Chapter 56
Reorganizing the Chancellor’s Office
“Crazy….”
I spun around at once and headed straight for the third floor, to the Ministry of Finance.
How many times was this now? My steps quickened on their own.
I’d barely gotten used to being a First-Class Secretary, and already I was being promoted again. I thought I could finally enjoy a normal work life, but instead, the back of my head was throbbing all over again. I had no idea what the Minister of Finance was thinking.
Knock, knock.
I passed by the Ministry staff who all knew my face well, and stopped in front of his office.
“Come in.”
The minister stood up with a bright smile the moment he saw me. I seriously questioned whether he had any sense of empathy at all.
“It seems you’re hoping I get ostracized in the Chancellor’s Office.”
I wasn’t in the mood for polite greetings, so I went straight to the point. Judging from his expression, he already knew why I was there. He gestured toward a seat with an awkward look.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Calm down.”
That only made the lines on my temples tighten into a cross.
“Do you know what just happened? The central government bulletin just announced I’ve been appointed Second-Class Secretary! It hasn’t even been a few months since I was promoted! You know how things were for me after that promotion!”
His attitude—like none of this was his business—only made my anger rise.
“I didn’t do it.”
“Then who did?!”
“His Majesty the Emperor.”
“…Huh?”
I was so stunned I couldn’t breathe.
“How is that possible? I basically tied up the Crown Prince’s hands and feet. If anything, he should hate me, not promote me.”
Even if the Imperial Family cared about their public image, blood was blood. After toppling Huhwang-mong this time, I had completely given up on promotions. I figured it would be fortunate if I didn’t get fired.
“Well… I told His Majesty that you were an oblivious newcomer, unaware of the Crown Prince’s backing, and that your outstanding loyalty to the Empire made you uncover this case. The Chief Justice agreed with the report.”
“…What? Why…?”
“Why? Because I’m your superior. You did the right thing—at the very least, I have to protect you. What, did you expect me to report, ‘She knew full well the Crown Prince was behind it, but she dug into the Chancellor’s Office corruption anyway and dragged up a massive mess just to slap him in the face’?”
“……”
“Besides, I’ve been feeling guilty for not getting rid of that Dorian brat earlier.”
“…I didn’t know.”
I’d assumed he was a selfish man who only thought of himself. Turns out he was just mildly selfish—an average person.
“In any case, His Majesty issued the promotion himself, saying you did well.”
“Well… in that case. Haah…”
My shoulders sagged as I let out a heavy sigh. It wasn’t like I could march to the Emperor and demand an explanation. My life was too precious for that kind of foolishness.
I suddenly felt drained. I started to rise, but the minister motioned for me to sit again.
“Why?”
“Is it my imagination, or are you becoming less and less formal with me?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been in the Chancellor’s Office for less than a year thanks to your recommendation, but so much has happened that I think I might be holding a bit of a grudge.”
“Haha… Well, I made sure everyone understood the reason for your promotion.”
“Yes…”
Everyone would nod on the surface, but I knew exactly what would be said behind my back. And explaining all that to him would be exhausting.
“For the time being, finding a proper new Chancellor may take more time. After something like this, we need someone capable of reorganizing the department—but we can’t just pick anyone hastily. Make sure you give Lucius plenty of support.”
Since I actually got along well with Lucius, I readily agreed. Anyone would be better than Huhwang-mong. The minister also briefed me on the punishment for the president of Linus Company and his cronies—including Huhwang-mong.
“When you think about how much worse the accident could’ve been, their punishment still feels lenient.”
Losing your family to an accident was grief enough—but due to shoddy construction? It was horrifying.
“Indeed. They deserve death. As for the Crown Prince—he’s confined to his residence for the time being. You won’t be running into him, not even by chance. And since all of his moles in the Chancellor’s Office are gone now, even more so.”
“He might try to plant new ones.”
“I’ll stop him. You don’t know this, but I’ve been doing everything in my power to prevent any of his loyalists from taking the Chancellor’s seat. That’s one reason the appointment is delayed.”
Seeing me clearly doubting him, the minister puffed himself up proudly—which he almost never did. Considering everything, having one of his people become Chancellor would be much better than another Crown Prince pawn.
“Sometime soon, let’s have dinner with the Chief Justice—just the three of us. A small celebration for wrapping up this whole mess.”
“…Understood.”
