FERH 20

Chapter 20

“You’re saying this isn’t tax evasion?”

Roihem burst into a roar.

“To dare lie even in the presence of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!”

He wasn’t mentioning the Emperor because, once again, the Emperor had skipped the state council meeting today.

Roihem produced part of a copied ledger he’d brought with him.

“Then explain this!”

It was something he had received from Banesha.

“Here, here, and here. As you can see, every year there are repeated records of purchasing supplies—wheat among them—in quantities the ducal household could not possibly use. But when I questioned a servant who worked at the Vincenheim estate, he claimed he never once saw such large amounts of supplies entering the estate!”

He slapped the copy down with a smack and swept his eyes across the room.

“What do you think this means?”

Though he posed the question, he wasn’t actually waiting for an answer.

Naturally, he didn’t drag it out either.

“It’s obvious! They’ve been hiding funds of this amount every single year, secretly gifting it to their children!”

The Empire imposed very high inheritance and gift taxes.

Some even argued that taxing money already taxed as income amounted to double taxation.

Either way, as imperial citizens, people were required to pay it—but many begrudged the cost and resorted to every trick they could to avoid it.

And the method Roihem described was one of the common ones.

“…”

As Duke Vincenheim endured the stares and the tense air, biting down on his lower lip—

“That is an incorrect assumption,” Rianel said.

“Those supplies were indeed purchased by House Vincenheim.”

“What, purchased? And what did they do with them? Resell them for profit?”

“They donated them regularly to five orphanages and three infirmaries.”

Roihem froze mid-scoff.

The moment Rianel saw the supposed evidence of Vincenheim’s tax evasion, she had naturally expected this exact line of attack.

So she had investigated the details thoroughly and prepared supporting evidence for rebuttal.

“If you check the materials ledgers of those institutions, you will find records of an anonymous donor around the same periods.”

“…!”

Trying to expose House Vincenheim’s secret misdeeds had instead publicized their good deeds. Roihem bit hard on his lip, speechless. He couldn’t believe he’d been humiliated in front of this many people.

‘Banesha’s been in the ducal house all this time—how did she not even know this?’

That was Roihem’s private frustration.

To most others, the revelation that such a major noble house had been donating in secret inspired surprise and admiration.

The Foreign Minister asked,

“Why didn’t you request donation receipts?”

“Well…”

Rianel answered in place of the hesitating duke.

“It was the wish of the late duchess. She feared the meaning of the donations would be tarnished if they sought tax deductions, turning it into a transaction for benefits. She left a will to that effect.”

She had also wished that those helped by the family would not feel indebted.

“But doesn’t revealing all this here today go against her wishes?”

“What are you talking about? If they stay silent, they’ll be labeled tax evaders! Of course they had to speak up!”

Some voiced different opinions, but—

“To think the Prime Minister has been donating every year. Truly a pillar of the Empire.”

“I find it romantic, actually. Keeping the will of the woman he loved all these years. What a romanticist.”

Most comments were now praising House Vincenheim.

Meanwhile, Wilbrin was delighted.

“Some people steal from funds meant to build medical clinics, stuffing the money into their own pockets, while others donate in secret. The world certainly has all kinds.”

The Treasury staff—who fell into the “former”—glared at her, but she was unbothered.

What! Who told them to dodge taxes?

“Then does this resolve the matter?”

The Foreign Minister answered for the speechless Roihem.

“It does!”

Roihem squeezed his eyes shut, anticipating the disaster awaiting him.

“I thought you disliked the family’s affairs too much to ever look deeply into them.”

“….”

“Or that you would be ashamed and try to cover it up.”

“….”

“But you reached a conclusion far more admirable than I expected.”

After the state meeting ended—

Duke Vincenheim stopped Rianel as she was walking out with the other officials.

Rianel had intended to ignore anything he said, but eventually turned her body toward him.

Emotionless eyes met his.

“Why should I hide it?”

To Rianel, this simply meant I am innocent regardless of what happens to the household. But the duke heard something entirely different.

‘This child truly cared for the family.’

You believed in our family’s innocence.

The duke’s eyes grew damp.

“Well done.”

“….”

“And thank you… for protecting Lisa’s honor.”

