Chapter 116

‘So, the reason you hadn’t been seen all this time was…’

Aidan did not visit the Imperial Palace or our house after returning from the Yuno delegation. He didn’t even go to the Marquess’s residence. Was he preparing to become the Magic Tower Master?

“He did seem to be deep in thought recently. He spoke with the Tower Master often. Given the Master’s age, perhaps he wanted some rest. Anyway, we’ve been incredibly busy preparing as well.”

The fact they whispered it to me meant it hadn’t been made public yet. Things seemed to be moving urgently.

“Once the succession ceremony date is set, we’ll send invitations. Please take good care of our Magic Tower Master. And please say good things about me too! Haha!”

Then they bowed politely, saying I was now the Chancellor so more respect was due, and hurried off. I let out a short sigh.

‘I thought something bad had happened, but it’s a good thing after all.’

He who relished the freedom of life at the Magic Tower becoming the Magic Tower Master, taking on responsibility and duty, felt both surprising and awkward.

‘Then again, who am I to judge how much I’ve seen of him.’

It felt like he had been picking me up after late nights just yesterday, yet years seemed to have passed. I shrugged my shoulders a few times and headed to the office.

Training of the secretaries, led by Dominic, continued relentlessly. Scribe, excluding the assistant clerks, also took part. At first I thought there was no hope, but since they’d passed the hiring exam, I saw small improvements. Of course there were parachuted-in hires who didn’t improve.

‘Sigh, what am I supposed to do with this?’

Of course it was Dominic. Even after more than a month, there was no sign he’d learned anything. At this rate, I might have to teach him how to click a mouse. It wasn’t that he lacked motivation—he was simply hopeless. The fact he seemed more competent than Eldo at first was all smoke and mirrors. My head ached.

“Secretary Dominic.”

He walked over slowly when called.

“About this document…”

I couldn’t help but chuckle the moment I looked up after marking the errors.

‘Coco. After all that you’ve been through, you still had expectations, huh.’

There was not a trace of anxiety or curiosity on Dominic’s face—only confidence, even scorn. What I saw was mockery. A clear provocation.

I handed the document to him.

“Review it once more and then submit. Ask another secretary if you don’t know.”

“Yes, of course. Understood, Chancellor.”

Dominic smirked and returned to his seat. I stared silently at his retreating back and revised my strategy.

‘Let’s see how far he’ll crawl up the ladder, for now.’

His attitude had shifted. He couldn’t not know why he was called. That meant I’d changed my approach.

I called Elysia and Lukan aside.

“I know it’s a bother, but please double-check every document submitted by Dominic and Eldo from now on.”

Both of them frowned. I hoped they’d understand I didn’t want to give such orders.

“Where should we start checking?”

“Start with whatever he submits personally, and anything he interferes with in scribe and assistant clerks’ work.”

“…So you’re finally going to roast him?”

“Elysia.”

Lukan slapped Elysia’s arm in exasperation. It was a shocking phrase I hadn’t heard since the group scribe incident. But being around Reyra, this level of speech was almost expected.

I smiled faintly.

“Roast him? No. I’m just giving him a chance.”

“…So you’re saying you’ll wreck him.”

That wasn’t Elysia speaking—Lukan next to her had.

I truly intended to give them a chance. One last time.

“Then I’m counting on you. Whether to wreck them will be decided afterward.”

A few days later, the situation I’d feared occurred.

‘It’s slightly wrong.’

It was the kind of error you could pass off as a simple mistake. But if it appeared across dozens of documents? It was deliberate. There was an especially malicious element: someone had sprinkled in documents whose approval lines would go all the way up to the Emperor. The Crown Prince’s cronies’ eager wishes were blatant.

‘How foolish. I wouldn’t approve anything blindly.’

They seemed to expect mistakes would appear while I was busy overseeing staff work. So I checked even more thoroughly.

I was going to watch for fun a bit longer, but I made a decision because of what Lukan told me.

“Assistant clerk Selena’s work was deliberately edited incorrectly by Dominic before he submitted it.”

“Sigh…”

It was utterly petty. Tasks that reach the Chancellor’s desk start from the secretary level. So the document tampering had been done within that group. But when I made appropriate corrections without making a fuss, they widened their range of action.

‘Pathetic.’

He’d altered documents to pin blame on an assistant clerk who’d fallen out of favor. I might already have been paying for my ignorance. I decided it couldn’t continue.