With nothing else to gain, I trudged back to the Chancellor’s Office. Even in my past life as a corporate employee, I’d never experienced something like this. I’d have to get a flashy promotion first to know what it felt like. I braced myself for the cold stares as I opened the office door.
Everyone was absorbed in their work. I quietly walked to my desk.
Depressing.
I thought everything had ended well, but no matter how much I tried to lift my spirits, my mood sank.
Maybe I should leave early.
Work life wasn’t just about the tasks—human relationships mattered, too. Even shallow but pleasant connections made day-to-day work smoother. But in a situation practically begging people to talk behind my back, even small tasks felt daunting.
Just when I thought I could finally talk to people comfortably again…
Now even asking a simple question felt difficult. It didn’t bother me when things had always been awkward—but after things had gotten better, backsliding hurt.
“First-Class Secretary Cornelia.”
Just as my mood sank to rock bottom, Lucius—now a First-Class Secretary—approached my desk.
“Yes?”
“Why are you sulking? You should be celebrating.”
“…What?”
For a moment, I thought I heard wrong. Before I could gather myself, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the center of the office.
“W–wait, senior, I didn’t say anything to the minister to get promoted—”
“I know.”
“…What?”
I sounded like a broken parrot repeating the same word over and over.
“Lucan told me. That you personally asked the minister and convinced the Chief Justice to revise the contract. That you insisted the contract needed to be tightened so companies like Linus could never slip through again. And then you brought crucial evidence a few days later.”
“How did he…?”
Lucan flashed a wink and a smile.
“I’m close with the Chief Justice’s aide.”
Ah… Bull-Ox guy…
The long-haired, brown-haired glasses man was definitely Bull-Ox. He was the only other person who’d heard that conversation. Seeing my discomfort, Lucan hurried to explain.
“Don’t misunderstand. He didn’t gossip. I asked because I thought people might question your promotion. Honestly, I’d already had my suspicions. When the First-Class Secretary got dragged off for questioning, everyone panicked—but you were calm.”
“Oh.”
Apparently, my best poker face still wasn’t good enough.
Lucius added, “Elicia saw the revised contract and admitted it—said you were better than her.”
“Senior!”
Elicia jumped up from her seat, face red.
“So….”
I looked around in disbelief, my voice trembling. Lucius smiled.
“It means everyone accepts that you’re now a Second-Class Secretary.”
Without thinking, I covered my mouth. My throat tightened, and tears almost spilled—but I forced myself to look up at the ceiling.
Lucan approached with a handkerchief.
“Who wouldn’t acknowledge it? You solved something no one else could. Honestly, it cleared ten years of frustration for me. Thanks for getting rid of that bastard, Cornelia.”
Everyone burst into wild laughter.
“Congratulations!”
“Congrats!”
“…Congrats.”
“A record-breaking promotion in central government history!”
“Secretary Slayer!”
“Next step—Chancellor!”
Voices from tiny shy murmurs to wild nonsense filled the office as everyone stood to congratulate me. Even Senior Victor came over to shake my hand, saying he looked forward to working with me. I nodded happily.
It was such a relief—such a relief.
Peaceful days followed—no infuriating people, no infuriating events.
Of course, in actual office life, such days are rare. Truly unfortunate.
“An interim special task force?”
At the weekly Chancellor’s Office meeting, the acting Chancellor—Minister of Finance—introduced a new topic.
“Yes. Former Chancellor Marcus resigned in disgrace after his filthy affair, but the investigation revealed the Grand Road project is tied not only to the First-Class Secretary, but to him as well. Tracing misappropriated funds revealed overseas transfers. His Majesty was enraged and ordered the creation of a legal framework to pursue the matter.”
So he planned to flee the moment things got exposed? Bold of him.
“It’s a good thing an unexpected rookie First-Class Secretary uncovered everything before he could run.”
Lucius asked, “If this involves overseas funds, the Chancellor’s Office can’t draft the legislation alone. We’d need cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Finance, and even Foreign Affairs.”
“Exactly. So the four ministries—Justice, Finance, Chancellor, and Foreign Affairs—will each send two representatives to form an interim special task force.”
Victor senior asked, “Who will represent the Chancellor’s Office?”
The minister smiled at me meaningfully.
Ah, damn. I knew instantly.
“First-Class Secretary Lucan, and Second-Class Secretary Cornelia.”
A four-person group project—an office nightmare.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
