Not long after that, a man appeared before her. He was a man with brown hair and brown eyes. He was from her mothers fianc, Marquis McPauline.

What kind of man is Marquis McPauline?

Hes a very nice, open-minded person. Come to think of it, he has brown hair and brown eyes like me. Of course, its a glossy color unlike me.

Arya was filled with hope. Marquis McPauline still hasnt let go of her mother, who was his former mistress. So he offered to help her blood, Arya. Arya was so happy every day when she was preparing to leave the Panacio family.

Stories spread throughout the territory that she had an affair with a wandering minstrel. Others seemed to have considered the man from Castro a minstrel. The story also went into the ears of her brother, Depine.

The day he heard the rumor, he came into Aryas bedroom.

A b*tch worth less than a whore in a brothel. Youve been playing dirty under your own father, and now youre lying with a man you dont even know. Ill educate you properly.

Depine whispered in the ear of a troubled Arya who was in tears of shame.

The man you want cant come here. Do you know why? His torn body must have already gone into a pigs belly.

He said, looking at the face of aghast Arya.

If you dont believe it, why dont you run to the pigsty now? Who knows? Maybe theres a chunk of his flesh left that the pigs havent eaten.

The cry of Aryas despair covered the land of the House of Panacio.

She was fed up with the Panacio family. No, she couldnt even express all that resentful feeling she had towards them. For her, the members of the Panacio family were like demons who gave up being human beings.

What was even more disgusting was the child of Depine Panacio that was growing in her stomach. She wanted to kill herself after taking poison. But still, on the one hand, she had a desire to live.

Why did she have to die? Arya just wanted to live her life completely without being trampled on by someone.

Then she got a chance. It was a visit by Emperor Rodbius.

Her father, who coveted the supreme power, put Arya into the room of the drunken emperor. She was also an active participant. This was because she saw her father, whom to her was like a demon she could not defeat, shaking his tail in front of the emperor.

In the end, she was able to make the child in her belly an emperors child.

After receiving the Emperors favor, she was contacted by the Marquis McPauline of the Castro Empire. She had thought Depine had killed the Marquis McPaulines man, but fortunately, he seemed to have used his wit and returned to Castro. McPauline told him to come to the Castro Empire because he had prepared everything for her, but Arya refused.

She wasnt sure what kind of life she would live if she went to the Castro Empire. Although Marquis McPauline was said to have loved his mother, he was already married and had his own children. There was a high probability that he could not take responsibility for her life until the end.

By comparison, being an emperors woman in the Leipsden Empire was a thing of supreme authority. She would no longer have to stoop and be trampled on. She had no intention of letting go of her hard-won prize.

Sienna frowned as she looked at Aryas past activities sent by her aunt. As expected, Arya had ties to the Castro Empire.

Why so serious?

Whoa!

Sienna grabbed her chest as she was surprised by Carl who approached without any noise.

When did you come in? Isnt it time for a political meeting?

I just got here. The meeting ended early.

Carl looked satisfied. He seemed to have obtained positive results on the issue of the central militarys planned deployment to the local territories. Her advice that it would be better to pressure Count Ferrer to deal with political issues opposed by the nobles, rather than punish Bluebell and Count Ferrer, seemed to have worked quite well.

Sienna was in a good mood and smiled. She then gave him the documents he was looking at.

What is this?

I asked Aunt Kelly to look into the past of Empress Arya. It must have taken a while to figure out what happened in the past, so it just arrived.

Aryas past?

I thought that Empress Arya had a connection with the Castro Empire. Castro had provoked at a time that she wanted, and the reduction of the Central Army she recently pushed through Count Ferrer is a policy that is too favorable for the Castro Empire.

Thats true.

So I did some research just in case, and I think Im right.

Carl looked at the papers she gave him interestingly.

I already knew that Aryas mother is from the Castro aristocracy.

Yes, but all the minstrels shes been with for a long time are from Castro. It also says that although Panacios territory is quite far from the Castro Empire, it was frequented by people from Castro.

It must have been a fairly precise investigation. I cant believe its accompanied by analytical statistics.

Carl was in admiration. He had also been constantly investigating Arya. Nevertheless, the relationship between her and Castro was not known.

I think my aunt stepped up and found out for me.

According to this investigation, she is connected to Castro through mother?

The empress mother died early, but it must be related. Its hard to see the details Its hard to find evidence that Arya is in direct contact with the Castro Empire, but at least we need to pay attention.

