64. Hiring a Secretary

‘Not Jojo Assefena, but that woman?’

At the statement that she would sponsor Corneli, who wasn’t even an artist, the Empress Dowager couldn’t hold back her laughter and let out a snort. The other noble ladies began to laugh along with the Empress Dowager. Surrounded by laughter filling the drawing room, Corneli bowed her head deeply.

After some time, when the laughter died down, Corneli calmly raised her head again. She slowly opened her eyes, which had been half-closed. Her eyes shone with determined resolve. Biting her lip, she looked around at the Empress Dowager and the noble ladies who had laughed at her.

“Jojo Assefena is a fraud. All his music was composed by me.”

With her shocking revelation, the drawing room instantly froze. Not a sound could be heard. As if choreographed, everyone turned to look at the Empress Dowager with the same expression. The Empress Dowager, still frozen in a smile, couldn’t even blink.

A heavy silence filled the room. The Empress Dowager broke the stillness by slamming the table.

“How dare you lie in front of me!!”

“I swear, it’s not a lie.”

“Nonsense. You and the Empress Consort must be in cahoots…”

“Your Majesty, didn’t I tell you earlier that this isn’t something to be discussed here for your sake?”

Larael looked at the Empress Dowager with a regretful expression. There was nothing she could do; the situation was self-inflicted. Larael truly hadn’t wanted to ruin today’s tea party.

The Empress Dowager’s face began to turn pale. She covered her mouth with her fan and glanced around at the noble ladies, who were whispering while watching her closely. The Empress Dowager abruptly stood up, her breathing heavy. She had never experienced such humiliation before.

She glared at Larael for a long moment, as if she could freeze the air in the drawing room, then stormed out. Outside, she gave an order to Cararella.

“Bring Jojo Assefena to the palace immediately.”

If what she’d heard was true, she would never forgive Jojo Assefena for deceiving her and causing such disgrace. The Empress Dowager felt as if her insides were boiling with rage at both Jojo Assefena and Larael.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

***

Larael changed Corneli into clean clothes and had her sit on the sofa in her bedroom. Since ointment had been applied to her wounds, Corneli’s bruised skin was shiny.

Corneli tried to explain what had happened, but only tears streamed down her face without a word escaping her lips.

It was something that happened whenever she defied Jojo or failed to please him, a pattern that had repeated many times. If she hadn’t met Larael, she would have just let it pass once again.

“Corneli, don’t say anything. You don’t have to. Just do as I told you before, all right?”

Corneli nodded through her tears. Larael went to her side and took her hand.

Corneli broke down in Larael’s arms, sobbing. Larael let her cry as much as she needed. After Corneli had finally cried herself out, Larael comforted her and arranged for her to stay in a guest room within the palace for the time being.

“I’ll ask Count Winters to hurry with the hiring of a secretary.”

Larael had originally planned to hire a secretary to prepare for the coming epidemic, but now she had to resolve Corneli’s study abroad issue first.

She had only thought Assefena was a fraud, but his hands were just as wicked. Corneli needed to be kept safe from him immediately. Larael wanted to move quickly with her divorce and plans to study abroad.

Larael leaned back on the sofa. It had been an exhausting day. Still, seeing the Empress Dowager turn so pale had been a small victory. Remembering the look on her face, Larael threw her head back in satisfaction.

“Your Highness, another letter has arrived from Lady Nox. What should I do?”

Joanna held up a letter bearing the Nox family seal and asked. Larael turned her head slightly and stared at the letter Joanna held out for a while.

“Give it to me. I feel like reading a letter today.”

To Her Highness the Empress Consort,

I hope you are well during this hot summer.

I heard you experienced a dangerous incident at the summer palace. As a friend, I would like to visit and offer my comfort. I also wish to explain the misunderstandings that have arisen between us. I hope to see you soon.

From Ariella Nox, who worries about Your Highness’s well-being—

“Should I meet her?”

“Pardon, Your Highness?”

