Yes, Lady Funina!

Speak of the devil, and he appears; no sooner had Clorind been mentioned than she showed up at his door.

"Clorind, what's the matter?" Richard asked without changing his expression, showing no sign that he had been discussing how he had schemed against Clorind just before she entered.

“There are some things that require your authorization, and they concern the selection of the most influential people of the year…” Clarind tried her best to make her tone sound as usual.

Richard's attention, however, was not on Clorinde's tone, nor did he notice the ambiguity in her words. His attention was drawn to what Clorinde was holding.

"It's about that matter. I gave authorization, but what you're holding in your arms is..."

"A phonograph, which Lady Funina specifically requested, will be used at the groundbreaking ceremony soon. It is said that Funina intends to record the entire groundbreaking ceremony using both a phonograph and a video recorder."

"I see... That's good. Go ahead. Do you need me to write a document for you regarding the authorized content?"

"No, no need. I just came to let you know."

'If we were to write a formal document, given Richard's meticulous nature, he would likely specify the scope of the authorization in detail, which would actually make it more difficult to implement,' Claude thought.

Lynette noticed a detail: the small phonograph that Clorinde was holding seemed to be working.

Was it left on intentionally, or was it opened accidentally?

Lynette narrowed her eyes slightly; things seemed to be getting interesting. She wondered if Richard had noticed this.

Don't spend your days hunting geese, only to have one peck your eye in the process...

Volume 1: Chapter 102 A Mishap

"Clorind, what are you doing with that phonograph in your hands?" Furina looked up and saw Clorind walking in carrying a phonograph.

After placing the phonograph on the empty table, Claude replied, "This is a necessary preparation before the groundbreaking ceremony."

"?" Although Funina was not quite clear about the specific procedures of the groundbreaking ceremony, she had participated in similar events in the past five hundred years.

But it seems like a phonograph was never used in any groundbreaking ceremony, right?

"Never mind that for now, is the groundbreaking ceremony for Klorind almost done?" Funina asked about the progress of Klorind's work.

"Yes, everything is ready, the venue is set up, and reporters from all the major newspapers will be there that day. Also, Miss Charlotte would like to do an exclusive interview with you that day. Do you have time?"

"An interview... well, okay, but she has to promise she won't ask any tricky questions. No, just promising isn't enough, she also needs to tell me the questions she'll ask in advance so I can prepare..."

Although the two had become friends, Funina still harbored resentment towards the reporter's interview, so it was best to play it safe.

"Yes, Lady Frinna," Clorind replied, then returned to her desk to write the matter down.

Then she saw an envelope on her desk. Clarin picked it up out of curiosity and found that it was addressed to Funina. The sender's name was listed as Steambird Newspaper.

“Lady Frinna, this seems to be your letter, sent from the Steambird Newspaper,” Claurind said.

"It's probably another interview invitation. You can handle it." Funina waved her hand. These kinds of invitations come every now and then, so it's fine to leave it to Clarinde to deal with.

After all, Furness's personal schedule is basically handled by Clarinde, so it's only natural that she would be in charge.

Claude opened the envelope and found that the letter did not contain an interview invitation, but rather information related to the recent selection process.

"Is this a letter about the Most Influential Person of the Year selection? Honestly, Steambird Newspaper is getting more and more unruly. Although I will definitely participate, it's really rude of them to ask for my opinion after they've already written my name down this year." Funina angrily took the letter from Clarinde's hand.

Upon hearing Fryna's words, Clorind asked with some confusion, "But I heard Charlotte say that the letter was sent a long time ago, and your name was only filled in after receiving your affirmative reply."

"Really? But I didn't receive it. If I had signed it, I would definitely remember it. I shouldn't be that forgetful, right?"

As she replied, Funina glanced at the letter in her hand.

Just as Clorind was wondering what the problem was, Furina suddenly held the letter and asked, "Clorind, I remember you should know that there's something wrong with the most influential list in the political section, right?"

“I know, my former colleagues often talk about this. Although I don’t participate, I’ve heard about it to some extent.” Clarinde was unaware that danger was approaching.

"Then can you explain to me why you asked me to agree to be on this list even though you knew it was problematic?" Funina smiled kindly and turned the letter over. The signature of Klorinde was clearly visible on the letter, along with the personal seal of Funina's private secretary.

"What?! Wait, this isn't right? I didn't..." Clarinde's pretty face showed a look of astonishment. She was about to shout 'Your Excellency is wronged!' when she remembered that Richard had seemingly slipped her a document before she left work for her appointment not long ago.

