Chapter 100
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100.
"That is not possible, First Concubine."
I answered without hesitation or equivocation.
Of course, this incident could have swayed the First Concubine to turn her attention toward tormenting Cassian Artez and the Winter Palace.
Until now, she had lived under the shadow of Scarlett Jamoti's influence, but with only Empress Trisha standing above her from this point forward, there was no telling how she might act.
She had a prince of her own, after all.
'What an utterly useless father His Majesty is.'
So many concubines, so many children.
He hardly bothers with their upbringing.
Lately, he's been spending time with Sixth Prince Joel, and Empress Trisha clicks her tongue whenever she witnesses it.
'He must be feeling some sense of crisis—perhaps he's realized that if he continues as he has been, none of his children will actually care for him.'
She had said it with considerable bite.
In any case, I had concluded that the First Concubine was proposing a transaction disguised as a request.
Nevertheless, my answer remained a refusal.
'His Highness would not wish for such a transaction either.'
One could see from the way he treated the Imperial knights alone how much he valued his people.
There were moments when he could be petty with Francis Ashwood, but he had never once acted unjustly toward him.
Above all, Francis Ashwood had walked into the Winter Palace of his own accord when the eyes turned toward it were anything but gentle—a valued colleague.
And this was even when the Fourth Concubine still wielded her influence brilliantly as Empress within the palace.
To use a colleague who had shared both hardship and joy as a bargaining chip—that was something no person of conscience would do.
As I gathered my thoughts and began to rise, the First Concubine spoke urgently.
"Wait, Salice Advisor. I'm not asking you to simply leave empty-handed. I was hoping to offer you something that would be of benefit in return for the favor."
"First Concubine, I am grateful and honored as a colleague that you hold Ashwood Advisor's abilities in such high regard."
I continued carefully, ensuring that no trace of lightness entered my tone that might weaken my resolve.
"However, Ashwood Advisor's future is not mine to decide. If he wishes to go to the Second Princess Palace, naturally we cannot prevent him."
Though it would tear my heart apart.
A carefully nurtured colleague simply resigning and moving to a rival organization (?).
"Therefore, I cannot make a transaction with you based on where Ashwood Advisor goes. It was never my right to do so in the first place."
The First Concubine looked at me with an expression of slight surprise.
"...But you could persuade him, couldn't you? And it wouldn't be a bad thing for Ashwood either."
To abandon the Winter Palace environment where the administrative systems and routines were already established and move to the Second Princess Palace...?
Especially when there were administrative officials with whom I had synchronized our work over several months?
I felt acutely aware that the First Concubine was someone far removed from practical matters.
Contrary to my thoughts growing progressively colder, the First Concubine spoke while cradling one cheek in her hand.
"I thought the Salice Advisor would support this decision and understand it as well. It truly is the best choice I can make for our child."
"Of course, it is true that Ashwood's administrative abilities are excellent, but...."
"That's not it!"
The First Concubine hastily cut off my words.
"I want to create the same situation for you and Cassian Artez as you two share."
"...I beg your pardon?"
What kind of environment do Cassian and I share?
Spending late nights in the office competing over who has more work to do?
"After observing the two of you, I realized that an advisor's position is the optimal place to naturally cultivate affection between two people."
My thoughts seemed to come to a complete halt.
An advisor, romance, what did you just say...?
So to summarize, the First Concubine was considering Francis Ashwood....
'...as a marriage partner for the Second Princess...?'
*
Unlike the confident demeanor I had shown toward the Fourth Concubine, the First Concubine poured out her words as if her composure had been a lie.
She spoke of how much hardship she had endured as the First Concubine.
Because of that suffering, she wanted to find the best match for her daughter, and though it was a petty sentiment, she coveted this match all the more because Scarlett Jamoti had worked so hard to secure it.
While I was collecting my thoughts at this unexpected turn of conversation, she seized the opportunity and spoke rapidly.
Of course, the flow of thought was so shocking that my ears only caught a rough summary of it.
'Where do I even begin to correct this.'
Cassian and I are in a contractual engagement, is that it?
I cannot reveal that.
And the fact that we didn't even meet as merely an advisor and superior—we've had a connection since childhood...?
'If I say anything, I'll only plant false illusions, so that's inappropriate too.'
I came to understand very well whose traits the Second Princess's excessive behavior resembled.
She often acted as though she were the protagonist of a great tragedy, sometimes startling those around her.
Like something she had seen in a novel—sitting alone on a swing in the garden on rainy days wearing only a thin dress, tears streaming down her face.
