The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 67

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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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67.

Naturally, Casian accepted my request.

If the accident caused by the mages was truly a world-class crisis, it meant the Empire itself was also in danger.

Of course, since the truth hadn’t been completely revealed, we concluded that only the Emperor would be secretly informed and the Winter Palace would handle the proceedings.

With the direction decided, I was able to handle my duties with a light heart and attend the title conferment ceremony.

This time, among the knights who distinguished themselves in the recent expedition, some were receiving baronetcies, and others who had shed their apprentice status were receiving proper knighthood, so I put considerable effort into the preparations.

The Winter Palace knights were selected as the majority of recipients after all.

Perhaps because of this, the Empress—no, the First Empress—looked very displeased.

‘Since it was a dragon subjugation expedition, she probably thought there would be many knight casualties, so almost no Summer Palace knights were drafted.’

Even the few knights who were drafted were mostly kept in the rear, as the First Empress smoothly packaged it as the Emperor’s safety being most important.

Therefore, none of them were receiving new appointments this time.

Yet several of the Fourth Prince’s direct knights were among the recipients.

Just before the title conferment ceremony began, the Fourth Prince entered with the former Second Consort, who had now become the Second Empress.

When the Fourth Prince maturely approached the First Empress with his mother to pay respects, she barely lifted the corners of her mouth and nodded slightly.

“Her expression management isn’t quite working.”

Watching this scene, Casian whispered quietly to me.

“His Majesty did scratch at the First Empress’s nerves.”

“Well, that’s true, she must be very displeased.”

After elevating the Second Consort to Second Empress, the Emperor didn’t visit the Rose Palace for quite some time.

The First Empress also didn’t visit the Sun Palace, whether her pride was hurt or she was trying to show a reflective attitude.

Thanks to this, only the innocent teacups in the Rose Palace were sacrificed, until the Emperor finally sent word that he would visit the Rose Palace.

That morning, I miraculously heard there were no discarded teacups, but the next morning, a teacup purchase request three times larger than usual came up.

This was because the news the Emperor delivered that day was content that turned the First Empress’s stomach upside down.

According to an anonymous palace servant from the Rose Palace, the Empress had made truly perfect preparations that day to win back the Emperor’s heart.

She even made slight changes to her makeup so the Emperor would recall old memories, and personally cooked dishes for the evening menu, thoroughly catering to the Emperor’s tastes.

Even the Emperor showed great pleasure at the Empress’s appearance as soon as he arrived at the Rose Palace.

‘You’re particularly beautiful today, it reminds me of the day I first extended my hand to you.’

‘That was already over twenty years ago, do you remember all of that, Your Majesty?’

‘Of course, the memory of you helping a maid in distress in the rain, not caring that your dress got dirty, was very impressive.’

After saying this, a subtle atmosphere flowed between the two. The anonymous palace servant said that until then, they had relaxed slightly, thinking the evening would pass peacefully.

But soon after, the Emperor said with a calm, smiling face,

‘You are a compassionate person, then and now, and you always put me first.’

‘Of course, Your Majesty is my everything.’

‘So I think you’ll gladly agree to give the Dawn Palace to the Fourth Prince.’

He dropped a bomb on the Empress.

The anonymous palace servant said they didn’t want to recall the atmosphere afterward and just shuddered while cutting their words short.

That night, the Empress surely tried her best to prevent it somehow, but the next day the Emperor made this announcement:

‘The First Empress, with her compassionate heart, has personally given the Dawn Palace to the Fourth Prince who is now beginning to stand on his own. Isn’t the peace of the Inner Palace all thanks to the First Empress’s generosity?’

He even mixed in appropriate packaging that the First Empress didn’t want at all.

In short, it was like giving poison then medicine. With such an announcement made, the First Empress had to play the role of the warm elder of the Inner Palace for a while, whether she liked it or not.

With her position already shaking due to the expedition and the Countess Hanella incident, she would have to observe the Emperor’s intentions to regain his favor, even if she disliked it.

Indeed, His Majesty the Emperor was like a viper.

