"Yes, I've been reading historical records diligently... It seems common for emperors to grant one wish to meritorious subjects. I wanted to try that too."
"I see. What wish do you think I would make?"
"Don't tease me!"
As Liv glared playfully, Emmett smiled with an amused face.
"Alright, I can't think of anything right now, but I'll let you know when I come up with a wish later."
"You're the most meritorious subject, so whatever you say is fine. If you want, I could expand the territory of the Lartman duchy, give you tax exemptions, or enact any law you desire."
"My, what an honor."
After continuing their conversation with smiling faces, Liv checked her wristwatch and spoke.
"Ah, come to think of it, it's almost time for the government affairs meeting."
Since becoming Emperor, Liv had been diligently attending to state affairs. Of course, the previous Emperor hadn't neglected state affairs either, but Liv tried to look into even more detailed aspects.
Meanwhile, while Liv handled external affairs, Emmett was managing the internal affairs of the imperial palace. During August's reign as Emperor, there was no Empress, so Louisa had been handling those duties, but Emmett was focusing on keeping only those loyal to the new Emperor in the imperial palace.
"Then I should be going now."
"Alright, my Emperor."
Every time Emmett called Liv 'Your Majesty', Liv felt a ticklish sensation. Clearly, everyone called her 'Your Majesty', but strangely, it felt different when Emmett did so.
"Liv, are there any people bothering you in the meetings?"
"Hmm, well..."
Liv blinked slowly. Perhaps Emmett was worried that after the tyrant August stepped down, the nobles would seize this opportunity to build their power by attacking Liv, but...
"I don't think there will be any major problems."
* * *
When the Emperor arrived at the meeting hall, Marquis Meisner's eyes gleamed. Today was the second meeting held since the new Emperor's ascension. The main agenda of the last meeting was sorting out meritorious subjects, so today was truly an opportunity to see the Emperor's real abilities.
"Your Majesty, there's been a conflict between the Riebermann Marquis territory and the Fechstein Count territory. There's been a territorial dispute between the two regions for a while, and now the Count of Fechstein has protested against illegal territorial occupation by the Marquis of Riebermann, leading to a crisis where military forces from both regions might clash."
Both families had maintained friendly relations with the previous Emperor. Depending on whose side the Emperor takes here, it would determine which family from the previous Emperor's faction would gain an advantageous position.
"Hmm... I see."
However, the Emperor slowly tapped her pen and gave an unexpected answer.
"We should use a fair method. Since the Liest Marquis territory also borders that area, let's give that territory to Marquis Liest."
At those words, Marquis Meisner's face contorted. Marquis Liest was a family that had sided with the current Emperor. In the end, the current Emperor had no intention of yielding to them at all.
Throughout the meeting, Marquis Meisner threw various issues at the Emperor, but each time, the Emperor came up with strong measures.
'I thought a weak person would come after August stepped down, but...'
Although her way of dealing with people in private settings might be different, the current Emperor's political style was closer to August's than the previous Emperor's. It seemed they couldn't take the new Emperor lightly after all.
* * *
Although the maids were initially distant with each other, they soon quickly adapted to their work.
"New jewels have arrived for Her Majesty."
Looking at a box full of dazzling jewels, Greta spoke. Greta examined the items that had come from the Emperor of the Merna Empire in detail and then ordered the maids in the Emperor's dressing room.
"Miss Kölpen, and Miss Gentzen. Please sort and organize these jewels. Miss Wolfe will organize the letters that have arrived for Her Majesty with me. Ah, Miss Luter, please go to the archivist and check on the progress of the historical records related to the traitor."
After Greta, Anne, and Elena left, Olivia began sorting the jewels alone with Maria. Looking at the dazzling jewels, Maria chattered excitedly to Olivia.
"My goodness, I heard that the Merna Empire collects jewels at the imperial level, but this is amazing! We'll be able to adorn Her Majesty even more splendidly from now on!"
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Ah, how about we organize the lighter-colored jewels separately? Since these colors suit Her Majesty, we could gather the ones she's likely to use often."
"Oh, that's a good idea. Let's use this jewelry box."
"Hehe, when Her Majesty came to Edelburg before, she wore a dress densely studded with diamonds, and it was the first time I'd ever seen such a thing! I thought such dresses were common in the capital, but it turns out that's not the case. Ah, how beautiful she was..."