Cornelia Libertas (Chancellor): Dominic, Eldo, into my office.

The Chancellor’s desk was in the office, but there was also a private room—like the Minister of Finance’s chamber. When I was appointed Chancellor, the empty room was prepared for me, but I couldn’t use it. I needed constant surveillance because I didn’t know what those two would do.

“Have a seat.”

They both hesitated at my formal tone, then sat down awkwardly, sizing me up.

This was the final interview. So I had shown them a measure of courtesy.

“Why did you call us?”

Dominic asked arrogantly without hiding his attitude. Did he think his numbers won in a confined space with just the three of us? My poker face wouldn’t break that easily.

“Do you intend to continue working at the Chancellery?”

There was no preamble. It was simply a verification.

“What do you mean?”

Eldo furrowed his brow.

“Literally. I’m asking if you want to keep coming to work here. You know very well, don’t you? That you lack the passion, ability, and sense of responsibility for the Chancellery.”

“Th-that can’t be…!”

Eldo squirmed as if ready to stand and raised his voice. I know he hadn’t tampered with documents. Whether they had or hadn’t, the time had come to set the course.

“That’s the Chancellor’s opinion. I believe I fit very well with this Chancellery. I think I match the station.”

Dominic crossed his legs, folded his arms, and tilted his head.

“Is that so? It’s surprising to hear that from Secretary Dominic, who receives the most criticism from me.”

He smiled slyly.

“Learning from the Chancellor is very enjoyable.”

I smiled back.

“Is that so? You looked like you wanted to go home.”

“Not at all. That’s the expression of someone thirsty for learning.”

“I’m glad you find it amusing. You said you match the Chancellery’s station. What I’m teaching secretaries is at the level of what assistant clerks and the scribe learn. It doesn’t fit the ‘station’ of a 1st-grade secretary.”

“…!”

“Pfft!”

A mix of shock and derision burst out. Eldo hastily covered his mouth with his hand, and Dominic glared at him with sharp eyes. I continued as if nothing had happened.

“The workplace isn’t a place to come and learn. If you want to learn, go to the academy or start again as an assistant clerk. You get paid, don’t you both?”

“What does that money even buy.”

Dominic ground his teeth and snarled.

“It might be the secretaries who owe money.”

“…!”

“Pfft!”

I almost laughed at the simultaneous outburst again, but I held it back. After a brief silence, Eldo and Dominic answered in turn.

“I believe I show more than what I receive.”

“I may not meet the Chancellor’s standards, but everyone is satisfied with how I handle things.”

“Is that so?”

I confirmed that neither of them had an answer. Good.

“So you both want to continue working at the Chancellery?”

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

I clasped my hands together, rested my chin on them, and smiled gently.

“I didn’t expect such affection. I understand your intentions. Now that the after-work training is wrapping up, normal duties will begin. I expect you to demonstrate the capabilities befitting 1st- and 2nd-grade secretaries. Oh! And if you change your mind, tell me at any time.”

They said they understood. I lifted my chin and sneered at the two as they left confidently.

‘Laugh all you like today.’

After training the secretaries and scribes, the Chancellery began to operate in earnest.

Everyone understood their duties by position and communicated organically. When the scribes and secretaries were given clear subordinate management tasks, they seemed to develop a sense of responsibility. I expected complaints if more work was assigned, but fortunately they seemed to understand the necessity.

Knock knock.

“Yes.”

When the door opened and a figure entered, the Chancellery fell silent instantly. I stood to greet them.

“Hello, Supreme Justice. What brings you to the Chancellery?”

He approached with the graceful stride of a predator and stood opposite me.

“You’ve been working hard, Chancellor. I’m sorry, but I need assistance with some work—could you spare some personnel? One… maybe two should be enough.”

I let my eyes soften and replied.

“It seems the Ministry of Justice has a lot of work. Of course we’ll help. As representatives from the Chancellery, I recommend 1st-grade Secretary Dominic and 2nd-grade Secretary Eldo.”

I felt the heads of the Chancellery staff swivel sharply toward me.

“Who are they? Those names are new to me.”

“They’re the secretaries who came in with the recent personnel transfer.”

When I pointed to where the two were sitting, he turned. Dominic and Eldo snapped to attention at his gaze.

“Ah, greetings.”

“Greetings, Supreme Justice.”

Vespera studied them briefly and smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s reassuring. This is a special instruction from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince; I trust you’ll take care of it.”