The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 39

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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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39.

After returning to the capital from Ilium, quite a commotion arose.

Among the mages captured this time, there were quite a few elders with substantial backgrounds.

‘Ah, see? When we were caught, we said we only did what we were told. Why didn’t you believe us, Salice Advisor?’

‘Right, right. We just worked pitifully in the research lab.’

It’s only been a year since I documented evidence of what you had stuffed in your back pockets and filed the paperwork?

The mages who were caught last year and had already been doing forced labor were swept up in strange expectations as soon as they heard the news.

‘You know, the people who came this time have better careers and skills than us, right? Can’t you transfer us to labor at a different palace too?’

‘Benevolent and generous Salice Advisor. Please grant our request, please!’

Of course, such nonsense would never be approved.

Those guys were living this warm labor life because their crimes were relatively minor, while the elder mages caught this time were headed for physical labor after having their magic sealed at minimum.

Since they were people who didn’t even want to walk on their own feet, their wailing would surely echo far and wide.

Anyway, aside from those physically noisy guys, the media was also very bustling.

[Is it a rebellion of the Magic Tower? What about relations with the Temple?]

[Winter Palace demons spread their infamy once again!]

No matter how I looked at it, the reporters clearly misunderstood both the meaning of demon and evil.

‘We did well this time, so shouldn’t the word “fame” appear instead of “infamy”?’

Feeling annoyed for no reason, I picked up red ink and corrected all the unnecessary words in the article.

Meanwhile, Casian returned after finishing his state report, so I immediately asked him about the situation of the person whose reaction I was most curious about.

“How was Her Majesty the Empress today?”

“She was smiling, but her lips and the corners of her eyes were twitching quite noticeably today.”

Casian sneered.

“She also didn’t forget to mention that everything went well because brother prepared well in advance.”

Yes, that’s how Her Majesty the Empress should be.

“It seems our speculation was correct.”

“Thoroughly erasing traces like that is Her Majesty the Empress’s specialty.”

Casian shrugged his shoulders.

Especially since this time she tried to gain profit by reaping benefits without effort, the Empress’s traces were even less visible.

“I heard Duke Lopez also entered the palace.”

“It will probably end with a simple investigation.”

“What about Wilhelmina?”

“Fortunately, she stayed quietly at the duke’s residence. Your judgment was right.”

“There must have been groups trying to approach the young lady?”

“Yes, they said they were disciples of the mages involved in this incident.”

“And they knew the details too?”

Casian nodded slowly.

“Teleportation coordinates of the mages were confirmed at shops the young lady frequents and near the duke’s residence.”

“If Wilhelmina had met them even once…”

“She would have been dragged into it.”

Casian clicked his tongue lightly.

“Her Majesty the Empress doesn’t like to leave uncertain factors.”

It was the same reason in the original story.

He said he would get engaged to Roselita, but the Emperor opposed it because she was from a weak baron family, and since Wilhelmina liked Casian so much, the Empress feared the synergy that would arise if he were to unite with the young lady.

Duke Lopez was a person with a desire for power, but he also hated losing out, so when the possibility of Wilhelmina being matched with the First Prince disappeared, he thoroughly weighed the two sides.

Would he choose Casian, who had built fame in war and received support from the imperial citizens but was weak in power, or would he support the First Prince to grasp at least second or third-tier power?

In fact, Duke Lopez had once tried to attach his sons as advisors to First Prince Charlie and Second Prince Casian.

However, it didn’t come to fruition because the Empress, who understood his intentions, was displeased.

So from the Empress’s standpoint, she wanted to eliminate the existence that held possibilities.

‘She would think it would be even better to catch the Lopez ducal house’s weakness while she’s at it.’

Such a thoroughly planned scheme, one where she even went so far as to nearly kill Casian.

All fell apart thanks to my appropriate measures.

This inside story was also the reason why I didn’t accompany the state report and only sent Casian.

Honestly, I was scared.

I trembled slightly and asked Casian.

“Your Highness, it seems like…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll have to work hard to avoid Her Majesty the Empress for a while, won’t I?”

At my sad question, Casian showed a gentle smile.

“I’ll work hard to shield Rose.”

…I really want to run away.

*

The aftermath of the Ilium incident continued for quite a long time.

Because those involved continued to be caught one by one afterward.

