All Your Rottenness

Stop!

Ronan stopped his steps at the door as soon as he heard Nash's voice talking to someone. The man was just about to meet his father, but as soon as he heard there was someone in there, Ronan decided to stop and try to find out who was visiting Nash.

Father has a visitor? Ronan pushed the door in front of him slowly, until it opened slightly. Now he could peek inside and see who was talking to Nash inside. There, he saw Nash sitting across from Quinn. The two seemed to be enjoying lunch together.

Quinn? What is she doing here? Why are Father and Quinn eating together? Something's not right. Is it possible that Quinn is trying to find a way to get to my father? I have to keep an eye on her. Ronan paused at the door. His eyes stared fixedly at the cornflower-red-haired woman. From her expression, Ronan could see that she was about to discuss something very important with Nash.

"What exactly do you want to talk about when you invited me to lunch like this?" Nash asked, shifting his focus to his daughter.

After pondering in her room for a while, Quinn finally decided she couldn't stay silent. She intended to try to persuade Nash once again to change his decision. Quinn didn't want to let Ronan have control over all of Nash's work, because if that happened, Nash's trust could grow even more, potentially leading to Ronan being chosen as the next successor.

Quinn looked up at her father while devouring the food in her grasp. She could see that Nash was genuinely curious about what she wanted to talk about. "I actually want to discuss your decision."

"My decision? What's there to discuss? Haven't you already agreed to accept the decision I've made?"

"Now that I think about it, why did you choose Ronan to do all your work instead of me? Is it because you think I don't have much skill in managing the empire? Therefore, you chose Ronan as the one who will do all your work for the time being?" Quinn showed a gloomy expression. She was disappointed that her father, until now, still prioritized his concubine's children over his wife's children.

"Didn't I explain everything to you? I made that decision, not without reason. Firstly, because Ronan already knows a lot about the work that needs to be handled, and secondly, because you're used to doing smaller jobs from the beginning, so I think you'll find it difficult to take on bigger tasks. I feel that you are not ready for it."

Quinn gripped the fork and knife in her grip tightly. Nash's words were really enough to upset her. She didn't like being compared to Ronan. After all, Nash didn't know anything about her. Ever since Quinn's childhood, Nash has paid more attention to his concubines and children.

He didn't care about the first prince and herself losing their mother. But fortunately, even so, Quinn was very lucky to have a brother like the first prince who was so kind and loving towards her. Since long ago, the first prince had always protected and taken care of her. He even taught Quinn many things he learned so that she would grow up to be a strong woman in the future.

Now, thanks to the help of her brother, Quinn can really do a lot of things. Even Nash never knew that his daughter had sword skills, good war strategizing skills, or that Quinn was good at riding and archery.

So she came to negotiate with Father again? Did she think he would easily entrust her with such a big job? Of course, that's never going to happen. Father already knows how skilled I am at helping him run the government, and it's going to be hard for you, Quinn, to gain his trust. Ronan grinned. Quinn's words sounded ridiculous to his ears. He actually found it amusing that Quinn felt superior to him. Even that woman was determined to change their father's decision.

"But what if I can handle all the tasks you assign? Would you reconsider?" Quinn asked after a brief pause. Her words left Nash momentarily stunned with a surprised expression. He had never considered that possibility before.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What if I can handle your job better than Ronan? Would you reconsider your decision and entrust everything to me?" Quinn clarified her question. Nash fell silent, still puzzled by Quinn's sudden change in attitude.

"Why are you so eager to take over my work?" he asked.

"I just can't accept that you trust Ronan more than me. After all, I should be the second consideration when you're in a situation like this, not Ronan. Haven't you always raised me as a leader since I was a kid? So isn't it wrong that I want to take the right that I should have gotten as well? The chance to prove myself worthy of being a leader."

"In other words, you want to prove that you can also be a leader?" Nash concluded. The man slowly cracked a smile. Hearing Quinn's words genuinely pleased him.

"It seems you're earnest about what you're saying. I like hearing it, and since you seem very confident in your choice, I'll give you a chance."

Quinn was stunned by her father's recent words. She reached for the cup in front of her and took a slow sip. Quinn truly didn't expect her father to actually agree to her request. Slowly, a corner of her lips lifted, forming a triumphant grin. She was delighted, a sign that her efforts and plans to claim what was rightfully hers had succeeded. As I suspected, this would work.

Creak!

Quinn and Nash's attention instantly shifted to the source of the sound. From the entrance, they saw Ronan standing with a face that seemed to be struggling to conceal his frustration.

"Father!" he called as he walked in. Quinn remained silent, casting a disapproving glance at the newly arrived Ronan. Why did he have to come in all of a sudden? It's just annoying. I was enjoying my success here.

"There's Quinn here too. Are you enjoying lunch together? That's too bad; I was going to invite you to eat with me," Ronan said. The man acted as if he didn't know anything. However, he had to mask his annoyance with Quinn so that Nash would still trust him with all his work.

