~TMPM 03~

Chapter 03

I quickly fixed my hair and climbed into the carriage where Cassian was waiting.

Seeing me like that, he smirked, which somehow annoyed me even more.

Even if it hadn’t been for Cassian’s behavior, there was no way I could be in a good mood today.

‘We’re going to a place I really don’t want to go.’

Cassian Arteze was an utterly unpleasant man with absolutely no redeeming qualities—but there was at least one small point that made him somewhat tolerable.

At the very least, he judged people for what they were.

To Cassian, it seemed that the only thing that mattered was whether a person was useful to him or not.

So the only thing important to him was whether I could do my job well.

The fact that I came from a poor baron family buried in debt, or that I hadn’t even attended a debutante ball—none of that was important enough to even cause a ripple in his thinking.

‘But the place we’re going now…’

A deep sigh escaped me without realizing.

At the sound, Cassian, who had been flipping through documents busily inside the carriage, glanced at me before casually returning his gaze to the papers.

“Open that.”

“…Pardon?”

“We’re here. Don’t dawdle.”

After throwing out that cryptic remark, he got off first without even waiting for me.

Thinking I needed to hurry, I diligently opened the box Cassian had pointed at.

He had the temperament of a tyrant who absolutely hated it when people didn’t immediately follow his orders.

The box was about the size to hold documents, so I assumed it was additional paperwork and opened it.

‘…What is this?’

Some new form of harassment?

Inside the box was a neatly designed hair ornament.

And not just any ornament—it perfectly matched my usual hairstyle.

He wanted me to wear it, obviously. That must be it…

The moment I saw the ornament, my hands began trembling.

Just a few months ago, I had been forced to study all the luxury goods circulating in the capital like crazy.

‘Because we had to confiscate assets from people who dodged taxes and pretended to be broke.’

And this hair ornament was one of the top five most expensive items among the confiscated goods.

With a gloomy expression plastered all over my face, I put the ornament in my hair.

In a place already full of people who whispered whenever they saw me.

This man, Cassian Arteze, was planning to use my head as a declaration of war.

*

“Even though I told you not to dawdle.”

It’s only been one minute and twenty seconds.

I looked at Cassian with slight dissatisfaction, then quickly turned my head away. From above me, I heard a low chuckle.

“Not bad.”

Of course it isn’t—judging by all the piercing stares being directed at me already.

I sighed deeply inside.

This place was none other than the Office of Ceremonies, the institution that oversaw national and imperial ceremonies.

Proud old noble elders filled the main positions here, and they were people who absolutely loved formalities and aristocratic privilege.

How old-fashioned were they? Well, there still wasn’t a single female noble among the members of the Office of Ceremonies.

‘How shameless. She hasn’t even properly appeared in high society, yet she’s the Prince’s aide.’

‘The Saliche baron family truly has no sense of propriety. How could they let their adult daughter run around like this?’

‘Look at her, dressed like a commoner. Even if she’s from some insignificant family in a remote territory, wouldn’t it be better to just sell their title?’

The whispers I had heard over the past year whenever I encountered them because of Cassian’s work still lingered in my ears.

To those old-fashioned people, I was undoubtedly a protruding stone they wanted to hammer down.

And today, we were here to audit the Office of Ceremonies. There was no way their gazes would be kind.

Even in front of the Prince himself, they continued their so-called refined conversation.

“Just look at that! Wearing that expensive hair ornament she confiscated so violently, so proudly!”

“Hmph, is she trying to threaten us right now? A baron’s daughter?”

“Exactly! Why does His Highness tolerate such rude behavior? Or perhaps that shabby girl has corrupted His Highness’s thinking.”

“Indeed. Ever since Miss Saliche arrived, His Highness has done nothing but antagonize the nobles.”

Cassian Arteze was like this even before I arrived!

This was a truly unfair accusation.

Of course, the person with the thickest face in the empire—who wouldn’t lose to anyone in that category—

“Isn’t this fun, Rose?”

