The Emperor shook his head briefly, then looked at her with bitter eyes.

“It’s not that complicated, and the Winter Palace has many duties, so I was thinking of handling it personally.”

And it concerns my consort as well.

When the Emperor muttered this at the end of his words, the First Consort looked at the Emperor as if hearing something truly remarkable.

“Please proceed as usual, Your Majesty. I trust Salice Advisor greatly. Entrusting it to her would actually show more consideration for me.”

“…Not if I handle it personally?”

“You say such amusing things.”

The First Consort burst into elegant laughter.

“His Majesty occasionally jokes like this.”

Then she made a comment that left others wondering if they should agree, making the situation rather awkward.

I could really feel that they were a couple who had lived together for well over twenty years.

The Emperor let out a short sigh as if accustomed to this, then turned his gaze to me.

“Well, since the matter isn’t of trivial importance, would it be alright to entrust it to you?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Proving the First Consort’s innocence wasn’t difficult enough for that cunning Emperor to want to investigate and resolve it moderately on his own.

As the conversation continued, only Gillard Basmach remained bewildered.

“This is someone who instigated the murder of no less than the Emperor’s consort, so why is everyone letting her roam so freely!”

“Shut that mouth of yours!”

And unlike his brother, the Basmach King, who had reasonably grasped the situation, let out a deep sigh as if embarrassed and snapped at his younger brother.

Eventually, he spoke to the Emperor and me.

“However you investigate this fellow, Basmach will not interfere. You need only keep the promise you made when proposing the resumption of trade.”

“You mean the handover of Mr. Gillard.”

When Duke Lopez spoke as if confirming the King’s words, he nodded as if that was correct.

“That’s right. Honestly speaking, from my position of having seen that fellow spout ridiculous lies whenever he’s at a disadvantage…”

Soon the King let out a short sigh as if embarrassed.

“Frankly, looking at everyone’s atmosphere now, it seems like an investigation isn’t even necessary.”

“We still need justification, so we’ll proceed. That’s the Empire’s way.”

At the Emperor’s words, the King nodded as if he understood.

I sometimes found that Emperor’s emphasis on justification frustrating.

But the actual party involved, the First Consort, maintained a consistently smiling face as if she had no anxiety whatsoever.

“It’s fine, I believe Salice Advisor will handle it very well.”

When there’s nothing to handle well or otherwise…

Having learned the real reason the First Consort had been able to survive so well, I muttered to myself.

“The matter will be resolved quickly and Rose’s reputation will rise further, so it’s a good thing.”

Of course, my superior seemed pleased, treating it as a free benefit.

Meanwhile, Gillard Basmach tried to cause a disturbance due to the atmosphere not flowing according to his wishes, but was quickly suppressed.

*

“Did what I did today help you somewhat?”

The First Consort, who had invited me to Pansy Palace saying I should investigate her, spoke cheerfully while selecting tea leaves.

“Except that His Majesty seemed a bit disappointed.”

At my words, the First Consort turned her head as if puzzled.

“Are you afraid of His Majesty the Emperor, Salice Advisor?”

Well, it’s not just that kind of feeling.

When I remained silent and deflected with my expression, the First Consort nodded as if understanding while opening two tin cases and mixing small amounts of tea leaves.

“I understand, he has some troublesome aspects. He acts like a cunning snake, yet won’t make decisions unless the evidence is clear.”

“…Is it alright for you to say such things?”

“What could be wrong with it? His Majesty hasn’t known this personality of mine for just a day or two.”

Having finished selecting the tea leaves, she skillfully warmed the tea set, then carefully poured warm water and brewed tea with practiced yet neat movements.

“I also hoped this matter might create some time for Salice Advisor to rest, even if just a little.”

“I thought you had something else to ask of me.”

“I’m not completely shameless.”

What the First Consort offered me was tea that mixed herbs and dried fruits, creating a fragrant blend with a touch of sweetness.

She had prepared this knowing that I didn’t enjoy ordinary tea.

“You’ve always been busy rushing ahead, with only Prince Casian and the Winter Palace helping you.”

She smiled while placing small desserts in front of me.

“It seems to suit your personality, which is fortunate, but still, someone should create breathing room for you.”

At the First Consort’s words, my lips unconsciously relaxed into a smile.

I had expected her to make a request about this incident when she called me to Pansy Palace.

“As for my innocence, His Majesty the Emperor knows it better than anyone, and the evidence that deposed prince Gillard wants is quite clear.”

The First Consort shrugged and pointed beyond the half-open door.

There, a stern-faced attendant was continuously writing something down.

The reason the drawing room door wasn’t completely closed during the previous confrontation with the Fourth Consort was also for the same reason.

The First Consort had assigned herself surveillance shortly after entering the Imperial Palace.

She had requested that all her actions be recorded.

She had directly petitioned the Emperor, saying that her maids or administrators wouldn’t be meaningful for this purpose.

‘Please assign someone who is most stubborn and inflexible, yet someone Your Majesty can trust.’

Using a request that could have strangled her own neck, she survived in the Imperial Palace where Scaletti ran rampant.

Moreover, whenever someone became familiar with the work, she would ask for them to be replaced, preventing Scaletti from bribing them.

And all those detailed records were well preserved in the Imperial Palace Archives.

That’s why the First Consort wasn’t surprised at all when she was implicated in matters from long ago.

After a brief silence, she spoke quietly.

“I’m not that clever, and having grown up in the relaxed atmosphere of the Grand Duchy, I didn’t really know how the Fourth Consort’s schemes would torment me.”

Her face, weathered by long years of palace life, sometimes looked like that of a mature person, and other times like a debutante girl who still retained her innocence.

“So this was the best choice I could make. Not long after becoming a consort, I was certain there would be no sweet feelings between His Majesty and me, so I thought I needed to at least earn his trust to survive.”

In that gently smiling face, I seemed to catch a glimpse of her fierce determination.

*

Gillard Basmach’s claims were naturally proven false not long after.

Though they did find a rather old letter at the location he mentioned, the First Consort’s seal stamped at the bottom was forged.

Most importantly, brief summaries of all the letters the First Consort had exchanged at that time remained, proving her innocence as well.

“Do you still have something to say, Gillard?”

At my words, Gillard Basmach ground his teeth.

Since he seemed to want to exercise his right to remain silent like a criminal whose evidence was clear, I personally spoke the words he wouldn’t want to reveal.

“Is the Fourth Consort still that precious to you?”

“Ha, what do you mean!”

“Evidence of your feelings for her has already come to light.”

I spoke with a stern expression.

“Evidence of the fact that your mother and the Fourth Consort’s parents arranged a prenatal engagement between their children.”

Gillard looked at me with a bewildered expression, as if something impossible had occurred.

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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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