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09.

Around the same time, a minor commotion stirred within the Imperial Palace.
The Eldest Son of Marquis Irenol, who served as the First Prince's aide, had been ‌‌summoned by Cassian's command.
"Y-Your Highness! I... I am innocent!"
Though it was Cassian who had issued the order, the Marquis's eldest son pleaded with First Prince Charlie as though begging for rescue.
Yet ‌‌Charlie dismissed the ‌‌‌man's desperate voice entirely, addressing Cassian instead with eyes heavy with ennui.
"Cassian, if you were ‌going to take someone, I would have preferred the other one."
He gestured toward the Duke's eldest son, implying ‌‌‌that the wrong choice had been made.
"He's my good playmate, unlike that Prospective Duke who's always nagging me to work."
The Prospective Duke continued processing documents with an unbothered expression at Charlie's words.
Clearly, the First Empress had exerted considerable effort to secure him this position as ‌‌‌an aide—and only ‌‌‌on the condition that he work three times a week, mornings only.
"Should Your Highness wish it, we could make the change whenever you please."
The Prospective Duke's hands paused briefly before resuming their work.
Cassian interpreted it not as anxiety, but as ‌‌a sign of anticipation.
"Ha, you know that's difficult. Cassian, you're being cruel. Do you want to see me scolded by Mother?"
As Charlie tilted his head, his crimson hair—bearing a striking resemblance to the First Empress—tumbled carelessly across his shoulders.
In response, the Prospective Duke's shoulders drooped slightly.
Cassian let out a low chuckle at his brother's carefree tone, utterly devoid of tension.
"Hardly. Merely imagining Your Highness being summoned before His Majesty pains my heart."
"Ah, there you go again. Cassian, you're too much. Now I'll catch it from Father again."
Though his words carried a hint of sarcasm, Charlie laughed foolishly in response.
"But it's fine, really. You were only doing your duty, Cassian. I'm not so petty as to hate you over something like ‌‌this."
"...."
Cassian found himself thinking, however briefly, that dealing with this ‌man might prove more troublesome than the First Empress herself.
"So why ‌‌‌don't we drop the formal titles now and call each other like we did when we were young? Call me 'older brother,' Cassian."
No—this man was simply a fool.
Above all, Cassian had never once used such an embarrassingly intimate form of address in his entire life.
Cassian exhaled deeply and, having sorted through the situation, took his leave with ‌‌‌‌a bow.
"Then I shall withdraw, Your Highness."
"Already~? I thought we might finally share lunch ‌‌‌‌together. ‌‌I suppose it can't be helped—you're busy, after all."
Lunch hour had long since passed. Had Roselita heard of this, she would certainly have scolded him for not valuing his time.
Cassian offered no reply, bowing his head ‌respectfully before departing.
Charlie watched his younger brother's retreating figure for a moment, then murmured wistfully.
"I'm envious~. I wish I could ‌‌‌‌work with a beautiful aide too."
The Prospective Duke's brow furrowed in exasperation.

*

January 7th.
The name of House of Irenol ‌‌‌was struck from the Capital City's registry of noble families.
Common crimes emerged, along with ‌‌transgressions no nobleman should ever commit.
Embezzlement, tax evasion, exploitation of territorial subjects.
And beyond that, word spread of contract fraud they had perpetrated during the Kingdom's spice trade dealings the previous year.
Had this not been exposed now, the Kingdom would have caught them red-handed and inflicted far greater losses.
'In the original story, this was actually discovered much later, and Cassian and Roselita had to struggle through ‌‌‌the aftermath.'
But we had uncovered it early, and with the matter still fresh, it seemed we could reach a reasonable settlement with the Kingdom.
Naturally, the ‌First Empress also faced severe ‌‌‌‌reproach from the Emperor throughout this ordeal.

'How could you overlook such crimes! First Empress, what possessed you ‌‌‌to do such a thing?'
'I... I did not know, Your Majesty. It was the husband of the woman I raised as my attendant who acted of his own accord.'

Of course, she had thrown them to the wolves.
House of Irenol was stripped of most of its territory, clinging desperately to nothing more than the trivial rank of Baron.
It was ‍‌‌a title that could not even be inherited.
Marquis Irenol himself was stripped of his rank entirely and sentenced to a lengthy term of hard labor.

'How vile! How could ‌‌‌you do this to those who might have become family!'

The Marchioness Irenol ranted her delusions freely, but fortunately the trial was held in closed session, so word would not spread.
If only she had kept quiet, she could have lived as a Marchioness for at least another six months.
Of course, punishment would ‌have come regardless of this incident.
The Second Prince was such a workaholic that he had already caught wind of it by year's end.
I responded to the Marchioness Irenol with a smile.

'I'm afraid I have no interest in ‌those who don't even qualify as a baronial house.'

