Please Provide Compensation Through Divorce

Chapter 8

Episode 08

Ewarton gave me the right assignments: no military, no diplomacy, just imperial budget and administration.

Fortunately, the level of work was moderate. The imperial system is simple, and I’ve been rewarded with Madame marais’s lessons.

As I fiddled with the quill, I suddenly remembered Leto. Those glassy blue eyes, to be exact. That gaze, with its mixture of suspicion and curiosity,.

“I’m scared.”

I shook my head.

Outside the window, the sun was setting. There were still a lot of papers left.

“How did Leto do all this on his own? The Emperor is the Emperor, after all.

I finished one paper and set it aside, then picked up a new one and opened it.

“Ah.”

He paused at the title.

“Miracle of the Goddess, Baron Orang.”

“Miracles of the Goddess... I thought you posted this in the Great Exhibition.

This doesn’t look like the paperwork I’m supposed to be looking at. It seemed like a mistake on Euthen’s part.

It was then. Yutian entered the room with a servant.

“Your Majesty, I have brought you some tea.”

“Thank you, Lord Ewarton. I was going to call on you anyway.”

“What is the matter?”

“I need to discuss some papers.”

Ewarton winked at the servant. The servant turned on his heel and walked out. ewarton rushed over and took the papers.

“Oh, so this is where it went.”

“Sounds like an interesting story, but what happened?”

ewarton sighed.

“The whole goddess thing, I guess... ah.”

He covered his mouth in embarrassment. It seemed to bother him that he’d cursed the goddess before me.

“It’s all right; tell me more.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. Well, yesterday at dawn, the image of a goddess emerged from the wall of Baron Orang’s garden. It was an unidentifiable white, shimmering powder, but the warring factions recognized it as a miracle and even gave it the name ‘Snowflake of the Goddess’.”

This incident! I saw it in the original. If I remember correctly, it’s a pretty nasty hoax.

After the ‘Goddess Snow Flower’ incident. Baron Orang becomes a celebrity. He capitalizes on his fame and makes a fortune in the fur business. Some of the profits are funneled into the High Priest’s military coffers.

In other words, it was a scam orchestrated by Baron Orang and the High Priestess.

The Goddess Snow Flower is nothing more than stone dust. It’s a white powder made from ground alumstone.

When I read the original, I honestly laughed. But now it makes sense.

The Great War has long prevented scientific research. Geology and petrology are no exception. Besides, alum is mined mainly by the sea. It is rarely found inland, in the capital and its suburbs.

“Should we... let this fraud go on?

“Lord Ewarton, do you post a report like this every time a ‘miracle of the goddess’ occurs on the Great War side?”

“Yes. Then the imperial court sends a small reward.”

“The imperial family’s money—that’s serious.

“Anyway, I’ll take these papers with me.”

“No, let me take a look at them; they’re rather interesting.”

“Oh, okay. Then take a look at it and set it aside. I’ll bring it up to His Imperial Majesty later.”

“I’ll do that.”

“By the way, Your Majesty, are you done with this?”

Ewarton looked at the pile of papers on one side of the desk.

“Yes, sir. I’m not sure if I got it right, but I’d like your Lordship to check it out.”

“You’re amazing.”

ewarton looked at me with admiration. For looking at the paperwork.

He walked out with the papers he had processed. I studied the Goddess Snowflake papers closely and hesitantly picked up a quill.

I’m a little afraid to interrupt, but I can’t let it go.

I can’t give you the answer right away. That would only raise suspicion, so I’ll give him the right hints. Let’s find the answer.

* * *

Late at night. Leto entered his office. His face was tired. But he had long since gotten used to it.

He chuckled. What is it with this bland mood? It’s not quite right.

Leto rested one hand on the desk. He looked down at Livia and muttered.

“A wife with a lover... interesting.”

He couldn’t bring himself to leave Livia’s side, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

“No. It’s not funny at all.

Leto admitted. Whatever this mood was, it wasn’t pleasant, that was for sure.

* * *

I had a nightmares. I dreamt that I was working in a laboratory and being abused.

I woke up and looked out the window in a daze. The sunny view made me feel better. Yes, I should forget about the dream.

I called the maid.

“I’m going to the office again today; please get ready.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I bring you tea or coffee before your meal?”

“Coffee, please, but who brought me to the bedroom yesterday?”

I think I slept on my stomach for a while in the chamber, but I don’t remember getting back to my feet. Perhaps the knight had a hard time.

The maid glanced at me and opened her mouth.

“It’s... His Majesty the Emperor.”

“...His Majesty?”

“Carried? Not even carried?

“Was I that sleepy?”

“No, it was more like His Majesty was stirring to wake you up. He gently laid you down and then went out.”

“Eh? Eh, I see. You’re out. Get some coffee, please.”

“Yes, sir. Your Majesty.”

The maid bowed politely and left. I slid off the bed and went to the dressing table. In the mirror, I saw myself blushing bright red.

“...Embarrassing.”

I couldn’t imagine it. Leto had come all this way with me in his arms.

Why would he do that? He wasn’t drunk. He would have gotten up right away if I had woken him.

Maybe he slept face-down on his desk. That’s not exactly the way an empress should behave, so why don’t you embarrass yourself?

Or maybe it’s an act. He must have had his political reasons.

Whatever it was, it was intentional. Maybe he did it because he liked me.

I felt a little lighter after organizing my thoughts. After eating and getting ready, I headed to my office.

I had just turned the corner in the hallway. There was a group of men gathered in front of the office, and Leto was the first one I saw, standing about a head taller than the others.

He seemed to be discussing something with his secretaries. He seemed to be discussing something with his secretaries.

I thought to myself, “I don’t feel comfortable meeting him today. Maybe I’ll come back later. Leto and I made eye contact.

I pretended to be calm and gave him quick eye contact. He only glared at me.

“Your Majesty.”

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”

The secretaries noticed me and bowed politely. I smiled at them and said.

“Good morning. I see you all have a lot on your minds, so good luck with your work.”

I stood in front of the office, eager to get inside. The servant had just pulled the doorknob.

“Go, everyone. We’ll talk about the rest later.”

Leto waved off the secretaries and motioned to the doorkeeper. The servant scurried away.

Leto pushed the door, which was slightly ajar, open. With a click, the door closed.

“Do you have something to say?”

Instead of answering, he leaned against the door. So I couldn’t even open it. Why is he doing this?

“Are you uncomfortable with me attending to imperial business?”

“No. It’s not uncomfortable. On the contrary, it’s wonderful.”

“Really?”

Inwardly, I was pleased. I’m quite vulnerable to this kind of recognition.

“Well, then you’ll have to move out of the way of the door so I can continue my great work.”

“I know, but I need to talk to you first.”

He said it with a cold smile.

“I’m not a fan of unfocused people.”