Maria was a positive and bright woman in everything. Although she was older than Olivia, Olivia almost doubted if she was conversing with a fifteen-year-old girl.
But it wasn't unpleasant. Maria was the only one who treated Olivia normally among the maids who were otherwise isolated from her. It was probably because she didn't know about Olivia's past.
At that moment, the dressing room door opened and Elena appeared. She seemed to have finished her work.
Elena looked displeased at Maria chattering to Olivia, then called Maria in a small voice.
"Miss Kölpen, can we talk for a moment?"
"Oh, now?"
"Yes, there's something you should know..."
Maria left with round eyes, and soon whispering sounds could be heard from outside.
When Maria came back into the room, she had a stern expression. She no longer initiated conversation with Olivia while organizing the jewels.
'She must have found out everything.'
It was clear that Elena had told Maria about how Olivia had bullied Liv in the past.
Well, even the bright Maria wouldn't want to be close to Olivia anymore. Maria liked Liv, and moreover, Liv was now the highest authority in this country, so there was no reason to be close to someone who was at odds with her.
In fact, Elena was also famous in social circles for her kind nature. But even she couldn't be friendly with Olivia...
After organizing the jewels in an awkward atmosphere, Olivia felt like she wanted to cry for some reason.
Olivia was originally a sociable person, and that's why she was able to become friends with Miss Zibel, who was the most popular in social circles from the moment she debuted. After becoming close to Miss Zibel, Olivia had a happy social life. No one looked down on Olivia, and everyone was cautious of the Zibel group.
However, now Olivia had fallen to the most insignificant position among the Emperor's maids...
She felt like crying, but Olivia held it back. Crying wouldn't change anything.
Yes, in fact, among the other women in the Zibel group, her situation was the best. One had sided with the previous Emperor and was completely pushed out of the center of politics, two had become objects of avoidance by noble men after Liv's ascension and barely married partners of insignificant status. Someone had broken off their engagement and, unable to find a new groom, married a noble from a neighboring kingdom who didn't even speak the same language, and another was left alone in social circles, ridiculed by other young ladies.
At least Olivia, the daughter of the somewhat powerful Count Gentzen family, had submitted maid applications under pressure from her parents. It was still a mystery how her application had passed the screening.
Still, if she could endure here well, her situation would be better than now. Being a former maid of the Emperor was an incredible background, and with that power, she could marry into a good family even if she was a bit older.
'Yes, I have to endure. Don't cry.'
As Olivia thought this and left the room, an arm suddenly popped out and pulled her into another room. Olivia almost screamed for a moment, but seeing the identity of the person who pulled her, she closed her mouth.
That person smiled gently at Olivia, then whispered in a seductive voice:
"Miss Gentzen, I have a good proposal for you..."
* * *
"Aah! Aaaagh!"
Terrible screams echoed through the underground prison. The air was filled with the acrid smell of blood and fire. A man tied to a chair in a terrible state trembled violently, and Emmett looked down at him with cold eyes, arms folded.
"Stop."
At his signal, the soldier removed the tool from the man. Emmett took one step closer to the man who had lowered his head.
"So you still don't want to tell me what that medicine was?"
He was the person Emmett had appointed as Liv's court physician in the past. The one who had joined hands with August and fed poison to Liv. Emmett had tortured the physician to find out the identity of the poison fed to Liv, but no information could be obtained.
"Please spare me, please spare me.... I really don't know anything. I only received that liquid, I know nothing about its identity. Please spare me..."
The physician was just repeating meaninglessly that he knew nothing and begging to be spared. It seemed there would be no more results, so Emmett sighed and signaled the soldier to clean up.
"Keep him imprisoned. Make sure he doesn't die."
He couldn't be left to die in case information might come from him.
"Phew..."
Liv trusted Emmett, and because of that, she had entrusted all the work regarding the palace servants to him. However, Liv would never dream that Emmett was torturing people like this now. It might be discovered someday, but at least Emmett didn't want Liv to know about it now. She would already have enough on her mind having just ascended to the throne, and he didn't want to burden her with another worry.
Emmett walked through the palace corridors, trying not to frown lest he accidentally meet Liv. Although no blood had splattered on his body, he didn't forget to take a bath in case Liv noticed something.
When he was about to go for a meal after finishing his bath, his servant entered the room and spoke:
"Your Majesty, Marquis Arendt has entered the palace."
"Ah, she's here."