The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 94

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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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94.

Even after throwing off the tattered cloak, Casian’s appearance was a complete mess.

It was clear at a glance just how much hardship he had endured to get here.

He let out a short breath to steady himself, then pulled out a pouch filled with contents from his chest.

“That’s precisely why I returned so quickly.”

In contrast to his disheveled appearance, only the pouch remained clean, showing just how desperately he had protected what he brought.

When Casian gestured, the nearby palace physicians and royal guards approached and took the herb pouch from him.

Following that, the Captain of the Royal Guard, preparing for any contingency, ordered several knights to follow along.

The fact that none of the knights stationed at Rose Palace were among them was certainly no coincidence.

Casian watched this scene briefly, then swept back his disheveled hair and looked directly at the First Empress.

“However, it seems the First Empress is not particularly pleased by my arrival, despite claiming to care so much for His Majesty.”

In a cool voice, he calmly presented his question to the First Empress.

“It appears all those words were lies.”

The audience chamber fell into silence as everyone’s gaze focused on the First Empress.

The First Empress stared at Casian for a moment, then raised her handkerchief with a perfectly natural gesture.

“Prince Casian, it seems you are misinterpreting my feelings too harshly.”

Her voice was filled with sadness, as if her earlier rage that seemed ready to devour me had been a lie.

“I was simply too shocked. Ever since you left the palace, I have wished for nothing but your swift return every single day.”

The Empress then dabbed at her dry eyes with the handkerchief and opened her mouth again as if trying to compose herself.

“That’s why I was so shocked—by this unexpected good news, wondering if this was really happening and not just a dream.”

To the First Empress’s words, Casian replied in a calm yet apologetic voice.

“My thinking was shallow. As you always say, I still have immature aspects, so please understand.”

“…Of course, I always worry about you and try to think of you as my own son.”

Of course, there were hardly any people in this space who would truly believe those pretty words, but both of them displayed remarkable acting skills.

Naturally, my superior wouldn’t let the First Empress escape with this flow either.

“I also believe in the First Empress’s sincerity, so I would like you to clarify what that insolent person said earlier.”

Casian slightly bowed his head to express sadness, mimicking how the First Empress had taken out her handkerchief.

“I too don’t want to believe that the First Empress, who was so sincere toward His Majesty, would have… ordered a poisoning.”

At his natural expression, the First Empress’s brow furrowed momentarily.

Unlike when the First Empress was acting pitiful, this time the atmosphere became genuinely solemn.

It was completely understandable.

Casian had traveled to countless battlefields.

Moreover, as the Second Prince, he had often been caught up in battles while cracking down on illegal incidents.

But he had never looked this exhausted or covered in minor injuries like now.

In fact, I was worried too.

Though I believed he would return within three days, I couldn’t imagine what lengths he had gone to in order to shorten it by two days.

So, I.

“I also agree with Prince Casian’s words. I have brought clear evidence against these people’s ridiculous excuses.”

Had a duty to corner the First Empress and quickly end this situation.

“So please reveal to everyone gathered in this audience chamber the truth about Your Majesty the Empress.”

What she needed to prove now wasn’t well-crafted sincerity, but clear facts.

At my clear question, distinct confusion appeared on the face of the First Empress, who had been trying to drag out time with melodrama to slip away from this situation.

It was time to choose.

What would you abandon?

The Zamoti Duchy, built up by scattering others’ tears and blood?

Or all the power you’ve accumulated as the First Empress?

I straightened my back and asked how she would reap the seeds she had sown.

*

First Empress Scaletti’s silence grew long.

Even the maids and knights belonging to Rose Palace couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.

This was the first time the First Empress had been unable to handle a situation like this with so many people gathered.

“…Advisor Salice.”

She finally opened her mouth, turning to me with an exhausted expression.

“You are being too harsh with me. Even though His Majesty has collapsed and I’m heartbroken and confused, you prioritize immediate investigation.”