Or coughing excessively whenever work piled up, appealing to her own fragility—she displayed the kind of excessive adolescent behavior that girls her age might exhibit when going through puberty intensely.
Everyone simply kept quiet, worried that she might destroy all the bedding in the entire palace once she grew a bit older.
Barely regaining my composure, I opened my mouth again to the First Concubine.
"Your Highness the First Concubine, regardless of what you say, my answer will not change. Even if your intentions are good, this is not something you should be discussing with me."
Setting aside whether this would truly be a good thing for Francis Ashwood....
That stoic man, who has only gained a little flexibility since coming to the Winter Palace, and the Second Princess...?
No matter how much I thought about it, the image simply would not form clearly.
The age difference between the two was also quite significant.
'Of course, Alexis Periander and the Third Prince, who also had a considerable age gap, did end up marrying.'
At least Alexis Periander was good at matching his temperament, and after going to the Anden Kingdom, she has been obediently receiving lessons as a proper consort while being completely swayed by Alexis Periander, so it turned out to be a happy ending of sorts.
Even so, this situation felt entirely different.
But this situation....
'I happened to overhear her ideal type once.'
The Second Princess's recent ideal man was unmistakably a solitary, deeply wounded underworld figure forced to live concealing his identity.
Especially since she had emphasized so insistently that dark hair was essential—something that could be buried in shadow—I found it utterly unforgettable.
Yet here she was trying to match the Second Princess with silver-haired, impeccably virtuous Francis Ashwood, which stood in complete opposition to her tastes.
No matter how I considered it, I felt the First Concubine needed to reflect on her own daughter's preferences.
Thinking there was nothing more worth discussing, I rose with the genuine intention to withdraw this time.
"You're more naive than I expected, Salice Advisor."
"Pardon?"
"Don't you think Cassian Artez stands to gain considerably from this arrangement? And aren't you curious about the compensation I've prepared for you?"
"How could I ask when I have nothing to offer in return?"
"What if it's Fourth Concubine Scarlett Jamoti's weakness?"
The First Concubine's gaze sharpened with the expression of a seasoned gambler.
"Aren't you curious? How did I, who barely managed to bear the Second Princess, safely obtain the Third Princess and Fifth Prince?"
A moment of silence fell over the reception room.
The First Concubine, interpreting this as a positive signal in her favor, opened her mouth with a serious expression.
"Think about it carefully—the Winter Palace now has an abundance of advisor candidates, unlike before. If you wish, I could even personally introduce you to capable people. And."
The First Concubine met my gaze directly.
"I understand my children's capabilities well. My plea to His Majesty not to make them independent was no lie, nor do I believe you could stand against Cassian Artez with someone like you at his side."
So if this succeeds, you won't interfere in the succession struggle?
It seemed like a natural line of thinking for someone who had lived long in the Imperial Palace.
She must have endured by dealing with all manner of people in this treacherous place.
From her perspective, I probably seemed strange for stubbornly refusing to override another's will.
And yet.
"I appreciate the First Concubine's goodwill. However, my answer remains unchanged. That is not within my authority. Therefore, it is impossible."
My answer did not waver.
Neither the freedom to choose one's profession nor the right to select one's beloved were matters I could control.
After bowing respectfully, the First Concubine's expression that entered my view was filled with bewilderment.
She seemed to harbor some resentment, yet even so, my resolve remained unshaken.
*
Of course, just to be safe, I returned to the Winter Palace and asked Francis Ashwood about it directly.
Since I could uncover Fourth Concubine's weaknesses on my own, I wasn't particularly disappointed by his refusal, and the other conditions didn't appeal to me either—but his intentions themselves mattered.
If he agreed, I thought it wouldn't be unreasonable to arrange a naturally occurring meeting with the Second Princess.
"Are you perhaps interested in the Second Princess, Ashwood Advisor?"
So I asked in what I considered a reasonably natural manner.
Though admittedly, I had no talent whatsoever in this category....
"...Interest in what sense do you mean?"
As expected, my clumsiness had left him bewildered, staring at me in confusion.
'Wow, this man has neither interest nor aptitude in romance—just like me.'
So to prevent any misunderstanding, I decided not to dance around it further and asked directly.
"As in, as a romantic interest, for example?"
"Ro-, what?"
Patter-patter-patter.
Francis Ashwood's eyes trembled more violently than ever before, and the documents he'd been holding to report scattered across the floor in a cascade.
As though he'd committed some catastrophic error.
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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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