I firmly resolved once again never to rely on the information he had told me about loving the late former Empress.

‘I should only think about how he willingly sacrificed even such a person politically.’

*

Though subtle currents flowed through the hall, the conferment ceremony I prepared proceeded well according to schedule.

The scene of rookie knights lined up before His Majesty the Emperor to receive knighthood was quite spectacular.

Majestic music, uniforms that clearly showed they were new, and white capes embroidered with red dragons as proof they received knighthood through the Flare Dragon expedition.

Seeing the excitement and pride on the young knights’ faces made even my shoulders rise with pride.

Of course, since such trivial matters shouldn’t worsen relations between knight orders, I planned to send long, dignified cloaks as surprise gifts in the afternoon to the other senior knights who participated in the dragon expedition.

It was a kind of reward that I had consulted with Casian and proudly received approval from His Majesty the Emperor.

Following this, the conferment ceremony up to viscounts ended, and finally my turn came.

“Rozelita Salice, master of the Flare Dragon Lair, chief of staff of the dragon expedition, and First Assistant of the Winter Palace!”

The moment the Chamberlain called my name, thick-voiced cheers erupted from among the knights who received appointments or titles today.

Due to that overwhelming voice—they were just happy as usual—the mouths of several nobles who had been about to sneer in timing with my rising snapped shut.

I satisfied my regret by looking at them with mockery in my gaze.

“How, how… insolent!”

Some of them seemed to try shouting something while twitching their lips, but at that moment, the knights’ heads turned in unison and gazes poured out, so they quietly shut their mouths.

Apparently, they had no hobby of being the center of attention.

I walked confidently and bowed before His Majesty the Emperor.

“To Rozelita Salice, in consideration of the merit established in the recent expedition, the merit of becoming master of the Flare Dragon Lair in ‘Clupea’ belonging to the snowfields and snowy mountain region, and also the remarkable achievements as First Assistant of the Winter Palace, I grant the title of Clupea Margrave.”

The Emperor personally lowered his sword, the only time during today’s ceremony.

“I trust you know that my expectations for you are great, Clupea Margrave.”

Knowing these weren’t words armed only with goodwill, I rather replied comfortably with a top-grade business smile.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

A heavy weight settled in my hands.

At the same time, thick voices filled the hall with joyful cheers.

And even amid that jubilation, I could clearly feel it.

Something strange and unpleasant directed at me.

*

And the unpleasantness wasn’t just my imagination, as the priests who attended the conferment ceremony stepped forward with bright smiles.

“Your Majesty, we are very pleased that our Temple could participate in this joyous occasion.”

These were absolutely not people who would show such courtesy.

The Emperor also seemed to find it somewhat strange as his brow flickered slightly, but soon he opened his mouth with a hearty demeanor.

“Hahaha, of course it’s right to invite you all, since the Temple also provided much help in this dragon expedition!”

Though it was practically no different from Wesley Morel the Saint’s one-man show?

“We only did what was appropriate. His Holiness the Pope also said it was rightfully the Temple’s duty and rejoiced that no one was seriously injured or lost their lives. It’s all thanks to the Lord’s protection.”

While saying this, they casually turned our bone-breaking work into the Temple and Lord’s achievement as if it were nothing.

It wasn’t for nothing that they got along so well with the Empress—their methods were very similar.

The Emperor didn’t agree with the Temple’s words and simply smiled instead, not diminishing the knights’ achievements.

The priests showed slight displeasure at the Emperor’s non-agreement, but soon opened their mouths with faces as smooth as if wearing masks.

“We know today is a very joyful day, but the Temple must do the Temple’s work. Please understand our rudeness.”

Then, as if asking the Emperor’s understanding wasn’t the point in the first place, the priests turned around in unison and looked toward me.

“—Clupea Margrave! We have all the evidence of heresy, so quietly accept His Holiness the Pope’s summons!”

Shouting this, the moment they turned their rosary rings, their white priestly robes changed to black.

“You won’t deny using filthy sorcery!”

It was none other than the mark of Temple Inquisitors.

The hall that had been filled with joyful mood instantly became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

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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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