The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

Chapter 54: Returning to the Evaluation Department

After a month's absence, Ascal returned to the offices of the Evaluation Department.

And he began to write a report.

"As the Minister of the Evaluation Department, Ascal Erindale, having completed his mission, should have promptly returned to the Empire to report. However,"

Holding a quill pen, Ascal scratched his head.

Is this lacking in sincerity?

"To be honest, I have been quite exhausted recently. This incident can be seen as a sort of work-related accident, resulting from accumulated fatigue and dissatisfaction that had been present for some time."

This was perhaps too sincere.

Sending this report might just end up in receiving a super-fast delivery of a reprimand.

Eventually, Ascal crumpled up the report he was writing and threw it in the trash, then slumped into his Minister chair.

Fortunately, thanks to the envoy from the Kingdom of Kelli, who specifically thanked Ascal for resolving the incident smoothly, the matter did not escalate seriously.

All that was required was to submit the report along with a reassurance that such an incident would not occur again, and the punishment was limited to that.

'How can I write a report that will be well-received?'

Pondering this, Ascal found himself wandering the corridors of the Evaluation Department, eventually reaching the recreation room on the second floor.

He casually took off his shirt and lay down on the massage bed.

Then familiar hands began to knead his back.

By now, he didn’t even need to specify the intensity or area of the massage. Feeling like a regular, Ascal couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

'Indeed, the massage skills of the Cat tribe are unparalleled.'

Receiving a massage in the lounge during work hours.

It was a privilege only the Minister could enjoy.

"You’re not as tense as I thought. You don’t really need a massage. Did you go somewhere nice?"​Massaging Ascal's shoulders, Laika spoke with a hint of curiosity.

"I went to a hot spring for a bit."

"No wonder your skin is smooth and your muscles feel relaxed. You don’t really need a massage then."

"Is that so? But please, continue massaging just a bit more."

Because it's time to play hooky.

"Then, I'll show you the Cat tribe's secret technique, the Fire Stone."

Fire Stone?

Just the name sounded extraordinary.

What kind of technique could it be?

Laika turned off the lights and drew the curtains, making the area around the massage bed dark.

Then he brought some small stones and blew on them. Flames burst forth from his mouth.

'Is this an assassination attempt!'

Ascal was startled.

But the flames didn't touch him; they ignited the specially treated stones, which began to glow brightly.

"I will place these stones on your back, Minister."

"They look hot, are they safe?"

"They're specially treated and not as hot as they appear."

True to Laika's words, the stones were warm, soothingly heating his back, making his body feel drowsy.

Sleepiness crept in.

"Finally, we have a chance to be alone."

Laika's eyes sharpened. He raised his hand.

And then clenched his fist, covering it with the other hand. It was a gesture of gratitude passed down in the Cat tribe.

"I've always wanted to express my gratitude to you, Minister. Not just for saving me, but also for helping the Cat tribe, who were once looked down upon, to walk the streets with dignity."​The world the cat tribe dreamed of.

It wasn't something difficult.

Just the simple acts of walking the streets like others, buying food, and singing songs.

These easy things were exceedingly hard for the Cat tribe.

"Thanks to the Minister, the Cat tribe can now live just like everyone else, without hiding who they are. A debt of gratitude we can never fully repay."

Ascal was already in a deep sleep.

Laika bowed his head once more and quietly left, allowing Ascal to rest comfortably.

****

‘That was a good nap.’

Ascal woke up from his nap feeling refreshed and got out of the bed with a clear mind.

Staff members of the Evaluation Department were starting to come into the recreation room.

‘Is it that time already?’

He had to submit his report today.

Ascal hurried to his office.

Sitting at his desk, he took up his quill pen and began to write the report with newfound inspiration from his nap.

‘Just write it as it is.’

****

[ A lot has happened.

While investigating the disappearance case in the Kingdom of Kelli, I encountered a bear at the hot springs. After we exchanged greetings, the bear seemed satisfied and left.

The culprits behind the disappearance were in fact singing sirens. They were testing people to find their queen, kidnapping those who failed, and using them as servants.

Then, Lady Seri Lavione, with her exceptional singing talent, amazed the sirens and became their queen.

Under the orders of Queen Seri Lavione, everyone was safely returned home, and the case was resolved. However, I was drawn by an inexplicable energy and stayed in the Kingdom of Kelli for a long time.

Then, my father Arthur Debrue, the head of the Imperial Special Forces, came to fetch me. ]

"The report is perfect now. Just stating the facts as they are, anyone could understand it at a glance."

Now, adding words of regret, and thanks to His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would make it a flawless report.

Ascal sent the report to the higher-ups, pleased with his writing skills.

...

'Don't write false reports.' they say.

"…It's unjust."

The next day, the report was rejected and returned to Ascal.

Faced with a blank page once more, Ascal massaged his forehead in frustration, then glanced at Lia, who was quietly working.

"Lia. I've rewritten the report. What do you think?"

But Lia's reaction was somewhat odd.

"You would know better, Minister."

"Um, still, as my aide, I'd like you to review it."

"It seems fine. Will you submit it as is?"

Someone who had worked with her for a long time could sense it.

The subtle chill in Lia's tone now.

'Come to think of it, her attitude has been strangely different since I returned to the Evaluation Department.'

As if she was upset with him.

That couldn't be.

The perfect superhuman, later known as the Ice Princess, the Empire's Third Princess Yulia Barba, upset with someone like him?

