The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 139

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

139.

What was frightening wasn’t the hardships I could predict within my range of expectations.

It was the fear that the truths I would inevitably learn after everything was over might be too overwhelming for me to bear.

Even with Casian’s honest confession, I couldn’t answer properly because I wasn’t confident I could handle what came after.

At least with that, I had some choice.

But this insane world had never once given me such a luxurious right since I was born and regained my memories.

It was busy dumping things on me as if telling me to endure and bear whatever was given to me.

Despite wanting to live my own life rather than being the protagonist, there were things I couldn’t turn away from and had no choice but to reach out for.

Not because I was particularly good, but because I had an extremely ordinary conscience that forced me to keep going.

Those efforts accumulated one by one, making the incidents that Rozelita had to struggle through in the original story somewhat lighter.

In trying to save people who would have been unhappy, I inevitably had to weaken the power of those doing bad things.

I had lived earnestly within the limits of what I could do.

But the fact that something was waiting for me even after solving these seven incidents, and that I had no idea what it might be, tormented me.

Because it was an invisible goal, because it involved supernatural forces, it was all the more overwhelming.

And whenever I heard the dragons say that something had changed because I was ‘#@’, it felt burdensome too.

I’m not such a great person.

I never wanted to be one either.

What exactly are they planning to make me do, what duties are they planning to burden me with?

Isn’t it too much that this world won’t listen when I tried to avoid such things because I disliked them?

Nevertheless, I tried to brush it off as nothing serious, fearing it would be truly difficult if I thought about it too heavily.

I had to get through one more hurdle, so I couldn’t afford to waver here.

‘I couldn’t abandon the trust that I would somehow manage it.’

To be honest, throwing me into a tug-of-war with the priests in Riedern, and sending the Chamberlain as if on cue.

I knew it was annoyingly because the Emperor trusted me and Casian.

The Emperor must have gambled, thinking that we would somehow solve whatever difficult challenge the Temple presented and turn the tables.

Not just the Emperor, but even the First Prince would have been similar.

Since he was betting something on me, he must have deliberately stepped into something like a trial.

He was someone with the sense to think that adding one more person would become a weapon to pressure the Temple.

But coming this far, or actually even before that, those irresponsible beliefs had become somewhat burdensome.

What I want to take responsibility for would be just myself and the people of our village.

And even adding a bit more, my limit would be Casian, who readily notices my wavering heart before my eyes and tells me to lean on him.

“Aren’t you scared, Ian?”

“I’m scared.”

At my words, Casian answered immediately and pulled me into a gentle embrace.

“But what I’m afraid of isn’t what’s going to happen, but Rose disappearing from my side.”

At those words spoken as if stating an obvious truth, I felt my breath catch for a moment.

As if all the complex emotions that had rushed in like a burst dam were swept away into calm everyday life.

Reality seemed to gradually come into view before my previously hopeless eyes.

Because Casian delivered such special words so nonchalantly.

As if he had brought back my ordinary day.

“…You said you wouldn’t hold me back.”

“I like Rose so much that I guess I become selfish at times like this. Is that petty?”

I shook my head at those words and hugged Casian’s waist tightly.

Thinking about it, it seems like it all started because I couldn’t turn away from him.

‘…Though something worse would have happened if I had turned away.’

When I tightened my arms around him like I was being spoiled, Casian laughed softly.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

His voice asking lightly made my heart feel even more peaceful.

Because it seemed like Casian Artez would remain just like this, no matter what I had to face.

His sincerity touched me even more because he wasn’t trying to comfort me hastily.

I wanted to blurt out the emotions that had risen to my throat.

‘But I can’t set up a flag that suggests something scary will happen.’

Isn’t it a law of novels that bad things always happen when you confess before the final battle?

And I had a strong desire to become a more responsible person.

So instead of words, I gave him.

Smooch-

“I feel much better now, from seeing something pretty.”

I kissed his cheek instead.

“…”

Casian Artez, struck speechless and blushing red from his ears to his cheeks.

He was so pretty and lovable that I felt I’d never forget this moment.

*

The escort of the priests was carried out thoroughly under the Emperor’s orders.

In other words, we had no involvement in it.

“I have no idea what His Majesty the Emperor is thinking.”

“I agree.”

After entering the Capital, we were slightly shocked at how the priests were being treated.

Of course, the Temple had openly picked a fight with the Imperial Court this time, but…

I didn’t expect them to handcuff the priests while still in their clerical robes and put them in a criminal transport carriage.

