The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 172

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

Side Story 02-2.

Upon entering the office afterward, I broached the subject of preparing for the wedding.
To be honest, I felt a twinge of guilt toward the Administrators even as I spoke.
The Estate already had more than enough on its plate without adding a grand event to it.
But—
“At last, you’re doing it!”
“Phew, we’ve been so worried that you hadn’t brought it up because we still hadn’t adapted properly to the Reardon Domain’s affairs.”
“We’ve improved our processes multiple times for better efficiency, and at last you’ve acknowledged it!”
…Could it be that the Administrators had been holding their own separate meetings every other week for this very reason?
Realizing I’d apparently pushed them toward some rather unexpected direction, I found myself at a loss for words until Casian whispered something for my ears alone.
“See? They’re all wrapped around your little finger now. How can you expect me not to be jealous?”
“…This is honestly not the reaction I anticipated.”
“It’s only natural for a pupil to surpass the master, after all.”
I frowned slightly at his words, but watching the Administrators busily pull out wedding plans they’d apparently prepared in advance, I couldn’t help but smile.
“You know, Ian.”
“Hmm?”
“I’d actually planned to tell them not to assign any duties to this project, since I thought it was something important just for the two of us.”
“They’d have made a fuss if you’d said that, wouldn’t they? Complaining about how you could possibly leave them out of the event. Besides, we’re rather unusual employers, aren’t we?”
Both the Duchy of Liearden and the Clupea Border Barony were Autonomous Territories—a rarity within the Empire.
In essence, we held a position closer to what one might call their sovereigns.
“True. Now that I think about it, we’ll have plenty of guests coming from all over.”
“And plenty of difficult ones at that.”
Having said this, Casian escorted me to my desk and spread out the day’s most urgent business before me.
It was none other than the Damage Compensation Claim from the Duchy of Liearden to be sent to the Emperor.
A formal and thorough document based on the Marriage Contract with Maribel Reardon—a claim that required His Majesty to drain his Personal Funds rather than the State Treasury.
*
The wedding preparations proceeded very smoothly.
It was incomparable to when we’d prepared for the Second Prince’s wedding.
There was no bridegroom insisting on gaudy colors, no mother of the groom squabbling about propriety, and no bride standing idle as though none of it mattered.
Above all, while I’d accumulated a considerable fortune since becoming the Marquis of Clupea, Casian’s personal funds—carefully amassed through years of battlefield campaigns—were nothing short of magnificent.
“If only I’d been a bit more naive as a child, life would have been easier.”
“Do you like it? Not having to fret over the budget?”
“Exactly! There’s not a single troublemaker in sight.”
Thanks to this, we could avoid agonizing over expenses.
Had we still belonged to the Winter Palace, things would have been different.
If it were the Second Prince’s wedding, we would have needed to seek support from the State Treasury.
And the scale of personal funds we could use would have been determined by the amount of that treasury support.
Even with money, you couldn’t spend it freely, and even without money, you had to scramble to provide it for the sake of appearances—trapped in this double bind, the Imperial Family had to endure constant conflict.
But the wedding we were hosting belonged to Casian Artez, master of the Duchy of Liearden, an ancient domain that had existed since before the Empire itself, and Rozelita Salice, mistress of the Clupea Border Barony—a land whose name had never been inscribed in history until now.
Of course, the Capital had thrown quite a tantrum over this decision.
[My son Casian, and Marquis of Clupea.]
That most petty-minded person in the world revealed their pettiness from the very first line of the recipient.
[It would be far more advantageous for you both if you spread word of the Imperial status far and wide.
I shall forgive your youthful indiscretion with a generous heart—change the wedding venue to the historic halls of the Imperial Palace.
The Duchy of Liearden is still being rebuilt; it lacks sufficient accommodations for honored guests.
If you wish, I shall have the Peony Palace prepared for you to spend time there.]
Of course, there was nothing more to read.
