Chapter 47: Minister's Inauguration Ceremony
Late at night,
Lia was alone in her office, dealing with the remaining work.
She was checking the formal attire for the minister's inauguration ceremony and reviewing the inauguration speech for any inadequacies.
The inauguration was to be held in the grand banquet hall of the Imperial Palace. Since it would be attended mostly by central nobles, high-ranking officials, and royalty, extra care was needed.
“This man, really... What would he do without me?”
A small sigh escaped Lia's lips as she twirled her pen. Sometimes, 'this man' was surprisingly irresponsible, like attending a dinner party until late when the inauguration ceremony was just around the corner.
Stretching her weary body, Lia reassured herself. After all, he was inherently diligent, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
And then, it actually happened.
****
His lips were seized in an instant.
Ascal saw it.
The disheveled hair, the breathless mess, yet the face of the girl looked happier than anyone else.
With a faint smile,
The girl, always scheming and trying to be several steps ahead, was unguarded just for this moment.
She was simply savoring this moment, trying to prolong it.
Her small lips moved soundlessly.
'Once more?'
“Kyaa! The minister has a lover!”
Startled by Sushia's shrill voice, Ascal snapped back to reality.
The girl before him was unrecognized by others, but she was the Second Princess Serena Barba.
If he didn’t handle this quickly, he would be on the front page of the Empire Magazine by tomorrow, causing a stir as the empire’s top playboy.
Ascal racked his brain.
“Shocked, everyone? That was the show I had prepared. This talent show is definitely mine to win today.”
He then sent a pleading look to Serena as if saying 'Please play along, I beg you.'
Serena smirked triumphantly, as if asking, ‘What’s in it for me if I do?’
Ascal, in a moment of indecision, saw Serena shivering slightly in the cold and offered his coat (finest quality, wool) to her. It was a bribe.
Surprised, Serena snugly wrapped the oversized coat around her.
Pleased, she said:
“I am Seri of the Breeze Theater Troupe. If you enjoyed today, please come to my next performance.”
Serena gracefully bowed like an actress, holding the hem of her skirt. Only then did the previously tense atmosphere relax, and applause filled the air.
"Wow, that really startled me. I thought it was real, not an act."
"Breeze Theater Troupe, you say? I must make sure to catch a show later."
The party once again became lively and boisterous.
Ascal let out a sigh of relief, having escaped the crisis.
Then, Serena approached Ascal and whispered in his ear.
"Please take care of me in the future, Prince of Lies."
And like an actress exiting the stage after a play, she disappeared down the stairs.
.
.
.
"Sorry, but may I borrow a carriage?"
Serena reappeared, climbing the stairs with her face flushed.
Even she couldn't venture back on that long journey through the cold night.
****
Ascal had a sound sleep.
He thought he would be restless, but as soon as he lay down in bed, he fell into a deep slumber.
Arriving at work in full condition for the first time in a while, Ascal noticed documents on his office desk.
- Pay attention to pronunciation here.
- Emphasize important words.
It was Lia's handwriting.
She had diligently marked and annotated the important parts of the inauguration speech, like taking notes for an exam.
Also, the previously cluttered desk was now neatly organized, with items sorted by use.
...Somehow, Ascal felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
“You’re early, Mr. Ascal.”
Lia, with her hair neatly tied, bowed in greeting.
“Good morning.”
“The custom attire for today’s minister inauguration has arrived. Would you like to try it on?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
The suit, already half-fitted, was luxurious at first glance, made of deep blue velvet with gold thread. It was so exquisite, he felt unworthy to wear it.
“Let me help you with your coat…”
Lia’s expression hardened as she approached.
“What's wrong?”
“There’s something on your shoulder.”
Lia brushed something off with the back of her hand.
Just then, familiar footsteps sounded, and the office door opened.
“Minister-nim! Yesterday was fun!”
It was Sushia.
Her face was the embodiment of excitement as she burst in with a bombshell statement.
“She is definitely your lover, right? From yesterday? You can’t fool Sushia, even if you fool others.”
“I told you, it was a staged play.”
“Lover? Play? What are you talking about?”
Lia expressed her doubts, and Sushia, true to her chatty nature, candidly spilled the entire backstory.
After listening silently for a while, Lia spoke softly.
“It seems I’ve been quite inadequate as Mr. Ascal’s Assistant lately. Even in a private setting, one can never predict what might happen, and I should have been more cautious.”
“No, you’ve been perfect.”
“From now on, whether it’s a drinking party or anything else, I’ll make sure to accompany you.”
“There’s really no need for that… but perhaps there is.”
Ascal hastily nodded his head upon seeing Lia about to let down her hair.
****
The much-awaited day of the inauguration ceremony.
A royal carriage had already arrived in front of Ascal’s new, more spacious house—a reward for his recent pay raise. Ascal felt a chill, realizing that now they knew his address naturally.
