Following the departure of Francis Ashwood, we were able to finalize the palace's financial accounts earlier than usual.
However…
“He's a miracle, Assistant Saliss!”
“We completed the financial settlement before midnight on deadline day!”
For us, this is the limit of what we can celebrate.
The administrators were very excited, as if about to have a group dance, and joked while tearing up unnecessary papers—carefully, for the servants were also their fellow sufferers.
“I have a friend who works in the summer, and he says they complain all the time these days!”
“They haven't been home for a week!”
“As for us, we go home every night!”
“I heard they sleep on three chairs connected to each other!
There's no longer even room on the sofas!”
“Even worse, some administrators are sleeping on the floor on top of torn papers!”
The Summer Palace was crowded with people, so this chaos was inevitable..
Even when some sofas were sent from the Empress's palace to them, they were only enough for a few people...
“I heard they even banned overtime hours!”
“They are afraid of appearing incompetent!”
“It's said that only Ashwood is allowed to record it!”
This kind of behavior was expected from the deceitful assistants in the Summer Palace.
But there was no point in hiding the truth—everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that the Summer Palace had placed the burden of work on the Winter Palace for years, and now they had to shoulder their responsibilities.
It was thanks to Ashwood, who didn't try to hide it.
'Well, at least it was worth the time I spent teaching him here.'
Now, does he handle administrative work efficiently?
I was quietly reviewing the reports while the administrators continued talking excitedly, their voices getting louder with each sentence.
“It's all thanks to Salis's help!”
“Unlike someone else, you are much more efficient!”
“We have often been accused of inefficiency, but our numbers prove otherwise!”
They seemed to still be upset about the insults they received when we brought the backlog back to the Summer Palace.
“Go home now, we can finish the rest tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, helping us!”
“See you tomorrow!”
They were overly excited due to overwork, so I calmed them down and sent them home.
I had to send them first so I could leave quietly..
After arranging the last documents, I got up from my seat to find Cassian standing waiting for me after he also finished his work..
“You should rest, Your Highness.”
"Know."
But why is he coming towards me?
I just want to go home!
Don't tell me you're going to ask me to work overtime now?
She looked at him with eyes full of doubt, but he laughed softly.
“I'll drive you home.
Do you mind?”
“No, I don't mind.”
I said that honestly.
There is no greater compliment than for your boss to give up his time after work!
“What an honor.
You have been approved by the Hero of the Winter Palace.”
Then, like a puppy that had not seen its owner for days, he hugged me tightly.
But we were together in the same office throughout the financial settlement period?
It's true that we didn't find time to talk...
“Didn't you say you'd give me a ride?”
"Yes."
He answered calmly, but continued to hug me for a few more moments.
Since Francis Ashwood was the reason we talked so little, I didn't mind staying in his arms for a while.
Even though I longed to go home, I didn't hate the way he was treating me, which made me wonder if I had become weak in front of him.
Then I heard a soft sigh next to my ear, followed by a sleepy whisper from him:
“Everyone loves you so much, Rose.”
“I feel like they call me the devil more than that.”
Maybe because of my overly handsome boss?
“The words of the blind are not words at all.”
With one sentence, he erased all those who called me the devil.
“You should have seen Ashwood's face when he left the Winter Palace.”
“No need.”
Why would I care about that?
Cassian saw my natural answer, and smiled contentedly.
“That's reassuring.”
“What were you thinking?”
“How my dear fiancée is attracting everyone’s attention.”
It doesn't look like you were really thinking about that?
While I was staring at him in amazement, he grabbed my hand and placed it on his arm, then spoke cheerfully:
“But I will consider this the price to pay to win champion.”
I didn't quite understand what it meant..
But I was sure of one thing:
Cassian was more worried and concerned about me than usual.
'He even sent a message beforehand to Duke Ashwood.'
He usually avoided contact with the dukes, especially since the Empress was unpredictable.
So, I leaned into him a little and thanked him sincerely:
“I am with you because you are you.”
They were words that undoubtedly pleased him greatly.
With the financial settlement over, the Winter Palace became quieter, although there was no time for it to become completely empty of work.
As for the Summer Palace, it was getting more chaotic day by day.
“Can you believe it?
My friend at the Summer Palace said he doesn’t understand how they can’t have a moment of rest outside of the designated break times!”
“He even said they deserve time every day to drink tea!”
The administrators laughed at their dissatisfaction.
Francis Ashwood appears to have been leading a comprehensive training campaign for administrators and advisors there.
All he said in his usual lazy tone was:
“Really, future duke, you are so boring.”
He was not bothered by the increased workload or the new strict methods.
“Did you know, Rose?”
"What?"
After the administrators left, Cassian offered me a cup of tea.
I wasn't a fan of black tea, so he always picked herbal ones for me.
“The Empress is wondering what she should give you these days.”
The smile on his face was wide.
“Should I hide more?”
I knew she wouldn't be happy with what I did.
“Maybe?”
“What did the Emperor say at the meeting this morning?”
I did not attend the royal breakfast meeting, because I was busy finishing some important documents.
“He praised you.”
“Why?”
“He said you had finally made the Summer Palace work efficiently, and he praised my foresight in keeping you by my side.”
I sighed lightly..
“Why is he doing this?”
“It's just his hobby.”
Cassian was the only one who could describe the emperor's deliberate actions to incite rivalry between the princes for the throne as a “hobby.”
That was my conviction too.
‘Although the situation now is much better compared to what it was in the original story.’
In the original story, the Emperor had no appreciation for Cassian's accomplishments, even after he returned victorious from battle, and was even more wary of him.
The more Cassian became popular with the people, the more the Emperor became suspicious and fearful of him, fearing that he might aspire to the throne.
It was very unfair to someone who was just struggling to survive.
But things are different now.
Cassian not only reaped victories on the battlefield, but also took on tasks that the emperor preferred to avoid, such as taxation, which gave him a bad reputation that kept the situation balanced.
It is true that the people of the empire respect and appreciate him, but at the same time he arouses the resentment of some, especially the nobles.
This was exactly the ideal situation for the Emperor.
He did not want the Duke of Jamotei's party, of which the Empress was a part, to grow stronger.
So he used Cassian as a balancing act, while keeping the position of crown prince vacant, to keep the two princes in a constant state of suspense.
This was the scenario that the Emperor happily painted.
'He obviously didn't want First Prince Charlie to look completely incompetent either.'
If people started to think that Cassian was the inevitable heir, it would become annoying for the Emperor, because he hated being forced to make decisions due to outside pressures..
Whether it was from a woman he cherished, from his rival priests, or even from the common people.
Since these events would make the First Prince appear more competent, it was only natural that the Emperor would now raise the status of the Second Prince, Cassian.
And the person who would be used for this purpose was… me.
“By the way, Rose.”
"What's the matter?
Don't scare me."
Cassian was playing with my hair while speaking in a playful tone.
“Looks like we have some trouble ahead.”
“But why do you look so happy?”
“Because I can imagine how frustrated a character would be, and that's a lot of fun.”
So, does this mean that the Empress is about to get into trouble?
I thought for a moment about a certain possibility, but quickly pushed it out of my head.
impossible.
That can't happen.
But the biggest surprise came a month later...
“I would like to apply for the position of second assistant in the Winter Palace.”
After completing his training at the Summer Palace, Francis Ashwood resigned from the Summer Palace and advanced to the Winter Palace.