The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 96

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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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96.

“Would you like some milk?”

Wilhelmina, who had given me properly steeped tea, spoke with a bright smile.

“We’ve arranged to import coffee roasting equipment from the Kingdom of Anden soon, so please bear with it even if it doesn’t suit your taste until then.”

“Not at all! The tea Wilma brews is always delicious.”

“Oh my, Rose really.”

At my words, Wilma smiled as if pleased and poured warmed milk into my teacup to exactly the right amount for my taste.

It had already been two weeks since First Empress Scaletti Zamotti became the Fourth Imperial Concubine.

Thanks to Casian sparing no effort with his body during the journey, the Emperor rose from his sickbed just three days after awakening.

He began resolving urgent matters one by one.

And my superior…

‘It’s just because he overdid the physical enhancement while traveling.’

Very fortunately, he recovered to his usual state the next day.

Like father, like son – both truly had monstrous recovery abilities.

Incidentally, the reason Casian could shorten the journey by two days was thanks to destroying the mapped route beyond common sense.

There were sections with mountains and cliffs, and he said he simply broke through such places in straight lines.

Naturally, most of the knights who followed for escort fell behind due to his monstrous pace.

They barely managed to maintain appearances by organizing into groups stationed at different sections, and upon return, they poured out their grievances to me.

He even ordered special training for the knights who fell far behind, so he truly was nothing if not a demon.

Anyway, thanks to the Emperor’s recovery, the investigation of the poisoning incident had also been transferred to the Sun Palace.

On the day he regained consciousness, the Emperor who looked at me called for me two days later.

‘I know there are materials you didn’t hand over to me.’

At those words, I naturally thought he would tell me to hand over those materials.

‘But the fact that you deliberately didn’t include them means you have your thoughts.’

He frowned while flipping through the materials, then let out a short sigh.

‘So I won’t press further. I wasn’t unaware that the Fourth Imperial Concubine would slip away like this.’

Somehow, wasn’t he revealing too much of his inner thoughts to me? Or was he deliberately telling me facts to confuse me?

While I was having such suspicions, the Emperor suddenly burst into laughter seeing my calm face that hid my thoughts behind a business-like attitude.

‘I really understand why Casian is so smitten with you.’

‘Pardon?’

‘That fellow resembles me greatly, though there are parts that resemble the late Empress too.’

It was something I couldn’t deny, making me feel momentarily sorry for my superior.

‘So that would be it. You have some resemblance to the late Empress.’

‘…Pardon?’

But I went to the past and saw her – she was very lovely and cotton candy-like, and unlike me, she seemed like a princess who was truly cherished and raised with care?

She would never have made the choice to suffer through work hell to pay off debts.

She even fell for Fourth Imperial Concubine Scaletti’s schemes in the original story.

If she resembled me, she should have backstabbed the Emperor and thrown divorce papers at him before he could bring in a string of concubines.

Unable to understand at all, I answered with a dumbfounded expression, and only then did the Emperor laugh heartily as if satisfied and wave his hand telling me to leave.

Somehow, even the way father and son wanted to tease me was so identical that I was equally annoyed.

But soon I mentally corrected myself, thinking it was rather pitiful for Casian to compare that wicked mage-like father with my merely demon-like superior.

Anyway, with that summons, I was freed from the poisoning incident investigation.

That didn’t mean there weren’t rabbit-like colleagues and a fox-like superior waiting for me in the office…

To think I’d be forced to take a vacation alone like this.

“Rose?”

At the clear voice, I swallowed the sigh that was about to come out and looked up to see Wilhelmina gazing at me with a beautiful smile.

“When you’re finally spending time with me, are you thinking about work again? I’m about to feel a little hurt.”

“No, I’m not.”

I hurriedly denied the pointed question, but.

“Of course you are. I’m starting to feel sorry for Prince Casian.”

My most precious friend, Wilma, delivered shocking news.

“What…?”

For such words of sympathy for that demon to come from my sparkling wine!

“His Highness earnestly begged me to let you rest, saying you never stop thinking about work even when you’re with him.”

Casian Artez truly had no conscience.

That’s because he gives me so much work!

Of course!

Lately, there might have been a very, very, very tiny bit of cases where I brought work upon myself.

