Chapter 58
The Leaving-Work Argument (1)
What’s this? Giving me work right before quitting time is terrible manners.
I turned toward the Duke and approached him.
“Is there something you’d like me to do?”
But strangely, my question seemed to make him even more flustered. I could even hear someone nearby swallow. Considering the Duke’s notorious reputation in the palace, he probably never expected a subordinate to answer him so directly.
“Are you finished with today’s assignments?”
Ah. So he thought I was sneaking out without completing my work.
As a professional K-office worker, I replied with full confidence.
“You mean the proposal for preventing noble overseas asset concealment? I’ll have it prepared before the next meeting.”
“Is… that so.”
“Yes! Then I’ll head out now. See you tomorrow!”
“Very well, I’ll look forward to it…”
Leaving behind the Duke, who still looked oddly stunned, I walked out of the office, satisfied with another productive day.
The Emperor’s directive to prevent nobles from hiding their assets abroad was no simple task. Laws are like that—when someone benefits, someone else inevitably suffers. Even back in my world, I saw that all the time on the news.
If we want to persuade them, both sides need something to gain…
Here, instead of political parties, the factions were divided into Imperialists and Noble factions. The Duke, being of royal blood, leaned toward the Imperialists, but according to what Hwangso-gun told me, he tended to stay neutral. Without convincing logic, even a proposal from the Emperor’s side would be rejected.
Maybe that’s why people are finding this even harder than usual.
I thought about this while stopping by the Chancellor’s Office to pick up the documents I had left.
“Cornelia.”
“Senior Lucius.”
He greeted me warmly and apologized for not being able to accompany us into the Concealment Department earlier. I told him it couldn’t be helped since it was a direct order from the Duke.
He added that the department would be getting more staff soon and that he’d help however he could. Then he handed me a luxurious envelope. Curious, I opened it…
“Senior, you’re getting married?”
It was a wedding invitation. The ceremony would be held in about a month. Lucius nodded shyly.
“Yes. I’ve already handed them out to the others. I hope you can make it, if you’re not too busy.”
“Of course I’ll go. Congratulations!”
I’d been so caught up in departmental chaos that I hadn’t even known who was married or single. Not that I cared much now.
“Thank you. With everything being so unstable lately, I wasn’t even sure I should invite anyone… but I got promoted to First-Class Secretary, too. Honestly, it’s all thanks to you.”
Well… the Chancellor’s Office had been operating on shaky ground for a while.
“No, it’s because you’re talented.”
“You pretend you can’t flatter, but you’re pretty good at it. Anyway, make sure you come.”
Lucius thoroughly ruffled my hair before walking off toward Senior Victor’s desk.
It was fascinating, in a way—how the Empire’s Main Road construction incident could ripple out into things like this.
Feeling lighter, I hummed a tune while packing my things.
Still… I had no idea what the appropriate gift money amount was in this world.
“Cornelia.”
“Lukan? Did you forget something too?”
“No. I need to talk to you.”
He looked reluctant, almost uncomfortable.
“What is it?”
I continued packing while waiting for him to gather his courage. Lukan ran a hand through his hair before finally speaking.
“I’ve been thinking this for a while… but do you really have to leave work exactly on time?”
“And why shouldn’t I?”
The faintly reproachful tone rubbed me the wrong way, and my voice came out a bit sharper.
“I mean—fine, maybe that’s how things were in the Chancellor’s Office. But with people from other departments around, should you really stick out like that? The Ministry of Justice is famous for keeping their lights on past quitting time. Doing a bit of overtime would be better.”
“Okay. But that’s your reason I shouldn’t go home on time?”
“……”
I sighed. I understood now.
“Let me guess. People talk after I leave, don’t they?”
“They don’t say it to me—just about you.”
“And?”
“I don’t want to hear it. Even if they’re not badmouthing me, I don’t like hearing a coworker get criticized.”
I snorted. So things had been pretty uncomfortable after I left, huh.
“Lukan, you’re misunderstanding something.”
“Misunderstanding?”