"Quinn asked me to have lunch together." Nash smiled. It turned out that his two children paid so much attention to him that they intended to invite him to have lunch together like this.

"It looks like I'm outclassed. In that case, I'll have lunch with you next time." Ronan smiled. A smile that he forced to look good in front of his father. Meanwhile, Quinn only chose to remain silent without commenting. The woman was completely reluctant to even glance at him. Quinn even preferred to occupy herself with the napkin she used to wipe her wet lips.

"What a coincidence that you came here, by the way. I have something to tell you," Nash said as he put the fork and knife in his hands. "It's about the decision I made earlier. Now that I think about it, it seems like it would be better if I split the work you're handling with Quinn. That way, all the work will be lighter."

"But why? Hasn't Quinn been used to doing simpler things? Why are you suddenly thinking of giving her a bigger job?" Ronan looked surprised. He had heard Quinn and Nash's conversation before coming in. But he never thought that the man's decision would change so quickly. Even Nash immediately asked him to halve the work he had been handling.

"Perhaps it's time for Quinn to learn to handle bigger responsibilities. Therefore, you should assist her," Nash said calmly. The man shifted his focus, reaching for the cup in front of him and taking a sip.

After reconsidering, he felt that this was indeed the best course of action. After all, Quinn had been educated from the start to become an empress, and there's no harm in her applying all her learned skills to assisting with governance.

How annoying. She really made my father change his mind. If this is how it's going to be, I'll have to change my plans for the future. Ronan clenched his hands tightly. He glanced at Quinn with a sharp gaze. Because of that woman, all the plans he had prepared instantly fell apart. Nash had now begun to trust Quinn regarding government-related work, which meant there would be an obstacle to achieving Ronan's goal.

Quinn wouldn't easily let him sit on the throne and rule as the next emperor.

"And Quinn, if there's anything you don't understand about the tasks you handle, don't hesitate to ask Ronan. He'll surely help you." Nash redirected his attention to Quinn, who was now placing a napkin on the table. Upon hearing Nash's words, Quinn could only smile in triumph.

"Alright, Father, I understand. Oh! Since lunch is over, I'll take my leave. I want to continue my work." Quinn rose from her seat and walked away. Nash responded with a nod. Before fully departing, she glanced at Ronan, who now appeared dissatisfied.

"Ronan, don't forget to send some important files that Father handles to my office today. Oh, no! Maybe it's better if I come myself to pick them up. So please prepare everything, because starting today, Father will also entrust his work to me," Quinn said with a smirk, causing Ronan's face to turn even redder. It was evident that he was trying to contain his frustration.

After finishing the conversation with Nash, Quinn walked away, leaving the two of them inside. "Well then, I'll take my leave as well, Father," Ronan bowed before finally getting up to leave Nash.

"Make sure to send half of your work to Quinn directly," Nash reminded.

"Alright. I'll do it as soon as possible." Ronan left, leaving Nash alone. With a frustrated feeling, he quickly caught up with Quinn, who had just left.

*

One step, and now I'm right beside him. I won't let Ronan walk ahead of me. I'll make sure Father favors me over him! Quinn clenched her hand tightly, continuing to walk along the corridor, heading back to her office.

"Quinn!" Ronan hastily grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. Quinn turned around, facing Ronan, who had just halted her.

"What's your actual plan? Why are you so eager to get half of Father's work that I should be doing?"

"Why do you think? I'm doing this because I won't let you have Father's trust entirely!" Quinn calmly stated.

"But why? What's wrong if I gain Father's full trust? Why don't you like it? Is it possible that you're doing this because you want revenge for what Alexa did to you? Are you seeking revenge on her through me?"

"Yes, that's true. But it's not just that." Quinn smirked at him. Instead of being surprised by Quinn's confession, Ronan was left puzzled by her words.

"What do you mean? If it's not just that, then what?" Ronan furrowed his brow. He truly didn't understand why Quinn was so determined to hinder him. After all, he had never once disturbed Quinn because he believed that if he dared to interfere with her, it would become a significant problem for him.

"I do want revenge for what your sister did to me. But, I'm also doing this because I know all about your rottenness!" Quinn whispered while staring at Ronan with a sharp gaze. Ronan's face turned shocked, and he fell silent as he tried to digest Quinn's words. "I will protect my country from people like you!" Quinn threw out her hand. Letting go of Ronan's grip on her hand.

"What the hell do you know about me?" Ronan grabbed her by the shoulders. He was really curious why Quinn was acting like she already knew all the plans he had prepared so far, and he was also curious what Quinn really knew about him. Quinn just put on a flat face. She wasn't at all surprised or scared by Ronan's reaction.

"All your rottenness!" The words came out of her mouth with emphasis. Quinn swatted Ronan's hand away, then turned around and left him alone in confusion.

***