The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 140

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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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140.

“It seems you’ve finally realized that heavy body of yours needs to move.”

Casian spoke while buttoning up his military jacket with an annoyed expression.

“Moving won’t change anything though.”

“It’ll get a bit more troublesome.”

Casian clicked his tongue softly.

“When have we ever not been troublesome?”

When I grumbled back, Casian approached and smiled while fixing my slightly disheveled hair.

“That’s true too, just like how your hair never stays in place.”

No matter how I looked at it, my hair seemed to have a mind of its own.

Judging by how it kept escaping like this every time.

I placed my hand on Casian’s naturally extended arm and muttered somewhat defensively.

“Today the maids helped with my hair though.”

“Rose doesn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“When you’re working and something gives you a headache, you tap the right side of your ear with your fountain pen.”

I looked at Casian with a somewhat fed-up expression at those words.

I didn’t even know I had such a habit myself…

Of course, Casian Artez was just enjoying himself.

I could even glimpse his pride in knowing me that well, which made me laugh.

*

I’d been in and out of this audience chamber countless times, but I’d never seen it this crowded.

There had been no precedent for legal punishment of clerics under national law.

‘This really shows how much power the temple has wielded until now.’

With the throne at the center of the innermost part of the audience chamber as reference, temple people sat on the left, while the Imperial Court and nobles including Casian and I sat on the right.

Empress Trisha and the other consorts were also present.

This was because the Fourth Consort had requested the Emperor’s permission to attend.

Since it concerned Prince Charley, wouldn’t it be proper for her to attend?

The Emperor accepted this but had all the other concubines attend as well, as if to maintain balance.

‘Assigning the Fourth Consort’s seat to the left seems like a warning from His Majesty.’

The Fourth Consort probably wouldn’t care about that warning.

Her attention would be focused on other purposes.

In contrast, Prince Charley’s seat was near us.

Here too, the Emperor’s intention to draw a line was visible.

Of course, the Fourth Consort seemed displeased with this fact but remained silent.

In the past, she would have already claimed dizziness or made strange excuses to the Emperor to keep Charley by her side.

“It’s strange, she’s being too quiet.”

“Yes, I actually expected her to send assassins over the past three days.”

Casian nodded in agreement with my words.

“That’s why I deliberately had Rose stay in the Imperial Palace, but it’s puzzling that she hasn’t moved.”

“There were no poisoning attempts either.”

Casian said it was strange that she hadn’t reached out to not only us, but also His Majesty’s Sun Palace or Empress Trisha’s Lilac Palace.

“Maybe she’s overconfident.”

“The Fourth Consort might know something we don’t.”

Casian nodded as if my words made sense.

That seemed to be the only answer to a problem that even putting our heads together couldn’t solve.

‘Why did His Majesty keep the Fourth Consort by his side even knowing what she had done?’

Moreover, he made her his chief consort and let her wield power.

No matter how I thought about it, I could only conclude that the Fourth Consort had something.

While we were looking around like this, the Chamberlain’s booming voice announcing the main guests’ entrance echoed through the hall.

“His Majesty the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope enter!”

At the sight of the Emperor walking ahead with the Pope following behind, several clerics couldn’t hide their grimacing expressions.

In previous joint attendances, walking side by side was the usual protocol.

While the Emperor strode toward the throne with a stern face, the Pope walked slowly to his prepared seat with an expression that accepted everything like a pilgrim.

The temple side watched all of this like oppressed, wronged people.

They’d only just entered, and if they were already struggling this much, what would they do?

I looked at the Pope, whom I was meeting for the first time, while sneering inwardly.

He was someone who only appeared in this final incident even in the original story, so I was truly grateful he came.

‘That way I can resolve this trial cleanly.’

The Pope had a more solid build than I had expected.

Though it was less noticeable with the excellently grown Wesley Morel standing beside him.

“I heard you’ve had a hard time, brother.”

Unlike the other temple people, the Pope greeted Wesley without showing emotion.

“Not at all, there are naturally trials on the path of following God.”

“I’m truly relieved you think so generously.”

“Why does Your Holiness say it’s fortunate that Wesley faced trials?”

Wesley couldn’t hide his puzzled expression and asked a question in response to the Pope’s benevolent words.

“I thought those possessed by evil had impersonated His Holiness’s name to push me and innocent people into judgment, but surely…”

Wesley looked shocked.

