The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 97

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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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97.

When Scaletti became the Fourth Consort, her Rose Palace changed dramatically.

After all, what she was involved in was nothing less than the Emperor’s poisoning.

Even newspapers and magazines showed no sign of sympathy for her.

You’d think at least one or two would show pity for the highest-ranking woman in the imperial court falling to the lowest among the concubines.

[The culprit in His Majesty the Emperor’s poisoning case was a maid of the Jahmoti Fourth Consort.]

[Case analysis based on official palace announcements.]

[Salice Advisor’s thorough fact verification]

Despite all those people witnessing Scaletti trying to frame me, her intended villain-making failed.

Compared to the articles they used to write whenever I went on tax investigations, it was noticeably dry, containing only facts and analysis.

And that wasn’t all.

[Will trade with the Kingdom of Basmakh resume?]

[Reexamination of the Basmakh Consort incident, the Lopez family’s injustice]

Duke Lopez had even timely leaked the riding accident case of the Basmakh-born consort to the press.

Since the Zamoti Duchy was involved in this matter, it became even harder for favorable public opinion to emerge.

Sixteen years was a long time in some ways, but not for those who had been hurt.

For people who had suffered various difficulties due to trade with the Southern Empire becoming difficult after the Basmakh Consort’s death, this was still an ongoing matter.

They sent gratitude and support to Duke Lopez for not giving up and speaking out even now.

“Father really needs to be more grateful to Rose.”

Of course, Wilhelmina expressed somewhat disapproving opinions about that too.

Anyway, this was something His Majesty the Emperor had also condoned.

The severance of trade with the Kingdom of Basmakh was painful in many ways, and it was also true that the Zamoti Duchy’s work had been unsatisfactory.

‘At least it seemed better when the Late Duke Zamoti was alive.’

After his death, everything had been shaking.

With even the family’s position being shaken like this, the Fourth Consort was inevitably cornered even more.

Starting with her advisors and maids, they all expressed their intention to resign.

The closer associates who had stayed by her side for over twenty years knew her temperament well.

Naturally, they couldn’t be unaware of the truth about the mastermind behind this poisoning incident and the fate of the count’s family that couldn’t escape.

She who once commanded over ten maids could now barely keep just one maid of the lowest status among them.

The maids who resigned were all scheduled to pay the price for the various corruptions, large and small, that their families had committed under the Zamoti Duchy’s protection.

This was also the biggest reason His Majesty the Emperor excluded the Winter Palace from the follow-up handling of the poisoning incident.

Not only that, but the palace guards also rushed to submit requests for reassignment, only to be severely scolded by the Captain of the Royal Guard.

Even though not a single advisor remained, His Majesty the Emperor reportedly answered quite calmly about this.

‘Other consorts also had periods without them. Even Trisha, who is now the only Empress, had no advisor when she was the Second Consort, and didn’t even the Winter Palace, which always had the most work, manage well on its own.’

Due to the principle the Fourth Consort had maintained that no administrator could be appointed without an advisor, she couldn’t even receive a temporary administrator.

In short, she had to manage her palace affairs with only her sole remaining maid.

Of course, besides these outwardly visible inconveniences, she was also being openly humiliated by other consorts.

‘Where did the one who so insisted I show proper etiquette go? I still remember being told that being a grand duchy’s princess only gets respect in my own country, so if you’ve forgotten all etiquette, I’ll personally teach you.’

Especially the First Consort truly ruled over her with her authority without any reservations.

Young people working in the palace whispered that it was a bit harsh, but experienced people who knew the situation all kept their mouths shut.

She, who had entered the palace through a political marriage shortly after the Fourth Consort gave birth to Prince Charley, had to endure terrible harassment.

Starting with being subjected to schemes to prevent pregnancy, and then losing the child she finally conceived before even reaching five months.

Cleverly made to seem like it was her fault.

When the First Consort learned of the Basmakh Consort’s riding accident while enduring such grief and finally having the current Second Princess.

She pretended to lose her mind and recuperated outside the palace, managing to give birth to the Second Princess after great hardships.

To that extent, she inevitably harbored resentment toward the Fourth Consort.

‘I remember clearly how you taught me etiquette. Since the Fourth Consort seems to have forgotten everything, as a superior, I will teach you thoroughly.’

Fourth Consort Scaletti Zamotti could only return to the Rose Palace in the evening, well past a full day.