—spoke to me cheerfully, clearly enjoying himself.

“You should begin the work quickly, Your Highness.”

I answered him with only one thing in mind: I did not want my quitting time delayed even a little.

“As expected of you, Rose.”

Cassian laughed brightly at my answer and then turned toward the nobles of the Office of Ceremonies.

“Then let’s begin the audit.”

The nobles’ eyes sharpened like blades.

Ugh…

This was the kind of morning that made me crave an iced Americano with four extra shots.

*

Cassian Arteze, within twenty minutes of arriving, used the data he had prepared in advance to thoroughly expose their weaknesses and embezzlement cases. Then, without hesitation, he strode quickly toward the document archive.

“Even if you are His Highness the Prince, this is an excessive insult toward us!”

The elderly Director of the Office of Ceremonies shouted, his face turning red and blue from the disaster named Cassian whom he had met for the first time in his life.

“Open it.”

Cassian instructed a servant as if he hadn’t heard anything.

Technically, the distance was far enough that he could pretend he hadn’t heard.

“That cannot be allowed!”

The Director shouted desperately again.

From more than fifteen steps away from where Cassian stood.

Click, click, click.

Behind us, the hurried yet still dignified footsteps of the nobles approached.

“Open it.”

“I said you cannot!”

So now the servant stood in front of the archive door, pale and unable to decide what to do.

Cassian looked at the servant for a moment, then sighed and said to me,

“Rose, open it.”

“It would be faster if Your Highness opened it yourself.”

“That can’t be, Rose. You must open this archive. Only then will there be meaning in putting that on your head.”

“…Pardon?”

Cassian smiled unpleasantly at my question.

My heart pounded loudly.

Not from excitement.

But from the very certain feeling that he had prepared something troublesome for me again.

“I thought you’d be able to relieve some stress.”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

I stared at him in disbelief, and Cassian smiled beautifully and said,

“My lovely Miss Rose, are you doubting me right now?”

“…Pardon?”

Did he just attach a horrifying title to my name?

And here, of all places—the Office of Ceremonies!

You avoided dealing with these people too, that’s why you kept postponing this audit!

And now I have to take all the blame?!

Seeing my expression that clearly showed my emotions, Cassian chuckled and whispered kindly to me,

“Five times.”

“….”

“I’m asking whether you doubted that I would pay that much for making my precious Rose handle this troublesome matter.”

Click.

My actions were faster than my answer.

“L-Lady Rozelita Saliche! Are you daring to ignore the Director of the Office of Ceremonies?”

The Director shouted sharply.

So I—

BANG!

I threw open the archive door with all my strength, turned toward them, and responded with the polished business smile I had perfected under Cassian.

“I apologize, but as the Prince’s aide, I only follow His Highness’s orders.”

“Move aside immediately, Miss Saliche!”

“As of 9:45 AM today, this archive is subject to audit by the Second Prince’s Palace. Complaints will only be accepted through official documents. Please note that processing and response may take approximately five business days.”

“Are you not listening to me?!”

“From this moment, entry is prohibited without permission from either myself or His Highness the Second Prince, Director.”

Beyond my voice swallowed by the power of five times pay, Cassian entered the archive with a satisfied expression.

“W-What is this…! Such lawless and disrespectful behavior! This is tyranny! Miss Saliche, you are mistaken!”

I had heard this so many times by now that it didn’t scare me anymore.

It might be slightly annoying, but since becoming Cassian’s aide, I had been trained through all sorts of situations. I wasn’t afraid at all.

Maintaining my unwavering smile, I politely addressed the Director.

“Thank you for your concern, Director. If I ever come to regret my mistake, I will certainly visit you to ask for your guidance.”

After giving a proper ninety-degree bow, I followed Cassian inside the archive and slammed the door shut.

“You, you…! Devils of the Winter Palace!!”

The Director’s voice, completely devoid of dignity, echoed loudly from the other side of the door.