“Was it really carried out under Your Holiness’s name as those who strayed from God’s path claimed?! Even creating evidence to report us to the temple?”

The Pope was speechless at Wesley’s seemingly innocent barrage of questions.

This was truly eloquence befitting my childhood friend, making me proud.

Of course, the Pope spoke carefully while maintaining his benevolent expression.

“You still have many questions. I only said it was fortunate that you received the gods’ protection and proved yourself safely in this judgment.”

“That’s what I thought, right? I heard so many strange things from Riedern to here that I got scared too. I thought the temple was trying to abandon me.”

At words close to the truth, the Pope’s brow furrowed slightly, but he soon patted Wesley’s hand comfortingly.

“How could that be? You’re the first saint we’ve never seen before. There’s still much for you to do for the temple and this land.”

Then he turned his head toward the Emperor with a slow, leisurely attitude.

“I deeply regret that the temple’s poor management has caused Your Majesty concern.”

At the Pope’s words of bowing first, the Emperor remained solemn.

“It seems too early for such words. Shouldn’t we first see the results of the gods’ judgment? However…”

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

“You had no involvement in this matter, Your Holiness?”

At the Emperor’s question, the Pope sighed deeply as if somewhat tired and spoke.

“Though I bear the grand title of Pope, I’m just keeping my place deep in the temple with this old body. Spending each day peacefully until the gods call me is my greatest luxury.”

Though he spoke in an old-fashioned manner, in short, he was saying he knew nothing about it.

Of course, His Majesty didn’t bother to press the matter.

“I understand. When you sit in such a position, you can’t know everything your subordinates do.”

I expected the Emperor to glance our way when he said this, but unexpectedly he turned toward the Fourth Consort.

“Isn’t that right, Fourth Consort?”

Suddenly singled out, the Fourth Consort trembled at her pinky fingertip for a moment, but then bowed her head pitifully and spoke evasively.

“…That’s right. I’m particularly foolish and have caused Your Majesty much concern through poor management of my subordinates.”

“Indeed. I hope the position of Fourth Consort, the lowest among the concubines, is not too heavy for you.”

“I can only apologize for showing such shameful behavior until now.”

The Fourth Consort bowed her head even lower and shrank back.

After hearing that response, the Emperor looked at the Pope briefly before speaking again.

“I too am in a position where managing my household alone is burdensome, so I understand Your Holiness’s feelings.”

“…The gods will understand that difficulty as well.”

At the Pope’s words tinged with slight discomfort, the Emperor showed no particular satisfaction or gratitude and ordered them to bring the clerics who had been confined for three days.

Then he questioned the Pope.

“Does Your Holiness hope that the sinners who will come to the Audience Chamber are unharmed, or do you hope there is something wrong with them?”

It was truly a malicious question.

If he said he hoped they were unharmed, it would look like he was defending those who tried to harm Wesley and us.

Moreover, at the point where he had said he hoped Wesley would have the Gods’ protection, he had already essentially defined them as having nothing to do with him.

But if he said he hoped there was something wrong with them, that would be tantamount to showing distrust toward the Civilian Investigation Team that had been dispatched in the Pope’s name.

Though the Pope was now acting like a powerless recluse, moving in the Pope’s name required his seal in the first place.

The Civilian Investigation Team had also moved after confirming that.

Especially since many people knew that Elder Priest was the Pope’s close associate.

Moreover, there was what the Emperor had said.

That if the Gods protected them, he would let this matter slide and maintain friendly relations with the Temple.

Though he called it friendly relations, it was similar to a declaration that he would give the Temple the initiative, making it an even more difficult problem for the Pope to answer.

No, the Pope had probably come here honestly hoping they would be unharmed.

That’s why he had said things like being generous and fortunate to Wesley.

But Wesley had quickly dug into those inner thoughts, making it difficult for him to answer now.

A strange silence flowed between the Emperor and the Pope.

The air in the Audience Chamber was intensely heavy.

Soon the Pope spoke in a heavy voice with a pained expression.

“Of course, I hope the Gods have delivered fair judgment.”

Compared to the time it took to come up with an answer and the weight he put into his words, what he actually said was too petty.

In short, it was cowardly tail-cutting, saying that whatever the results, it wasn’t his responsibility and he would simply accept the outcome.

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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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