The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 2

I went to all the trouble possessing the protagonist, but the result is being a wage slave no different from my previous life.

“Haaaaah….”

A breath that I couldn’t tell whether it was a sigh or a yawn escaped my mouth.

Nevertheless, on the other hand, I felt it was really fortunate.

When I first came to the capital, I was trembling so much, fearing I wouldn’t have such ordinary times.

About a year ago, was there ever a time in my life when I was as nervous as when I got off at the capital train station?

It happened to be at the same time as when Roselita in the original work came to the capital, and the purpose was to meet the male lead, Cassian Artez.

I had nightmares and was scared that all kinds of miserable events would be waiting for me, just as they did for the protagonist Roselita in the original work.

‘What was waiting wasn’t miserable events, but a cruel boss who grinds my days with work.’

It wasn’t for nothing that I was the only applicant for those good conditions.

‘Miss Saliche, you can go home after finishing just these documents today.’

If only he wouldn’t say such things, I might not hate him so much.

I can go home after finishing just these documents?

At first, I didn’t realize it because of the generous salary and the daily nightmares.

But humans are creatures of adaptation.

As I got used to reality while being ground by work over and over, I started cursing at the amount of work the cruel Cassian gave me.

As if he wouldn’t allow even a few seconds of salary theft, he always started giving me mountains of work.

‘This much should be simple for you, Miss Saliche, right?’

Moreover, if I managed to create even a little leeway by desperately moving my hands with the determination to leave work on time, as if it were some kind of step-by-step learning,

‘Good, Rose. Thanks to you, this work is finished quickly. So, I’ll ask you to do this as well, before you leave work.’

He would give me even more work, as if he had been waiting for me to adapt.

Yet, the reason I can’t quit is,

‘The salary is too good.’

Even just the base salary of 500 gold is equivalent to about 5 million won in my previous life, which is actually difficult for a newcomer without experience to receive.

Just like in my previous life.

But Cassian grinds people harshly.

And he pays as much as you work.

In the past year or so, my salary has even exceeded 1500 gold at times.

Although! That month had almost no days off.

With no food and rent expenses on top of that, the money accumulated intact, and it seemed like I might be able to see the end of the family debt that I thought I might never be able to repay in my lifetime.

In about…

20 years?

Isn’t this enough to feel less hopeless! In my previous life, I would have had to pay the bank for even longer just to buy a house.

‘And my parents are hanging in there too.’

Since we’ve at least defended the territory, if there’s a good harvest, or a hot spring springs up somewhere, or suddenly mana stones are discovered, it could be faster.

And if I keep earning money steadily like now, I could start a business with the money I accumulated!

At that time, I’ll definitely enjoy the privileges of possessing the protagonist without hesitation!

I can’t keep working under Cassian for 20 years.

If that happens, I’ll surely die from overwork first.

‘But it’s really peaceful.’

I continued my thoughts, struggling against my eyes that were trying to close drowsily.

Is it an unavoidable characteristic of office workers to feel it’s a waste to go to bed early even without a smartphone to hold?

Giggles escaped my lips.

Because it’s fortunate to be able to vent such everyday complaints, because I can curse at Cassian just because he’s a workplace superior.

After becoming Roselita, I avoided getting involved with Cassian, but I didn’t dislike him.

After all, he was the male lead in a novel I enjoyed reading, and he often showed a warm side to the female lead, if not to others.

There was also a part where I tried not to get involved because it was obvious that not only would I suffer, but he would suffer too.

Cassian Artez, the Second Prince of the Empire.

Handsome appearance, top work ability, unmatched in wielding a sword.

He truly had the high specs befitting a male lead.

And befitting a male lead in a tragic novel, his life was equally challenging.

Not only did he lose his mother at birth, but he was also born without the blue eyes that should have been natural for direct imperial lineage.

Of course, the imperial family was thrown into chaos. It was already a big deal not to be born with blue eyes, but the prince’s eyes were purple.

‘He is hated by God!’

The Empress, who was the mother of the First Prince, cried out in horror as soon as she learned of this fact, condemning him.

The Emperor also found it difficult to embrace his son. Beautiful blonde hair and purple eyes. None of these were inherited from the Emperor.