Rianel wasn’t so heartless as to stomp out another’s emotional moment.

“It was nothing. Is that all you wished to say?”

Nor was she generous enough to let someone waste her time.

“Why are you rushing? There’s no urgent reason to leave.”

“I don’t want anyone seeing us like this.”

“Why would a warm conversation between father and daughter be a problem?”

“Privately we are family, but professionally we have a superior–subordinate relationship. I am concerned people will misinterpret this as inappropriate collusion, and I could receive a pay reduction.”

She already lived in a district with expensive rent. Her meager salary could not afford further cuts.

The duke was so dumbfounded he pressed his lips into a thin line.

“…I can just take measures to ensure that doesn’t happen!”

“And taking such measures would be called abuse of authority. A violation of public service law.”

The duke rubbed his throbbing forehead and sighed.

“I’ve wondered before, but why are you so fixated on money? Didn’t I send you living expenses every month?”

“You did?”

“Well, of course I—…”

The duke stopped mid-retort.

…Wait.

“Wow, I’ve never seen tax refunds this huge in my life.”

The Special Taxation Bureau staff clicked their tongues in amazement as they reviewed the Vincenheim ledgers.

The duke had not applied for any deductions beyond donation exemptions—and even those he hadn’t claimed. He had simply paid the full tax rate every year.

And this had gone on for many years, meaning the refund due to him was enormous.

“So how much do we need to return?”

“About this much?”

Til wrote down the calculated amount.

“This is insane, seriously.”

The taxation officers swore without even trying to hold it back.

Processing refunds wasn’t their job—it belonged to the Treasury.

But since the entire Treasury Department had been officially disciplined, the task now fell to others. The Empress Dowager’s wrath had been that immense.

‘There wasn’t a single soul in the Treasury who hadn’t dodged taxes.’

Not that other departments were spotless, but the Treasury’s corruption was on a different scale entirely.

Everyone in the Treasury, including the Minister, had been suspended.

“Suspension” in name only—it meant don’t resign, but stay put until the investigation concludes, after which additional punishment will follow.

‘Serves them right.’

‘All that bragging about their wealth—turns out it was tax-evaded money.’

Knowing their flaunted wealth had come from evasion made it less enviable.

There were side effects, though.

With an entire department frozen, the remaining departments had to pick up their workload.

Not that the Special Taxation Bureau cared—they’d happily add fuel to the Treasury’s bonfire if asked.

“Oh, the rookie’s here.”

“You came early. I thought you’d take longer.”

“Weren’t you talking with your father?”

“There was a reason. Anyway, what are you looking at?”

“I mean… I don’t even know. Here, take a look.”

Til sighed and stepped aside so Rianel could see. Mel watched her expression nervously.

“At least it’s not something bad this time…”

“I know.”

Rianel was expressionless as always—no one could read her thoughts, but she didn’t seem upset.

“But do we even have the budget to refund this?”

“Don’t worry. The Treasury fools will pay for it.”

Til spoke, and Wilbrin nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Thinking about it… His Majesty the Emperor really is amazing.”

“…?”

Only Rianel, who disliked the Emperor, twisted her lips silently.

“I mean, he never attends state meetings, but he somehow finds talents like the Prime Minister and puts them in key positions.”

“True. That’s a ruler’s job—recognizing talent and placing it where it belongs.”

Rianel could not hold back.

“With respect, that Prime Minister was appointed by the former Empress.”

“Oh, really?”

Just then, Asil entered the bureau and added,

“Yes, she was.”

He then turned to look at Rianel.

“How did you know that?”

“I am a civil servant in an institution founded by the former Empress. Therefore, I considered it natural to study Her Majesty’s achievements.”

“Impressive.”

“Damn, I almost bowed in the wrong direction.”

“Same here.”

The taxation officers were amazed.

Asil, who had been smiling with the same expression as them, slowly let his expression stiffen.

‘How did she know?’

The Emperor had repackaged all of the former Empress’s achievements as his own, so very few people knew the truth.

Even the Prime Minister herself didn’t know.

‘I’ll have to keep an eye on her.’

With that decision made—

A few days later, Asil summoned Rianel.

“Would you become my partner?”

“Could you explain how you reached that conclusion?”

Rianel was stunned.