The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 4

The voice of the head of the ceremonial hall, lacking any dignity, echoed loudly beyond the door.

Not a demon of the Winter Palace… but demons?

‘Why is it plural….’

I truly felt sad.

‘Demon of the Winter Palace’ was Cassian’s famous nickname even in the original story.

The Winter Palace where he resided was located in a remote area and had a very old and eerie atmosphere in the original.

In the original, it was a nickname that the Empress had intentionally attached to Cassian from his childhood to keep him in check, and later on, it became a more persistent name due to his actions for the protagonist Roselita.

But now….

‘The Winter Palace is not so much old as it is well-maintained and quaint.’

From the moment I decided to go for the interview for Cassian’s assistant, I had to firmly resolve not to feel sympathy by seeing that scenery directly, thinking it would make me very sad.

Contrary to my worries, it was clean and, being away from the main palace, had a more serene and quiet atmosphere.

Although the nickname ‘Demon of the Winter Palace’ was indeed given by the Empress just like in the original, now it was more like….

“Our honor has risen even higher, Rose.”

So I told you not to tie me to it!!

It had become a nickname Cassian himself was quite pleased with, as it made his work easier.

For some reason, I was also lumped together and called that collectively.

It was an unjust situation for me.

What did I do? I’m also being completely worn out by that demon-like guy.

While hiding my sad feelings, I diligently began sorting the documents with quick hands.

Since today is such a sad day, I must leave on time!

*

For about two hours, we worked on sorting documents from the past ten years.

The management of the archives didn’t seem to be the nobles’ responsibility, but they were at least sorted by year, so we avoided the worst-case scenario we had anticipated.

The content of the documents, however, was truly abysmal.

After roughly brushing off the dust from the documents and getting my hands dirty in the process, we finally freed ourselves from the archives.

‘I feel like I’ve just passed the first hurdle.’

The real work was just beginning.

“Then let’s return. Otherwise, my precious assistant might end up working overtime again.”

Does it feel like teasing because my heart desperately wishes to leave on time?

Still, since he wasn’t a boss who forced overtime as long as I finished my tasks, I held back and quickly tried to board the carriage following Cassian.

I also wanted to quickly remove the burdensome item attached to my head.

However,

“Wait a moment, Your Highness!”

The head of the ceremonial hall, who still couldn’t abandon his dignified walk, shouted and stopped us.

Damn, because of you, I’d have to leave work five minutes late.

“This, isn’t this too much of a treatment!”

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

The head of the ceremonial hall shouted with a face even redder than when I opened the archive door.

Cassian was as relaxed as ever.

“Not even Your Highness! Assigning Miss Saliche as the person in charge of the ceremonial hall audit!!”

The head of the ceremonial hall, who used to chant dignity, decorum, and majesty as if reciting a spell, seemed to have forgotten all that at this moment.

“An audit of this traditional ceremonial hall! But even if that is for the country….”

The head of the ceremonial hall began a long speech about how absurd this situation was.

And I quietly counted numbers.

To thoroughly calculate how much of my and Cassian’s work time was being infringed upon by the head of the ceremonial hall.

“Do you understand?! If you’re going to do something unprecedented, the person in charge should at least have some level of status! This situation shows no respect for us!”

Click.

As soon as the head of the ceremonial hall finished speaking, I accurately recorded the time he spent on his speech in my notebook.

It was my intention to pay more attention to the ceremonial hall, considering how much of my precious work time had been cut.

“Firstly.”

“Ha, what rude behavior is this, Miss Saliche! I am speaking with His Highness the Prince.”

The head of the ceremonial hall glared at me, seemingly displeased to converse with someone lowly.

But I wasn’t someone who would be intimidated by such a glance.

Because for me!

There’s a five times!

Allowance at stake!

“As the close assistant to His Highness the Second Prince, all matters are carried out under His Highness Cassian’s responsibility, so your claim of disrespect is unfounded.”

“Ha, can’t you hear me?”

“Secondly, I clearly stated when opening the archive that complaints would only be accepted in formal documents. Are you ignoring His Highness Cassian, Sir?”

“Wha, what…?”

“The moment I personally opened the archive, it was as if His Highness had entrusted this matter to me. Surely, as someone versed in tradition, you wouldn’t be unaware of this, Sir?”

The corners of the head of the ceremonial hall’s eyes trembled.

I deliberately straightened my back and spoke to him as if driving a wedge.

“Let me ask you, Sir. Would you have acted the same if it were the assistant of the First Prince here?”

“How dare you think the prince and you are the same–!”

I cut off his words with a bright smile.

It was a smile mimicking the face I found most annoying about Cassian.

“Would you kindly submit a detailed document on what differences exist in the position of an assistant to His Highness the Prince?”

Besides, I actually do more work than that guy.

He only comes to work three times a week.

“This, what is this…!”

“Then, since I’ve answered all your questions, please let us go. We don’t want to delay His Highness’s schedule.”

Leaving the dumbfounded head of the ceremonial hall behind, Cassian and I boarded the carriage and set off.

And three seconds later.

“You, you…! You don’t know your place…!!”

The voice, lacking any courtesy, echoed down the street.

*

“Are you tired, Rose?”

Of course, I’m tired. When I removed the headpiece with a rather sulky face—very carefully—Cassian clicked his tongue.

“What a waste.”

“Yes?”

“I thought it suited you well.”

I think it’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.

Didn’t you hear what the head of the ceremonial hall said?

I threw a disgruntled look at Cassian and then put the headpiece back in its place.

“Did it hurt your feelings?”

“…Pardon?”

Why is he suddenly acting all kind?

“If it did—”

Cassian’s gaze deepened intensely.

For some reason, his look, as if probing and piercing through me, left me speechless.

Well, I usually express my dissatisfaction with Cassian through my eyes anyway….

Even though I’ve become immune over the past year, when he looks at me like that, I can’t help but feel like I’ve done something wrong.

He is the male lead after all, and his face is weapon-grade handsome.

Despite working like crazy every day, to the point where I wonder when he even sleeps, his blond hair never loses its shine.

It seems like a protagonist buff.

Moreover, his violet eyes, which became a reason for being ostracized by the imperial family, became a weapon that could immobilize people when he looked at them like that.

For some reason, I had to stare at his features intently, tense.

That perfectly crafted face, as though it was meticulously sculpted.

“To you.”

“…Pardon?”

Cassian leaned in slightly.

I know, he’s about to tease me.

I know, yet I still find it too harmful to my heart.

This makes all the romantic lines he said in the original story pop into my head.

But that’s not it!

And that person isn’t even me right now!

Cassian, watching my flustered expression, gently untied the ribbon in my hair, smiling softly.

“I was going to compensate you.”

“…….”

“With the monetary reward you love so much, Rose.”

With a playful, low chuckle, Cassian twirled my loosened hair ribbon around his fingers and asked,

“Don’t you need it?”

Seriously. This boss bastard is really…

“…I need it!!”

He’s definitely a demon.

*

Leaving on time? What a joke.

I knew from the moment we had that scuffle at the ceremonial hall that it was just wishful thinking, but as expected, I ended up leaving work very late.

Well past eleven o’clock.

As I barely finished my work and staggered to my feet, Cassian paused for a moment and looked at me.

“Should I take you home?”

“No, thank you.”

If you have time to be considerate, just do a little more work instead. Let this hellish year-end end quickly.