Mrs. Giggs examined the gold bar presented by the Empress. âIâll see what the dress is like and pay for it, but is it okay if I use up these gold bars without leaving a balance?â she inquired, wanting to give the impression that the Empress was generous.
âI brought it specifically for that purpose, so donât leave it behind and use it,â the Empress replied calmly, sipping on some cold water to soothe her stomach.
âHow is this possible? Adele asked. âI donât believe there is any budget for the empressâ palace. Is there no budget for the Empress Palace?â
âAt the end of the year, the Ehmont Imperial Palace prepares the budget for the following year, but since Her Majesty was not present the previous year, the budget was most likely not prepared,â Mrs. Giggs explained.
âSo youâre saying this is normal?â
âOf course not,â Mrs. Giggs replied. âThrough the emergency supplementary budget system, it is possible to reorganise the budget as much as possible. The issue is that only His Majesty the Emperor has authority over supplementary budgets.â
Just as the conversation was about to continue, a maid announced the arrival of the owner of the dress shop. Adele and Mrs. Giggs both stood up to greet the new arrival.
The empress gave Mrs. Giggs a friendly pat on the shoulder and smiled, âTake good care of it.â
âDonât worry. But where are you going, Your Majesty?â
The empress laughed sarcastically and said, âThere is no way to lose if you know your enemy and yourself,â it was a smile that made even the elderly lady, who had survived everything from prenatal battles to air battles, feel cold.
âDonât be concerned; Iâll see you later,â the Empress said before adding, âAllow them to stay in my palace today.â
She then strode away with a smile on her lips. Mrs. Giggs stared at her dark hair, which was blowing in the wind as if possessed.
âMrs. GiggsâŠâ
Mrs. Giggs was lost in thought for quite some time until the lady-in-waiting approached and addressed her by name. She quickly regained her composure and smiled.
âAllow me to lead you.â
âOf course, please follow me,â
Adele arrived at the Imperial Palace, which housed the emperorâs bedroom and the general meeting room for managing state affairs. The palace was a neat and practical space compared to the magnificent Empressâ palace.
As Adele walked through the palace, she saw people gathered in groups of three and five, dressed in various uniforms, as if a meeting of the ministers was taking place. When the Empress unexpectedly appeared, they quickly corrected their posture and respectfully bowed their heads as Adele passed through the crowd.
âDoes it appear that there is a meeting?â Adele asked the gatekeeper as they walked through the front door.
âYes,â the gatekeeper politely replied.
As soon as the attendants learned of the Empressâs visit, they rushed out to greet her. Adele explained the reason for her visit. âIâd like to meet with His Majesty the Emperor,â she said.
âHer Majesty the Empress, yes,â the attendant replied. âIf you wait in the drawing room for a while, I will inquire of Your Majesty and respond.â
âDrawing area?â the Empress asked.
âYes,â the attendant replied.
The Empress nodded, then narrowed her eyes and tilted her head as if she were thinking about something.
âDoesnât the Central News Conference have a waiting room?â
âOf course, there is a waiting room, but it isnât as comfortable as the drawing room, to which we will direct you.â
âIt doesnât matter,â the Empress said. âIâd also like to see the meeting place of high officials in Ehmont, so please point me in the right direction.â
The Empress ordered in a firm tone as if she didnât want any objections, so the attendants had no choice but to obey her.
The Zhongxin Conference Hall was nearby at the time. The Emperor sat in the seat of honor with a bored expression, scribbling on the documents in front of him. The Duke of Despone, who sat to the Emperorâs right, stretched his neck and looked at the papers in front of him. When he couldnât see the documentâs contents, he frowned and turned his gaze away.
His gaze met the man on the other side of him, Theseus Baldr, a young servant who wears glasses and is twenty-nine this year. He is the head of the Baldr family, who owns a vast territory. Despite his youth, he was considered the best Duke of Baldr. When Theseus caught Duke Desponeâs gaze, he naturally turned to face his brother, Lionel Baldr, who had turned 27 this year.
Lionel Baldr, the younger brother of Theseus Baldr, was born a soldier and is now the head of the Imperial Guard and the Ehmont Minister of Defense. He was referred to as âCaptainâ by the knights and âMinister of Defenseâ by the high officials.
Duke Despone licked his lips as he looked at the Baldr brothers. He wishes he could have a son like them! He would have cherished and loved his son if they had been similar. They were the sons of the late Duke of Baldr, so it would have been difficult for him to share his thoughts. It was when Duke Despone was lost in thought and stared at the Baldr brothers.
Suddenly, a manâs scream interrupted his thoughts. âOh, your Majesty!â the man cried out. âPlease, please send strikers and keepers our way. Everyone is perishinâ! They are currently dying!â
Duke Despone was annoyed by the manâs cries and whines, like a child. He turned his head away with a click of his tongue.
âNo matter how hard you try, it keeps coming out.â Even the flying monster is appearing now, and there is no way to stop it. âUnless the striker and keeper take down the towerâŠ
âWell, do you know where weâre going?â
Lennox Poitiers, who sat to the right of the Duke of Despone, broke the weeping appeal.
âEven those who have first- and second-level towers built on their territory donât say anything right now, right?â In any case! âWhat has been constructed in Calvin County is only a fourth-grade tower.â
âDidnât you say itâs gotten bigger in diameter?â The aerial masquerade has been discovered! âItâs not even level four!â
âHow can you refuse when the document specifies Level 4?â
Count Calvin swallowed his rage, jumped up from his seat, and kneeled before the emperor as Lennox cried out in blood.
âHonorable His Majesty the Emperor! Please help me!
âYour Majesty, you are a very selfish person!â âFor the time being, Calvin Bag beat the knights and keep them at bay!â
When a low voice interrupted, the kneeling Count Calvin clenched his fists and glared at Lennox.
âBecause the manor is deteriorating, those who appeal are self-centered.â
Lennox and Count Calvinâs gazes were drawn to the same location at the same time.
âIsnât that right?â A mid-to-large tower with a flying monster would be a disaster on the estate. Seriously, would the Lord of the Lord come here and ask for assistance? You are self-centered! Bag Poitiers, please stop arguing!