For the past few days, Lucia has been quite busy.

In the morning, she had meetings with the aristocrats in the advisory committee, and in the afternoon, she engaged in discussions with intellectuals, along with studying the regions of the Arquis Kingdom.

At night, she reviewed and approved the accumulated documents from each region.

Even in such a small country, there is so much to do. She wonders how much time the Emperor of the Empire, someone like him, must spend dividing his time among tasks.

Now she understands why Emperor Caius was running around avoiding exercise.

At least there was a good example at the inauguration ceremony, indicating that the meetings were not too noisy, which was a relief.

However, there were still too many nobles in this meeting room.

The number was strangely comparable to the vast Empire.

So, among these many people, how many are genuine nobles?

In times of instability, buying the names of nobles is a profitable business. Perhaps by stripping away the false pretense of being nobles who take pride in themselves, half of them could be eliminated.

But before that, she needs to choose the necessary people now.

Lucia quietly observed them with sharp, discerning eyes.

And towards the end of the meeting, Governor Gerald summarized.

“Well then, is everyone in favor of Lady Ruboli Viscountess visiting the regions first?”

Everyone nodded without saying a word.

It was just a while ago when she was the right-hand woman of the real power, watching the movements of her brother, Otto Ruboli, the Arquis Viscount.
In fact, Otto recently obtained the viscount title.

If that’s the case, he should now be called Viscount, but he couldn’t easily request such a correction.

His mind was in turmoil as if he had set his foot on fire just by planning to visit his own region.

Gerald chuckled inwardly as he observed Otto in that state.

Starting a meeting with the people gathered here and flattering the Arquis brothers was enough to make his ears ache, but today was an unusually quiet day.

Initially, she was shocked enough to vomit at the inauguration ceremony, but with this outcome, Lucia thought that maybe she was dealing with a wise king.

“Well, it might be a coincidence.”

“Your Excellency, shall we conclude the meeting?”

As Lucia nodded, Gerald attempted to ring the bell to conclude the meeting.

However, a sudden cough interrupted.

“Uh… er, ahem! Th-this is the head steward of the royal palace. Wouldn’t it be better to choose quickly?”

“?”

Lucia looked at Count Jared with difficulty spoken words, and in response, the Governor quickly whispered in her ear.

“Oh, that’s… Your Excellency, he’s the one who knew about the duke’s property and chose to end his own life after the prince started investigating.”

It was a plausible event.

Whether he faced threats that he couldn’t handle alone and chose to end his life, or he took the secret to the grave before the three generations were wiped out.

Either way, the reason was sufficient.

“So, what do you want to say, Count Jared?”
“I have someone I’d like to recommend. Don’t you? Viscount Tailun. We’ve surely discussed this before.”

“Oh, yes. Hehe…”

Viscount Tailun, one of the oldest aristocrats, also hesitated under Lucia’s scrutiny.

Perhaps they were preparing someone to plant as their confidant while also ready to cover up and sacrifice someone for corruption.

However, unfortunately for their efforts, Lucia already had a chosen person.

And just now, at the perfect timing, someone seemed to have arrived.

A guard carefully opened the door to the assembly hall.

“The person Your Excellency mentioned has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

Following came someone else.

Despite visible wounds on his forehead, he neatly brushed back his hair, as if it didn’t matter. A middle-aged man with a dignified aura flowing from his short-grown beard.

Even Lucia’s eyes widened as she looked at him.

Even she, who had called him here, had never seen his true appearance until now.

“Varton Valzar. I have returned under the command of Her Excellency Lucia.”

The person with always smeared mascara and eerie, exaggerated makeup, who was terrifying before, was none other than Varton, the former steward of the duke.

“Ah, no, you…!!”

“Is he out of his mind… No, not him?”

The steward of the late Duke Ashford has returned.

The nobles who saw him were startled as if they had seen a ghost, jumping up in surprise.
Having grown old, lost his memory, and even his sanity, he was announcing his return with even bigger muscles than during his active duty.

Varton responded to the astonishment with a refreshing smile.

“Thank you for the welcome. Being alone in a good place, I’ve fully recovered from my illness.”

Does a change in appearance correspond to a change in personality?

Lucia found it truly fascinating to see how he, who was always rough around the edges, interacted with people with such refined manners.

After the meeting ended, leaving only the two in the office.