That day, she had arranged to meet Navia after get off work to go to the cemetery to tell Mr. Carles about Vashj's arrest, so she didn't want to be late. Besides, Richard had said it wasn't an important document and only required a signature, so she didn't look at it closely.

Could it be around that time...?

Just a few breaths later, Clarinde realized everything; she... had been outmaneuvered by Richard again.

Fortunately, she was prepared this time.

Originally, it was just in case; she thought that if Richard became a person, she wouldn't need to do it.

It seems that guy was inhuman a long time ago; he's so despicable!

"It seems you've remembered something? Clarin, aren't you going to explain?"

Clarinde took a deep breath and, meeting Frinna's unfriendly gaze, said, "Lady Frinna, I can explain..."

Furina shrugged noncommittally, ready to hear how Clarinde would try to justify herself.

"This was indeed an oversight on my part." Clorind admitted her mistake first. After hearing this, Funina's expression softened slightly. She was not a petty boss who would hold a grudge.

Seeing Clorind admit her mistake so readily, her anger subsided considerably. After all, Clorind didn't seem to be doing it on purpose.

More importantly, Claurind was both her private secretary and her friend, and Claurind's actions would have brought her no benefit whatsoever except offending her. Clearly, she had no motive for the crime and it was probably just a work mistake.

Thinking of this, Funina said, "Forget it, things have already come to this, it's too late to say anything now. Anyway, you already offered a solution, so you've made amends."

However, Furina's decision not to pursue the matter does not mean that Clarinde is willing to swallow this bitter pill.

“Lady Frinna, there is actually a better solution,” Clorinde said, taking a deep breath as the button on her chest bore a weight that its size shouldn’t have to bear.

"The best way to divert the media's attention is to use another, bigger news story to attract their attention."

"I know that, but it has nothing to do with the present, does it? What's bothering me right now is my resume in the newspaper."

“But what if nobody cares about your achievements, or what if it’s not that you’re incompetent, but that someone is too capable and has done everything you wanted to do?” Clarinde asked tentatively.

"Did all the things I wanted to do...who?" Furina found Clorind's words rather strange. Who could do all the things she wanted to do? What a joke, she herself didn't even know what she wanted to do.

If he were truly that capable, he would have solved the flood crisis directly. Only by solving this crisis could Funina find what she truly wanted to do.

“Lady Furina, think about it, since you took office, have you ever had the feeling that you’ve been led by the nose all along? There’s someone in the city hall who seems more like the Minister of Administration than you…” Clarind was practically about to recite someone’s ID card.

“You mean…” Fryna clearly realized who Clorind was referring to, but another question arose.

"Even so, I can't possibly put Richard on that list, can I? Even if I wanted to, Richard could just disagree, right?"

"Lady Furna, did you get your permission to be on that list?" Clarinde coaxed.

Fu Ningna frowned like a kitten, as if it really wasn't true. She hadn't even seen the letter, yet someone had already agreed on her behalf.

Although she was very unhappy, Furina understood what Clarinde meant.

"You mean, if someone had the authority to approve Richard's inclusion on the list without his knowledge, just like Clarind did with the letter you wrote to the Steambird newspaper on my behalf..."

"Ahem, Lady Funina, I've brought you the phonograph you requested. To ensure it works properly, I tested it beforehand in Secretary Richard's office..."

“Test…” Furnessa’s eyes flickered. What kind of test needed to be conducted in Richard’s office? This was clearly just a self-justifying excuse to ensure the legality of the recording, to obtain some kind of crucial evidence.

Clarinde, I never thought you'd gone astray too.

Fulina walked up to the phonograph, operated it for a while, and found the crucial recording.

"There are some things that require your authorization, and that concerns the selection of the most influential awards of the year..."

"It's about that matter. I gave authorization, but what you're holding in your arms is..."

After thinking for a moment, Fu Ningna replayed it, but this time she made some slight modifications to the pauses.

"There are some things that require your authorization, and that concerns the selection of the most influential awards of the year..."

"It's that matter. I gave the authorization."

Taking things out of context means not taking things out of context.

This is the art of editing.

Click. Furina took the master tape of the excerpt, examined it for a while, and suddenly said to Clarinde, "Do you think what we're doing is a bit inappropriate? Richard probably doesn't want to be on that list, does he?"

"Lady Furina, I must remind you that my mistake was not accidental, but an inevitable result under certain specific conditions."

