The Abandoned Empress

“Fencing, using spears on horseback, tactics and strategy, and administrative skills: the candidates get one hundred points in each area. If they gain less than forty points in any one area, they will be removed unconditionally. I hear that the finalists will be selected based on the total points they achieve. The total number of knights to be selected for the two divisions will depend on their grades, ranging from the top scorer down to those required by the quota.”

“I see. Thanks for your detailed explanation.”

As I turned around the corner, I saw several knights on duty at a distance. I quickly approached them and took over their daily work journal.

When Sir Freia and some knights who congratulated me on my coming-of-age disappeared, I gently bowed to Sir Ryan and Sir Spia who were already there. Unlike Sir Ryan, who seemed to be out of sorts, Sir Spia, who seemed to be excited because of the announcement, said, “Have you seen the official announcement on the selection of knights, Lady Monique?”

“I haven’t seen it yet, but I know about it because Sir Feden has informed me.”

“Are you going to apply? I think you can easily pass the test because you will get extra points for qualifications. In my case, I’m not good at all in administrative skills and tactics… I’m really worried.”

“I think you can also get good results. So, cheer up.”

While encouraging Sir Spia, I gave it a thought to the knights test.

I was confident that I would score well in the administrative skills and tactics. I’m also good at spear skills on horseback. The only area I needed to improve in was fencing.

I had only a month to go before the test, so I thought I needed to start special training from today.

When I was working on my action plan, Sir Ryan said, silently listening to my dialogue with Sir Spia, “Then you must have heard about the Marquis Mirwa family, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Isn’t it a little strange? I know Marquis Mirwa’s son doesn’t even have a knighthood. Can I carry out the role of the captain of the new knights division?”

“Well, I don’t know. I know he has no knighthood, but given that he is the successor of the Mirwa family responsible for the security of the border area, don’t you think he has some forces? Anyway, does he have anything to do with the position of Captain? As you know, that position is usually taken by the head of the family…”

“Oh, I was told that Marquis Mirwa was in critical condition after he fell off a horse recently. I hear his son might succeed his father’s title soon.”

What the heck is this? Marquis Mirwa is in critical condition?

If he really succeeds his father’s title, does it mean that another young marquis will emerge after Marquis Ensil?

Suddenly I recalled the man with honey-colored hair who was smiling at me mysteriously. If so, is he also going to take the test this time? Did he attend my banquet for that reason?

No matter how much I thought about it, it looked like he didn’t. Even if he is not familiar with the duty of the captain of the knight division, will the successor of the Marquis Mirwa family, who are the major player of the noble faction, try to ask for my or my family’s help? If he really does, he has to pocket his pride to do so. Can he do so?

I felt uncomfortable about him in several aspects. First, he was too clean, no matter how much I dug into his background. Secondly, he persistently tried to be on close terms with me. Thirdly, he was pursuing the same political line of the Duke Jena family, but he acted differently from Duke Jena sometimes. Obviously, his actions bothered me, but I was frustrated because I didn’t know exactly what his plan was.

How much time passed?

As soon as I was done with my work that was easy and very boring, I made a beeline for my house. I was impatient because I had to gear up for the upcoming test. If I missed the test, I would have to wait for a few more years, and I was not sure if they would select such a large number of knights again. I needed to build my skills in fencing to seize the opportunity.

I sighed. Although I have been training steadily, I was a little anxious about my fencing skills. Compared to other knights, I was not competent enough, and my training period was shorter.

Even though I hurried back home, I could not practice fencing because I had to meet Entea and Baron Carot, who had been waiting for me, holding documents that I asked them for.

I headed to my office to check Entea’s documents first, asking the baron to wait a little more.

“As the baron is waiting for you, let me report to you about what happened so far and leave. As for the new hairpin, there was a lull in sales because of its new simple design, but its sales are going up again. All thanks to you, Lady Monique.”

“Oh, you’re welcome. I owe its success to you, Entea. ”

“Thank you, I’m so happy as you appreciate my efforts.”

Looking at her bowing to express gratitude, I was lost in thought for a moment.

If that’s the case, is satinet also popular, as expected? In the past, muslin was popular because of the gorgeous decoration of the hairpin. Now, as simple hairpins were popular, gorgeous satin should draw the consumers’ attention. DId I bait them properly?

As if she noticed what I was curious about, she quickly said, checking my expression carefully,

“It seems that satinet is also popular because of the simple hairpin these days. Thank you very much, my lady. I think I can make a lot of profits thanks to your valuable advice in advance. ”

“Really? That’s wonderful! Hmm, satinet. I wonder if they received my return presents.”

“As you ordered, I sent the top 50 families who attended your coming-of-age ceremony satin dresses and hairpins, regardless of their faction, and other families only hairpins. How generous you are! You spent a lot of financial resources on this…”

“Well, our family can deal with that spending because of our wealth. So, don’t worry about it. By the way, if satinet is such a seller, I’m afraid muslin won’t sell as much.”

“Yes, that’s right,” said Entea with a bright smile.

I could imagine easily how embarrassed Jiun was by now. She might be agonizing about why muslin isn’t as popular as before. Well, unless she is stupid, she has probably noticed that I am responsible for all this, and she might be so mad at me now.

“By the way, what happened to the two merchant groups controlled by Duke Jena?”

“Thanks to your timely measure, one of them has been hit hard financially. The other one is just barely surviving.”

“Oh, I see. Let me take care of the other one. Thanks for your nice job, Entea. ”

“You are welcome. Your project is also beneficial to my merchant groups, too.”

While expressing gratitude, Entea was furtively reminding me that I should not forget her share of the current business deal.

“By the way, what is Lady Jena doing these days?”

“Well, her activities have decreased after her muslin business failed, but she is still very energetic. I hear she continues to attend social meetings and sometimes she attends the cabinet meeting, citing she is the candidate for the empress. She also keeps visiting the temple. Oh, she started a big project recently… Have you heard about it?”

“What is that?”

“I hear that she is leading relief efforts for the poor by joining hands with the temple these days. I don’t know the details because I didn’t look into it. Do you want me to find out?”

I was going to ask, but shook my head. I had already asked Baron Caron to investigate the matter the other day, so he’s going to brief me about it a little later anyway.

“You don’t have to, Entea. Sooner or later, all the merchant groups under Duke Jena’s influence will be disbanded. Just focus on increasing your market share in the capital. Let me take care of my own affairs.”

Only

When Entea left the office after bowing deeply, Baron Carot stepped in shortly. I greeted this middle-aged man who seemed rather depressed. Did he bring bad news?

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Baron.”

“That’s fine, my lady.”

“But you look pale. Anything wrong with you?”

“Nothing special, but…’

He was unusually hesitant today. I felt things didn’t work out well for him, so I began to talk about what I was curious about these days instead of asking him about my instructions first.

“Baron, have you ever heard of the man named blessed criminal?”

“Blessed criminal? How do you know him?”