36

I broke into a cold sweat and spoke as if I knew nothing.

Luckily, Aidan had finished the voice-modulation artifact before his revisit.

When activated, the voice of the other persona I had created last time came out without any effort.

“Even if people call you a fraud or whatever, showing up again means your name must carry some weight, huh?”

“…….”

The little lamb seemed somehow unwilling to admit it.

I went straight to the point to get him out as quickly as possible.

“What did you come back for?”

“The voice and the mask oddly suit each other; it’s irritating.”

He bit back, pointing out that the mask and voice were terribly mismatched.

“To be honest……”

The little lamb let out a big sigh and, reluctantly, began to speak.

His hesitation, in a way, made him look clumsy.

“Master Quokka, I was somewhat shocked by your criticism.

I always thought improving ability was up to each person; I never considered that a manager should cultivate them.”

He rubbed the edge of his lamb mask with his hand and continued.

“I’ve thought it over for days, and you were right. As long as I’m the manager of this department, I need to train my subordinates so we can reach our goals.”

‘Oh? He has more sense than I thought.’

“It’s surprising—must not have been easy to admit, huh?”

“It was an unexpected opinion, so it took time to accept, but there’s no reason to oppose a correct view.”

Even when someone realizes they’re wrong, admitting it isn’t easy, so it was unexpected.

“So doesn’t that solve your problem?”

He sighed deeply once more.

The constant sighs from the cute little lamb were becoming unpleasant to watch.

“I don’t know how to manage and train subordinates……”

“You’re the Next Archduke……”

“What?”

“Oh, I mean, you look like nobility—don’t you usually get succession lessons or something?”

For a moment I almost asked how someone who’s the Next Archduke and earned merit as a battlefield commander hadn’t received that training.

“What you call training subordinates seems different from what I learned.”

The little lamb shook his head.

“Bringing in those who show talent, feeding them, housing them, attaching mentors—those are good ways to enlist people loyal to you. But the place I’m in already has people who meet certain qualifications. Yet something seems off.”

Thinking of Sir Bull, who still visits often, the subordinates are probably already crushed by that overwhelming appearance and status. And they’re likely to have tried a few times and then, after being called incompetent, stopped voicing opinions. They’d think it’s better not to speak at all.

“People don’t change overnight, so shall we try one step at a time?”

“Is there a way?”

“First, stop subjecting your staff to brutal ‘facts.’”

“Brutal what?”

Excessive ‘fact’ assaults breed despair rather than reflection.

He was mentally abusing Sir Bull as casually as breathing. I carefully explained why the subordinates found him difficult. Throughout my explanation he kept repeating, “They feel that strongly?” several times.

After a rather long explanation, the little lamb said he understood intellectually, but his tone showed he wasn’t convinced at all.

“It’s important to abandon the notion that everyone will think, judge, and work like you, little lamb.”

“That sounds like something a saint would say, Master Quokka.”

“It’s about having basic consideration for smooth work processes. From now on, think three seconds more before criticizing.”

“My goodness.”

“If you can’t understand it, memorize it.”

“How absurd.”

“Whether you do it or not is your choice—I’m just offering my opinion.”

“I got it, so stop.”

I just wanted to send him off quickly, but caught up in the role, I kept stressing to think three seconds more.

I thought I heard a ‘grr’ sound, but since he was wearing a mask anyway, I stuck my neck out a bit.

After that, the Marquis continued to send me on errands to the Imperial Palace a few more times.

Unintentionally, I had more frequent meetings with the Minister of Finance.

“Your documents are very tidy.”

“How did you know?”

The Minister of Finance greeted me warmly every time I came. He often treated me to tasty Imperial Palace snacks, which I appreciated.

“A document of this sort is usually handled by a direct aide, but the Marquess’s aide position is currently vacant. So it must have been you acting in that role. The items are laid out clearly, which I like.”

“It’s nothing special. While working, I just adjusted it to make things easier to view next time. Fortunately, the young lady and the Marquis told me to do so.”

“There’s no reason to deny permission. You’re saving my time like this, after all. I’ll tell my aide as well.”

He looked very pleased.

“If, by any chance, you stop being Lady Kiara’s aide, tell me. I’ll hire you immediately under good terms. Haha.”

“If the young lady finds out, the Minister of Finance might have her come looking for you.”

“Oh. That’s a bit scary. I’ll withdraw the offer.”

After joking back and forth and getting comfortable, coming to the Imperial Palace no longer felt as tense or burdensome as before. I became familiar with the central ministries to the point I could naturally recall which department was on which floor.

