Evelyn’s Ring 1.1
Translator: Rhyme_Bean Editor: Aurum
“You.. what did you say just now?”
When he heard Evelyn’s chilly rebuttal, the daylight in the face of the treasury Minister quickly turned dusky. With the feeling of a cold sweat that flowed down his back, he hurriedly looked all around, but with an air of indifference, they were all busy avoiding his gaze. It was unwise to play dead in front of an Arc Mage (high level magician), that too at 9th Circle. The best elites of Berine are said to have excellent judgement ability. (T/N: Because Evelyn is the arcmage so the staff members play dead to the pleading gaze of minister as they got good judgement , ie, know who they can’t offend)
The Treasury Minister who tried his hard to uphold his majesty under such a strong pressure, at last with a servile expression, laughed awkwardly. Though he wasn’t a person who lived off of favors from others, since he did not have any extra life, it was time for him to bend.
“What… what I mean is, Secretary Lehil. I didn’t say it with any ill intention. ….. I just said because of concern….”
“Concern. But in my ears I hear it as, a woman became a Secretary and the staff climbed on the head of the incomplete secretary, without doing anything. They only groomed and warmed up all day long.”
No when I said that…. The heavily flustered Treasury Minister had a wronged expression on his face, no explanation seemed to come from his mouth. What if his words once again scratched Evelyn’s already explosive mood? – he was anxious. There were many reasons for one must not recklessly provoke Evelyn Lehil, but even among them, the most important one that one must keep in their minds was her fiery temper.
7 years ago, Evelyn who was a college student as well as a special adviser of the Ministry of Magic at that time, broke the wrist of a newly hired palace staff who tried to play a trick on her. Still to the day, it’s a highly discussed conversation topic. The most important point in that heroic story which won the cheers and appreciation of countless female workers of the place was that she didn’t use magic at that time.
I just defended myself when an unfamiliar man tried to intimidate and have his way (T/N: physical contact) with me, she said. Even after being sexually molested by a guy one head larger than me, should I also need to control my strength?
It was said that the officers who came in hurry to investigate the matter, couldn’t even say a word properly after they heard Evelyn’s side. An Arc Mage who can turn a person into dust if she wanted to, despite her petite physic, didn’t utilize magic. So her actions would undoubtedly be judged as self-defence.
What a newcomer who only started his job for 2 months would not know is that Evelyn was the only daughter of Earl Lehil. Unlike other similar cases, when the first cousin of the monarch was sexually harassed, it couldn’t be suppressed. The employee whose wrist was thickly bandaged lost his lifeline and couldn’t make any appeal of injustice anywhere. Even those who used to look down on female public servants, started to notice and became self-conscious.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone of the public officials changed for the better. High ranking officials, mainly men of high status, were insensitive to the flow of the society. So when Evelyn demanded manpower and cost to purchase, even when the Treasury Minister was surrounded by sarcasm, almost no one felt it awkward.
These days the atmosphere of the Magic Department seemed to be brightened after they welcomed a great beauty as a secretary. Want to buy gemstones with the budget…. hey you, secretary Lehil. I am aware that it’s difficult for a young woman to be incharge of the Ministry, at least you are a secretary in name, how can you be this much swayed by the employees?
For the 6 months she took her office as a secretary, by one means or other, she always suppressed her temper. But that absurd remark made Evelyn let go of all of her restraint.
“For a Mage wearing gemstones is not just a notion. For the staff of the Magic Department, who work like dogs, it is more of a means of preserving their health. It’s already been several months since our staff have been working their assed off without leave. But no staffing nor any budget support! What the hell do you mean by this? In this month alone, 16 employees fainted from exhaustion!”
“B,But Budget had already been decided by the end of last year. Now, at this time, the Ministry of Magic is asking for more financial aid, we have to take it out from other places…”
Instantly Evelyn’s painting like eyebrows wriggled. What was this old man trying to do with her now? Just pull out the budget assigned on those useless things! Money to change the perfectly fine marbles, cost of needlessly matching the uniforms each year – save the money from all these and bring it to me right now! No, who can’t write about the use as stipulated? Doesn’t we open the council of ministers every week to consult things like this?
