The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 47

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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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47.

Preventing both Casian and the Fourth Prince from going to this battlefield?

I fell into thought for a moment.

It was true that neither Casian nor I had considered that option at all.

‘However, there’s no need to reveal all my cards right now.’

I still couldn’t tell what intentions the Second Consort had in approaching us.

Perhaps she simply called me to ease her own guilt and suggested we look for another way.

I opened my mouth to test her.

“If the First Prince were to go in their place instead, would that be acceptable to you?”

The Second Consort, who had been staring at me intently, slowly picked up an apple with her fork.

“My heart was too anxious, so I didn’t properly tell you what I needed to say.”

She put the apple in her mouth and took a light, crisp bite.

“I should have started by explaining why I cook directly and keep few maids in the palace.”

The Second Consort began her story, staring only at the sliced apples with dry eyes like someone who had lost all emotion.

“When I first came to this Imperial Palace, I was the Fourth Consort, the lowest ranking among the consorts.”

And not long after, the Third Concubine at the time died in a horse riding accident.

The Third Concubine was three months pregnant at the time, and when this fact was revealed after her death, the Emperor flew into a rage and executed or imprisoned the servants and maids who had served her.

“But did they really not know that the Third Concubine was with child? As a woman yourself, don’t you find that strange?”

I neither affirmed nor denied her words, simply staring at her quietly.

Eventually, the Second Consort told me about the hardships she endured until she became the second consort.

The story of how three of the maids she brought died, and after changing head chefs several times, she finally decided not to bring any in at all.

The rage she felt when she saw the wet nurse place the Fourth Prince, who was finally born safely after several miscarriages, face down.

“You and I both know who caused all of this.”

Emotion slowly returned to her previously expressionless face.

“But even so, if I say I don’t want to blame the child, would that make me too much of a hypocrite?”

I shook my head at those words.

And quietly organized my thoughts.

‘The Empress caused all of this, but.’

Isn’t the real cause even higher up than her?

Emperor, who made us worry about whether it should be the Second Prince or Fourth Prince in the first place.

However, I couldn’t reach a hasty conclusion.

“I shall take my leave now, Your Highness.”

“Yes, oh wait.”

The consort called her maid as if she had forgotten, and handed me a box.

“People from the Snow Country never forget a favor. Please be sure to show that to Prince Casian.”

*

“Mother’s earring.”

Casian, who had checked inside the box, spoke with a calm expression.

“I had wondered why one earring from the set was missing.”

“That means…”

“Mother probably helped the Second Consort.”

Casian thought for a moment, then slumped down on the sofa.

“Come to think of it, I was poisoned several times as a child.”

“…Why are you talking about nearly dying as casually as having a meal?”

“Because it was that common.”

Casian chuckled.

“But strangely, whenever I felt like I was going to die, someone would come and pour medicine into my mouth, stroke my forehead, and leave.”

Casian said this was one of the great mysteries of his life.

“I don’t know about now, but the Winter Palace servants at the time wouldn’t have done such thoughtful things.”

Not long after Casian’s mother, the Empress, died, the wet nurse she had prepared also passed away, so there really was no one to protect him at the time.

“But I do remember something. I once saw that person’s hair in my blurred vision.”

“Was it the same color as the Second Consort’s hair?”

“I thought about wanting to eat bread.”

At this subtle non-sequitur, I frowned, then realized and nodded.

“Her hair color is indeed like a well-ripened wheat field.”

“Right, both the Fourth Prince and Sixth Prince inherited the Second Consort’s hair color.”

“That means…”

“She’s quite trustworthy.”

Casian said this, then reached out and firmly grasped my hand.

“In other words, we’re facing a difficult problem?”

“Indeed.”

Even as I said this, I began organizing the information from the original work and what I had glimpsed today in my mind.

‘The Second Consort was a character with almost no significance in the original work, so there isn’t much information.’

She was a character who steadfastly held her ground even when other consorts sided with the Empress in the latter part of the story.

And at the end, when Casian from the original work ascended to the throne.

