The Greatest Villainess (Completed)

Chapter 30

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.