“Today I’ll see you out.”

Since the incident with Chancellor Marcus last time, the Minister of Finance had always finished his business in the office. He seemed a bit better now and skillfully led the conversation as he escorted me to the door.

It was just as I was about to say my goodbyes.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Lady Kiara’s aide.”

Seref’s noblewoman was walking toward us from a short distance away. Beside her stood a middle-aged woman with an elegant bearing who resembled her.

The Minister of Finance stepped forward first.

“Isn’t that Duchess Seref? Long time no see.”

“You’ve been well. Minister Hakot.”

Come to think of it, Seref’s noblewoman and the duchess shared pale skin and delicate, pure features. I hurriedly returned their courtesy.

“Sorry for the late greeting. I am Cornelia Libertas, aide to the Marquis Aurelius’s young lady.”

“…….”

From the duchess’s silent stare I felt a hostile aura directed at me.

“So. It’s you. That girl.”

With the atmosphere turning icy, the Minister of Finance tried to change the subject.

“What brings you here?”

“We came to see Her Majesty the Empress and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.

As you know, our Lilis is engaged to the Crown Prince. She dotes on our child so much.”

“Indeed. She will become the Crown Princess, right. If they’re on good terms, the empire’s future looks bright.”

“Indeed. Those low-borns who act out of turn should learn their place.”

That remark was aimed directly at me.

The duchess showed no intention of accepting the Minister of Finance’s courtesy.

“You dared to refuse Seref’s young lady, who will soon be the crown prince’s betrothed?”

“Mother.”

The young lady called out in a restraining voice, but the look of outrage in her mother’s eyes didn’t lessen.

“I appreciate the offer given by the lady. However, I wished to honor the trust placed in me by Lady Kiara.”

I put it diplomatically that first dibs belonged to the first to scout, but the reply returned sharp and defiant.

“How dare you presumptuously try to block my daughter’s social prospects without knowing whom she should marry. Is it because you’re from an unknown, lowborn family?”

“Duchess, please calm yourself.”

The Minister of Finance tried to intervene, but she kept going as if she’d finally found a proper target for her rant. Her words crossed the line to an unbearable degree.

“Look at how you’ve cut your hair short like a man, devoid of dignity. How do you expect to marry well like this? You’ve had a bit of luck a few times, and now you’re utterly audacious. If you had entered a duke house, you’d have been taught the basics and wouldn’t have been allowed outside the estate for a while. Tsk, tsk. How on earth did your parents raise you…“

“Mother!”

“Duchess!”

Before my reason snapped from the baseless attack on my parents, the two voices brought me back to my senses.

The duchess scowled at me as if she had no awareness of her own rudeness.

“Let’s go.”

That blasted noble etiquette, again I had to bow to the departing pair.

“Cornelia. Are you okay?”

“…….”

This was the first time I’d been so furious over my status since coming here. My head felt hot and numb, as if sealed with no outlet.

“Cornelia?”

“…Of course. I’m fine.”

I closed my eyes briefly to calm my anger, then opened them. My thoughts raced wildly. The Minister of Finance looked at me with concern.

“The duchess’s temperament is well known in social circles. Once she flips, no one can stop her. She’s particularly harsh to those beneath her. It seems the Black Dia you created offended her temper.”

“I see.”

“Sigh, don’t come on Imperial Palace errands anymore. I’ll speak to the Marquess about it. I never expected you’d endure such an ordeal……”

I gave a faint smile to signal I was okay.

“Just think of it as encountering a problematic customer. That’s all.”

“P-problematic customer?”

“Oh, right. If they came to see Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince and then came to the central ministry, they’re probably here to see Chancellor Marcus, right?”

The Minister of Finance tilted his head at the sudden change of topic.

“Huh? Why would the duchess be seeing Chancellor Marcus?”

This time I tilted my head suspiciously.

“Isn’t Chancellor Marcus the Duke Seref?”

“Chancellor Marcus is the Marquis Vain. I must have accidentally caused confusion by calling him by his name. Know that it doesn’t mean we’re close. When working, it’s easier to call people by name. There are subtle overlaps sometimes.”

“Really? That’s odd……”

“What do you mean by that?”

“No, it’s nothing. I must have been mistaken.”

Sensing something from me, he pressed.

“Something’s bothering you. Hurry up and tell me.”

I feigned helplessness and asked to borrow his ear for a moment.

When he leaned in with a curious expression, I hesitated a moment and then whispered.

“They’re not a married couple; it’s an affair.”