Agad na umalis ang Emperor kasama ng mga knights, naiwan naman si Henry upang maging katulong ko sa pamamahala sa palasyo.

I stood on the balcony, silently gazing up at the moon, its soft glow spilling over the night sky. The peaceful stillness of the moment wrapped around me, offering a brief escape from the troubles weighing on my mind. May the light of the moon guide their journey tonight, I whispered in my thoughts, hoping the travelers,especially the Emperor found safety under its watchful glow.

"You seem troubled, Your Majesty."

Startled, I turned quickly to the side, my heart skipping a beat. There, perched on the railing as if it were the most natural thing in the world, was Duke Sebastian. He sat casually, one leg dangling over the edge while his arms rested lightly on his lap. I drew in a deep breath, calming the urge to snap at him. He had a way of appearing unexpectedly, always so nonchalant. It was no longer surprising to see him in such odd places, but still, it tested my patience.

"The largest farm has burned down. What do you expect?" I replied sharply, my voice edged with irritation. I shot him a glare, my frustration boiling over. The devastation from the fire weighed heavily on me, and his carefree demeanor didn't help.

He fell silent for a moment, watching me thoughtfully. Then, after what felt like a pause of consideration, he spoke again, "Do you want me to investigate the incident?"

I frowned, my brow furrowing at his offer. I looked at him closely, trying to read his expression. There was no trace of his usual mischief, no hint that he was joking. He seemed completely serious. I pressed my lips together, thinking over his suggestion carefully. As much as I wanted to get to the bottom of the situation, I hesitated. If I agreed, it might seem like I was acting without the Emperor's consent. That could easily lead to misunderstandings, and I wasn't sure how the Emperor would react.

I sighed, the weight of my concerns heavy in my chest. "It's complicated. I don't have the right to interfere with the Emperor's decisions, especially in this situation," I said quietly, my voice low. The burden of responsibility pressed down on me, making it difficult to breathe.

"You do have the right," Duke Sebastian countered, his tone calm but firm, "You're managing the state affairs now."

His words made me pause. I glanced down at the fountain below, watching as the water sparkled under the moonlight. He was right. The Emperor had trusted me to handle the kingdom's matters in his absence. That meant I had the authority to take action, even in this case. Why hadn't I realized it sooner? The problem at hand was no exception. May karapatan akong makialam, ginawa ko na rin ito dati ngunit iba ito ngayon.

I took a deep breath, the clarity of the situation finally settling in my mind. "All right," I said, my voice firm and resolute, "I'll count on you, Duke Sebastian," my decision was final, and there was no room for doubt.

He didn't say anything more, but the silence that followed was enough to assure me that he had accepted. It seemed I could rely on him to help, after all.

The next morning, I immediately went to the Emperor's office and began going through the stack of papers that had accumulated on the desk. One by one, I read through each document, my mind focused on the pressing matters of the empire.

I quickly massaged my temples when I came across a report about the fire that had destroyed the largest farm. It stated that the crops were close to being harvested, but suddenly, a massive problem occurred. This was a devastating loss, especially since the harvest was already expected. Everything on the twenty hectares of rice fields was reduced to ashes, along with the fifteen hectares of vegetable plots. Even the coconut trees and fruit crops spread across twenty-five hectares weren't spared.

I gritted my teeth. I couldn't believe how extensive the damage was. Damn! This was a huge problem. It was clear that this wasn't an accident; it was obviously planned. Everything burned simultaneously-there was no doubt this was deliberate.

Not only would the workers be greatly affected by this, but also the merchants who depended on the farm's produce for their businesses. The ripple effects of this disaster would reach far and wide.

"Henry, has anyone figured out what caused the fire?" I asked, my gaze shifting to him. My voice was problematic, betraying the seriousness of the situation.

Henry, who had been skimming through some papers while seated on the sofa, paused and removed his glasses. "The officials said it was an accident. One of the farmers supposedly dropped his torch on some dry leaves. He was drunk and wasn't in his right mind," he revealed.

I stared at him, stunned. What a ridiculous explanation! Only a fool would believe that nonsense.

These officials were giving me plenty of reasons to doubt their loyalty.

"Where is this farmer now?" I inquired, my tone growing more severe. I was trying my best to keep my patience intact.

"He's already in custody, but he's being persecuted," Henry replied.

My brows furrowed at his words. Persecuted? For what? They already had a so-called confession, so what's the point of putting him through more suffering when they've already declared the reason behind the incident?

I clenched my fists. They were likely planning to silence the man. I immediately thought of Duke Sebastian-there was something I needed him to do. I had to confirm it before it was too late.

Standing up from my seat, I glanced at Henry. "Henry, I have something important to take care of. I need to leave now," I declared, my voice firm and unwavering.

Henry immediately stood and bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty," he responded, his voice full of respect. I took a deep breath and made my way out of the office.

Secretly, I left the palace with Edward by my side. We rode our horses through the winding roads, heading toward the Ducal palace.

It was already nightfall when we arrived, and we were immediately met by two knights, who quickly pointed their swords at us.

"Who are you?" one of them demanded. They couldn't recognize us since we were both cloaked.

I pulled back my hood, and their eyes widened in shock. They hastily lowered their swords and bowed deeply. "Apologies, Your Imperial Majesty," they said in unison, their voices filled with remorse but laced with respect.

"I wish to speak with the Duke," I revealed my purpose, watching as they exchanged glances, seemingly communicating silently before one of them finally spoke.