‘She left the palace with her sons.’

After that, she didn’t go to her homeland, the Snow Country, and simply disappeared without a trace.

I combined what I had seen at the Lilac Palace with the Imperial Palace information I had learned while working as an advisor.

‘A consort from the Northern Snow Country, a princess, war…’

There must be a way.

No, I would find it even if my insides twisted from the effort.

A way to drop the Emperor onto the battlefield…!

At that moment when my mind was filled with dark desires, a lightning-like realization struck me.

“Your Highness, do you happen to know?”

Of course, this was a story from before Casian was born.

“I think I heard that His Majesty was quite the rival with the King of the Northern Snow Country.”

More precisely, they were legendary childish enemies.

The fact that the Second Consort came to the Empire was also the result of a ridiculous bet between the King and Emperor.

“That’s right, it’s an old story, so I remember hearing it from a retired knight commander.”

Casian quietly tapped his temple with his finger, lost in thought.

“However, Rose, no matter how I think about it, the odds seem to be about fifty-fifty?”

“Are you saying it’s worth trying?”

At my question, Casian smiled broadly.

“Of course.”

His lips curved at an angle.

“As a dutiful son, shouldn’t I occasionally take my father on trips?”

Indeed, Casian was a filial son.

Though of the fire attribute.

*

Once the direction was decided, what to do was easily determined.

The Second Consort, with good timing just as I and Casian had decided on a method, sent Joel to the Winter Palace once more.

“Newna didn’t come, so I’m so bored.”

“I missed you too, Your Highness.”

Of course, this was completely sincere.

“Really?! I felt the same way!”

Joel bounced around excitedly and firmly grasped my hand.

Unlike his first visit, instead of running around the palace everywhere, Joel was fixated on something else and chattered away.

“You know, I don’t usually show my room to just anyone, but I’ll show it to Newna!”

Saying this while showing another missing tooth as he smiled, he looked so adorable.

With the Second Consort’s permission, I decided to spend some time with Prince Joel in his room.

For a short while, Joel introduced his belongings to me one by one.

“This one, my brother gave it to me. Since Joel still can’t read difficult books well, he wrote it easy for me!”

The book he handed me was filled with warm brotherly affection.

His Majesty the Emperor disapproves of how he likes books and writing and rarely holds a sword, saying it’s unbecoming of a prince.

‘But he seems much better than someone who likes making his sons fight each other.’

Honestly, shouldn’t character come first if you’re human?

Besides, seeing how he played hide-and-seek and all sorts of games whenever Joel wanted, he didn’t seem to be the type with weak stamina either.

His Majesty the Emperor with his twisted hobbies surely doesn’t know that you can’t play with a seven-year-old all day if you have weak stamina.

While I was looking around the room and joining in the games, a maid came to inform us that 30 minutes had passed.

Joel’s face immediately filled with dejection.

“I want to keep playing with pretty Newna too… Only Casian is mean.”

Damn, it was a cuteness that made me want to destroy the Emperor.

“We can keep playing, can’t we?”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

At my words, Joel’s eyes filled with stars.

“Then, then. When mama tells me to go call Newna, can I come even when it’s not that time too?”

“Of course, ah… though there will be times when I’m very busy.”

I had no intention of making reckless promises to a young child only to crush their hopes.

At my words, Joel covered his mouth and giggled.

“Then Joel will write letters first! To ask if Newna isn’t busy!”

“Sounds good.”

At my immediate response, Joel showed me a delighted face with his eyes, nose, and mouth all widened.

*

After finishing the short playtime with Joel, I entered the Reception Room of the Second Consort.

After sending everyone far away, when I told her the plan that Casian and I had thought of, she made a bright expression similar to Joel’s.

“That’s really a good idea, it was wise to consult with Salice Advisor.”

“However, the Snow King will need to make the first move…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Unlike yesterday, the Second Consort’s face was bursting with vitality.

As if…

“I am that Snow King’s younger sister, after all?”

Yes, it was exactly the face of a real sibling filled with anticipation to mess with their blood relative.

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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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