‘Well, thanks to that, Cassian had a really hard time. When he was young, he nearly died from starvation, assassins, and poison. When he grew up a bit, he was only sent to dangerous battlefields.’

In the original work, Roselita’s involvement with him was one of those life-and-death moments.

Cassian, who always overcame things alone, began to live for Roselita, cherishing the value and affection of another’s touch for the first time, or something like that.

‘Is it because that Roselita escaped?’

The current Cassian has largely escaped from threats, but instead has become a truly cold-blooded person without blood or tears.

Should I say that because he’s become a workaholic with too much to do, even the Emperor can’t easily touch him?

Thanks to that, I, his subordinate, am also being ground down, haha.

After thoroughly cursing Cassian in my mind, I closed my eyes.

I should sleep quickly.

To survive another day of near-death by overwork bestowed by my boss.

*

‘From the position of wanting to hire you, this might not be the right thing to say, but why does a noble young lady want to work?’

Cassian, who had been very kind and friendly throughout the interview, asked me in a soft, downy tone towards the end.

‘Moreover, you should have been participating in the debutante ball according to the original plan.’

He looked extremely regretful.

Sympathy, that was too welcome to me at that time.

So I ended up answering too honestly.

‘Because my family circumstances are not in a state to care about such things.’

I shouldn’t have mistaken the slight change of expression that appeared on his face for sympathy.

Why didn’t I realize then that it was the joy of obtaining a subordinate who couldn’t easily escape?

*

“…shouldn’t sign…”

I woke up with a start, groaning as if in pain, and let out a big sigh.

It was a dream.

‘I need to go back in time…’

Not being possessed by the protagonist.

To see the face of my boss in my dreams, which is painful enough to see fourteen hours a day…

This is undoubtedly a premonition that today will be tough and unlucky.

That intuition became a certainty when I looked at the clock on the desk.

‘My morning sleep… I lost 5 minutes….’

This Cassian Artez who’s like an enemy is truly unhelpful except for the salary.

I wanted to sleep a bit more, but perhaps because of the troublesome dream, sleep had completely fled.

I started preparing for work, holding my head.

Today was going to be a very busy day with field work from the first schedule. The end of the year was busy, whether in my previous life or here.

After drinking strong coffee prepared at my request by the maid to wake myself up fully, I headed to the office to see Cassian looking not much different from when he told me to go in first yesterday.

‘Did that workaholic even go home?’

Of course, he’s wearing different clothes, and judging by his impeccable appearance, it seems he did visit his room, but still.

“Are you that free, Rose? You even have time to observe me in the morning.”

The brief worry I had vanished at his unpleasant voice.

“Not at all, Your Highness. I was just checking if your shirt collar was flipped, as we have external schedules today.”

“Unlike you, Rose, I wouldn’t make such a mistake.”

Cassian said this with a low laugh.

Usually, when someone says something like that, they might touch their shirt collar once, but he didn’t even look up, seemingly not even doubting, as he finished organizing the documents he was looking at.

I too was able to remember to gather the materials needed for today’s field work before he finished what he was doing.

Because if I’m even a little late, I’d have to hear his irritating sarcastic remarks.

Holding the precious bag containing the documents, I opened the office door wide to match his coming.

I’m not trying to brag, but it was really perfect timing.

But…

“Hmm.”

Instead of going straight out as usual, Cassian Artez stopped for a moment and stared at me.

“What’s the matter, Your Highness?”

He raised the corner of his mouth mischievously and reached out to my ear.

“Y-Your Highness?”

When I called out in confusion, the smile on his lips deepened.

He shushed me, seemingly teasing, then his finger traced up between my earlobe and jaw, as if tickling.

“A strand of your hair was sticking out. Poor thing.”

He said this teasingly, placing the stray hair over my ear.

“I’ll wait generously, so come out after tidying up neatly. Of course, there won’t be any deduction from your salary.”

“……”

“Nothing can make my perfect assistant sadder than losing her hair like this.”

Saying this, Cassian didn’t forget the courtesy of closing the office door with a thud.

I stared blankly at the door with that unnecessary consideration for a moment, then silently writhed inside.

‘You’re really annoying, Cassian Artez!’