The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 5

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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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05.

“Please don’t come out, Assistant.”

The knight Casian had assigned spoke in a low voice from outside the carriage.

Of course, I had no intention of going out either.

After all, these were knights assigned by ‘that’ Casian, and imperial knights wouldn’t lose to just anyone.

‘Rather, I should think about tripping up the Ceremony Director.’

To think they’d underestimate me and pull such ridiculous stunts—I’ll gratefully put this to good use, Ceremony Director.

As expected, your life experience is truly exceptional!

“Please capture them alive and unharmed if possible.”

After giving those instructions to the knights through the door.

Thud.

I pulled out the work I always carried with me.

‘Let’s do some overtime work.’

I should get something done while they’re subduing them, so I can request additional pay from Casian without any guilt.

“Ugh—! Gah!”

The pathetic voices of the kidnappers being subdued by the guard knights echoed outside.

Scratch, scratch.

Inside the carriage, only the neat sound of my pen continued, as if erasing those sounds.

*

Thanks to even attempting kidnapping.

Adding that to the crimes already committed, it took only a day for the Ceremony Director’s position to disappear.

Well, the Ceremony Director.

‘This is outrageous! To so carelessly dismiss such a prestigious position!!’

He spewed hollow grievances, but they didn’t work on Casian at all.

Additionally, through the confiscated materials, Ceremony Hall members were dismissed one after another.

Thanks to that, the office was noisy with all sorts of protests for a week, but this wasn’t the first or second audit.

Both Casian and I appropriately ignored what we could ignore and endured that storm-like week.

And so, it was finally the last day of the year.

I was scheduled to be stuck processing work until 6 o’clock today as well.

‘Still, I’m happy…!’

If I just endured today, three days of vacation including the weekend awaited me.

I planned to laze around at home for all three days after leaving work promptly.

On Saturday, I’d stop by the bookstore to buy lots of novels to read all weekend, and it would be nice to buy different types of pies I hadn’t been able to eat and have them instead of meals.

I planned to turn off my alarm, draw the thickest curtains, and sleep in luxuriously late.

Just imagining it made me so happy that I hurriedly processed the remaining documents.

The corners of my mouth tickled with happiness.

But then.

“Rose.”

An ominous voice was heard.

*

“Hmm…”

How did I end up like this?

Looking down below my shoulders, quiet laughter kept escaping.

This properly fitted evening dress was so unfamiliar and awkward.

Was this karma for only seeking out clothes that were comfortable to work in?

But wearing pretty clothes to work would only be sad anyway.

For that reason, I was feeling a bit sad right now.

The fact that I had to work overtime while wearing a dress from a famous boutique in the Capital.

The dress was so pretty, with subtle lavender fabric and lace decorating the shoulders and neckline area without being excessive.

Current time: 7:28.

Just a couple hours ago, I was happy thinking about going home and lounging around, but I’d become a slave to overtime pay again.

Because Casian Artez.

‘Attend the Royal Ball.’

Had suddenly blurted out such words.

And that too.

‘Of course, the pay will be triple instead of double.’

With conditions I absolutely couldn’t refuse.

That confident, annoying face!

I really wanted to say “I don’t want to go” and see that face contort…

But then…

‘I’ll prepare what you’ll wear. Everything you wear tonight will be yours.’

That truly detestable boss was genius at drawing positive answers from me.

Well…

‘Actually, it wasn’t just because of the money.’

The moment Casian spoke, I thought I could escape from the specter of the Debutante Ball.

Though it wasn’t common, this was also a place where noble children who missed that year’s Debutante Ball could make their debut instead.

Of course.

‘Though this only applied to high-ranking noble children qualified to attend the Imperial Year-End Ball.’

What did it matter if I was being sarcastic—I could at least get rid of one Debutante Ball ghost.

It was better to just leave behind “mere baron’s daughter” and such.

I arranged my dress skirt and stood up from my seat.

7:30. The time Casian said he would come.

I couldn’t keep my boss waiting.

The moment I opened the door with that thought, Casian, who was already standing nearby, burst into low laughter.

“Rose, you’re really thorough about time. Usually people make others wait at times like this.”

At those words, I was rather puzzled.

Why did he come early and not even knock?