There were many people on the cruise ship, and even if the knights subdued everyone, we knew well that it was realistically impossible to prevent everyone from escaping.

So I deliberately scattered gold coins that day.

Those gold coins were specially enchanted, so simple recovery was possible, but they also had a tracking function.

They had the property of reacting strongly to mages’ magic power in particular.

‘I’m really grateful that all the cooperating mages have bad personalities.’

That mentality of having no camaraderie and hoping other mages would fail as much as they had been screwed over.

Casian and I were making very good use of their psychology whenever the mages caused trouble.

‘Now the Magic Tower has finally quieted down too.’

The Magic Tower was actually as independent a space as the Temple, so in principle, it didn’t have a hierarchical relationship with the Imperial Court either.

The situation was similar to the non-interference between government and martial arts world in martial arts novels, so naturally the Magic Tower made its own demands this time as well.

Of course, Casian and I simply ignored them.

In short, it meant we would cut the research budget going to the Magic Tower starting from the second half of the year.

In the first place, not restraining the magic power of mages with minor crimes among those caught last time and letting them do labor instead was already showing sufficient goodwill.

‘Do they even know how much Casian was cursed at by the Temple for that decision?’

It’s been well over 500 years since the Magic Tower was established, so the non-interference between government and magic has become virtually meaningless.

Every person who gets caught keeps going on about the deep ideals of mages and such.

Since when was the Magic Tower a magic cult?

Anyway, after handling all the things the mages had done, treatment plans for drug victims, and administrative processing, it was already full summer.

That meant, in short…

‘It’s time for the first half settlement.’

It was the time when the Winter Palace would be truly ground down.

*

“Salice Advisor, the data you requested has been organized.”

“Please leave it there. And organize it the same way as the red file folder on the low table.”

“Advisor, the Second Princess’s palace sent a request for help, saying it’s difficult to prepare the budget organization plan.”

“No, why do they do this every settlement period?”

“Advisor, from the Empress’s Palace-“

“Put it on His Highness the Prince’s desk.”

“Advisor, from the Sun Palace-“

I wish people would stop calling me now.

Quite amusingly, during settlement periods, identifying friend or foe within the Imperial Palace became meaningless.

Even that Empress’s Palace had no intention of solving this troublesome work without us.

It was also true that the Winter Palace administrators did work most quickly and efficiently thanks to being worked hard by us.

‘What exactly is the financial department doing?’

This was all because the people who should be busiest had been gradually increasing what they delegated bit by bit since I arrived, and finally now they dumped everything on Casian.

Half of it was also Casian’s intention.

‘Because holding the budget inevitably gives you power.’

So even though I cursed under my breath, I would take on work from other palaces.

Of course, the biggest reason was survival.

And next, just as much as me.

“Your Highness, this needs to be reviewed-“

“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor said to handle this matter urgently-“

“Prince Charley said this matter doesn’t seem to belong to the First Prince’s Palace-“

Casian was also being tormented like crazy.

‘Still, I need to weed out the stuff that’s completely useless to us and just dumped on us as busywork.’

Especially the Summer Palace, owned by the First Prince.

With advisors and administrators, having more than twice the personnel we have available, yet dumping everything on us the moment they need to use their brains a little.

“I’ll go to the Summer Palace, Your Highness.”

I was so irritated I couldn’t stand it anymore.

Watching the knights carry the thick file folders I had been collecting like a grudge during the settlement period, Casian winked at me.

It was a signal to come back victorious.

*

Unlike the Winter Palace where no one could walk leisurely, the administrators of the Summer Palace were laughing and taking a slow stroll after lunch.

No, not just the administrators, but even the advisors.

“There’s so much work today, right? Everyone suffers during settlement season.”

“We’re just following the advisors’ instructions well. Even if it’s a bit tough, everyone goes through this during this time.”

“Still, the advisors are so capable that we can manage.”

Really living it up, aren’t you.

“Look at the Winter Palace, how inefficiently they work that they have overtime every day. That’s all proof of incompetence, unlike our Prince Charley.”

“Since when was efficient work dumping things on others?”

Who’s suffering because of whom right now, and you’re saying such things?

The First Prince’s Palace advisor hesitated for a moment at my sudden appearance, then opened his mouth with a snicker.

“What business does the Winter Palace’s witch have daring to come to this Summer Palace?”

Did you just call me a mage as an insult?

I’m going to destroy your whole comfortable life.

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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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