The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 64

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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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64.

 

“Are you trying to bargain with me right now?”

 

The Emperor’s face contorted for a moment.

 

“Well! These were the ones I said I’d shut away and lock up.”

 

He seemed to have built up some resistance from dealing with us, as he quickly regained his composure.

 

“Wouldn’t even a rank above baron be fine? At least there wouldn’t be anyone saying she’s unworthy to be Casian’s fiancée.”

 

The Emperor sent me a look as if to say ‘you know this better than anyone.’

 

Indeed, many spouses of the imperial family had come from ranks of baron and above.

 

‘Even in this situation, he’s still trying to keep Casian in check.’

 

Though Casian and I have a contract engagement, this approach is rather disagreeable.

 

I straightened my posture and opened my mouth with a business smile toward the Emperor.

 

“When the Empire determines the scale of titles, I understand the first criterion is the size of the land.”

 

“Are you trying to lecture me about title standards in front of me?”

 

The Emperor showed his displeasure.

 

Though my commoner heart fluttered slightly, I had no intention of closing my mouth.

 

“It’s precisely because Your Majesty is fair and just that I’m speaking up. Since this is a matter of granting a new title, it will also be recorded in the history books.”

 

In other words, do you want to be recorded as an emperor with no standards or criteria?

 

The Emperor’s face turned red and blue for a while before he finally made a groaning sound as if defeated and gestured for me to continue.

 

“The size of Mujoongongcheo between Seolkuk and the Empire is comparable to a decent earldom, and could even barely reach the level of a marquessate.”

 

Since it was a region where dragons lived, quite a large area of land had been sitting ownerless.

 

Because it wasn’t a small area, the Empire and Seolkuk had been sharing the management of magical beasts, and the actual area of the lair’s influence was exactly that much.

 

“So giving you an earldom wouldn’t be a bad deal for you?”

 

I showed him my finest business smile at those words.

 

Why does His Majesty keep thinking based on the minimum standard?

 

I’m not such a kind and unambitious person.

 

“Second, we must consider the importance of that land, and then the number of residents living there. The importance of this region is high enough to become a border area, but there are virtually no residents.”

 

“So what’s your conclusion?”

 

The Emperor was now resting his chin on his hand, waiting for my words.

 

“Therefore, if a title were to be attached to that region, I believe the position of margrave would be most appropriate. Even if Your Majesty had asked me to review this for someone else, I would have given you the same conclusion.”

 

At my words, the Emperor laughed as if incredulous and slowly straightened his posture.

 

“How remarkably similar. When I first asked Casian for his opinion, he said something similar.”

 

Then he also showed a brief satisfied smile.

 

“Of course, the Solar Palace advisors said roughly the same thing.”

 

I heard your claim loud and clear that you weren’t unprepared either, and were just testing me.

 

Rather than adding more words to the Emperor’s story, I simply waited for him to reach his conclusion.

 

The Emperor should be the one getting anxious, not me.

 

The Emperor, who had been staring at me intently, soon nodded as if he had decided, roughly setting down his teacup.

 

“Fine, not only the parties involved! My advisors also presented similar standards, so I’ll grant it.”

 

The Emperor suddenly complained of fatigue and was about to gesture for me to leave.

 

But I still had business remaining.

 

“Your Majesty, there’s something I’d like to request regarding the Hanella Countess matter.”

 

You tried to make someone an unjust criminal, so you should settle accounts for that too, shouldn’t you?

 

Perhaps he had been trying to gloss over it, as the Emperor let out a deep sigh.

 

*

 

As a result, I got what I wanted and heard some terrible things as a bonus.

 

I succeeded in diverting one item from the Hanella Countess’s asset confiscation list to Casian’s share by highlighting how much the Winter Palace had worked to clearly reveal this treason.

 

Since it was supposed to become the Imperial Court’s share, this was accomplished more smoothly than expected.

 

While listening to my request, the Emperor somehow had a face filled with regret.

 

‘How touching your relationship truly is. Everyone says it’s not love, but I’m starting to wonder if it might be real.’

 

‘It is real.’

 

Of course, I shamelessly maintained my concept.

 

The Emperor looked at me giving an immediate answer and chuckled, then unnecessarily shared some TMI.

 

‘I too cannot forget my first love and have kept that position vacant, so I understand your heart a little.’

 

‘…First love?’

 

‘Why else would the Empress position be vacant?’

 

And why else would I have kept Casian alive until now?

