After the meeting on Luipt,I met with the officials from each department to agree the budget for the year.

I didn't even had time to rest cause another meeting came up

I have to deal with another political job involving the budget of the year

Well as long as I do what my Empres did,I'm sure I'll be fine

"There are no changes to the tax system planned.There is also no rise in inflation.I suggest that overall,we can aim for a similar budget to last year since I don't foresee any border conflicts with other nations.The tax revenue is similar to the revenue from last year.So we can just recycle last year's budget plan"

I hope I got it all right

So far, everything had gone smoothly.

The only thing that's left is...deciding how much to budget for the mistress.

The money she receives is all just gonna go to that old man

But we have to give her money as it is expected that she receives money for being a mistress.

I can't really do anything about how she manages her money as she probably won't listen to me and will just get swayed by their words and her fears.

Whatever...

What she does with the money is none of my business as long as it's not my Empress's money

If giving her money will keep her away then so be it

"It would be easy to calculate if we had records of how much has been spent on Lady Rashta."

"As no funds have been allocated yet,it is probably recorded in his Majesty's ledgers."

"Lady Marti was from a commoner family.Her situation is also similar in that she became a mistress at the start of the Emperor's reign..."

"I don't think we can base the budget on that because of inflation"

The meeting went on longer than I thought, and when I left the room with the finance minister, the air was already cold. The sun was still out, but the sky was not that bright.

I didn't even have time to eat lunch.Im so hungry.

My meeting with Grand Duke Kaufman went from morning until afternoon, and from the afternoon onward I missed my meal when I met with the finance minister.

The meetings practically took a whole day that I didn't had time to eat

I deserve a delicious meal when I come to the Western palace and a good nights sleep

I wonder if Queen came to visit though

I hurried along, and at the fork leading to the eastern and western palaces, I saw the hem of a green skirt peeking from the bushes.

Sir Artina, who was following me, frowned.

"Who could that be?"

"I'm not sure..."

It's that woman

Well she does have useful information even though I already know about it but still this is her way to get rid of guilt

The owner of the protruding skirt stepped away from the bushes, revealing it to be Viscountess Verdi.

“Your Majesty.”

When our eyes met, she broke away and her eyes darted around. After making sure no one else was here, she urgently beckoned at me. However, I didn’t approach and Sir Artina rebuked her.

"You have some nerve approaching her majesty!"

Viscountess Verdi shook her head vigorously. Desperation flickered on her face, then she looked around again and came up to me.

"I have to tell you something.I may not be your lady-in-waiting any longer,but it would weigh on my conscience if I didn't inform you of this"

Yeah I know

That man has something on Rashta and is using her

"I believe Viscount Lotteshu is holding something over Rashta's head"

Huh

Poor Rashta

Ratted out by one of her decent lady-in-waiting

Well it's not like she has anyone to trust around her

And it's only too late when she realizes that

Well it's her fault for being so stupid

The sound of something snapping interrupted her. I turned towards the direction of the noise, but Viscountess Verdi had disappeared into the bushes again.

Good thing she run away cause the person coming is the one she was just ratting out to us

I looked where Mrs. Verdi had stood, then saw someone else approaching me again.

It was Rashta.

“Your Majesty.”

She looked thinner than before and had dark bags under her eyes. She greeted me with a short bow and spoke in a feeble voice.

"Um...may I ask your majesty a question?"

You already did

And she's just gonna ask me about Nian to use for her plans to pass the attention to the Duchess

I should make this quick

"You may"

"It's about Duchess Tuania"

"Duchess Tuania?"

"Is she a woman of loose morals by any chance?"

Loose morals?

This hypocritical bitch

She's gonna criticize another woman over something she's clearly doing herself in the open which is way worse

Wow

Talk about internalized misogyny

"Duchess Tuania is a good person and a good friend"

"But... she's always surrounded by men and it seems like she enjoys the attention.I don't think that's proper for a married woman"

Not proper for a married woman?

She's literally sleeping with and sucking up to a married man and flaunting that fact around with no shame and now she's gonna judge a woman who's situation is nothing close to hers

The least you can do is be aware of what you're doing and don't judge others on that subject when you're literally doing something worse

And as if you don't enjoy the attention you get from men

And what the hell does this woman know about what's proper?

She's an uneducated person with no proper source of right and wrong

And the people around her isn't even dependable

Hell her moral judgement isn't dependable

I know she has no source of proper knowledge but still...

Have some self awareness woman!

But then again this trait of her makes her a perfect match with that embicile

Men has an affair,they get glorified

Women simply gains attention from men,they get shamed for it

Fucking hell

"The Duchess is popular with everyone,not just men"

"But I've only seen her socializing with men at parties "

"It probably just seems that way because men and women partner with each other to dance at parties "

"Oh,I'm not asking this to say something bad about her.Its just because I have no idea..."

Who does this bitch think she's trying to fool?

Maybe I should give her a piece of my mind

I leaned forward Rashta's ear and whispered to her

"You out of all people have no right to judge people when it comes to loose morals.We all know you're the one with loose morals here Rashta.And don't think you're fooling me,I know you're trying to dig up dirt on Duchess Tuania to take the focus away from you .Since you're such a fool, I'll tell you something. Duchess Tuania has a lot of people that's willing to do for her.So you better be careful on who you let on to your scheme."

I leaned back to see Rashta's face filled with shock and fear

It's probably because now she knows I know what she's up to

I should only give her a little scare

"And unlike you, She's certainly not someone who will behave with impropriety.So don't speak of the matter again."

"Y-yes your majesty"

Rashta seemed to be shakened up with my words

I can't let that be cause she'd be more wary of me and will always do something to get ahead of me

"Don't worry,Rashta.As long as you keep away from me,I won't interfere with your life.I won't care what you do as long as it doesn't involve me.So make sure no matter what you're up to,it won't affect me if you don't want me getting involved with you"

Rashta gulped and gave a small “yes”

I turned around and walked back to the western palace.

After I returned to my room,I spoke with my ladies-in-waiting

“Countess Eliza. Do you know if there have been any bad rumors about Duchess Tuania recently?”

"Not that I'm aware of...oh wait.I heard that Viscount Landre has been acting like a lovesick puppy after dancing with the Duchess during the New Years Ceremony. "

"Let me know right away if you hear any questionable rumors"

"I will,your majesty"

Viscount Landre...

That lucky boy!

He's the leader of the Supranational Knights and is such a sweetheart

I totally support him being with Duchess Tuania.Atleast he treats her better.

Reminds me of a certain someone...

He's definitely gonna play an important role in this life and will be very useful to my Empress

I should probably help save him from getting into deathrow and revealing that woman's pregnancy.

Pregnancy that's not even that son of a bitch's

Honestly why does people even think it's that bastards child?

The child was born 'prematurely' and yet she came out full and healthy

Only way for that to be possible is if that woman was pregnant ahead of time of what's recorded

It's literally in the timeline of her pregnancy

And that wonderful child deserves better

That poor child has nothing on that prick

She's lucky enough to have been taken away from that douchebag

I can't imagine what her life would be if she stayed with that fuckstain

That jackass deserves to live and die alone

Talk about Karma