The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 6

So, if I greeted the Empress in place of the absent Empress today, I could finally be free from the nagging about the debutante ball.

“You’re here, Cassian. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you at an event like this.”

“I haven’t had time because I was handling the tasks Your Majesty entrusted to me.”

“Are you complaining that I’m assigning you too much work?”

The Emperor furrowed his brow, seemingly displeased with Cassian’s answer.

“Not at all. Unlike my brother, it’s just that my abilities are lacking.”

Cassian said this while briefly making eye contact with the Empress, a smile on his face.

The Empress’s face wavered slightly.

She wasn’t so oblivious as to miss that this meant ‘Unlike the First Prince who’s always fooling around, I’m swamped with work.’

Especially since the First Prince, right after arriving, had merely greeted the Emperor and was now surrounded by noble ladies, chatting away.

Fearing that her precious son might catch some flak, the Empress hurriedly spoke up.

“Your Majesty, we shouldn’t keep the Lady standing like this. Prince Cassian, you too. If the conversation drags on like this, won’t your partner feel uncomfortable?”

A faint look of disdain flashed across the Empress’s face, but it was quickly masked by a smile.

On the other hand, I was about to feel slightly grateful, wondering if Cassian had intentionally said such things to the Emperor earlier for this very reason.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, would you allow me to introduce her? This is Roselita of the Saliche baronial family, my assistant.”

My deranged boss boldly presented me to the Emperor instead of the Empress, who was preparing to receive his greetings!

The Empress’s relaxed, subtle, and dignified smile cracked.

So this was the goal!

The male lead used me as an excuse to boldly make embarrass the Empress.

*

“…Cassian.”

The Emperor revealed his discomfort.

But my boss had built up years of shamelessness to not be cowed by this.

“Are you not granting permission, Your Majesty?”

Cassian looked at the Emperor with a truly pained expression.

“If Miss Saliche becomes disheartened by this and returns to her territory, I’ll have to return half of the work Your Majesty assigned to me. I am, after all…”

As he pretended to bow his head, he cast a strange glance at the Empress. A subtle smile briefly played on Cassian’s lips, as if to show off.

“Quite inadequate.”

While not believing it at all.

Cassian recited the words the Empress had habitually uttered over the past few years like a weapon, once again looking up at the Emperor pitifully.

The Emperor frowned even more at this not-so-subtle threat.

The amount of work Cassian was handling was actually enormous, and it was true that the Emperor’s workload had noticeably decreased since Cassian began staying in the capital.

Moreover, if he were to tell him to greet the Empress first here, it would only end up damaging her reputation.

There were too many eyes watching.

The Emperor sighed as if he had no choice and looked at me.

Although the Empress’s icy expression was quite concerning, I mustered the shamelessness I had trained under my boss for the past year and paid my respects to the Emperor.

“Roselita of the Saliche baronial family pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

“…Yes, I’ve heard you’ve been working hard. Continue to assist the Prince well in the future.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

As I bowed once more to pay my respects, the Emperor waved his hand as if o say that was enough.

“The first dance will begin soon, so we shall take our leave.”

And Cassian, having achieved his goal, smoothly led me away from the Emperor’s presence.

The Emperor’s voice echoed in my ears, muttering, ‘How impertinent!’

It was a voice meant to appease his beloved Empress.

*

“…I thought I was just an excuse, Your Highness.”

“It’s a crime of deception to lie in front of the Emperor, Rose.”

It seems like you’ve told too many lies today for that to be true, Your Highness.

Contrary to my expectation that I would be going home right after, I was actually dancing with Cassian.

It was because he had so politely and formally asked me to dance after we withdrew from the Emperor’s presence.

“It would be a waste, too.”

“Pardon?”

“Rose has dressed up so nicely for once.”

“Is that a criticism of my usual attire?”

“Of course not, I quite like your usual appearance. Even the stray hairs that escape.”

When I frowned openly to show my displeasure, he chuckled softly.

“More importantly, Rose.”

“Yes?”

“If the Empress calls for you, you can refuse.”

“…Pardon?”

I blurted out stupidly at his nonsensical words.

How could a mere baron’s daughter refuse the Empress’s summons?

“I’ll take responsibility for you.”

Even in the original story, Cassian had talked about protecting Roselita, but I think he actually did it only a handful of times.

Of course, unlike in the original, this Cassian is quite the cunning fox.

‘He made such expressions in front of the Emperor today, too.’

Cassian Artez had too much pride to say anything unpleasant or regretful to others.

That’s partly why things went wrong in the original story.

He had to be righteous, and thinking of his late mother’s honor, he couldn’t bow his head carelessly.

So if anyone called him inadequate, he would try to forcefully suppress them.

‘But the current Cassian isn’t like that.’

If he could handle work efficiently, he would gladly use a bit of trickery, and he didn’t really care if he looked foolish.

Because he knew he’d be the one laughing in the end.

Should I say he’s improved on exactly the points that frustrated me in the original story?

‘Hmm….’

I had an uneasy feeling.

It felt like I had forgotten something important, but I…

Anyway, I thought I could trust Cassian’s words about taking responsibility now.

“It’s alright, Your Highness.”

I didn’t want to take the roundabout way when there was an easy path either.

Unlike in the original story, Cassian’s current position wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t great either.

He had no allies in the imperial family.

So I didn’t want to become a burden to him.

I thought rather solemnly, but.

“This is a problem.”

“…Why?”

“I’m so hurt that Rose would respond to someone else’s temptation.”

He teased me with a face full of mischief.

*

I thought it would take a few days before she called or didn’t call.

While Cassian was briefly talking with another nobleman, the Empress’s lady-in-waiting came to summon me.

“Her Majesty the Empress has called for you, so follow me.”

The lady-in-waiting, a countess, gestured at me with a haughty and disdainful look.

I really felt the urge to slightly blame Cassian and refuse, but unlike him, I’m a person with manners, so I silently followed.

The Empress was languidly leaning back on a sofa, but as soon as she saw me arrive, she rose from her seat, displaying joy all over her face for some reason.

“Thank you for responding, Miss Saliche!”

There was even a nasal quality mixed in her voice.

Why?

I came prepared to take a slap or two.

I thought it would be a very profitable deal, as Cassian would give me treatment costs.

In the original story, Roselita was almost poisoned by the Empress and was slapped several times, so I naturally thought she had called me this time to vent her anger.

But unlike her appearance in the hall, the Empress spoke very intimately, even embracing my shoulders and whispering.

“You don’t need to be so tense. It must not have been easy working in the imperial palace at such a young age. I’ve been too thoughtless.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

So I decided to just act innocent and stupid.

When you don’t understand the other person’s intentions, it’s best to appear easy to manipulate first.

“I’m not sure if it will suit Miss Saliche’s taste. I’m getting older now, so I’m reducing my sugar intake.”

The Empress said this while offering me beautifully arranged refreshments.

Knowing the content of the original story, I was a bit reluctant, but I eventually cut them into small pieces and put them in my mouth.

She has no reason to poison me now. The risk is too great to do that just for venting.

“It’s delicious, Your Majesty the Empress.”

So I deliberately chewed and swallowed more foolishly, and decided to act unsophisticated.

“I’ve never had anything like this before…”

Of course, it was a lie.

Cassian had fed me so many delicious things to make me work more that my palate had become quite luxurious.

He knew eerily well that I would work overtime a bit more if I ate delicious things.