Ett widened her eyes. Sitting up from her bed robotically. "Hoo." She had rested enough for the past three days.


    "Good morning, Your Ladyship."


    "Akan."


    Ett yawned.


    "I''ve already prepared your bath, Your Ladyship."


    Ett nodded, stretching her body.


    Ah~ So good to stretch. Mmmm.


    Now''s the time to be seeing the Dean. Fun times are over.


    She bought medium-sized baggage and some exciting things before returning to the palace. Too bad. Ett thought there would be a time to meet Cashim, but Akan would stick closely like a twenty-hour bodyguard.


    After eating, Akan guided Ett to a private office only for the Dean. Who would have thought it was just a block away.


    "Oh? When was this place made?"


    "It was refurbished about a month ago. This was supposed to be a small shop."


    Yeah, talk about a 5 thousand square meter ''small'' shop; okay, I get you.


    "How understanding."


    This Dean made an effort to pick and rebuild it near here. If she''s not wrong, it''s how to show sincerity to Ett due to her health.


    Akan was about to knock when an anxious-looking old man opened the door. Seeing the both of them, he smiled kindly, making the crow''s feet around his eyes more visible. He bowed at Ett as he opened the door wider.


    "Greetings, Your Highness. Welcome to my humble abode."


    "Thank you, Dean. You are as considerate as ever."


    "Nothing to be thankful about Sir Akan. Please have a seat, I''ve prepared a tea."


    Etta wanted to proceed with her business directly and return. Because somehow, she felt odd wanting to return quickly. Was Ett too homesick? But seeing this frail-looking man looking so anxious and nervous, she stopped.


    You were brave enough to say something that would catch my attention, yet it''s as if you are at death''s door just by seeing me.


    Old man, I am just a child now.


    "Ah, please forgive me. I was anxious to greet you formally."


    The Dean kneeled before Ett. "Greetings to Her Elegance, the Matron, the Empire''s Majestic Eclipse. Antonel Arcadi, Son of Eraz, greets you humbly."


    "Kindly sit."


    You don''t deserve to kneel.


    "Thank you."


    Akan stopped him before Dean Antonel could even fumble while serving the tea. Smiling softly, "Let me do the honour, Sire Antonel."


    "Let''s enjoy the tea."


    If only there''s coffee... It would be much better. It''s okay; for now, do as the Romans do.


    Meanwhile, Dean Antonel quietly and secretly observed the Ett, who was obviously relinquishing the tea served and sighed in relief.


    Her Grace has now physically become a child.


    Although Sir Akan told her not to be surprised to see the Dowager turn into a child and to not ask any questions about how it happened, seeing her in front of his eyes is still unbelievable. At the same time, he remembered the Dowager when she was indeed a child.


    Dean Antonel didn''t regularly teach the empress dowager as the previous Emperor would take the learning schedules and books he prepared, and he''d be the one to teach the Dowager when she was still a princess.


    That''s how much the previous Emperor treated his daughter. The Dowager''s father, the late Emperor, tightly held on to her. It was too sweet and disturbing that an observer like him felt the love of a father to his child was unbecoming and bizarre.


    Even in this disguise, even if it was long ago that he caught sight of the Dowager, Dean Antonel knew she would look the same as that day. His feelings dampen. It was also the most disastrous time and nearly made Adiand''s downfall. Her beauty does not discriminate between sex and age.


    Dean Antonel shakes his head.


    He doesn''t want to recall that day. It''s just too tragic and unbelievable to the outside neighbouring lands. Only a few know the truth, yes, counted by one hand as the previous Emperor purged and conquered them.


    "From where did these ingredients come from?"


    Dean Antonel paused. She asked where, not to whom did, he buy the tea.


    "Forgive me, I know a little Empress Dowager."


    "Young Lady."


    Ett corrected. Although she trusts how attentive and sharp Akan is, it''s just an additional reassurance if somebody slips in like a rat.


    "Ehem, yes, Young...Lady, its tea leaves are traded from the lower region that the Emperor conquered."


    "Roan Island?"


    "Yes."


    "That''s good."


    Roan Island was more closed off than everybody else.


    Their only livelihood was fishing. But the main reason why it''s closed off is because tidal waves are an everyday occurrence on this island. In this world, ships haven''t been created yet. And in their mindset, there''s nothing beyond the sea.


