The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 50

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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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50.

Casian brushed off the sleet carelessly as he approached me.

“Rose, His Majesty said to prepare for contact with Seolkuk soon.”

“Even on this expedition, all the work falls to us again?”

The Winter Palace only brought two administrators with them?

“Hmm, strangely only our administrators seem to be in perfect health.”

Casian clicked his tongue as he looked at the administrators who were so exhausted they could barely eat.

Those who had barely managed a few spoonfuls seemed to sense an ominous premonition and hurriedly began eating again.

“And he also said to prepare to divide the army.”

“To prepare for the Flare Dragon.”

“Yes, he says he’ll send the Saint who will join us in the second wave to deal with the dragon.”

Casian showed a crooked smile as if he didn’t expect much.

“The priests who came along are really making a big show of it, when it was originally the Temple’s responsibility.”

“They say it’s to avoid conflict by reducing the number of Holy Knights.”

Of course, it was a ridiculous excuse.

Simply put, the Holy Knight Order’s treatment was so poor that there were no volunteers unless they had considerable sense of mission.

As a result, the Holy Knight Order could only spare about one platoon.

Their skills were also hard to expect much from.

“Anyway, His Majesty says he’ll give me a chance to achieve merit.”

“You accepted, of course?”

“Of course, would I go against what Rose earnestly requested?”

Casian raised his hand and gently brushed away the snow accumulating on my head as he spoke.

“But why is my aide worrying so much?”

Casian’s hand that had been brushing away snow naturally came down and swept through my hair that had fallen to the side with his knuckles.

“Do I really inspire so little trust in Rose?”

“No, I believe Your Highness will do well.”

The Saint will come too.

“If not Your Highness, who else in the Empire could face a dragon?”

No, actually, not just in the Empire but in this entire world.

And thinking of the original story’s development, there probably won’t be any major problems.

‘Though I have caused quite a lot of destruction.’

That small possibility was a tiny source of anxiety.

“Then just trust me, Rose.”

Casian leaned his cheek against my hand and smiled languidly like a cat.

“Even your slightest worry is precious to me.”

Casian spoke as if he truly didn’t want me to waste even a bit of my heart on concerns.

*

“Hahaha, it’s been a long time! Emperor!”

“Where did you throw away the words ‘Your Imperial Majesty’!”

“Aw, why are you being so cold between us?”

The next day, the King of Seolkuk and the Imperial Army were able to make contact as planned.

“You came all loaded up with armies like this, but you talk like that – the Emperor really does like me after all.”

The King of Seolkuk laughed heartily and patted the Emperor’s shoulder.

Of course, His Imperial Majesty’s brow twitched, but seeing that he didn’t strike it away as insolent, there must be some comradeship there after all.

“Seeing His Majesty act so magnanimous, he must be managing his image.”

Though his son’s interpretation was quite different.

I, who had briefly thought well of it, immediately agreed with Casian’s assessment.

“I’m merely bestowing grace as the Imperial Emperor to a lacking country, so don’t misunderstand!”

His Imperial Majesty immediately proved Casian’s point.

Fortunately, the two monarchs’ small talk didn’t last long.

Thanks to Casian, who had been quietly waiting, cutting off the conversation at the right moment and beginning to discuss dealing with magical beasts and preparations for when the Flare Dragon truly awakened.

“-I don’t think there’s too much to worry about. Haven’t we in Seolkuk observed the Flare Dragon’s movements many times?”

The King of Seolkuk spoke with a carefree expression.

“The Emperor talked about repaying debts to Seolkuk and such, but that’s only possible if the dragon actually appears, isn’t it?”

“Still spouting such carefree nonsense!”

“Ay, ay, that’s the Emperor’s problem. Always quick to anger since before.”

The King of Seolkuk waved his hand dismissively as he spoke teasingly to the Emperor.

“If it awakens, Seolkuk will naturally owe the Empire a great debt, but what if it doesn’t?”

“What?”

“Then the Empire would just be showing off for nothing, wouldn’t it? It’s not like dealing with magical beasts is that difficult anyway.”

Despite his endlessly light words and actions, he was still a monarch after all, showing his will not to lose in this battle of wits.

“If the Flare Dragon awakens, our Seolkuk will comply with the Empire’s demands. But if it doesn’t awaken, then the Empire made excessive demands of us-“

But that battle of wits too.

ROOOOOAAR-!

“T-This is terrible! The Flare Dragon has awakened!!”

Only had meaning when disaster didn’t strike.

