Chapter 10: Having an Audience

‘I really don’t want to go there in such a disgraceful manner...’

As morning arrived, Ascal’s eyes opened reflexively. But he didn’t want to get up today, of all days. He wished to forever be one with his bed.

Because,

He happened to obtain the treasured sword of the Barba Empire at an antique auction, which consequently led him to be granted an audience with the Emperor.

‘An audience with the Emperor.’

Just thinking of that phrase made his body stiffen with tension. Although the current Emperor of the Empire was rumored to be decrepit, his power remained formidable.

Even the most successful officials could be dismissed with a single gesture of the Emperor.

In one word, he was a supreme being.

Therefore, Ascal carefully checked his attire, attentive to his surroundings. A single mistake in his clothing, even just one button, could escalate into an unforeseen situation.

Ascal, burdened with emotion, internalized his feelings and reluctantly groomed his hair as slowly as possible. But even that eventually reached its limit.

‘I really don’t want to go.’

He wished earnestly for a downpour so that the audience might be canceled.

Was there anyone more reluctant to go to work than he was right now?

.

.

.

.

There were...

‘Why are they acting this way?’

Upon arriving at Department 3′s office, Ascal was taken aback by the more somber atmosphere than usual.

“Ah, I wish I were a sea cucumber and just rest all day.”

Sushia who almost seemed like a slow snail, sluggishly dragging herself, hinting at some mischief from the previous night.

Well, Sushia always acted this way, so that was not too surprising, but the others weren’t their usual selves either.

“I want be a tree.”

Devon, who had lost a bet and got demoted from being the Head of Department 2 to just a staff member in Department 3, was sitting on a rocking chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He seemed deeply traumatized.

‘Alright, let’s chalk it up to these two being...well...’

But then,

There was something off about Lia too.

Rather than her overall demeanor, it was her attire that seemed odd.

She wore an eye patch on one eye, as if like a character from a light novel*.

Ascal stared intently at Lia.

Feeling his gaze, Lia responded.

“I’ve got an eye infection. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can accompany you to the audience with His Majesty the Emperor. If I were to spread the infection, it would be a disaster.”

At those words, an intuition struck Ascal.

Lia was lying. She wasn’t suffering from an eye infection; she just didn’t want to see her father, the emperor.

Whether it was to hide her true identity which might bring her disgrace or simply because she disliked her father,

It irked Ascal a bit.

If she didn’t want to go, she could have just been upfront about it. Why lie about an eye infection? The great Yulia?

Ascal decided to tease Lia a bit.

“That sounds worrisome. Let me have a look. Would you take off the eye patch?”

“I can’t. What if you catch the infection? It would be disastrous.”

“Just looking won’t spread it easily. Just take it off for a moment.”

“It’s risky.”

After some back-and-forth, Ascal played his trump card.

“Or is there perhaps… another reason you can’t take it off?”

​

After a moment’s hesitation, Lia ultimately sighed and declared her surrender.

“Alright. Please step back a bit.”

Lia removed her eye patch.

True to her words, her right eye was vividly red. It seemed that her claim of having an eye infection was not a lie.

‘Wait a minute.’

Ascal took a step closer.

“Manger-nim?”

A memory from his previous life flashed in his mind. When he didn’t want to go to school, he often feigned illness. By rubbing one eye with the back of his hand, he could make it red, pretending to have an eye infection.

And the color of that eye, and Lia’s eye, were exactly the same.

“Take care of yourself.”

However, Ascal didn’t press further.

Provoking a rat driven into a corner was disgraceful.

After all, Lia wasn’t strictly necessary for this audience with the emperor. Besides, if her true identity was revealed, it wouldn’t just be troublesome for Lia.

Pandora’s Box had to remain closed for now.

“Well then... I need a temporary assistant to accompany me.”

Ascal looked around the office.

The rest were either on business trips or lacked experience. Ultimately, suitable candidates were limited.

Ascal looked at Devon.

Having grown up in a renowned count family and being well-versed in the etiquettes of the upper class, plus with ample professional experience, Devon was a suitable candidate to serve as a temporary assistant.

Devon, who had been swaying in the rocking chair, stopped.

“So, you do need my help after all? I can’t deny assistance if you ask for it.”

“Sushia. Come along too.”

Sushia, who had been sprawled across the desk, stirred.

​

“......me?”

“Yes. You still have the sin of escaping from the sweet potato field, don’t you?”

“You’re mean.”

“I’ll be a cabbage*.”

​

Sushia abruptly stood up at the horrendous joke.

Having quickly readied herself, Sushia spoke coldly.

​

“I’ll follow, but please never make such a joke again.”

“……Understood.”

Ascal was slightly hurt.

.

.

.

.

There was a carriage.

​

Sushia’s eyes widened as she came outside when it was time for their appointment.

​

“Wow, this is indeed a royal carriage. No joke at all. From its size, just the decorations alone seem like it might be worth an entire house......”

