Chapter 58

‘What’s this? Giving work right at quitting time isn’t good manners.’

I turned and approached the Duke.

“Do you perhaps have something you’d like me to do?”

But strangely, the Duke seemed even more flustered by my question. I could hear people around us swallowing. Perhaps, because the Duke was so notorious in the Imperial Palace, no one expected a subordinate to answer him.

“Have you finished all your work for today?”

Ah, he must have thought I was leaving without finishing my tasks. I answered confidently like a professional K-office worker.

“You mean the measures to prevent overseas asset concealment? I’ll have it ready by the next meeting.”

“I… see.”

“Yes! I’ll be going in then. See you tomorrow!”

“Alright, I won’t expect much…”

I left the office, finishing a productive day, leaving the bewildered-looking Duke behind.

The Emperor’s bill to prevent nobles from hiding assets overseas was by no means easy. As with any law, if someone gains, someone else loses. I used to see that often on the news when I was in the modern world.

‘In the end, to persuade them, there has to be some angle that benefits both sides.’

Here politics were divided not by parties but into the Emperor’s faction and the nobles’ faction. The Duke was royal and leaned toward the Emperor’s faction, but Mr. Bull had said he tended to be more neutral. Even if a proposal came from the Emperor’s faction, they wouldn’t accept it without convincing reasons.

‘Maybe that’s why people find it harder.’

I had that thought while stopping by the Chancellery to pick up some materials and documents I’d left.

“Cornelia.”

“Lucius, senior.”

He greeted me warmly and apologized for not being able to join the Concealment Department. I told him it was our superior’s orders, so there was nothing he could do, and that it was fine.

He said staffing in the department would soon be increased and he’d help as much as possible, and handed me an elegant envelope. Curious, I took it and read it…

“Senior, are you getting married?”

It was a wedding invitation. It said the ceremony would be held in about a month. Lucius nodded with a very bashful face.

“Yes. I’ve already told the other department members. If you’re not busy, please come.”

“Of course I’ll come. Congratulations.”

I’d been so busy with department work that I didn’t even know whether my coworkers were single or married. Of course, I’m still not very curious.

“Thanks. The department’s been so unsettled these past months I wondered if it was okay to invite anyone, but I was promoted to first-rank secretary — really thanks to you.”

Indeed, the Chancellery had been unstable, and there were times when we couldn’t be sure we’d be able to continue.

“No, it’s your ability, senior.”

“You. You don’t speak empty compliments but you did well. Anyway, be sure to come.”

Lucius ruffled my hair a lot and then went over to Victor’s desk. It was oddly amusing that road construction could influence things like this.

Maybe Lucius’s mood was contagious, because I found myself humming as I packed. By the way, how much is appropriate for a wedding gift here?

“Cornelia.”

“Lukan? Did you leave something behind too?”

“No, I have something to tell you.”

Lukan’s eyes as he said that looked somewhat reluctant.

“What is it?”

I tidied my things and waited until he was ready. Lukan ran a hand through his hair once and then spoke.

“I’ve been thinking — do you have to leave exactly at quitting time?”

I stopped what I was doing and straightened up.

“Is there any reason not to?”

At the faintly reproachful tone, I answered back with a bit of edge.

“Even if that’s fine in the Chancellery, there are people from other departments in the meetings— do you have to do that? Especially the Ministry of Justice is famous for lights staying on past quitting time; it’s better to do some overtime.”

“Right. But is that a reason I can’t leave?”

“……”

I sighed automatically. I understood why.

“What, will they say something to you after I leave?”

“Not to me — they’ll say things about you.”

“But what about that?”

“Because I don’t want to hear it. Even if they’re not insulting me, I don’t like it when someone from the same department gets trashed.”

I snorted. Apparently I’d be an awkward topic once I left.

“Lukan, you’re making a big mistake.”

“Mistake?”

I nodded and pointed to myself with my finger.

“I’m not your subordinate. You’re my subordinate.”

He looked taken aback.

“I’m saying you have no responsibility for me being criticized for leaving on time. You also don’t have the authority to tell me to watch my timing.”