Sasha and Joanna tilted their heads at Larael’s muttered question. Larael went to her desk, picked up a pen, and wrote a reply to Ariella on the spot.

She decided it was better to send a reply right away, since she might change her mind again. Larael wrote a brief response and handed it to Sasha.

“Send it to the Duke of Nox’s residence.”

“Yes.”

Once she had sent the letter, fatigue washed over Larael. She missed Edward. Larael looked down at her bracelet.

‘Can I really let go of these feelings? Do I really need to leave Edward’s side over guilt for something that hasn’t even happened yet?’

It was a thought that always came back to her, and Larael started to laugh helplessly at herself. Then what about Ariella and Herwen?

‘I really am such a bundle of contradictions.’

***

It was her first outing outside the imperial palace in a long time. Larael stopped by the Marquis of Argen’s residence to have lunch with Beatrice, then headed to the secret salon at Four Seasons.

She had arranged to meet Dean there. When she entered, Dean was already waiting for her.

As soon as Larael sat down, Dean handed her a list containing the names and brief profiles of women who could be considered for the secretary position.

Larael took the list from Dean and slowly looked through it, turning the pages one by one. While she reviewed the list, Dean watched her intently, letting out a quiet sigh now and then.

“Your Highness.”

Larael looked up from the list.

“Until you hire a secretary, why don’t you employ me temporarily?”

At that, Larael burst out laughing. Dean’s face flushed at her reaction.

“You’ll have to interview the people on that list yourself, won’t you? And if there’s a candidate you like who isn’t interested in the job, someone needs to persuade them—and I’m confident I can do that. Since Your Highness has helped my business so much, think of this as my way of repaying you. I’ll help you.”

“Count, you’re making it sound a little scary… Is there something you want in return?”

Larael asked playfully, still smiling.

“Your Highness! I’m being serious.”

Dean’s earnest tone made Larael stop laughing. His usually upright face now looked completely sincere.

“All right. If you’re willing, I have no reason to refuse.”

Larael nodded and turned her attention back to the list of candidates.

The women on Dean’s list were all either recognized for their abilities in merchant guilds or government offices, teachers at the academy, top graduates, or young ladies known for their intelligence.

Larael picked out the names that stood out to her.

‘Lady Kali Layton.’

She placed the document with her name at the front.

The succession of the Layton barony had recently become a hot topic. The second son, dissatisfied with the incompetent eldest son inheriting the title, had murdered his brother.

It was, in a way, just another case of murder over succession, something that happened from time to time in the Empire. But what made this incident famous was the merchant guild owned by the Layton family.

The Layton barony owned one of the five largest merchant guilds in the Kazel Empire.

Whoever inherited the barony would also become the head of the Layton merchant guild. The Layton guild was so wealthy that there were even rumors the Layton baron had bought his title by donating huge amounts of gold to the late emperor.

The subject of the document Larael was reviewing was the youngest daughter of that family, Kali Layton.

Larael recalled what had happened to the Layton barony. The title and the guild had passed to the next son, but due to the scandal that had shaken the Empire and his lack of ability, decline soon followed. Even in those memories, Kali Layton was absent.

“Do you like Kali Layton?”

“Not exactly, but she catches my attention.”

“She graduated top of her class at the academy, but due to her family’s opposition, she couldn’t work at the guild. She was engaged to be married, but after a recent scandal, the engagement was broken off.”

“…That’s unfortunate.”

After going through the documents several more times, Larael selected a few and handed them to Dean.

“Then I’d like you to meet with these candidates. Interview them and report back to me. Also, please look for a building near the palace that we can rent or purchase. I need a place outside the palace to conduct business.”

She couldn’t always use the secret salon at Four Seasons. Larael needed a place outside the palace for her work, and it would also serve as the office for her soon-to-be-hired secretary.

“Yes, understood.”

“You’re a very capable secretary. I’m satisfied—no complaints, immediate answers. Makes me want to hire you permanently.”

At Larael’s joke, Dean pressed his lips together and smiled. Unable to hide the longing in his eyes as he looked at Larael, Dean soon looked away.