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    When someone tried to demonstrate his invention, Roan Island was discovered by chance. Larger boat with mats. However, all his companions died by the sea, and he remained.


    More so, he discovered nothing more exciting and beneficial to take on this small island than just fishing daily. A lax life that had no benefit to him, he returned after building a small boat.


    Whether he dies or not, he will return to his ''loved'' Empire; it was a story that was well-known in every form of entertainment for his wasted efforts or heroicness in trying to discover what was on the other side of the sea. It had spread all over for hundreds of years.


    However, it was Guren who broke that view. Long story short,  after he solved the strong tide, it was easier for the people on the island to come and trade.


    A limited number of chosen people from the Adiand can go to the island, while most can wait and trade when the islanders step on the beach of this Empire.


    "Then who is responsible for the trade?"


    "It was debated for months until Baron Zalore''s daughter won over the rights of the land. She discovered after seeing one of the islander''s boats had leaves scattered around, maybe being caught up from carrier."


    "To the islanders, they have as many as leaves such as this. And so, the daughter was eager to go with them. She discovered the whole island seemed filled with different kinds of trees to make teas."


    "I see."


    Does Baron''s daughter know how much it will prosper in the future? It would also be considered a political move.


    If this develops, further connections would arise, and money would be doubled and tripled. If the trade would open for the Adiand and the neighbouring empires, wouldn''t it benefit them well?


    They can even raise their status depending on the reputation they get, and being a tea empress wouldn''t be far from the future.


    "The Baron even gave a hefty amount for the Reserve Fund."


    Etta looked at Akan, "What did the Emperor say?"


    "Other than paying the taxes, the Emperor didn''t say anything."


    "..."


    In short, Guren doesn''t care as long as you are helpful.


    Reserve Funds were created after the war. The aristocrats still questioned it, especially matching it with Guren''s tyranny, which could be a reason for the nobles to incite rebellion. However, Guren hasn''t made any moves yet, so they can only lie in wait.


    Alright, that''s enough thinking for now. It''s not even the main subject for coming here.


    "What''s the situation?"


    Dean Antonel was fast to catch up. "It''s dire."


    "There are a lot of situations in which most of our talented students that finished their studies were persuaded by other neighbouring empires."


    "The remaining ones who were the utmost loyal were either kidnapped or nowhere to be found. I''ve heard from one of the returnees that they mostly condemned their peers for being disloyal and infelicitous with teaching outsiders with their knowledge."


    "Their peers argued that it was a way to expand the outsider''s horizon and see the brilliance of Adiand, as other empires and kingdoms think is still backward. But isn''t it just how we view our neighbouring empires as outsiders?"


    Dean Antonel sighed as if he had aged a decade older.


    "Those children are both compassionate and foolish in different rights. However, what I''m most concerned about are the students who were lost, kidnapped and died. We have been quiet after the Emperor returned. He didn''t wage war anymore; what would happen if he thinks it''s better to wage war again?"


    The damage is done. Yet, if this continues, it will become more prominent. A war can knock about a month or a year. Adiand still lacks the military strength to fight against empires and kingdoms that are incredibly powerful. They cannot lose more people who might be their future minds.


    They need strategists, tacticians, and those who can analyze and solve problems, but there is a lack of people with more strength as their vessels.


    If the Emperor commits another tyranny because of stress and anger, wouldn''t they fall at their own doings? It''s a shame; the death flag will progress without it. The male lead is still in the academy.


    "May I know your thoughts, My Lady?"


    Dean Antonel was worried because the Empress Dowager never partook in anything. She would scheme at the sidelines to make sure everyone who went beyond their place would fall to their deaths.


    "I beseech you, Young Lady, please let me know your thoughts."


    She''s the only one he can turn to. An influential person that''s not any lower than the Emperor.


    The others may not know, but he was one of the people who survived entering the palace yet wasn''t killed. The Empress Dowager had always schemed to destroy; it was not to save the people. What if she orders to mercilessly kill the graduates and says there would be others to come up and stand on stage?!


    It was always killing, scheming, killing. Is there any way to resolve this without losing too much blood?


    This was Dean Antonel''s gamble.