"You mean someone is plotting against you?"

"No, I'm plotting against you."

Seeing that Frynn looked unconvinced, Clarinde decided to go all out. Since Richard was unjust, she wouldn't be so ruthless either.

Today, she is Funina's most loyal secretary!

"Didn't you advocate for a 'frugal movement' before? Although you were later tamed by Secretary Richard with afternoon tea..."

"Wait! What do you mean by 'taming'?!" Funina exclaimed, blushing. "Your word choice is so incomplete, it's like she's some kind of little animal."

"Sorry, it was a slip of the tongue. I meant to say 'persuade'."

"Even sleeping with him won't work!"

Claurind: ?

Why do I feel like your thinking is much more simplistic than mine?

"In short, if you hadn't reached an agreement with Richard at the time and insisted on pushing forward the 'Frugality Movement,' then this selection was Richard's backup plan."

"Think about it, why have you been so concerned about the reconstruction of the Academy of Sciences lately?"

"...Wasn't this your suggestion?"

Claude thought about it and realized it was true. Oh no, Richard had her figured out. Luckily, she was no longer the naive girl she used to be.

"Is the reason why Lady Funina wants to enhance her resume? If you weren't on that list, would you be so concerned about the Academy of Sciences?"

"Um, you're making me sound like an incompetent boss who's just sitting in his position without doing anything." Furina understood what Clarinde meant, but there was something odd about what she was saying.

"..."

"You should say something!"

After understanding the situation, Funina sat back down in her seat, casually put the master tape into the drawer, and then, seeing that Clarin was still looking at her, asked, "Let's leave it at that for now. You don't need to contact Steambird Newspaper anymore. I have my own plans."

"You're not angry?"

"Angry... well, not quite to that extent. To be honest, I'd say I'm both annoyed and amused." After learning that Richard had tricked her, Funina's mood wasn't as bad as she had expected.

To put it simply, it's like a girlfriend who's been pranked by her boyfriend; she's angry, but not really furious.

“Then why you…” Clorinde wanted to say why Funina didn’t retaliate, but felt that the word 'retaliate' was not quite appropriate in this context.

Although they schemed against each other, it didn't come to the point of 'revenge'. If anything, it was more like 'I was tricked, so I'll trick you back'.

Even if Clarinde's trap for Richard succeeds, the only consequence will be that it will be published in the newspapers and become known to the public.

There aren't many people in Fontainebleau who follow current affairs. Compared to the entertainment section, the current affairs section is basically a freebie that comes with buying something. You can look at it when you have free time, but most of the time it has no presence.

Even if Fontaine's top star, Frynn, is present this year, those viewers attracted by the name Frynn will likely only focus on Frynn, not Richard.

At most, all I knew was that Richard was someone like that, and that he was Lady Funina's subordinate.

In short, if Clorind's trap is successful, it should cause virtually no harm, but be extremely humiliating.

It was a case of "capsizing in a ditch."

"Don't you think it's too lenient of him to just let him publish the article?" Funina thought.

"Then you mean..."

"Hmph, I have my own brilliant plan. Just you wait and see, Clarinde. This time, I will definitely make Richard pay back his share, including yours, with interest."

"No, no need, Lady Funina, could you please not take me with you..." Clarinde sensed something was wrong.

"What do you mean? Clarinde, now that things have come to this, do you still want to stay out of it?" Furnessa asked, frowning.

"No...is that okay?"

"Of course... no!"

Furina smiled and rejected Clorinde's request without hesitation. She wanted Clorinde to be the one to take the lead while she stayed behind and watched the show. How could that be possible?

Seeing the distressed look on Clorinde's face, Funina tiptoed and patted Clorinde's shoulder to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, Richard won't dare to do anything to you with me on your back."

Clorind forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said, "Yes, Lady Funina."

Volume 1: Chapter 103 Clorind, whose side are you really on? (4.5K+)

The afternoon sun was warm and lazy, gently shining on the bustling streets. The spring water in front of Mo Mang Palace reflected a dazzling light, and several cats lay on the spring terrace. Passersby would occasionally come over to feed them, enjoying their leisurely time.

However, compared to the cat's carefree state, Clarinde, though in the Moman Palace, felt as if she were in Peterhof, Mero.

The secretary was looking down, holding a newspaper in her hand, trying to hide herself. However, this was clearly a case of self-deception. Even if she covered her face, she couldn't hide her magnificent bosom.