With disheveled hair and trembling thighs, barely supported by her maid.

Even being able to return home was thanks to her only maid, who couldn’t bear to watch and ran to appeal to the Emperor.

However, His Majesty the Emperor said.

‘Isn’t it reasonable for the First Consort to teach as a superior? In such matters, you should go to the Empress first.’

He replied indifferently, saying Scaletti had also ruled the harem in such a manner.

Instead, he sent an attendant to Empress Trisha.

‘Make sure not to cause too much commotion.’

The message His Majesty conveyed was also utterly cold.

The Fourth Consort, who would have shed tears and appealed somewhere in the past, maintained only proud-eyed silence even when Empress Trisha came to mediate.

No commotion occurred after that, but the imperial harem was always outwardly quiet by nature.

And Wilhelmina, who was now receiving direct teachings from Countess Lopez, couldn’t be unaware of this.

“But Rose, grandmother said this.”

She grasped my hand tightly and sent me a worried look.

“Those who have fallen to the bottom have nothing to fear, so you must be very careful.”

“I will.”

“And…”

Wilma hesitated, then spoke in a careful, small voice.

“If this is something I shouldn’t know, just stay silent, but there’s something I thought Rose would have done.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you cover up the solid evidence that the Fourth Consort was the mastermind behind the poisoning incident?”

Her gray eyes were incredibly sharp and serious.

My dear friend was truly much smarter and more perceptive than that foolish Duke Lopez thought.

No one except His Majesty the Emperor and Casian had noticed.

I could have answered with silence, but after much consideration, I wanted to show Wilma, who must have asked after much thought, some proof of trust.

“Because it’s necessary.”

Not immediately, but in the not-too-distant future.

At my answer, her eyes widened, then she drew a bitter smile.

“I understand, but you must take care of yourself while working, okay?”

*

Thanks to sweet Wilma, it was a fulfilling vacation where I could hardly think about work except for a brief moment on the last day.

During the vacation, she had also filled my dressing room quite well, so I decided to wear new clothes to work for once.

‘Though I do feel a bit sorry about wearing new clothes to the workplace.’

Thoughtfully, everyday clothes made up the largest portion of Wilma’s gifts.

Whether she had noticed that I wore simple dresses for comfort, the fact that she gifted designs that were elegant but not cumbersome was even more touching.

I quite liked the feeling of looking exactly like a wealthy young lady from a merchant family out for a trip to the capital.

“…Advisor, did you perhaps make another big mistake at the Summer Palace?”

“Or is there perhaps a major flaw in the Sun Palace documents?”

…Why does everyone think I’m gearing up to fight someone?

Even Francis Ashwood said.

“If it’s Summer Palace business, it’s not something for Salice Advisor to handle. Please leave it to me. I failed to notice and showed inadequacy again.”

He even made unnecessary resolutions.

And when Casian, who had returned from training, saw this, he spoke with a beautiful smile.

“Is it perhaps me?”

“Pardon?”

“If you’re blaming your fiancé’s indifference for not sending the coffee you love until Miss Lopez sent a letter, I think I should gladly kneel.”

What completely useless talk.

*

After that, reproachful words from the Winter Palace people poured down on Casian.

“How could you forget such an important matter, Your Highness, you mustn’t do that!”

“What if Salice Advisor says she’ll return to the barony due to withdrawal symptoms!”

“From now on, I’ll take responsibility for sending it during vacations.”

Why are they treating me like some kind of coffee addict?

Only after I barely stopped Casian, who was playfully about to actually kneel, and pushed him into the office did the commotion around us subside.

“No matter what sounds come from outside, I absolutely will not open the door!”

“If His Highness alone can soften the advisor’s heart.”

For some reason, there were people beyond the door expressing excessive loyalty toward Casian, which made me even more puzzled.

“As expected, everyone likes Rose too much, it’s a big problem.”

Then, as if he had prepared it, he placed a familiar iced americano on the desk.

“Your Highness really makes me out to be such a strange person.”

How indifferent.

How did he know that I enjoyed coffee? From the very beginning when I moved into the house, all the coffee equipment was already there, and Joan too—

“…Your Highness?”

Having reached that point in my thoughts, I suddenly recalled even that voice phishing-like letter I had received before and asked Casian.

“How long have you been watching me?”

Casian drew a beautiful arc with his lips.

It was his habit when he felt caught.

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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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