I felt my conscience prick slightly, but decided to ignore the minor pain.

“But if you’re doing that even while with me, is work Rose’s most precious friend?”

“Of course not!”

That was truly a horrible thing to say.

My dream was to laze around very ordinarily in a peaceful and quiet environment.

When I vehemently denied it with that sentiment, Wilma laughed softly.

Her laughing appearance was so refreshing like star candy that the hurt I felt from Wilma’s harsh words earlier naturally melted away.

“People really don’t know themselves well, I suppose.”

“Pardon?”

“I was like that too, but seeing Rose do the same.”

For some reason, Wilhelmina told me words very similar to what Casian had once said to me.

“In what way?”

Recalling times when she occasionally viewed me too favorably, I asked, thinking it might be a difference in our perspectives.

“Not knowing what you truly like.”

The answer that came back with such warm eyes couldn’t resolve my curiosity.

*

Wilma eventually decided she couldn’t just leave me be and dragged me around various places in the capital.

“It’s always been my dream – going around shopping districts with a friend, watching opera, eating delicious food.”

Of course, for something she described so modestly, everywhere we went showed the bold generosity of a duke’s daughter, making my heart pound greatly.

“Since childhood, I’ve only been surrounded by people who would flatter me, calling me ‘Lady Duke, Lady Duke.’ So spending ordinary time like this with Rose makes me so happy.”

When our Wilma was this happy, what did it matter?

Only after ensuring I wouldn’t think about work at all for a full three days did Wilhelmina smile and create leisurely time.

Wilma’s actions also caused my diligent maid Joan to

‘It’ll be worthwhile organizing the dressing room and bookshelf after so long! The dressing room that finally exists was about to become useless since you organize everything the moment it gets somewhat full!’

burst into cheers of labor as a bonus.

So on the last day of vacation, spending tea time at the duke’s residence, I exclaimed at the beverage she had prepared.

“I sent a letter to Prince Casian yesterday, and he sent someone right on time.”

Because there was an iced americano with such familiar color and aroma.

“Thank you, Wilma.”

“It was just sending one letter. Oh right, and don’t worry too much.”

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t write to Prince Casian as affectionately as he writes to you.”

Wilma stated firmly with a resolute face that she had written it referencing Duke Lopez’s official documents.

I was slightly shocked by those words, but.

“You don’t think I still doubt your feelings, do you?”

“No, I just didn’t want Rose to feel even a little upset.”

Oh my, my friend was even kind.

“Thank you, Wilma.”

When I honestly expressed my gratitude, she showed small satisfaction on her face.

Then she placed her favorite dessert from today’s selection in front of me and said,

“It’s nothing significant. Rather, I have so much to be grateful for! If you hadn’t declined so much, I would have filled your dressing room completely.”

The place that was almost an empty room is now more than half full though.

She even prepared jewelry sets organized by gemstone type, which made Joan scream with even more happiness.

“It’s enough, and I’ve already received great help. If Duke Lopez hadn’t made a quick decision, I would have been in danger too.”

“How can Father be so slow! If Grandfather hadn’t given him a stern warning, he would have only visited the Empress’s Palace the next day.”

Wilma puffed her cheeks for a moment, saying she got angry again just thinking about that time, then spoke with her voice slightly raised.

“If Rose had suffered something terrible because of Father’s dawdling…! I would never have forgiven Father for the rest of my life, so Father should be even more grateful to Rose than he is now.”

“Because Wilma didn’t get angry?”

“I did get angry, but I spared him from cutting ties.”

Wilhelmina laughed as she said this, and dignified spirit overflowed from her.

Soon she opened her mouth with a truly relieved expression.

“I’m really glad that you’re safe and I didn’t end up engaged to an innocent person.”

Wilhelmina cut the dacquoise into small pieces with her fork and put it in her mouth, speaking in a smooth voice.

“Fourth Concubine will now be too busy just blocking other concubines in the imperial harem, so she won’t have any way to pressure Father or me.”

I nodded while fingering my nearly empty americano cup at those words.

Scaletti Zamotti, who had become the Fourth Concubine, was receiving back very little by little the karma she had built up over the past twenty years.

From the other members of the imperial harem who had lived under her intimidation all this time.

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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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