Lia was inside the carriage.
Shouldn’t she be at the palace by now, preparing for the inauguration as a princess?
“Please get in quickly.”
“Alright.”
Ascal boarded the carriage. The royal carriage, with its plush comfort, was indeed exceptional.
Lia sighed and said,
“I’m really worried about leaving you alone, Mr. Ascal, but due to circumstances, I’ll have to get off at the entrance.”
“Because you need to let down your hair?”
“Shall I do it right here?”
“It was just a joke.”
Despite the busy time of day, the carriage moved smoothly along the main road, unhindered. This was because people had been cleared in advance for the big event. Such was the power of authority.
Even the usually heavily guarded road to the palace opened up easily for the carriage, recognizing the royal emblem as if it were a high-speed pass.
“Please read over the inauguration speech one last time, stand straight, and always look straight ahead.”
“Understood.”
Upon reaching the palace entrance, Lia was the first to step out of the carriage. She kept looking back at Ascal, seemingly reluctant to leave.
At that moment, a carriage running alongside Ascal's caught his attention.
It bore the same royal emblem.
Ascal caught a glimpse of Bernstein through the carriage window.
- ‘Save me.’
- ‘What do you mean save? I’ve been dragged here too.’
This time, there were two newly appointed ministers. Rather than having separate ceremonies, which even for a wealthy empire seemed excessive, a joint inauguration was decided upon.
This meant less attention was focused solely on Ascal.
Having a comrade to share the burden with was indeed a good thing.
“Please come this way, Minister.”
Upon disembarking from the carriage, a royal attendant was ready to guide Ascal.
Following the attendant, Ascal completed his final checks in the waiting room and then headed toward the banquet hall.
As he stepped onto the red carpet, loud trumpet sounds began to play.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Nobles of high esteem applauded for Ascal, a gesture of their respect.
It was a moment that truly made him feel like a minister.
“Oh, our Minister! The hidden dragon of the Empire has arrived!”
At the top of the stairs, the Emperor, who was frail and seated in a luxurious chair, and the Crown Prince, who would conduct the ceremony, were waiting.
The Emperor's cough was visible. Once imposing among his advisors, he now looked diminished, his shoulders slumped, resembling an aged patriarch dependent on his children’s whims.
‘He seems like a patriarch who lost his economic power and now depends on his children after retirement…’
Ascal ascended the stairs, first paying his respects to the Emperor.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Cough, With a person like you, cough, the Empire is indeed fortunate.”
The Crown Prince covertly glanced at the Emperor and then spoke.
"Your Majesty, if you're feeling unwell, perhaps it would be best to retire to your chambers? After all, health is paramount."
His words could be mistaken for those of a dutiful son concerned for his father, but combined with his expression and gestures, the message was different: ‘The old man should retire to a warm room for a nap and leave the matters here to me.’
"Cough, I am still, cough, well enough."
Listening to the cough, it seemed the Emperor’s condition wasn’t too bad today.
"It's time to make way for the future of the Empire."
The time had come.
Ascal recited the inauguration speech prepared by Lia in front of the magical amplifier. The content was safe and neat overall.
.
.
.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
After Bernstein's speech, the Crown Prince brought something personally. It was the ministerial badge.
Each minister in the Empire had a different badge, usually in the shape of an animal. For example, the newly formed Development and Innovation Ministry had a monkey, and Ascal's was a dragon.
‘Isn’t that a bit much?’
The Crown Prince said,
“I saw a dragon in my dreams telling me. Your symbol, that is, the badge for the Minister of Evaluation, must be a dragon.”
“...”
Ascal was at a loss for words.
After the badge presentation and the Crown Prince's closing remarks, the atmosphere in the banquet hall changed. The formal event was over, and it was time for everyone to enjoy themselves.
As the servants were about to bring wine and food, Ascal suddenly removed the badge pinned to his chest.
“What’s going on?”
It was a sudden move.
The Crown Prince’s voice held a note of panic.
In a royal event like this, every gesture carried a political nuance. Ascal’s action could be interpreted as ‘I refuse the ministerial position.’
Then, Ascal holding the badge in his palm, approached the Crown Prince.
“Surely not, Ascal, you!”
The Crown Prince's face brightened suddenly.
Removing the badge could mean rejecting the ministerial position, but offering it to someone else signified pledging loyalty to them.
And doing so in front of many nobles and royals was an undeniable oath of allegiance.
After all the times he frequented the Ministry of Evaluation, the Crown Prince felt his efforts were finally being rewarded.
“Of course, your loyalty is nothing to be ashamed of...”
“Your Majesty. Please accept my badge.”
“?”
Ascal bowed.
His recipient was the Emperor, now just a puppet without his conniving advisors, coughing in his chair.
But that was no issue.
If there were no treacherous advisors, he shall become one.
Ascal offered his badge to the Emperor.
A single tear rolled down the Emperor’s cheek.