I nodded and pointed at myself.
“I’m not your subordinate. You are mine.”
His expression froze.
“Whatever people say after I leave has nothing to do with you. You don’t have any responsibility for it. And you don’t get to order me to ‘read the room.’”
“…Still, if the department culture is different, shouldn’t we adjust? It’s rare for someone to leave before their superior—and drawing attention to yourself isn’t good.”
He had a point.
But ever since I started working in the palace, dealing with so much nonsense in such a short time, I’d stopped wanting to tiptoe around trivial things like this.
“Then let me ask you something. The Finance Minister hasn’t complained once about my leaving on time. And most of our department does go home on time. He only gets angry when the work isn’t done properly. If going home on time were such a serious flaw, would I even have made it this far? And why should I suddenly follow the rules of another department just because my assignment changed temporarily?”
“I finished all my work yesterday. If I’m busy, I work overtime too.”
Lukan had no counterargument; he just pressed his lips together, clearly conflicted.
He was still my junior, though, so I figured I should throw him a lifeline.
“If you’re uncomfortable with the attention you get after I leave, fine.”
“Cornelia, seriously, you—”
“Let’s go home together.”
“…What?”
I flashed him a bright, refreshing smile.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
He resisted at first, but staying behind made him even more miserable. Eventually, he started leaving with me.
Before long, he became a passionate advocate of the “Go-Home-On-Time Doctrine.”
“Everyone ready?”
It was finally time to discuss the noble overseas asset concealment law. Under the Chief Justice’s leadership, the Concealment Department gathered, silently waging a war of nerves over who would have to speak first.
“Foreign Affairs.”
But the Duke’s selection instantly crushed the tension.
Simon, First-Class Diplomat, began.
“In cases of overseas asset concealment, cooperation from other nations is crucial. To prepare for future incidents, we should establish international investigation agreements with foreign ministries.”
Next, First-Class Finance Officer Laira offered her view.
“I agree with the Foreign Ministry. But before that, we must determine the true scale of noble assets. When concealment occurs, we need clear tracking. Many nobles deliberately underreport their estates. If new laws are passed, the Finance Department can expand its manpower to conduct audits.”
“It would be difficult to legislate such detailed oversight. And nobles are likely to resist audits.”
Hwangso-gun added his thoughts, weighing the feasibility of enforcement.
As opinions circulated, the Duke spoke.
“What is the Chancellor’s Office’s stance?”
The room fell silent.
According to Lukan, rumor had it that people were already displeased with my punctual departures. Looking at their half-baked proposals, I almost wanted to tell them they should’ve gone home instead.
“The Chancellor’s Office proposes the Noble Asset Registration System.”
“The Noble Asset… Registration System?”
A barrage of prickly stares hit me—Let’s hear this nonsense—but I wasn’t intimidated.
I rose from my seat, dragged a chalkboard out from the corner, and began.
“The Noble Asset Registration System requires nobles to report their own assets to a central authority.”
Several officials let out a dismissive snort.
“Second-Class Secretary, you’re still too young to understand how the world works. Hah! I take back what I said about you being competent!”
Diplomat Simon shook his head dramatically.
“Starting next meeting, we should bring a First-Class Secretary instead. She only cares about leaving early, not about doing her job properly.”
“If nobles would just report honestly, why would crime even exist? Maybe she should work some overtime and learn how the real world works.”
Now that they’d found something to nitpick, they piled on gleefully.
I laughed right along with them—loudly, cheerfully.
And as I kept laughing, they slowly began to fall silent.
Their expressions shifted as if they were staring at a lunatic.
Wiping at imaginary tears, I finally spoke.
“Ah, sorry—this is a meeting. But none of you seem to have noticed something. If nobles report their assets themselves, it means they can only exercise rights over what they report.”
“……!”
“If they underreport intentionally… wonderful. Everything else becomes property of the Imperial Household.”
“Th–That’s absurd!”
“His Majesty will be absolutely delighted.”
Anyone who interferes with my leaving on time…
shall not be forgiven.