"Follow me, Your Imperial Majesty," one of the knights instructed, turning on his heel and leading the way. Edward and I followed closely behind.

We were brought to the second floor, where the knight stopped in front of a door. He knocked before opening it. "You may enter, Your Imperial Majesty," he said confidently, his head slightly bowed. I gave him a curt nod and turned to Edward.

"Stay here. I'll speak with the Duke myself," I ordered, my voice leaving no room for debate.

Edward bowed respectfully. "As you command, Your Majesty," he answered with politeness.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and entered the room. Upon stepping inside, my eyes immediately scanned the space, and I spotted the Duke lying on a long sofa.

I raised an eyebrow. Is he asleep? I carefully walked closer to him, but before I could get too close, he suddenly spoke.

"I could smell you from here, Your Majesty," he said, smirking slightly. His eyes opened, and he sat up from his lounging position.

I sneered at him. "What are you, a dog?" I retorted, my irritation slipping into my tone. He chuckled, flashing me a mischievous grin.

"I'm more than just a dog, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice dripping with mischief as if daring me to lose my temper.

I gritted my teeth, determined not to let him get under my skin. I took a breath to regain my composure, remembering the reason for my visit.

I sat on the sofa across from him and fixed him with a serious look, "You said you would investigate the fire at the farm," I began, recalling the promise he had made. He nodded, his expression now calm and collected.

"Then start with the man they accused," I instructed, my voice clear and unwavering. His brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"We need to get that man. I suspect his confession isn't the truth... and he's currently under persecution by the officials," I revealed, my voice taking on a more urgent tone.

The Duke's face hardened, his expression turning serious. "It seems the officials aren't loyal at all," he remarked, smirking as if the thought pleased him.

I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that he understood what I wanted without needing further explanation.

"Give me one day to handle it, Your Majesty. I'll send you a letter once it's done," he assured me, his voice filled with confidence that he could complete the task.

I nodded and stood up. As I was about to take a step, my foot caught on something, and I stumbled. My eyes widened in panic as I immediately lost my balance, my body lurching forward.

Time seemed to slow as I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact with the cold, hard floor. My heart raced, and I could already feel the sting of embarrassment creeping up on me. But instead of the sharp pain of a fall, I felt something-or rather, someone-catch me. Firm arms wrapped around me, preventing me from hitting the ground.

Startled, I quickly opened my eyes and tilted my head up. There, standing over me, was the Duke, his gaze locked intently on mine. His hold was steady, strong, and for a moment, I was too stunned to speak.

I swallowed hard, feeling a wave of nervousness wash over me. My heart hammered in my chest as I hurriedly straightened myself, stepping out of his arms. "I have to go, Duke," I said quickly, my voice coming out more rushed than I intended. Not wanting to give him a chance to respond, I turned on my heel and walked away, eager to escape the situation.

As soon as I made it outside, I pressed a hand to my chest, my heart still pounding wildly. Damn, that was embarrassing.

"What happened, Your Majesty?" a familiar voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see Edward standing nearby, his brows furrowed in concern and confusion.

I let out a small sigh, shaking my head as I composed myself. "Nothing. Let's go," I replied, my voice a bit too firm, hoping to brush off the awkwardness. Without waiting for a response, I began walking, and Edward immediately fell in step beside me.

We spent the night in the village. I much preferred the quiet atmosphere there compared to the Ducal palace, where everything felt too formal, too stifling.

The following morning, Edward and I set off early, returning to the palace by the afternoon. As we approached the gates, a crowd of people was gathered outside, seemingly trying to gain entry. Their faces were a mix of worry and determination.

We passed through the crowd, and the knights at the gate noticed our approach. I subtly revealed my face, and they quickly opened the gates for us. Edward and I entered, but I glanced back at the crowd. Their expressions still showed confusion, but their resolve remained unwavering.

Once inside the palace, I headed straight to Emperor's office. Upon entering, I found Henry, looking rather stressed as he sifted through stacks of papers, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Henry," I called, my voice pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked up, and a visible sigh of relief passed over him. He walked a few steps closer before bowing deeply. "Your Majesty," he greeted.

I studied his face carefully, sensing the weight of something troubling him, "Why are there so many people outside?" I asked, my tone taking on a more serious edge. He hesitated for a brief moment, his eyes meeting mine before he spoke.

"They are the workers who want to leave their jobs, Your Majesty," he revealed, and I felt a sharp pang of frustration.

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the familiar tension building. Placing a hand on my waist, I muttered, "They are making things more complicated," but deep down, I understood their concerns. It was only natural for them to worry about their livelihoods, especially when stability felt like a distant promise.

I sighed, a mix of sympathy and exasperation in my breath. "Tell them I will double their salaries, but they mustn't leave. However, it's only temporary. Once things stabilize, the rates will return to normal," I said, walking over to the desk and sinking into the chair, the exhaustion finally catching up with me.

I glanced at Henry once more, and he nodded before bowing and swiftly exiting the room. I leaned back in my chair, massaging my temples. It could take months for the farms to recover some of the crops, and years for others. I sighed again, knowing I couldn't rely on the palace's wealth for too long to cover wages. I would have to dip into my personal savings from the clothing store-a secret I intended to keep.

Resting my elbows on the desk, I propped my head on my hands, feeling the weight of it all press down on me. "I really hate that old man for this," I muttered bitterly to myself, "Out of all the lives he could've given me, he chose this one-an Empress," the responsibility was crushing, overwhelming, but I had no choice. This was my reality, and there was no escaping it.