“Still, if the department atmosphere is different, it’s better that we adapt. It’s rare to leave before a superior, and there’s no benefit in standing out.”

He had a point.

But after working in the Imperial Palace and experiencing so much in a short time, I didn’t want to worry about quitting time.

“Let me ask you one thing. The Minister of Finance didn’t take issue with my leaving. And most of our department leaves on time. There’s only one time the Minister of Finance gets angry: when work hasn’t been done properly. If my leaving on time were such a disqualifying reason, could I have risen to this position? Why should I, who belong to the Chancellery, follow that just because I was temporarily reassigned or because higher-ups didn’t leave first?”

“Well…”

“The important thing is that I clearly finished all my tasks yesterday and left. I will work overtime if I’m busy with a task.”

Lukan had no rebuttal and kept his mouth shut with a troubled look. Still, he’s a subordinate, so I should look out for him.

“Sigh, if the looks I get after I leave make you uncomfortable, it can’t be helped.”

“Cornelia, you too are…”

“Let’s leave together.”

“What?”

I flashed a bright smile.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

Lukan at first refused, but perhaps staying was more painful, and at some point he started following me out. Before long he became an active supporter of my on-time leaving stance.

“Everyone ready with the work?”

Finally it was time to discuss the bill to prevent nobles from hiding assets overseas. The Concealment Department, gathered under the Supreme Justice’s lead, ping-ponged glances over who would speak first, a subtle power play.

“Let’s start with the Foreign Ministry.”

But the power play fell flat at the Duke’s nomination; everyone lost their nerve. First-grade diplomat Simon presented a proposal.

“In cases of overseas asset concealment, cooperation from other countries is extremely important. To prepare for incidents like this, it would be good to cooperate with foreign ministries to form agreements for investigating overseas assets.”

Then Reyra, a first-grade finance officer from the Ministry of Finance, offered her opinion.

“I agree with the Foreign Ministry’s proposal. But before that, we need to determine the scale of assets held by nobles who committed crimes, and be able to trace financial flows if concealment is attempted. We should start by verifying whether the assets the Ministry of Finance currently records are accurate. There are many cases of deliberate understatement. If relevant laws are enacted, the Ministry of Finance can increase personnel to carry out audits.”

“It would be difficult to legislate each measure individually. If audits are conducted, nobles are likely to resist.”

Mr. Bull added a comment after hearing the opinions about whether effective legislation was possible. As various opinions exchanged, the Duke spoke up.

“What does the Chancellery suggest?”

Suddenly the meeting room fell silent.

From Lukan’s words it seemed public sentiment was tense over leaving on time; I wanted to tell them to just go home if they were going to come up with such a rushed proposal.

“The Chancellery proposes a Noble Asset Registration System.”

“Noble Asset Registration System?”

Sharp, challenging looks shot at me as if to see what I’d do. But I wasn’t afraid at all. I stood up and pulled a chalkboard out from the corner.

“The Noble Asset Registration System is a system where nobles themselves report their assets to the central authorities.”

The officials listening snickered as if deflated.

“Second-grade secretary, you’re young and still inexperienced in the ways of the world. Haha, I suppose we must retract our previous claim that this was sufficient!”

Diplomat Simon shook his head.

“It would be better to have a first-grade secretary attend from the next meeting. You’re only interested in leaving early; your work ability is still far off.”

“If they were going to report everything so dutifully, why would crimes occur? Do some overtime and broaden your view of the world.”

Here and there they eagerly tore it down as if they’d finally found fault. I joined in the laughter with them. After laughing for a while, the officials who sensed something odd gradually quieted. They were looking at me as if I were crazy.

I laughed so much I pretended to wipe away tears and then spoke.

“Ah, sorry— I laughed too much for a meeting. It seems no one noticed. Noble Asset Registration System: when a noble reports their own assets, it means they can exercise rights only over the assets they’ve reported.”

“……!”

“If they deliberately underreport… that’s fine. The remainder will be vested in the Imperial Household.”

“Th-that is outrageous!”

“His Majesty the Emperor would be very pleased.”

I will not forgive anyone who obstructs my leaving work.