FERH 06

Chapter 06

When Lianel expressed discomfort about the Emperor’s presence, Ashil elaborated further.

It had been quite some time since the Emperor lost interest in politics and stopped attending government meetings.
Recently, it was the Empress Dowager who presided over such affairs.

However, the Empress Dowager wasn’t pleased either.
She had openly shown her disapproval of Lianel multiple times, citing her commoner background.

‘Better than the Emperor, but… I still can’t stand her.’

If you can’t enjoy it—
the only choice is to avoid it as best you can.

Lianel tried to delay her work through legitimate means…

“It wouldn’t be proper for someone as low-ranked as me to write a report ahead of my seniors.”
“That rigid hierarchy is exactly the kind of outdated, inefficient culture we need to change.”

Then Wilbrin chimed in.

“He’s right. And since the Director has already promised her support, I don’t see the problem.”

“…”

No matter where she turned, everyone refused to take the job. That’s when Lianel realized:

‘They just don’t want to work.’

No one likes working, sure—but the people at the Special Taxation Bureau took laziness to a whole new level.
They hated standing out and had zero ambition to build up achievements.

It was almost suspicious—like someone had deliberately gathered only people like that to fill the department.

‘Guess I have no choice.’

There was only one way.

“The Empress hides her abilities.”

Lianel recalled a familiar phrase and steeled her resolve.

Since she was already rumored to be incompetent, she couldn’t suddenly display the skills she’d gained through years of experience.
Especially not in a report that would reach the government council.

‘If I add as much fluff as possible and make the phrasing clumsy…’
Then she’d look like a hardworking beginner, wouldn’t she?

With that, Lianel drafted the report. But as she reviewed it, she got a new idea for the title:

“The Empress (roughly) conceals her talents.”

“…”

This level of writing was too good—it was beyond what an inexperienced employee could produce.
If she submitted it, she’d only draw suspicion.

‘Guess I’ll have to rewrite it.’

Still, it was too good to throw away. So she sealed it away for now.

After the civil servants’ banquet, the once “clever and resourceful” image of Cedric crashed to the ground.

“You swore it was foolproof! That no one would find out—and look at this mess!”

Minister of Finance Royhem hurled a stack of papers straight at Cedric.
Cedric lowered his head as the documents scattered across the floor.

“Do you even know how many people got caught up in this? If this gets out…”

Unable to contain his agitation, Royhem paced the office.

After the banquet, the Ministry of Finance had become the empire’s laughingstock.

[“Of course it’s the Ministry of Finance. Their tax evasion methods are just as creative as their accounting!”]

People who had always resented the ministry gleefully spread rumors from that night.

It didn’t help that Cedric had shared his tax evasion “methods” with his colleagues.
He’d even written paperwork and handled administrative steps for them—
to ensure that they were all accomplices who couldn’t betray him.

Since Lianel hadn’t filed an official accusation, there hadn’t been a full investigation yet.
But if Cedric’s involvement were to be exposed…

It wouldn’t stop at him alone.
Tax scandals always led to sweeping audits.

Luckily for Royhem, there was an easy way out.

“Just say it was a clerical error by one junior officer. Pin it on him and close the case.”

And that “junior officer” was most likely going to be Cedric.

‘He said it was a brilliant plan—and dragged me and my brother-in-law into it—now he’s ready to dump me?’

Cedric swallowed his curses.
He knew that one wrong word could make him the scapegoat for everything.

“Th-there’s a way out, Minister!”
“A way out? What way?”

Royhem sighed, glaring down at him.

“We can refer Lianel and the Special Taxation Bureau to the disciplinary committee.
Once their work is suspended, we can quietly retrieve whatever evidence she’s collected.”

After all, Lianel had only raised suspicions of tax evasion.
They could simply claim there had been no wrongdoing.

“…”

But before Royhem and Cedric could act, the plan fell apart.
Director Novantium and even the Prime Minister, Duke Vinzenheim, intervened, calling the disciplinary action unjust.

