Chapter 27

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Trash does not change

***

Philen said he didn’t want to talk to me about work, but if he didn’t send the document today, I was thinking of going back to him.

I couldn’t help it. Otherwise, the preparation for the rainy season would be delayed and the people would suffer.

I couldn’t let it happen just because of my private quarrel with Philen.

Fortunately, Philen sent the document to the estate late in the afternoon.

After hearing the news from the butler, I was relieved and put my mind at ease.

Other than that, there was nothing urgent.

Of course, there’s always a lot of work to be done, but I decided not to care if Philen was dealing with it or fooling around with Cecily.

Because I really thought it would be good to get my hands off now.

I didn’t know about the Duchess’s, but I decided that it would be better in many ways not to intervene in the Duke’s affairs now that Philen had returned.

It was that evening when Philen returned the key to the study to the butler.

The butler got the key to the study. He remembered and brought it to me right away.

Thanks to him, I was able to spend my free time reading books.

What I had read was [The Welfare Trends of the Continent]

“This is an interesting book!”

Then, it was a book that had a significant title on its cover. [Do Not Break the Red Rose].

What book is it? 

I opened the book out of curiosity and quickly closed it after reading an unfamiliar love affair scene.

I only read a few sentences, but my face was burning up.

Sarah laughed out loud at me.

“What are you so ashamed of when you’re a grown-up, My Lady?”

“No, that…”

I was embarrassed and couldn’t get the words out. I hurriedly gave the book to Sarah.

“I’m not interested in books like this, so take it back.”

“Come on, keep reading and you will change your mind.”

“Fo, forget it. I won’t read it. Go take it back.”

Sarah clicked her tongue in regret and took the book.

I opened another book as I tried to soothe my blushing face.

In this thick book, the philosophy of the famous philosopher, Sestein, was written in an easy-to-understand manner.

It was a famous saying that gave useful and very important advice altogether.

I wanted to keep it deep in my head, but I couldn’t because of the terrible book Sarah brought.

The sentences that I read briefly popped into my head.

[Sessie kissed the lips of her beloved lover. He groped her chest, lowered his hand a little more…]

Tak-

I closed the book aloud.

As I didn’t look at the text, the thoughts that had been disturbing my head disappeared.

I guess I’ll have to give up reading here. 

Then what should I do? It was too early to go to sleep. Because it was still noon now.

As I was contemplating what to do, the invitation to the tea party on the table caught my eyes.

After the banquet, the nobles sent me invitations every day.

They were persistent even though I refused several times.

There were even cases where they came to ask for me to come, saying ‘even once is fine.’ They wouldn’t be able to get anything from me though.

I sighed deeply and checked the invitations. When I found an invitation with a blue-violet crest on it, I stopped.

Blue-violet. It was the crest of Count Bzantine.

Count Bzantine couldn’t have invited me, so that meant Sophia, that woman invited me.

Why would this woman invite me?

I stared at the invitation and pondered over it, but no matter how much I thought about it, there was only one thing that I could think of.

She’s trying to avenge what happened at the banquet.

Otherwise, this woman wouldn’t have invited me.

You’re doing something ridiculous, Sophia.

I tore the invitation in two, laughing softly.

As I was checking the other invitations, Sarah, who had gone out, came into the room with a slightly refreshed face.

“My Lady, have you heard the news?”

I answered with my eyes fixed on the invitations.

“What news?”

“His Majesty is hiring a new aide!”

Hearing those words, I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Kalian before.

“Do you have any plans to become an official?”

“If the Lady had the opportunity to become an official, would you take it?”

“The answer, please don’t forget it. Lady Leila Thebesa.”

“Don’t tell me, because of me…”

“Yes? What did you say, My Lady?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I put down the invitations I was looking at and looked at Sarah.

“So, there’s an announcement about hiring an aide?”

“Yes! In addition, they wrote in large letters in the official notice saying that this time they’re also hiring women! Because of it, everyone’s going crazy!”

Although it was never explicitly stated that women wouldn’t be picked for the official test of the Empire, it was the first time such a clear statement was made.

…I think it’s because of me, too. 

Even if it wasn’t because of me, it didn’t matter.

The important thing was that I had the opportunity to become an official.

Besides, I liked the fact that I had to take a test rather than special recruitment.

If Kalian had chosen me as a special recruit, I would have hesitated to become an official. Because there would be a lot of rumors around.

But then, it wasn’t just a test. If it was to compete fairly with others, I would agree all the way.