My gentle words caused the Marchioness Irenol to create a commotion, demanding to ‌‌‌‌speak with the First Empress, but she fell silent once she learned of their abandonment.
She cried out for help from the Eldest Son of Marquis Irenol's betrothed family, but thanks to my advance warning before I conducted the seizure and search of the estate, they too were able to respond with a smooth annulment.

'Thank you so much, Miss Salice. Without you, our ‌‌daughter would have faced terrible ruin. We were scheduled to sign the betrothal gifts that very day you warned us.'

Since they were also a baronial house, the parents had hoped their daughter would marry into a more prestigious family, and they ‌‌‌had planned to promise betrothal gifts including valuable mines and such.
The fact that I had saved a person filled my heart with even greater satisfaction.
Well, it seemed the First Empress's ‌‌punishment would amount to little more than a brief period of ‌‌‌‌self-reflection. ‌‌‌‌
But ‌there was a small disaster that befell me as well.

[Demon of the ‌‌Winter Palace Saves the Empire from Crisis!
-Preserves Peace with the Kingdom.]

Mid-January, after all the incidents had concluded.
The moment I arrived at ‌‌‌work, I ‌‌muttered in disbelief at the headline splashed across the newspaper I'd picked up.
"This is utterly unfair."
"What is?"
"Why am I the Demon of the Winter Palace instead of ‌‌‌you, Your Highness?"
I had merely wielded Cassian's name, after all.
Even if Cassian had done little more than sign ‌‌‌his name, he was the one who extracted every detail regarding the Kingdom by listening to my account!
"You're right, that is disappointing."
Rarely, Cassian ‌‌‌agreed with my sentiment and spoke.
Stunned that such a response would come from him, I stared ‌‌‌blankly before he broke into a smile.
"Demons of the Winter Palace, plural—that's more accurate. A cherished name shared only by Rose and me."
"...Please don't say such terrifying things, Your Highness!"
At my reaction, he laughed with evident amusement and added to his words.
"Don't worry. I'm always prepared to take responsibility."
That was genuinely chilling to hear.
I sincerely hope you'll confine that responsibility to my salary alone, Your Highness.

*

Despite all my reasoning, I harbored a quiet hope that the First Empress's ‌‌self-restraint would grant me a period of respite.
In the original story, whenever she was caught scheming and forced into self-reflection, a honeyed peace had descended—I remembered that well.
So I had planned to spend this weekend in blissful contentment.
The moment the new year began, I'd been consumed with duties for House of Irenol ‌‌‌‌and conducting a comprehensive audit of trade with the Kingdom—I deserved compensation for all that suffering!
That's why ‌‌‌‌I'd made plans to buy books I'd missed reading last weekend, enjoy the delicious ‌‌‌meals my attendants prepared, and luxuriate in lazy comfort.
"Hello, Rose."
Somehow, the moment my day off began, I found myself face-to-face with Cassian Artez.
And worse—
"Would you accept a date invitation from me?"
He'd deliberately disguised himself like a nouveau riche gentleman.
His hair, dyed a bright chestnut for the disguise, looked far too fresh and ‌‌appealing.
Getting entangled with him would only spell trouble.
With that thought, I tried to slip away quickly, but the devil was nothing if not cunning.
"Triple your usual compensation, and everything I provide during the date becomes yours."
Cassian Artez smiled with ‌‌‌an almost painfully beautiful expression, extending his hand to me.
"Your Highness, you're always so underhanded, aren't you?" ‌‌
"That's unfair. I'm always sincere about giving Rose what she loves."
Why did he have to sweeten his words about honestly earned wages like that?
"Sapphire at Central Shopping District. I'll gift you anything you desire from there."
"...."
I was genuinely terrified of Cassian Artez.
Sapphire—that place overflowed with beautiful things.
A boutique where painters, ‌‌artisans, and writers ‌‌poured their entire aesthetic sensibility into crafting a single, ‌‌‌exquisitely unique item for sale.
I'd ventured in once and nearly bankrupted myself; I'd sworn never to set foot there again.
Had I perhaps said something foolish in front of ‌‌‌him?
Since I'd often been ‌absorbed in work before him, I couldn't trust my own memory.
"...So what's the ‌‌actual purpose?"
"Raiding an illegal gambling den."
That, at least, put my mind at ease.
I'd been meaning to crack down on that place anyway—it was one of the First Empress's funding sources.
As I exhaled deeply, Cassian Artez waved his hand once more and made his request with exaggerated formality.
"Miss Roselita, would you please go on a date with me?"
That beautiful smile he crafted using every ounce of his natural beauty was—
I told myself I'd only been tempted ‌‌‌by the money as I reluctantly took his offered hand.
The moment our hands touched, Cassian Artez playfully brushed his lips across the back of my hand while meeting my gaze.
My precious day off was shattering brilliantly before my eyes.

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Brought to you ‌‌‌‌by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest ‌releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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