And they deliberately chose one with large windows.

The faces of the Capital’s people visible through the carriage were full of confusion.

Like people conflicted about whether they should condemn them.

I turned my gaze away from the window and spoke to Casian.

“I didn’t expect him to treat the priests like traitors.”

“It seems to mean he won’t give them special treatment anymore. As if…”

“As if?”

Casian smiled bitterly.

“There’s already one more place where inviolability has been broken.”

“The Mages?”

When I mentioned those on the opposite side that came to mind, Casian nodded.

“Does His Majesty the Emperor want to declare that he won’t give special treatment to either the Magic Tower or the Temple anymore?”

“Probably. He must have heard what you said about the Dragon too.”

“It seems like he had this in mind from when he sent us to Riedern.”

Casian agreed lightly to that as well.

It was certainly something that cunning His Majesty would do and more.

Anyway, it worked out well for us.

On the other hand, I also felt like laughing inwardly.

‘…Still, first love is first love, I suppose.’

His Majesty the Emperor knows.

That this is the right time to restore Maribel Reardon’s honor.

And probably what he’s aiming for next is…

When I naturally met Casian’s gaze, he just smiled as if he too sensed something.

“Don’t try to predict everything right now, Rose. It’s not immediately necessary.”

Even though he must have realized that the throne was at stake, Casian treated it as if it were nothing.

And strangely, seeing that attitude made me feel.

‘…My heart feels lighter.’

Just the fact that Casian thought lightly of what the Emperor was putting so much effort into already felt like a gentle slap on the back of my head.

*

When we went in to give our return report, His Majesty the Emperor said something unexpected.

“You’ve worked hard inspecting Riedern. You must be tired, so rest well for three days first.”

The Emperor did not immediately start a war with the Temple.

Instead, he asked me with a chillingly generous expression.

“Clupea Margrave, I would appreciate it if you could lend me your wisdom on how best to treat them during the three days you rest.”

Words of humility swirled in my mouth.

But I soon realized.

The Emperor had willingly handed me the hilt of this matter.

Then I should gladly grasp it and wield it.

“How about giving the Clerics a chance as well, Your Majesty.”

“A chance?”

At my words, faint hope flickered in the Clerics’ eyes.

How ridiculous.

“The Clerics branded us as heretics, but they gave us a chance to receive the Gods’ judgment. We should provide the same, so we won’t be accused of unfairness later.”

“Isn’t that too generous a measure?”

Even so, the Emperor chuckled and commanded the Royal Guards.

“Lock those Clerics in a prison without a single ray of light for three days and give them nothing.”

The Emperor added to that command with a tone as if bestowing favor.

“After three days, if those Clerics come out unharmed, we’ll consider it the Gods’ forgiveness and let this matter pass.”

“Your Majesty truly wishes to maintain good relations with the Temple. You’ve even halved the period and are willing to follow the Gods’ will.”

When I agreed, the Emperor nodded.

“I really don’t understand why the Temple doesn’t recognize my pure heart. They made such a fuss just because I sent First Prince.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue, then looked at the Clerics and said.

“To avoid unnecessary talk and ensure fairness, it would be perfect if both the Temple’s knights and our Royal Guards stood watch together.”

It was the Emperor’s decree that there would be no room for escape.

The Clerics could do nothing but hang their heads.

For three days, the Temple’s requests for visits made quite a commotion inside and outside the Imperial Palace.

But the Emperor ignored all those requests.

‘We’ll talk after the judgment results come out. My Chamberlain also waited quietly without interfering with the Temple’s judgment, so why is the Temple in such a hurry?’

In his characteristically sly tone.

And I could soon understand why the Emperor had given us three days.

It wasn’t simply to toy with the Temple.

‘It’s time given to understand what Scaletti is plotting and what happened in the Imperial Palace while we were away.’

The Emperor seemed intent on uprooting all accumulated evils with this opportunity.

Naturally, we didn’t waste the three days but used them faithfully.

Though it was a short time.

‘Rose, Prince, please check this side. I prepared it thinking it would be needed. I’ve compiled all the foreign news and suspicious movements detected in the Social Circle within my knowledge.’

‘This side contains the Palace administrative processing records. I’ve organized only what needs urgent confirmation.’

It was thanks to the preparation of the Winter Palace people who knew us so well.

*

Thus, on the promised day, we finished our morning work in the Winter Palace Office as usual and prepared to go to the Audience Chamber.

“-It seems His Holiness the Pope will also be attending today.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————