Ishar watched as another document disappeared into the fireplace.

Since the appointment of the magistrate, it seemed like five cases a day were meeting their fate with the fire. He also thought that soon it might increase to ten cases.

The lever of power, which had been tilting to one side, regained its balance just before touching the ground.

The nobles of the Grand Duke faction, who had been nervously worried about being pushed aside, cheered the loudest. Some nobles who supported the Emperor and the managers also seemed somewhat relieved.

The continuous process of presenting proposals, passing them, and executing them took a break. It was a moment of respite for those who had been struggling under the enthusiastic and diligent master.

Unstoppable words were a hundred times more harmful than words trying not to move.

Therefore… the current pause was what Ishar had hoped for. However.

It wasn’t that he hoped even the acceptable proposals would be discarded.

Especially, he felt regretful about the redevelopment plan for Codel 12.

Hersis wanted to create a business district there to bring economic benefits, but it clashed with the intense opposition of the Grand Duke faction elders.

“It’s impossible. Are you going to use the central area of the capital for such a vulgar purpose?”

They suggested building a branch of the temple instead. So everything went back to square one, and the valuable land was still vacant…

Tsk.

As if disapproving, Ishar stuck out his tongue and threw the document he held back into the fireplace.

This time, it was about the construction of warships. Again, it failed to pass, likely due to opposition. The enemies on the continent were already a concern, and there was no room to spare for enemies across the sea.

“If there were room to spare, would you have cared?”

Ishar wondered. No, he didn’t wonder. He knew the answer. It was most likely not at all.

Ishar threw the remaining documents into the flames all at once. And he was about to stand up, but the sight of the paper twisting and sticking to the fire caught his gaze again.

The crimson flames rising through the blackened edges continued to lead his consciousness back to the past. Ishar unwittingly recalled past events.

“Kyung, the owner of that one vote.”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not allowed. Especially not you.”

Suddenly, a chuckle escaped his lips.

It seemed like he was mocking the one who said that, or mocking himself. Or perhaps both.

Anyway, it was a significant change to see a laugh etched on his face, which had been stiffly indifferent all along. It was the first smile since the day the Empress visited.

Knock.

The sound of a knock was heard when he returned to his desk and picked up a pile of documents.
Gazing faintly at the fireplace light, his self-mocking smile was nowhere to be found. He had returned to the ruthless Ishar Valdemion.

The door opened, and the attendant entered.

“I brought coffee, Your Excellency.”

Ishar, still looking at the documents, lifted only his eyes in the same angle and glanced at the attendant. Since Liz had been dressing as a servant a few seasons ago, he had developed a habit of scrutinizing the female attendants with his eyes like this.

A momentary confusion passed through his eyes as he looked through his monocle. She was a woman he hadn’t seen before.

“Uh… Nice to meet you. I’m Ermin.”

As Ishar stared intently, the delicate female attendant awkwardly introduced herself, trembling and visibly nervous. Her hand was trembling too. To smoothly operate the increased affairs of the royal household recently, they had recruited many attendants, and it seemed like they were still in their apprenticeship period.

There were some attendants who warmly smiled at the trembling ones or kindly encouraged them, but Ishar was not that kind of person. The only leniency he could show was…

Tock, tock.

Lightly tapping the desk with his fingertips, he indicated the place to put down the teacup. His eyes were still sliding over the printed characters on the documents.

“Yes… yes, Your Excellency.”

With Ishar’s cold attitude, the attendant shifted the weight of the tray to her left hand, her face more tense. She intended to place the teacup and syrup jar with her right hand. However…

“Oh my!”

Due to her haste, the tray tilted to one side. She quickly corrected it, but this time, the teacup and syrup jar slipped off the tray, rolled on the desk, and crumpled together.

The white paper turned brown. A warm steam rose.

Ishar watched the process of the documents turning coffee-colored without blinking. His intense focus seemed to find this situation interesting.

Hoo.

But soon, he exhaled a long sigh, closing his eyes firmly.

It was a sigh more fearsome than a roar.

With her nails bitten, the attendant, with a face that seemed to burst into tears at any moment, said, “H-How did this… I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

“Clean it up.”

Ishar said briefly. He didn’t speak much to avoid saying harsh words.

“Yes… Your Excellency.”