I looked at the person who came to submit the job application, then at the application itf, and remained silent for a while.
Really, does it happen that easily?
‘…But I only remember treating him coldly the entire time he was in the Winter Palace?’
Of course, I didn't act meanly while training him, because I didn't want to become like the incompetent fools in the Summer Palace.
'Does he have a secret hobby of enjoying suffering or something?'
Why would he leave a comfortable job with only three working days a week, during the morning, to come to this hellhole?
But while I was thinking about it logically, a demonic voice whispered fervently in my head:
‘If a new assistant joins, we will get five additional administrators!’
This means that our administrators will finally be able to leave work before midnight during the financial reporting period!
Should I ignore my doubts and take it easy?
And even, as Cassian said, we could use it to turn the Empress's plans upside down.
The Empress went to great lengths to make Ashwood assistant to First Prince Charlie.
There was no noble in the capital who did not know this!
Even some of the other dukes' families felt insulted by her actions.
‘If I accept it, the Empress will definitely try to take revenge on us, but…!’
She always does it anyway!
When I thought about how upset she might be, the benefits seemed to far outweigh the risks.
My mind was stuck in a conflict between logic, which refused to throw an innocent person into this hell, and my desire to take advantage of the situation.
But before I could make a decision, Ashiud spoke in a tense tone as if he was afraid I would refuse.
“I have completed all the tasks that Assistant Saliss assigned me, so there is no need to worry.”
“...I gave you missions?”
I? when?
I'm not even your boss!
While I was looking at him in amazement, Ashiud lowered his eyes slightly, as if he felt ashamed, and then spoke in a calm voice..
His silver eyelashes reflected the morning sunlight that filtered into the office, sparkling delicately.
“Summer Palace will not delay submitting its reports as it did during the previous financial settlement period.
If they try that, I will be the first to object.”
Prince Ashwood slowly looked up at me again.
His crimson eyes held a clear plea, asking me to believe him.
Why does he look so desperate...?
“I have trained the staff at the Summer Palace according to what you taught me, so even if they are not perfect, they will now be able to perform their role properly.”
Honestly, this show was so good that it seemed like a miracle..
As if a lifeline had descended on the Winter Palace.
‘It will be a shield against the excesses of the Summer Palace, and it will help alleviate our staff shortages…!’
Not to mention the fact that it would greatly upset the Empress!
So, I became more careful.
If he resigns due to stress, we will lose five administrators with him...!
“Prince Ashwood, I'll be honest with you.
From my perspective, there is no compelling reason for you to come to the Winter Palace.
Do you have any ulterior motives?”
Unlike my case, he does not owe a huge amount of money to his family or is forced to work.
He answered in a serious voice:
“While I was helping you, I realized that everything I had been doing up until now had been superficial.”
I felt a slight twinge of remorse.
Because my training for him at that time was really just superficial education.
“I was so incompetent that Prince Charlie used to make fun of me, calling me a boring heir.”
I saw a faint shadow of sadness pass over his cold face.
“Now I'm beginning to understand why my grandfather keeps criticizing me.
For this reason, I want to work here under your supervision, Assistant Salis.”
He has become a completely different person..
Before, an arrogant duke would barely look at me while working, as if he was reluctantly putting up with my rudeness.
But now, he has shown that he has the ability to learn and work, and even his personality seemed better than I expected..
However, as someone who doesn't like to back down from his decisions, I had to be honest with him.
“As you have seen for yourf, the work here is more than enough to get done in three days a week.
If you finish your tasks, you can leave on time, but...”
The problem is that the work never ends here.
The Palace of the Sun and the Palace of Roses send us heaps of assignments whenever they notice we have a single spare moment!
“I can't reveal all the details, but the Winter Palace has an enormous workload.
Are you sure you can handle that?”
If you're going to quit, now's your chance
I did my best to speak in a professional tone so as not to show how desperate we were to accept him.
If he realized this, he might run away!
“I'm ready for this.
I spent a whole week at the Summer Palace working and sleeping there.”