Ah, now she’s going to make me into a cruel person who oppresses her delicate self?

“But even now you pressure me based on just one word spouted by criminals, as if…”

Then the First Empress deliberately gasped as if she couldn’t breathe properly, bending over while gripping the armrest tightly.

“As if telling me to abandon our family…! Did you hate me that much?”

I could roughly predict her next words too.

“Conspiring with the Second Empress, suddenly stirring up the old concubine’s riding accident during this chaotic time… Not satisfied with breaking down one of the Zamoti Duchy’s power bases!”

The fact that she would act as if I was the one who orchestrated everything.

“Now you want to get rid of either the Zamoti Duchy or me—is that what you’re doing right now?!”

But there was something the First Empress was greatly mistaken about.

Since I really was the one who orchestrated this, I wouldn’t feel particularly wronged even if I took the blame.

“I apologize, but Your Majesty the First Empress.”

Even if you try to ruin my image, I wasn’t known as particularly kind, gentle, or considerate to begin with.

Don’t you know my nicknames?

Winter Palace demon and witch are the most representative ones.

“I merely asked the questions I should ask as an investigator. If you’re innocent, you just need to prove it, don’t you?”

Our knights very admirably gave me the nickname Goddess of Victory.

So shouldn’t I live up to that name?

“Rather, hearing you say that makes it seem even more suspicious. Over the past few days, I’ve had to explain countless false accusations I never committed. And.”

I unfolded the documents I had prepared for the First Empress and asked again.

“Wasn’t it Your Majesty who raised the most questions? You even made me kneel when I was completely innocent.”

“Advisor Salice! Couldn’t you try to understand my feelings!”

Now that she had nothing left to say, she tried to pressure me with rank.

“I ask what needs to be asked even before His Majesty. That’s my duty as the Second Prince’s advisor and Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guard.”

Scaletti’s clenched fists trembled violently.

She gritted her teeth, then looked toward the knight bearing the Zamoti Duchy name and opened her mouth as if in great pain.

“-I just… wanted…”

She spoke while exhaling.

“I just wanted to protect someone close to me, that person…!”

Then she cast a sad gaze toward the Countess who had visited Winter Palace on the first day Casian left the palace.

“I’m truly, truly sorry. My precious…!”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The Countess shook her head as if understanding that gaze.

To me, her appearance looked like the injustice of someone falsely accused, but to others, she would have looked like someone with something to hide.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I can’t endure any longer…! You’ve always been a precious friend by my side, but I… truly.”

“This, this cannot be, Your Majesty! How can you, how can you save yourself this way!”

The Countess also cried out as if wailing.

However, the First Empress slightly buried her face in her handkerchief to hide her expression and spoke.

“That knight was originally a novice knight from the Baron’s family, recommended by the Baron’s family and raised with the Zamoti Duchy’s support.”

Following that, the Countess’s scream-like crying burst out, but the First Empress approached her with staggering steps and gripped her shoulders tightly.

“Why, why did you do such a foolish thing! I really, really didn’t know! Why such a stupid act!”

“No, it’s not. I didn’t order it…”

“Your behavior was strange, why you said Advisor Salice should be confined to Rose Palace as soon as Prince Casian left, I just couldn’t understand…!”

“I didn’t do it!! Your Majesty, you told me to!”

But the Countess’s words couldn’t reach anyone.

“Not satisfied with doing foolish things on your own…! Now you’re trying to frame me, who tried to protect you somehow! How, how can you be so cruel to me!”

Because the First Empress’s voice was so heartbreaking.

And I was watching that farce with a stern expression.

‘You think you can slip away like this?’

Without getting hurt at all?

But what to do, even if I can’t bring about your downfall right now, I’ll have to blow away at least one of those precious positions of yours.

Just as I was thinking with twisted thoughts about trapping that slippery eel in a net.

“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness!”

The person who could wield that authority had opened his eyes.

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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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