“How does he still believe he can control us like we’re puppets?”
“That’s precisely why the Empress rejected him in the end.”
Casian chuckled and made this comment.
Several more letters arrived afterward, but we declined them all with utmost courtesy.
[We are grateful for your words, but we have determined that it is now necessary to restore the honor of the Duchy of Liearden, which has long been misunderstood.
Moreover, this is a position agreed upon by Wesley Morel as well, and we humbly request your forbearance for the future peace of the Empire.]
We declined with various iterations of similar language, but eventually a letter arrived that was far more candid about the true purpose.
[If this continues, I cannot take even a single step out of the Capital!
Marquis of Clupea, would you make me a father unable to attend his own son’s wedding?
I too have been endeavoring to put my past mistakes behind me and be a proper parent to Casian!
Is that not why I have sent that child away to live as the Duke of Liearden without complaint?
Why must you be so guarded?
Or could you not arrange a time for me to visit the Duchy of Liearden?
With your and Casian’s abilities—]
In summary, he wanted to use the wedding as an excuse to shirk his duties, but of course I had no intention of obliging.
“The Empress cannot attend, so why would you?”
Even Casian, a dutiful son with a flaming heart, agreed.
So I sent back a response of utmost propriety.
[We are deeply grateful for His Majesty’s kind consideration.
However, as one who has previously participated in state affairs, how could I possibly claim that a private matter takes precedence over public duties?
Since the Empress and the Fourth Prince shall attend as representatives of the Imperial Court, I would not presume to seek Your Majesty’s precious presence as well.
As you know, I am one who cherishes simplicity, and shall be content to simply receive Your Majesty’s heartfelt regard.]
When I’d finished this reply, Casian kissed my cheek and earlobe, clearly delighted.
And the response arrived just today.
[What nonsense are you spouting, when you are the most avaricious of all!
Would it suffice if I begged?
Please, let me go to the Duchy of Liearden, offer Bel my proper apologies, and see your wedding with Casian. I beg you.]
It was, roughly speaking, a heartfelt plea.
But no matter how much an Emperor might beseech in such a manner, ‘avaricious’ me had little intention of yielding.
“If His Majesty travels here, we’d have to increase the budget—and he’s the same face as before, after all.”
As I gazed at the letter with a lukewarm expression, Casian pulled me tight and spoke as though joking.
“How did you know?”
“So what’s your true feeling?”
“There’s a bit of it too, but I’m wondering what you think, Ian? After all, they’re still parent and child, so there might be people criticizing us.”
Truthfully, dealing with people I disliked was hardly a difficult task for me.
I hadn’t walked a path of roses in my social life even in my previous existence, or to be frank, it had been a thorny path at times even more than in this life, so my immunity was more than sufficient.
That’s why my only concern was the heart of my beloved companion.
“I feel the same way. If His Majesty came, it would only mean more trouble. As I said before, the Empress can’t come either.”
Casian’s light sigh fell near my shoulders.
“Besides, what His Majesty truly wants isn’t to attend the wedding at all—it’s to restore his authority and pass off his duties.”
“That’s true enough.”
“Stop replying and just ignore him from now on, Rose.”
There was an edge of displeasure in his tone.
“There’s no need to humor someone who spreads every sort of rumor through the Capital’s social circles to shake you.”
Such rumors had no impact on me whatsoever, so I’d privately thought the Emperor was rather foolish.
Besides, his response to each reply I sent was mildly amusing in its own small way.
As I pondered this for a moment, Casian lifted me into his arms.
“If you’re going to spare any attention for His Majesty, love me more instead, Rose.”
“…You’re jealous of that too?”
“Of course I am. I even get jealous of documents sometimes, Rose.”
His violet eyes gazed at me with genuine petulance.
I carelessly set down the Emperor’s letter I’d been holding and wrapped my arms around Casian’s neck.
For someone as avaricious as me, one very large and certain happiness was a far better choice than small, fleeting pleasures.
Though even in this moment.
‘Maribel, then….’
I was earnestly turning over schemes in my head to obtain an even greater happiness.

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