 

At the Emperor’s words, I could barely keep my expression from contorting.

 

Because it was truly absurd.

 

If you were so devoted to that person, why did you stand by and let the Empress fall into various dangers even before Casian was born?

 

However, on the other hand, it was also a question that fans had faintly held when the original story progressed, so the credibility of the Emperor’s words was even more frightening.

 

He had deliberately kept Casian alive—though he sent him to dangerous places—despite him being evidence of infidelity and a potential weakness against the temple, and even absolutely refused to give the Empress position to the Imperial Consort.

 

‘Ugh, I shouldn’t get involved.’

 

This cunning Emperor was someone who would gladly confuse Casian and me with lies.

 

But what if it’s true…?

 

After briefly considering various things in my head, I decided to just keep it as information.

 

Even if it were true, it wouldn’t change the direction for Casian and me, and I knew too well that the Emperor wouldn’t help us without benefit to himself.

 

Wasn’t he someone who turned a blind eye to sacrificing even his beloved partner for power?

 

‘Prepare the documents for conferring the margrave title yourself.’

 

I headed to the Winter Palace, thinking about the absurd task the Emperor had given me.

 

I was now going to be the Empire’s first person to prepare for self-conferring a title.

 

*

 

My margrave title would take some time, but the confiscation of the Hanella Countess’s assets was carried out swiftly.

 

The Emperor had prepared the list, and there was no one with the will to prevent the confiscation.

 

So within a week, Casian and I were on the land we had obtained from the Emperor.

 

At the very Hanella Countess’ Mansion where I had attended a tea party wearing the dress Casian had given me not long ago.

 

In the original story, this was a place Casian could only visit after ascending to the throne, but not here.

 

“…This feels rather strange.”

 

The fallen Hanella Countess’ Mansion hadn’t even been assigned servants for management yet, so the atmosphere was desolate.

 

Casian, who got out of the carriage, entered with slower steps than usual and made an odd expression.

 

“Did I do something unnecessary?”

 

At my cautious question, Casian turned his head to look at me, then shook his head with a bitter face.

 

“Not at all, it’s just.”

 

He reached out and extended his hand to me.

 

“I was thinking that you’re always the only one who thinks of me.”

 

I smiled as I clasped hands with him.

 

“I only returned what was originally Your Highness’s.”

 

Over ten years ago, this land that the Hanella Countess had purchased originally belonged to the Riarden Ducal Family, the house of Casian’s mother, the Empress.

 

Here stood a historic ducal mansion that had been well-maintained for well over 500 years.

 

However, after the Riarden Ducal Family fell, people in the capital treated it like an eyesore, and after the Hanella Countess bought it, she had it demolished so no trace could be found.

 

Even so, the fact that this was Riarden Ducal Family land didn’t change.

 

“…Just as mother left in her diary.”

 

Not all traces of the great family built over 500 years had completely disappeared.

 

Though Casian had never shown it, in the original story he had always wanted to reclaim this place.

 

The original Rozelita had even been caught by the Hanella Countess while gathering information to fulfill Casian’s wish.

 

I squeezed the hand I held with Casian and quietly asked.

 

“You never spoke about this place, so I thought you had no feelings for it.”

 

That’s why I had some concerns about whether I was doing something unnecessary when I demanded it from the Emperor.

 

But making my worries meaningless, an answer came back from Casian along with a low laugh.

 

“…Showing what you desperately want is the same as revealing your weakness, isn’t it?”

 

At his words, I paused for a moment and then just laughed.

 

It wasn’t like before when he would test me or pressure me, but simply showing me his true feelings.

 

Because he just wanted to share what he felt with me.

 

The thought that the stories I had told him in childhood had become his pillar of support made my heart feel strangely moved.

 

When I leaned slightly against him, he released the hand he was holding and lifted his arm to embrace me, letting me rest comfortably.

 

It truly was a beautiful garden.

 

Even though Countess Hanella had renovated everything else, I could understand why she preserved this place that had been created through the accumulation of many years.

 

The Empress, Casian’s mother, was said to have enjoyed spending time here during her days as Princess Reardon before marriage.

 

From the swing that Duke Reardon, her father, had personally hung for her, to the small path she had walked with the Duchess, her mother.

 

We walked through the garden that was decorated naturally rather than artificially created, talking about various things with Casian.

 

“So Rose. What story did you want to tell me?”

 

The cold wind swept sharply between us as it passed.

 

Casian looked at me with lonely eyes, as if he had steeled himself for something.

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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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