"Could you make some tea?"

"I'm quite busy right now. Perhaps you should make it yourself."

Even Ascal could tell.

The slightly curt tone. The gaze that wouldn’t meet his.

Lia was upset.

"I'm sorry. I was away for a month, and your workload must have increased. You did a great job while I was gone."

"…Is that all?"

Ascal was taken aback.

What else could there be?​Deep down, Ascal felt a sense of guilt. As the head of an organization, his month-long absence without notice naturally meant his assistant would suffer.

"Haa…"

Watching Lia ignore him again, Ascal was plunged into deep thought.

'Ah, whatever. It'll probably resolve itself over time.'

But Ascal overlooked something crucial.

There are those whose anger dissipates with time, and those who need it to be actively resolved. Lia was the latter.

****

"Her Highness, the Third Princess Yulia Barba, is coming to inspect the Evaluation Department!"

Could she even inspect her own house?

Ascal wondered, looking at Lia's empty seat.

"It's a big problem. Her Highness is quite upset. She's disappointed with the increasingly complicated communication methods between the Evaluation Department's divisions, the outdated lunch culture, and especially with your lax work attitude, Minister."

"But she's not even our staff. How does she know these things?"

"…Maybe Her Highness has some sort of supernatural power?"

"…Which department are you from?"

"Department 4."

"I thought so."

"?!"

Ascal dismissed the Department 4 official and stood up.

Now that Lia was revealed to be Princess Yulia Barba, he had to treat her with the utmost respect.

Recently, Ascal had become a count in addition to being a minister, which gave him at least the minimal qualifications to approach Yulia.

- 'Visiting the Evaluation Department without an appointment. Even for a princess, it's somewhat displeasing.'

- 'Hmm…'

Years later.

- 'Ascal Erindale, the criminal, lift your head!'

- 'Please spare my life, Your Majesty!'

- 'Sentence this man to be paraded through the streets!'

- 'Your Majesty!!!'

It was not a pleasant thought.

Ascal decided to treat Yulia as respectfully as possible.

"Oh my. It's such an honor to host the wise Third Princess of the Empire at the Evaluation Department. Would Your Highness allow me, a mere servant of the Empire, the honor of introducing you to the Evaluation Department?"​Yulia looked down coldly at Ascal, who knelt on one knee before her.

Shrouded in a dark veil, Yulia's face was hidden, lending her an air of mystery.

"You speak too much."

"My apologies."

"Lead me to your office."

Yulia walked towards the office with a confident stride, as if a map was embedded in her mind, as though she had worked in the Evaluation Department for years.

"But… I should guide you."

"Close the door."

Leaving behind the bowing staff and servants, Yulia and Ascal were left alone in the office.

Yulia squinted her eyes.

"The air is stuffy. Let’s get some ventilation."

Upon opening the window, fresh air flowed into the office.

The office brightened.

Sitting assertively in the Minister chair, Yulia frowned at the desk.

"The desk of one who handles the nation's critical affairs should not be this cluttered. A clean desk is essential for efficient work…"

She began to tidy the desk herself, arranging it suitably.

The desk was now neat.

…What exactly did she come for?

"Hmm. Did your aide not come to work today?"

"Yes. She took a sick leave."

"Why do you think she did that?"

"I'm not sure."

"How can you claim to be a superior if you don’t even understand the state of your subordinates?"

"Please, would you care to enlighten me, Your Highness?"

Yulia squinted her eyes.

"How would you know the state of your subordinate?"

Ascal sighed inwardly at Yulia's straightforward challenge.

But he wasn’t about to just take it lying down.

"This is a problem."

"…?"

"I bought a honey-coated pie, a specialty from the Kingdom of Kelli, as a gift for my assistant who always works hard for me. But if it's not given today, I'll have to throw it away…"

In truth, it was a lie.

The honey-coated pie was simply bought from an imperial bakery.

Yet Ascal was confident this would hook Yulia.

- Parents feel a secret disappointment when their child returns from a school trip without a gift.

A lesson from a teacher in his past life.

Perhaps the reason Lia was upset was because he hadn’t brought her a gift.

"…That would indeed be unfortunate."

His guess was correct.

Underneath the veil, Yulia's demeanor seemed to change, a restless aura emanating from her.

"It’s such a delicious honey pie, it would pain my heart to throw it away."

Ascal gazed at the pie on the desk with an air of regret.

Yulia let out a soft sigh.

"…Give me a hair tie."

What, some kind of transformation item?

Ascal respectfully offered a spare hair tie from the aide’s desk.

Lia hesitated for a moment while trying to tie her own hair.

"Would you tie my hair for me?"

"If I may be so bold as to touch your royal person."

"You have my permission."​Ascal touched Yulia's hair. The soft strands slipped through his fingers.

"Is this okay?"

"Mm."

He tried to style it as Lia used to wear it, but he could only manage a rough approximation.

Lia looked in the mirror, chuckled, and removed her veil.

"What is this? A complete mess. I'll have to tie it again myself."

"I did try."

"Yes, it shows."

Lia retied her hair, a faint smile on her lips.

"Are you still upset?"

"A little less now."

Lia, with her hair neatly tied, sat back in the aide's chair.

Just as she was about to speak,

The office door burst open.

It was Sushia.

"Minister-nim! There's a real crisis!"

"What exaggerated trouble now?"

"I've been chosen as a candidate for Saintess!"

It was indeed a big deal.

»—ᴇɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ—«

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