​

If Ascal compare it to his previous life, the carriage occupied a position similar to a car.

So, Sushia’s admiration now was akin to admiring an expensive car.

“Are you Ascal Debrue?”

The coachman, dressed in traditional attire, bowed his head. The two followed the coachman into the carriage.

“The seats are incredibly plush.”

“Indeed, they are.”

“Manager-nim, when you get promoted to Rank 5, the Empire gives you a carriage, doesn’t it? It looks like you’ll reach Rank 5 soon. I’m jealous.”

“One can’t compare it to the royal carriages though.”

From across where the two were chatting, a presence was felt.

​

“Ahem.”

​

A middle-aged man with a mustache.

It was familiar face.

​

“......Main head, I mean Director-nim? What brings you here?”

“Of course, I have to accompany you, when you, my subordinate is being awarded, don’t I? The merit of my subordinate is also my merit.”

So, he came to reap the rewards.

In a way, it was the utmost typical mindset of an imperial official.

“I see.”

Ascal tried hard to respond calmly.

Because if he didn’t, he felt like he might burst into laughter.

​

‘Take the credit on my behalf? That’s the best news I’ve heard.’

​

His internal evaluation of the main head slightly increased.

​

“You. You’ve been getting too cocky these days.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve given you so many conveniences, and you didn’t even send a single gift. This is why young people these days are a problem. Even in my time......”

Comfortably riding with the royal coachman was what Ascal had in mind, but then the main head began to nag. His freshly elevated opinion plummeted instantly.

Ascal occasionally nodded, feigning attention to the lecture. About thirty minutes later, the main head, seemingly satisfied, changed the topic.

“By the way, Sushia, have you ever considered becoming my assistant? The conditions would be much better than working in Department 3.”

“Um... No thanks.”

It was an immediate refusal.

“What, why is that?”

“Well, Director-nim. It’s just that being around you stinks. Should I say it’s your middle-aged man smell, and I don’t like your mustache either.”

Sushia’s sharp words left the main head speechless, perhaps shocked.

This was possible because Sushia had a powerful background as the daughter of the duke. Even when berated, the main head, whose support was quite thin, couldn’t make a peep.

‘Sushia. Nice.’

Thanks to her, the carriage grew quiet, and Ascal was able to comfortably arrive at the royal palace.

The royal palace was undeniably immense at first sight. Despite talks of the empire being unstable, its durability was something not to be taken lightly due to the formidable resources it had accumulated.

And the royal palace was one of them.

“Are you Lord Ascal Debrue? We’ve been waiting for you. And who is this?”

“This is Sushia Senestia, who came as an attendant.”

“Ah, the young lady of the Senestia Duke’s family. Welcome.”

The stern-faced royal guard bowed. The name of the Senestia Duke’s family held weight even in the royal family.

“And the main head of the evaluation department, the Director Charis.”

“Oh... Director Caris is not on today’s invitation list.”

“He’s our boss, can you just let him in?”

“It shouldn’t be a big problem.”

Usually, by the time one became a Director, they tend to hold quite a bit of power, but the evaluation department, being in a weaker position, didn’t get treated very well. If it were a more powerful department like the Magic Department or the Enforcement Department, it would have been a free pass.

“Then please follow me to the reception room.”

If high-status individuals had a privilege, it was that they could make lower-status individuals wait as long as they wanted.

Regardless of the era, subordinates were always left waiting. This was no exception in the royal palace.

“When will we be able to see His Majesty the Emperor...”

“He is in an important meeting. You will be able to see him soon.”

This was the third time Ascal was hearing this.

They had already completed the mandatory checks like identity and outfit inspections a while ago. Only after Sushia had half-emptied the snacks in the reception room did the approval come through.

“Please, follow me.”

Ascal checked his attire one last time before facing the Emperor.

The large door opened, revealing the jade throne.

And there was the Emperor.

“The eldest son of the Baron Debrue... I thought you would become a military officer, but becoming an administrator, the world is indeed unpredictable.”

A voice laden with metallic harshness.

A health state that couldn’t even stand without assistance.

Yet, those piercing eyes, bursting with veins, were intently staring down at Ascal.

Kamalon Barba.

He was the cancer that ruined the empire.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

[TN: Light Novel: So, what I found after some research is that it’s a reference to a character named Rikka Takanashi from the light novel ‘Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions.’ And originally it was referred here with‘Black Dragon on Hand’ meme reference, which is a popular Korean meme from the anime of the same light novel in Korea.

I’ll be a cabbage: It’s like a fun wordplay. Someone says ‘너무해,’ which kinda means ‘You’re mean’ but if you break it down to ‘너’ + ‘무해,’ it turns into ‘You become a radish’ (‘무’ means radish). So just for laughs and to keep the joke rolling, the response is ‘난 배추할게,’ meaning ‘I’ll be a cabbage,’ since cabbages and radishes are kinda related in a fun, imaginary family way. It’s like a silly, playful chat they’re having using puns. 

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