At Siennas words, Carl nodded with a serious face.

Thats right. If she had ties to the Castro Empire since she started out, her spies would have taken root all over the city. Lets get Kissinger and Pavenik to get a closer look at the members of the castle.

And also

As Sienna hesitated to continue, Carl asked her what is on her mind.

I heard there are many street orphans these days. The children in the capital city are fine thanks to the Goddess of the Land temple, but children in other parts of the country are often starved to death.

People gave out food to children when they had enough money, but now it was hard to find such charity because of the harsh public sentiment after the drop in wheat prices.

It would be good for each territory to take action, but the territorial lords were not pleased with orphans who did not pay taxes and negatively affected the street atmosphere. On the contrary, they were lucky if the knights didnt kick them out.

Yes, Ill make a budget.

Said Carl, nodding his head.

No, you dont have to. There will be a lot of talk about budgeting, so Id rather cut down on the amount spent in the castle. Please just make this agenda public.

It seemed that Sienna was trying to do something to establish herself as the empress, so Carl nodded with a pleased face.

To be honest, I think its as important as the orphan problem. Just to put economic pressure on Arya.

Sienna explained to Carl.

The cost of luxurious maintenance assigned to the dowager empress castle has been ridiculously high. Shes right to be extravagant, but Im sure a large portion of this money came from the nobility or gained with illegalities. Until now, there has been no excuse to put a brake on the dowager empresss budget, but I will try to reduce the amount and pressure Arya, using the project to rescue orphans as the excuse.

Carl agreed with Sienna.

That sounds great. Ill also give you the authority to access and inspect all the books used in the castle, so check where and how the Empresss money has been going. Ive been keeping a close eye on her, too, but since youve been in charge of my accounting, youll have a different perspective. Maybe we can check the merchant organization close to Arya, or the source of the funds shes hiding.

Sienna had long wanted to prevent Arya from extorting huge costs in luxury and exploiting them for political funds, but she couldnt.

Within the Imperial Palace, Arya was solid, and Siennas power was insignificant in comparison. Moreover, it was seen as quite rude for the empress to request books or reduce the amount already set aside.

But now she was determined to leave her honor behind and proceed with the work. She was scared, but she was motivated when Carl declared he would give her strength.

The two earnestly discussed how to proceed.

*

The woman looked in the mirror with an expressionless face. In the past, there would be a nanny who would say she was the most beautiful woman in the world, but now she was not here.

Its all because of Sienna. If she hadnt changed the cups.

Sienna ruined everything. A little action by Sienna ruined everything. Or at least Bluebell thought so.

Putting aside the fact that she planned a self-poison plan to put Sienna at risk, she focused only on the fact that all her plans had been ruined because of Sienna.

Would you like to join hands with me?

Aryas suggestion was answered yet.

Dont trust Empress Arya too much. I think shes a suspicious woman.

Bluebell couldnt accept Aryas offer easily because of the words her nanny said before she died.

The nanny disapproved of Bluebells reliance on Arya after she came into the palace. She warned Bluebell not to be too trusting, saying that Arya looks like a smiling person on the outside but its because she wants something from Bluebell.

Now Bluebell knew that the nanny was not wrong. Bluebell knew well that Arya was a woman who made a false smile if needed.

But theres no nanny anymore. Theres no one on my side.

Bluebell said, swallowing bitter tears. She really didnt have anyone to reach out to now.

Bluebell couldnt tell the truth to her father Kenyon Ferrer, who was always asking if the baby was growing up well, and that everything would be okay if she had a baby.

Kenyon always spoiled Bluebell, but she knew how cold he would turn if he found out the truth. Bluebell even wondered if he raised her nicely to use her politically.

Besides, Bluebell didnt even feel like she had a choice now. Arya knew her biggest secret.

Only

Empress Bluebell, you lied to me that you were pregnant, right?

Aryas words echoed again.

Its not really important whether youre pregnant or not. A baby, you can make it. The child who will be the emperor does not have to be the blood of the emperor. A boy with golden hair and olive eyes is rare, but not impossible to find.

Bluebell never thought Arya would say such a scary thing as lightly as if she was talking about the weather.

Before that, Ill give you a present. Im sure youll be happy.

Arya had never visited her since that day. And the gift didnt arrive either.

It was obvious by the tone of her speech that it was not a common gift. Bluebell was anxious and excited about what it would be. Hoping that it could be something she can hold on to