Well, if he was that determined...
So, it seems I have to accept this excellent employee, reluctantly!
“Okay, so can you start work next Monday?”
“I can start work tomorrow.”
Wasn't he only working for three days due to his family obligations?
I felt a little strange, but he volunteered himf to work, so why should I refuse?
"Okay, come back tomorrow.
I'll assign you the office next to the current administrators' office.
Do you have any questions?"
Unlike my case, where I was working in Cassian's office, assistants usually get individual desks.
Prince Ashwood hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed.
“Then, as long as Your Highness doesn’t refuse, see you tomorrow, Assistant Ashwood.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Prince Shuud left the office looking relieved, and as soon as I left, the administrators enthusiastically burst into the room.
“Is that so, Assistant Saliss?!”
“We…”
“We finally have a new assistant?!”
They seemed very happy after their long suffering due to the lack of staff.
“Unless Your Highness refuses, yes.”
“He will definitely agree!”
“Your Highness Cassian is a compassionate person!”
“He's the cutest devil in the world!”
The administrators left the room eagerly to finish their work quickly.
As for me, I was left alone, muttering seriously.
“Looks like I have to act quickly...”
If this situation continues, I will be asked to train all new incoming administrators!
And the Empress will definitely not leave us alone.
Therefore, I decided that Assistant Ashwood's first task would be: prepare a training manual for new employees.
Later in the afternoon, Cassian returned and listened to the details, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
“Of course, we have to accept it.”
As expected, my boss enjoys confrontation as much as I do.
In the end, if my house is burning down, it's only fair to set other people's houses on fire too, that's how things work in this world.
Indeed, Duke Ashwood's entry into the Winter Palace caused a great uproar within the Imperial Palace.
As for the assistants and administrators of the Summer Palace, they began to deceive us:
“So, would you now be so kind as to take over some tasks from us again?
We’ve worked together for a long time, wouldn’t it be fair if you showed some cooperation?”
“We're not asking you to bear everything, just a little, right?”
“Now that you have more staff in the Winter Palace, it is natural that you should help us a little, right?”
But they still do not realize the reality of the situation, and they continue to utter the same empty talk.
But Francis Achiode was a man of his word.
“We have no reason to help you.
If you really need our cooperation, make a formal written request.”
After this categorical response, angry Summer Palace employees began spreading bad rumors about him behind his back.
They even called him “the traitor who abandoned the Summer Palace and joined the Winter Palace.”
But, well…
The person in question didn't seem affected at all.
Quite the opposite...
“It is a great honor.
In the Winter Palace, earning the reputation of a devil or a wizard seems to be a sign of competence.”
He took it in a strangely positive way.
But as long as he's happy, that's all that matters.
As for the Empress...
“Are you nervous, Rose?”
"…naturally."
Unexpectedly, she was having quite peaceful days, without even breaking any teacups..
This made me feel even more anxious as I headed to my weekly breakfast with her.
I could not evade this time, especially after the Emperor specifically indicated his desire to see me after a long absence, in addition to increasing the number of assistants in the Winter Palace..
“Don’t worry, no matter what the Empress does, I will never let go of your hand.”
I looked calmly at Cassian.
I remember there was a similar scene in the original story, where he said something similar to Roita...
But unlike the original heroine, who did not fully believe his words...
“Of course, even if you try to abandon me, I will cling to you like a leech on your back, Your Highness.”
I replied without any doubt in his words.
Then, Cassian smiled gently and kissed my fingers.
“Then you won’t leave me alone… Such romantic words you said this morning.”
This is the kind of person Cassian Artiz was in this world..
Today, the Empress was smiling more kindly than usual.
“You're welcome, Saliss… No, Miss Roslita.
After all, we're going to be a family one day, so it's okay for me to call you by your name, right?”
Did she eat something unusual?
Her words were very warm, unnaturally...
“Your Highness, I heard that new administrators and assistants will be entering the Imperial Palace soon?”
She launched her first attack with expected words...