‘Did he step in because his daughter’s involved? But why now, after all this time?’

With no other option, Cedric decided to take matters into his own hands—
by breaking into the Special Taxation Bureau illegally.

Late at night, long after everyone had gone home,
Cedric was rummaging through the bureau’s offices.

‘Damn it, where did she hide the evidence?’

No matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find any of Lianel’s materials.

‘Did she move them somewhere else?’

Then, while rechecking her desk, he found a stack of papers hidden deep in a drawer.
Not what he was looking for—but even more extraordinary.

‘How did someone like Lianel write something like this?’

Both the form and the content were impeccable—far beyond what Cedric could ever produce.

“Because the special taxes collected by the Special Taxation Bureau are often reassigned to other departments—resulting in excessive or misused budgets—we propose a plan to ensure the efficient use of tax funds…”

The report concluded by requesting that the Special Taxation Bureau be granted direct authority over the allocation of special tax revenues.

The report wasn’t just well written—it was the kind of proposal higher-ups would love.

‘It’s about “efficiently” managing hidden budgets. And it doesn’t cost them extra money.’

Cedric considered burning it—but changed his mind.

‘If I just change “Special Taxation Bureau” to “Ministry of Finance” and put my own name on it…’

Then not only would the Ministry gain unprecedented control over the empire’s budget—
he might even get promoted.

‘And with a higher position, I won’t have to worry about being used and discarded.’

Better yet, he could use the opportunity to brand the Special Taxation Bureau as an unnecessary, unproductive department—
and have it dismantled.

‘That would get rid of that annoying Lianel once and for all.’

It was the perfect plan.

Of course, Lianel could claim in the council meeting that the report was hers,
but…

‘Who’d believe her?’

Everyone in the bureau knew she was incompetent.
They’d just think she was trying to smear her former mentor.

So Cedric submitted the report, changing only a few words and sentences.

But the council meeting went in exactly the opposite direction of what he expected.

“…For these reasons, I propose consolidating budget management under the Ministry of Finance.”

When Cedric finished, the Minister of Administrative Affairs spoke up, arms crossed.

“May I ask—does the Ministry of Finance intend to seize full control over all departmental budgets with this proposal?”

“W-what? No, I only meant to suggest a review—”

Ashil, the director of the Special Taxation Bureau, interjected.

“But right here, it says ‘request for comprehensive review.’
Wouldn’t that wording imply the Ministry wants to manage all departments’ budgets directly?”

Everyone turned to stare at Cedric.
He hastily grabbed the report and checked it.

They were right.

His back grew damp with sweat.
He’d only changed a few words to sound more “assertive,” but it had completely altered the meaning.

Looking around in desperation, Cedric’s gaze met Lianel’s.
He glared at her, defensive.

‘What are you looking at?’

But when Lianel requested to speak, his heart dropped.

‘Don’t tell me she’s going to expose me for stealing her report—’

“May I ask how you determined that there were surplus funds in other departments?
The basis seems weak. Do you have supporting data prepared?”

Lianel’s question struck harder than any accusation.

Cedric fumbled through his report.
Others began flipping through their copies as well.

Nothing.

The instant everyone realized that—

“You mean to tell us you included unverified data in a report the Empress Dowager herself will read?”

The Prime Minister pounced, while the Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure.

“There’s an easy way to confirm the truth,” Lianel said calmly.
“Why not start by checking whether the Ministry of Finance has surplus funds?
If that’s proven, then we can investigate the other departments afterward.”

In other words: If you’re so confident, audit yourself first.

The Minister of Administrative Affairs nodded.
Then others followed.

“If the Ministry leads by example, that sounds fair.”
“Agreed.”
“Indeed.”

Sweat dripped down Cedric’s temple.
Unlike previous reviews, this time it was an official audit.
Every tiny irregularity would surface.

Including his own embezzlement.

‘No… no!’

Only then did Cedric realize the magnitude of what he’d done.
The color drained completely from his face.