Small tea parties and banquets were held for the distinguished guests who still remained in the imperial palace.
However, the official wedding celebrations were over, so I took some time to make a to-do list.
âŠâŠ
1. Check the Imperial Palace Budget. Look at the account ledgers. ââ
2. Check employee numbers, positions, salaries and duties.
3. Check the social welfare policies of the Western Empire.
4. Making preparations for trade with Rwibt â Where do I start? How do I contact Grand Duke Kapmen? A letter? Send someone? I donât know.
5. Investigate Miss Mullaneyâs family situation.
6. Send a birthday gift to Princess Soju.
7. Send a thank you gift to the High Priest. Could it be a donation?
8. Learn more about the history of the Western Empire. There are things I still donât understand.
9. I need aides.
10. I need an office!
âŠâŠ
However, as I wrote what came to mind, I felt a gaze on me.
It was Mastas. She was staring at the notebook with her mouth half open.
âWhatâs wrong?â
When I asked, Mastas smiled awkwardly and said,
âBecause there are so many question marks.â
âAh, this is not an official document. I just write whatever comes to my mind.â
âI see.â
Mastas stared in amazement at my list, and as soon as I tapped her arm to stop, she said sheepishly, âAhh. This is impolite,â and quickly went elsewhere.
Before long, she returned with a white basket.
The basket was filled with all kinds of envelopes.
âWhatâs this?â
I asked as I put down the pen, Mastas explained with a smile.
âThese are letters for Your Majesty the Empress.â
âLetters?â
I knew what that meant.
âThey were sent by the young ladies who have a crush on my brother, right?â
I smiled naturally.
I remembered my brother, who was uncomfortable among the beautifully dressed young ladies.
But Mastas immediately replied, âI donât think so.â
âNo?â
âThe sendersâ signatures are from ladies like this.â
Mastas quickly extended a letter from the basket to me for confirmation.
âLadies?â
Did the young ladies convince their mothers to send me letters?
Do they want me to approach their families to proceed with the marriage?
First, I opened the gold envelope and took out the letter.
When I opened the letter folded in three parts, clear and flawless handwriting was revealed.
ââŠâ
âWhat does it say?â
I said to Mastas, âOne moment,â then I pulled out another letter and read it.
ââŠâ
After doing it a few more times, Rose poked her head out curiously.
Rose, who had brought another basket, acted similarly to Mastas.
They didnât know anything.
After reading almost twenty letters, I said confidently.
âMastas you are right. These letters were sent by the ladies.â
The letters were cordial and friendly, full of congratulations on the wedding and a willingness to approach.
Immediately after the self-proclamation, the families close to Heinley were very nice to me, so I expected the ladies of those families to send me these kinds of letters.
But arenât these too many?!
I also found it strange that other high society ladies saw me on the last day of the reception and decided ânot to reject me immediatelyâ.
It was my understanding that half of the high society was on Christaâs side. No matter how careful I acted, they would be prejudiced towards meâŠ
This was strange.
Still, for the moment I had to respond.
âMiss Laura, I think it is necessary to get more stationery.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â
âMiss Rose, could you look into this matter?â
âYes. donât worry.â
Whatever the purpose, if they really meant well, I would be grateful.
However, if what they were after was to approach me in order to then try to stab me in the back, I would have to be cautious.
***
Arriving at the Imperial Palace of the Eastern Empire, Rashta ordered Viscount Roteschu to come to the palace tomorrow at 10 a.m. through a messenger.
âAn order?â
Viscount Roteschu was upset by Rashtaâs message, but visited her at ten oâclock the next morning as ordered.
Rashta asked him coldly when he arrived.
âThe slave trade certificate. Where is it now?â
The certificate had originally been left at the bear corporation. However, Koshar had gone to get it after cutting off Roteschuâs ear.
Viscount Roteschu blatantly pretended to be unaware of this fact.
âOf course itâs in my hands.â
âReally?â
Rashta narrowed her eyes, biting her nails. While Roteschu continued to pretend to have it.
âOf course. Who else could have it?
âIt wasnât lost?â
âNo.â
âReally?â
âYes!â
âLie!â
When Rashta shouted and threw the cup at the wall, Viscount Roteschu flinched and shrugged his shoulders like a turtle.
The cup that flew out hit the wall and shattered into pieces. Fragments scattered dizzyingly across the floor.
âA-Are you crazy?â
The astonishment was such that Viscount Roteschu clicked his tongue, but closed his mouth immediately upon seeing Rashtaâs face.
âAre you sure?â
Rashta tilted her head as she asked in a deep voice, as she was ready to throw the other cup at his face instead of at the wall if he said the wrong thing.
Viscount Roteschu kept his mouth shut.
He believed that she would change a little after having power. That happened naturally with everyone.
But he didnât expect her to change so much or so fastâŠ
Viscount Roteschu just clicked his tongue without even thinking of trying to put her in her place, like in the past, by saying, âYouâre not even within my sonâs reachâ.
âHow does Your Majesty know about that certificate?â
Viscount Roteschu could not show his anger, so he smiled forcedly.
âItâs all because of that Koshar. It was him who stole the certificate.â
Rashta looked coldly at Viscount Roteschu and ordered him,
âI donât want to see you. Get out!â
ââŠâ
âI said get out!â
Viscount Roteschu got up reluctantly.
Rashta glared at him, pulled the ring off her finger and tossed it at his feet.
âKeep it.â
The jeweled ring sparkled beautifully as it rolled across the carpet.
Viscount Roteschu bent down, picked up the ring and left the room with a smile.
But as soon as he stepped out into the corridor, his expression turned terribly cold.
âHow dare she be so arrogant?â
Although others considered her as âthe hope of commonersâ or a âreal fairy taleâ, to Viscount Roteschu, Rashta was nothing more than a slave he could use.
No matter how high her position, Viscount Roteschu could not think of her as a noble.
That narrow thought stoked Viscount Roteschuâs anger.
âIâll have to teach her a lesson.â
He had done nothing to correct her behavior lately, but Viscount Roteschu was determined to suppress Rashtaâs spirit now.
As soon as he arrived at his residence, he instructed Alan.
âAlan. Ask for an audience.â
Alan asked puzzled, âAn audience?â
Whether a commoner or a nobleman, if one asked for an audience one could speak to the emperor.
As a result, there were so many people applying for an audience that the waiting line was extremely long.
Those applying for an audience had to endure that long waiting line before they were received.
Why should I apply for an audience now?
âWhy an audience?â
âDoesnât Rashta participate in the audiences?â
Hearing Rashtaâs name, Alan stiffened. Roteschu smiled and said,
âIâm sure she will want to see her son. Take Ahn and show Rashta his little face.â