*

“It suits you well.”

Casian remarked casually as we headed to the hall.

“Your Highness looks truly magnificent today as well.”

When I responded as if returning his compliment, Casian laughed low again for some reason.

Was it overwork stress? He seemed unusually cheerful today.

“It’s not just courtesy—it really suits you well, Rose.”

…I felt a bit wronged.

Mine wasn’t just empty courtesy either.

Whatever his inner nature might be, Casian Artez was truly magnificent in appearance alone.

And such a man was properly dressed in ceremonial uniform.

The very uniform he had disparaged several times, saying it had no practicality.

Inversely proportional to that, the clothing overflowing with aesthetics further highlighted his already threateningly handsome appearance.

As I looked at him, unable to shake off my sense of absurdity, he raised his arm as if knowing or not knowing my feelings.

“We have to work overtime.”

“Yes, but do I really just need to attend as your partner?”

I asked again what I had asked him a couple hours earlier.

Since I became his assistant, he rarely attended social circle events.

When he absolutely had to attend, he would just make a brief appearance alone.

It was impossible for Casian Artez to spend his time without some intention.

However.

“Yes. It’s rare for you to ask me the same question twice.”

The same answer as earlier in the evening returned.

I had no choice.

“His Highness Prince Casian Artez and Lady Rozelita Salice are entering!”

I had to collect information necessary for future work on my own.

With an awkward heart, I entered the hall together with Casian.

*

The sight of my first ball was splendid, beautiful.

And….

The stares were piercing.

“Oh my, it’s Lady Salice.”

“Salice? Is she of a status that allows her to be at such an occasion? Don’t those below count rank spend year-end warmly at home?”

“She must have shamelessly begged His Highness without knowing her place.”

“Who says otherwise, daring to make her debut at the Imperial Year-End Ball. And with His Highness at that!”

I had to tense my face to prevent a hollow laugh from escaping.

Instead.

“Your Highness. Could you please look over there just once?”

“…Why is that?”

“If you show appreciation to those who admire Your Highness, I think your image would improve.”

At my words, Casian chuckled and stared intently in that direction.

The voices of the group that had been chattering loudly enough for everyone to hear suddenly went quiet.

“You are quite efficient.”

“It’s thanks to learning well from Your Highness.”

At my words, Casian only smiled quietly and led me with skilled escort toward the Emperor and his consort.

The reason this Imperial Year-End Ball could serve as a substitute for a Debutante Ball was because the Emperor and his consort always attended.

Conventionally, when noble children entered Social Circle, it was customary for men to greet the Emperor and women to greet the Empress or equivalent imperial women.

So if I greeted the Empress today in place of the absent Empress, I could finally be freed from debutante dance lessons.

“You’ve come, Casian. It seems like it’s been very long since I’ve seen you at such occasions.”

“I haven’t had time as I’ve been handling the work Your Majesty entrusted to me.”

“Are you complaining that I’ve given you too much work?”

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched as if he found Casian’s answer disagreeable.

“Not at all, unlike my brother, my abilities are insignificant, so that’s why.”

Casian said this while briefly making eye contact with the Empress with a smiling face.

The Empress’s face wavered slightly.

She wasn’t someone who couldn’t understand that those words meant ‘unlike the First Prince who’s always fooling around, he’s overflowing with work.’

Especially since the First Prince had just greeted the Emperor upon arrival and was currently fooling around surrounded by noble young ladies.

The Empress hurriedly opened her mouth, worried that sparks might fly toward her precious son.

“Your Majesty, more than that, we shouldn’t keep the lady standing like this. Prince Casian, you too. If the conversation continues this long, won’t your partner feel uncomfortable?”

I could see a subtle look of disapproval cross the Empress’s face, but it was quickly covered by a smile.

I was starting to feel slightly grateful, wondering if Casian had deliberately said those words to the Emperor for this purpose.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, would you permit her to pay her respects? This is Lady Rozelita of the Salice Baron, my aide.”

My crazy boss boldly presented me to the Emperor instead of the Empress who was preparing to receive greetings!

Cracks appeared in the Empress’s relaxed, gentle, and dignified smile.

So this was the purpose!

The Male Lead boldly used me as an excuse to humiliate the Empress.

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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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