*

“Quite a spectacular sight, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Flames shot up from the highest peak of the snowy mountains where snow was piled thickest.

Knights running about in confusion, and two monarchs with grave faces.

Among them all, only Casian and I maintained our composure.

“If there’s one thing to worry about.”

Casian looked at me while checking the scabbard fixed to his waist.

“It’s that the Saint hasn’t arrived yet and that I have to take Rose with me.”

“That’s two things.”

He smiled slightly at my calm response.

“Rose would certainly be better than the frightened knights.”

Click – the sound of Casian slightly drawing his sword from its scabbard and sheathing it again.

Even after saying that, he gazed at me with obvious displeasure.

“It’s rather annoying that I have no choice but to take you.”

Of course, not you, but this situation.

Casian sighed while looking around as if to say don’t misunderstand.

Since they were still coordinating opinions with Seolkuk, they hadn’t even begun discussing joint operations yet.

“Still, you have work to do.”

I said this while handing over documents.

Though the Emperor had said to prepare to divide the army before meeting with Seolkuk, we had already finished our preparations.

No matter how thoroughly prepared one might be, a battlefield was still a battlefield.

No one knew what might happen, like right now.

And when preparations weren’t in place, it was us frontline workers who got blamed.

“Yes, His Imperial Majesty seems quite flustered since it’s been a while since real combat.”

Casian put on his gauntlets, then handed the documents he’d skimmed back to me and headed toward the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, as prepared, the dragon subjugation team will take the vanguard.”

“Casian…!”

At his son’s words, the Emperor snapped to attention and hurriedly gathered his dignity.

“Your Majesty, please guard our rear so the knights can fight with confidence.”

“We shall do so!”

A satisfied smile slowly spread across the Emperor’s face.

Though nothing had been accomplished yet, he seemed happy enough just from the fact that preparations were proceeding faster than Seolkuk, who were floundering despite it being their responsibility.

“Rose!”

Casian threw a small dagger to me.

He could have given it to me earlier, but it was a show of temporarily borrowing my hand for the military formation.

I caught the sword and walked with the Emperor toward the knights who would be positioned in the rear.

*

The knights moved toward the summit of the snowy mountains.

The formation was centered around the Winter Palace Knights, with Imperial Guards selected mainly from those who had experience coordinating with Casian.

Since Casian had always made time to participate in joint training sessions with not only the Winter Palace Knights but also the Imperial Guard, there seemed to be no major issues with command.

The only concern was whether the knights might see me as dead weight.

“Will you use magic from the rear?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re quite famous! They say we never lose when the Winter Palace witch is with us!”

“…Pardon?”

It seems the rumors have spread strangely.

When I cast a meaningful glance toward the Winter Palace Knights, they cried out in protest.

“No, Advisor Salice! We’re not the kind of people who would praise you by calling you cursed beings!”

Praise, you say?

“That’s right! We said you were the Winter Palace’s goddess of victory! Those idiots just heard it wrong because they’re stupid!”

“We told them to clean their ears regularly, these filthy bastards!”

Goddess of victory…?

My mind stuttered and even froze at this affectionate nickname I’d never heard since coming to the capital.

Seeing me like this, Casian smiled softly.

“See, our knights like Rose.”

At his words, the knight who had given me a ride spoke up in surprise.

“Did you think we didn’t like you, Advisor? Just because our guys all have rough faces?!”

At those words that seemed to hit close to home, I quickly denied it.

“Of course not, the knights have always been courteous.”

“That’s a relief. If there was anyone who didn’t treat you properly, I was going to confiscate their horse on the way back.”

You were going to make them run back…?

I smiled softly at the tough, knight-like words.

“I just felt guilty because I made too many requests whenever the Winter Palace was busy.”

When I spoke honestly, the knight quickly shook his head.

“Oh, that’s nothing! Thanks to you, we don’t have to argue every time we get our allowances. How great is that!”

“That’s right! Before, the place that handled our allowances happened to be the Rose Palace, so we suffered so much every payday.”

At another knight’s addition, I couldn’t help but understand in my heart.

Right, the person who pays your salary properly is the best…

I was so angry about them messing around with wages that even though I hadn’t been at the Winter Palace long, I went trembling with rage to turn the Rose Palace upside down.

After that incident, I gradually brought budget-related matters to the Winter Palace and fell into work hell…

We were going along warmly, making such small talk.

“Lizard-type magical beast horde ahead!”

With the scout’s cry, obstacles on the path to the Flare Dragon appeared.

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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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