Evelyn swept away her fluttering hair with a loud huff, opened her mouth with a much chillier tone. Each time her voice came to a halt, they felt like sharp icicles embedded on their bodies – it was frosty.
“Good. If nothing works, then from now on, we, every staff member of the Ministry of Magic will only work till our assigned time. Whether it’s pouring at the middle of night, or someplace caught on fire, or a bridge collapsed, there is no way we will work overtime.
“No, Secretary Lehil. No matter how bad you are offended, how can the public disobey when the safety of the public is in the line…”
“Disobey?”
As Evelyn’s light brown eyes blazed, in the already heavy office room, an uncomfortable pressure sunk in. In the heat of the moment, a low and smooth voice, that kept silent all this while, unaffectedly broke the silence.
“Then let’s do it like this.”
When everyone’s eyes moved towards the seat of honor, Kyren, who had his usual smile, raised his lips a bit more and smiled brightly. When they saw that beautiful smile which could even bewitch an angel, even those with rigid faces, unbeknownst to them, were soothed, but the eyes of Evelyn narrowed in suspicion.
This crook, what sort of earth shattering thing is he gonna say this time?
“Minister Chirac”
“Yes, your grace.”
“First of all, as Secretary Lehil said, a gemstone for a wizard is just like a weapon to a soldier. This notion, what had been considered a kind of superstition all this time, was really true, recently research results came out stating that, if a Mage uses a gem that suits them, their output can increase as much as 250%. Of course as the efficiency increases, the physical strain also increases. But, as you all know, Gem stones are very costly accessories, it is very difficult for the underpaid civil servants to get hold on them on their own expense.”
“But your grace. Even if it’s so… at this time, when the first half of the year is almost coming to an end, it’s very difficult to divert the budget. It can also appear as a privilege that the Ministry of Magic is taking advantage of.”
“Hmm . . How much money is set aside for the recovery of flood damage in the Phoas zone this year?”
“Yes? Ah, That……, the actual amount, I can’t quite remember, but it must be about 3 million ceylon…”
It is 3.84 million ceylon, this block head. This guy who was the Treasury Minister – does he not read the budget at all?. Evelyn barely managed to hold back the curses that were about to break out. As soon as her eyes met with Kyren’s who was keenly looking at her, Evelyn frowned. For some reason , she strongly felt that his next words will be strongly disadvantageous to her….
“In that case, Secretary Lehil, how about the Ministry of Magic finalize the construction of Phoas Dam?”
As always, her bad premonition was right on the mark.
“That’s impossible, your grace.”
“If the Phoas Dam is repaired, then there won’t be flood damage this year, of course there won’t be any repair cost. If the Ministry of Magic takes the responsibility and takes care of this problem, then the construction cost can be reduced, and the rest of the amount will go back to the Ministry of Magic as labor cost and set acquisition cost.”
What, you bastard? Even after you heard everything I said, are you saying that the solution is to grind the employees of the Ministry of Magic? Evelyn barely suppressed her urge to rush forward and shake the Prime Minister by his collar. Though she tried hard to respond in a calm manner, but, what came out was the sound of grinding teeth.
“Your Grace. As I reported last time, if we want to put our hands in that construction, no less than 30 arcmages must reside in the site for at least 3 weeks, which is more than 40% of the total of Arc mages under the Ministry of Magic. In a situation like this, if these many senior magicians were to leave the office, then the remaining employees, they won’t even have the time to stick their butts to the floor.”
“What if Secretary Lehil went to the Phoas construction site herself?”
“…What?”
“Secretary Lehil alone herself can do the share of 30 ordinary Arc mages, right? The only 9th Circle Arc Mage of Berine.”
“Though it’s so theoretically…. , things like mana don’t just fall from the sky. And above all, my situation doesn’t allow me to leave the capital at the moment.”
