Chapter 113 - 101: A Worker’s Life 2

Chapter 113: Chapter 101: A Worker’s Life 2

A new day dawned in Green Shade Territory.

Although most people were hungover from the previous night’s revelry and reluctant to wake, the streets were still bustling. Groggily, the people remained immersed in the joy of their shared holiday, discussing which tavern they would visit to continue their celebrations.

Lian, too, reluctantly parted from his fiancée, Catherine.

Gazing at Catherine, still sound asleep in bed, he finally understood what the ancient poets meant when they wrote of kings who forsook their morning courts.

Catherine wasn’t the type of girl who stunned you at first sight, but she became more beautiful the more you looked at her, especially since she was perfectly suited to Lian’s tastes.

Sunlight danced across the young woman’s translucent skin, casting a faint, radiant glow upon her flushed cheeks. Her graceful curves outlined a breathtakingly beautiful picture.

If Lian didn’t have a mountain of tasks to handle today, he would have surely pulled out a drawing board and begun to sketch Catherine’s still form, preserving the image forever so it could be passed down through the ages.

’Well, my skills aren’t nearly good enough for my work to be passed down through the ages. Besides, a painting like that is only fit to be hung in the bedroom for my private viewing. How could I possibly let other men see it?’

Reining in his fanciful thoughts, Lian placed a gentle kiss on her snow-white skin before leaving Catherine’s bedroom and returning to his study.

Inside the study, his three ministers were already waiting.

Anna brewed coffee for Lian, and Annie served him breakfast.

Normally, this routine would take place in Lian’s bedroom, but he hadn’t returned all night. Anna and Annie knew perfectly well what this implied. After all, who could expect a man from the Moria Clan to return to his own bedroom on time?

A cynical joke once made the rounds in the Holy Empire: If you fall in love with a man who never comes home, his surname is probably Moria.

Lian spread out the map of the Blue Moon Territory and placed it next to the map of the Green Shade Territory.

"Anna, is there any news from Rose Territory?"

"Lord Lian, Lady Mary received the false intelligence we sent. She hasn’t responded yet, but I suspect Lady Mary will also forge an Inheritance Document and send an envoy to the Royal Capital. Now it all depends on who His Majesty the King chooses to believe."

Anna said gently.

Now, Anna was able to speak freely even in such an important morning meeting.

Over this period, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Karel Dennis; the Minister of Finance, Omari Hani; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alex Pool, had all witnessed Anna’s skill and talent, and they now considered her a truly wise woman.

Even though she was still just a maid by Lian’s side, she had won the respect of the three men.

"A forgery is a forgery. The King will surely be able to tell the difference. Of course, we can’t be politically naive. We have to promise His Majesty some necessary benefits as well."

Lian stroked his chin. ’The envoy’s delayed return probably means my offer wasn’t high enough, and the King is still deliberating.’

"Promise His Majesty the King we’ll march on the Azure Dragon Court?"

Karel Dennis asked tentatively. In his opinion, this was likely what the King cared about most right now. If they could promise the King their support on this matter, he might side with them.

Lian shook his head.

"Why would we do such a thankless thing? Tell His Majesty the King that we are willing to support his bid to become Emperor."

Although the Holy Empire had long been an Empire, the King had not yet called himself Emperor.

This was because the King had never received an oracle from the God of Tiger, nor had he been coronated by the Pope.

But he could still proclaim himself Emperor in secular terms, provided he had the support of all the Lords.

Becoming Emperor was something every King deeply desired. It represented reaching the absolute pinnacle of power.

Lian was confident this promise would be enough to sway the King.

Besides, it would cost Lian nothing. It was akin to casting a vote for the only candidate on the ballot.

Moreover, the King certainly didn’t want to see Mary get the Blue Moon Territory.

He was simply testing Lian to see how many more chips he was willing to put on the table.

They were playing with their cards on the table.

"Lord Lian, if we choose to publicly support His Majesty the King before he has received a divine oracle, we might offend the Church Court."

Karel Dennis couldn’t help but remind Lian.

"Anyone might offend the Church Court, but I, Lian Moria, will not."

Lian said confidently.

"That’s right! Lord Lian is a man who has received the Golden Goddess’s acknowledgment."

Alex Pool said with excitement. He had seen with his own eyes as those cursed people were saved. Although Lian called it the "Aging Disease," it was no different from a terrible curse.

Alex Pool was certain that Lian had received a god’s favor.

Lian nodded slightly, acknowledging Alex Pool’s words.

’In truth, the reason I can’t possibly offend the Church Court has nothing to do with Forest Spirit Solaya. It’s because if I fail to reach the God of Tiger, He will simply erase me from existence.’

’Either I become the Favored One of the God of Tiger—the Church Court’s Golden Child...’

’...or I become one of His slain souls. Either way, offending the Church Court won’t be an issue.’

The morning meeting lasted an hour. After delegating the important tasks, Lian turned to the mountain of paperwork that had piled up.

"Anna, can’t you handle these trivial little matters yourself?"

’Why does a trivial matter like Viscount Jalin discovering his wife having an affair with Viscount Jamel need my personal attention?’

’Do I really have that much free time on my hands?’

"Lord Lian, I am merely your maid. I have no standing to handle affairs between nobles, even if I wanted to."

Anna reached out with her fair hands and began to massage Lian’s shoulders and back.

Lian raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying that you need status?"

"Yes. If my older sister became your mistress, she would just about be considered nobility. Then she could handle affairs between nobles."

Annie chimed in as she cleared the breakfast dishes.

’So that’s it. Anna must have figured out I spent last night in Catherine’s room.’

Lian’s feelings were mixed.

’Catherine and I are still in our honeymoon period. How could I possibly take Anna as a mistress now?’

’Even if my dream is to have three wives and four concubines, I at least have to make sure Catherine is happy.’

’Catherine is feeling extremely insecure right now.’

’I couldn’t agree to it, even if Sophie were the one asking.’

’Because Sophie isn’t an adult yet.’

"Anna, I know a wise woman such as yourself would never be content to be just a man’s mistress, a mere dependent. You must want to make your own mark on the world. I hereby appoint you as the Lord’s first secretary. From now on, you will have the right to review all these documents and to help me process them when I lack the energy to do so."

Lian had complete faith in Anna’s abilities.

"Of course, major matters still need to be reported to me."

Anna was taken aback.

Annie also looked at Lian in surprise.

"What is it?"

Lian asked with concern when he saw his maid staring blankly.

’Was the offer not tempting enough?’

’Should I have promised her some form of compensation?’

"Lord Lian, I am your slave. It is only right that I do whatever you ask of me. I do not need a position."

Anna said with her head lowered.

She was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, but she also felt it was improper.

If Lian created a position specifically for her, it wouldn’t reflect well on his reputation if word got out, given her humble status.

Lian remembered that he had taken Anna’s freedom. In a sense, she truly was his slave.

’But I’m not some heartless Slave Master.’

"Anna, since I’ve already said it, there’s no taking it back. From this day forward, you are my secretary. Anyone who sees you must respect you as they respect me. As for matters between nobles like this, you have full authority to handle them."

Lian’s focus was on the last sentence, but the part that stood out to Anna and Annie was in the middle.

Respect you as they respect me.

Such trust left the twin maids both stunned and deeply moved.

Anna’s heart began to race. For the sake of this trust alone, she was determined to do an excellent job as his secretary.

The victory celebrations lasted for two days.

On the morning of the third day, the envoy finally returned to Green Shade Territory, bringing good news.

His Majesty the King had acknowledged Catherine’s legal right of inheritance.