So let’s do it. I made a promise to him, and it’s not polite to throw it away when he gave me the chance.

“Sarah, please investigate the official notice in detail.”

*****

The test date was about a month later.

There were a total of seven subjects, including administration, tax law, politics, and welfare.

I was a little surprised because there were more subjects than I expected, but I fully understood.

The emperor’s aide was the closest to the emperor and was an important position involved in politics as well as various administrations.

I had to be that capable. It wasn’t a place for an idiot.

Can I challenge myself to such a position?

I was worried that instead of passing the test after trying for no reason, I would be ridiculed.

I had no intention of giving up though.

“Sarah, get ready to go out.”

I went to the largest bookstore in the capital with Sarah.

Sarah, who was happy when she heard that we were going out, looked gloomy at the bookstore.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… like My Lady.”

Sarah murmured and asked me carefully.

“Are you going to go back to the mansion after visiting the bookstore?”

“Why? Is there a place you want to go?”

“N, no. It’s not really like that, but since we’re out, take a look around the capital…”

It was cute to see her squirming with her eyes rolling. If I had a younger sister, it would feel like this.

“Let’s take a look around the capital on our way back.”

“Yes, yes!”

Only then did Sarah smile brightly and nodded her head.

The bookstore was crowded with people, perhaps because of the official announcement that they would hire an aide.

“My Lady, tell me what book you want and I’ll bring it.”

“No need. I’ll pick by myself.”

I squeezed through the crowd and stood in front of a bookshelf with books related to politics.

As it was a bookstore in the capital, there were many books.

Which one should I read? I will take out the book that stands out the most. 

“If you’re going to study politics, you should read this.”

Someone from behind pulled out the book that was right next to the book I had chosen.

“This one is more organized than that.”

It was a familiar voice. No way. I turned my head and looked back.

Blue hair that resembled the sea and a beautiful appearance.

“Your…!”

“Shh.”

Kalian put his index finger on my lips.

“No such title outside.”

Ah, I see. If I call him ‘Your Majesty’ here, it will attract attention. That was something I didn’t want either.

I nodded to signify that I understood, then he pulled out his hand and stepped back.

“I saw you when I was passing by here.”

Kalian smiled brightly and held out the book he had just taken out.

[Introduction to Cauldron’s politics].

It was a familiar title.

“Thank you for your recommendation, but I have already read this book.”

“Really?”

Kalian tilted his head slightly and pulled another book out of the bookshelf.

“Have you read this too?”

“Yes. I have read this.”

“Then how about this one?”

To the point where I wondered if he had researched what I had read beforehand, he pulled out only the books I had read before.

When I replied that I had read the fifth book he pulled out, he asked me with a stern face.

“Tell me about Cauldron’s political ideology.”

“What did Plant say?”

“What about Anon?”

I was a bit startled by the pouring questions, but I answered them completely as I knew them.

“You’re so…”

After completing all the questions, Kalian burst into small laughter and swept his hair up.

“I think I should raise the difficulty of the test a little more.”

…hmm? What does he mean?

“It seems to me that you don’t need to study politics anymore. Because this is enough.”

“But….”

“Don’t worry. I can assure you. Your politics will pass without a hitch.”

It was as if he knew I was going to take the official test.

It was true, but I was a bit startled that he took it for granted without any doubt. Because some people didn’t usually think so.

No matter how many times you promised, a woman taking the official test…

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Ah.”

I couldn’t believe I was thinking about something else before the Emperor.

“I, I’m sorry. Your…”

Wait, he told me not to call him ‘Your Majesty’.

Fortunately, I realized before I made the mistake and shut my mouth.

What should I call him if I can’t call him ‘Your Majesty’? 

Should I call his name? No way.

How dare I call the Emperor’s name. 

I’ve called his name dozens of times in my head, but it’s possible because it’s only in my thoughts.

A thought that should never come out of my mouth.

It was the same with the fact that I couldn’t do it on the outside while inside I swore at Philen countless times.

So, should I just call him the Lord?

I was looking for a suitable title, and perhaps he noticed my concern, he said, “You can call me Carl.”

I was contemplating what to call him, so there was no reason to refuse.

“Yes, Mr. Carl.”

I accepted it, but he frowned slightly as if something was not to his liking.

“Why do you call me… ‘Mr.’?”

I thought it should be like that, so I blurted out the title, and he laughed.

“You’re removing unnecessary things.”