"So he''ll now be your butler, Your Ladyship."


    Ett had a scrunched between her brows.


    "Akan."


    "Yes, Your Ladyship?"


    Akan, who would come and go, moved his eyes away from the books on his table, looking at Ett confusedly.


    "Why?"


    Ett knows, yet she should hear it from him.


    You see, the man in front of her is none other than the forgotten person, "Name?"


    "Ares, Your Ladyship."


    Right, Ares. Apologies, she honestly forgot he existed.


    "I''m the only one who can call her that."


    Ett, "..."


    Ares nodded with a small smile and genuflected, "Forgive me. Let me repeat myself: this lowly one is named Ares, Matriarch."


    Ett nodded. "Quite the opposite from the famed Greek mythology I know of."


    "Pardon?"


    Though, he looks more composed as he smiles gently. Now, that''s a genuine smile different from Akan.


    "Nothing. I''ll call you when I need something."


    Ares bowed.


    "As you wish, Matriarch."


    "Mm."


    As soon as he left, Akan came forward, collecting the papers she just finished and asked, "You agreed to be called Matriarch, Your Ladyship? That sounds a bit old-fashioned, don''t you think so?"


    "Rather than calling me Mistress."


    She doesn''t have a husband; it''s a subjective point of view. Besides, Matriarch is not bad.


    "Anyway, why did you just introduce him just now?"


    "To be used to everything and rest after the oath?"


    Oath. In another term, brainwashing training.


    "Do not worry, Your Ladyship, he''s quite capable. He has some of Butler Xiwen''s qualities, if not more. Too bad it wasn''t the Butler who trained him."


    If Akan view him positively with little to no constructive criticism, then he''s excellent. Akan is extremely strict with almost everything yet carefree about himself.


    "Then I suppose you''ll handle the Cast Iron Project?"


    "Yes, Your Ladyship, after all, you''re the one who named it. Do you have anything else in mind since you still just told me to get a hold of it?"


    "We will open trade with other neighbouring kingdoms and empires."


    Akan raised his brow, but Ett continued, "Therefore, we will have more funds for the militia. A pact can be made, too."


    "Did I hear it correctly?"


    "You didn''t."


    Ett deadpanned, rolling her eyes.


    "Your Ladyship, you know well that Adiand people are more reclusive than any other empires."


    "Yes."


    "Then, is the advantage truly worth the people''s ire?"


    "That will depend on the people of those who pledge with us act."


    The first to pledge alliance will walk the first ever created cast Iron Bridge and will get the materials needed to make the Iron Bridge.


    Either way, it''s still in the beta test, and there are no beta players to do so. It''ll be put on hold till the Iron Bridge is complete.


    "Since when have you thought of it, Your Ladyship? I have never heard you mention it before."


    Ett shook her head, "I wasn''t sure before."


    I just thought about it, staring out my window, looking behind the walls and reminiscing. Then, somehow, it just clicked.


    "This..."


    Akan was a bit hesitant. Usually, Her Ladyship would tell him everything and test his knowledge before agreeing to work on something he always knew.


    This ''Project'' she referred to now is the most direct and surprised him.


    "It''s for the future."


    Seeing how deeply Akan contemplated, Ett can''t help but blur it out.


    You see, the tyrannical rule of the Adiand royals isn''t as dire as before. It is still in the line of being tolerable in Adiand''s ''norm''.


    "I still don''t understand that much. Although training our forces is essential, it is so early when you mention Your Ladyship. Besides, would the Emperor agree?"


    "Akan, it''s still a rumination. The Emperor will think about whether there''s a benefit to officially trading with other kingdoms."


    The products to export and import products that Adiand specialized in should have been down way before to help the people, even if the Empire could support itself.


    They need to connect to other lands, not just through conquering.


    "And you said there''s a pact?"


    "Yes."


    "Then, if I''m correct, there are two ways. Conqueror or creating a pact. Those who agree would also be our allies; those who are not will be subjected to death and war, becoming a vassal?"


    In Guren''s point of view, either being forcefully subdued or killed.


    The conquered lands from the past became provinces, and there was only one rule: to help the Empire and never betray the Emperor.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Akan, what makes you think plebians work every day?"


    "Copper."


    "Isn''t it better than always shedding blood?"


    Akan''s eyes glimmered as if he realized something and laughed heartily.


    "Indeed, Your Ladyship, indeed. We were so blind by proving our might just as Adiand''s forefathers did."


    Akan was amazed but still troubled. "Alright, I''ll first do what I can with the ''Project'' and gather more information."


    Ett nodded. "Very well."


    Money makes the world go round, a quote she quite knows. Capitalism could slave away millions or billions of people. If an empire has more money than others, who could say no? There are more viable resources with money, after all.


    Since there would be war in the future, why would the blood not be lessened if it could be prevented, yet the story still stays the same? Not that she doesn''t mind, but at least it would diminish her work.


    Counting the dead and reimbursement of money and recording the list of families who contributed--nay.


    "I''m so stressed. When is my EOS?" (End of Shift)


    Sigh. Ett looked at the handkerchief stuck on her nose.


    Now—


    Thud.


    "The... The Dowager has fainted again."


    The Physician came with a sigh; from behind him was Ares, her new Butler.


    ***


    "Really, should these old bones be reluctant to be a guard, Your Highness."


    Ares could hear the Physician''s wallowing voice as she was laid on her settee, and he checked her heartbeat.


    "Thank goodness it''s not as severe as before."


    Confused as he is now, Ares asked, "What do you mean?


    In which the Physician gave him a hard stare.


    "..."


    "Listen here, dear new Butler; you better be fearless and, at the same time, careful when taking care of Her Highness. She''s sometimes stubborn to the deepest of her marrow and doesn''t care for her health. En, if she would be in a dire state, my neck and yours would probably see each other in the same grave."


    "That''s something unpleasant then."


    Ares responded, assisting the Physcian with a wet towel as Ett was having a cold sweat.


    "You''re new. They must have briefed you, huh?"


    This made Ares pause. "Indeed, I was."


    "And you seem to be half briefed."


    Ares chuckled, "Is that too obvious?"


    The Physician shrugged, "Sire Akan seems to know you''re smart enough for your good. Besides, it''s not like he didn''t give you his sweet time about the consequence of betrayal."


    "Then might I be bold enough to say you''re the same?"


    "Ha! Believe me, Sire Akan is far better than being personally briefed by the Emperor."


    There''s not much for the Physician to do. All that Ett need is to rest.


    "Kindly keep this scented Laur Leaves with you. Keep it up to her nose whenever she faints, so she''ll sleep."


    "But wouldn''t that be..."


    "Sire Akan consented. The Empress Dowager should rest well for the sake of the Empire even though it''s from the shadows."


    "...yes."


    Taking the leaves that were put into a sachet, Ares hid them in his vest''s secret pocket.


    "Then I''ll leave you with the Empress Dowager. Welcome to the palace, Butler Ares."


    Ares smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly, "Thank you..."


    As the doors closed, Ares heaved a sign of relief. His purple eyes gazed at the sleeping Ett and took the Laur Leaves, putting it above her nose.


    "So this is my new task, huh?"


    Who would have thought that he was a butler to someone who had caused nations to crumble just with her sight and provoked war?


    "The rumours before were true but hidden quite well. A lovely maiden of obscure origin that deeply besotted all the lands."


    The Empress dowager, who, in some strange situation, became a child much less young than her own child. But now that he is witnessing it in person, it is true.


    Ares sighed. He is somewhat grateful to Sire Akan''s brainwashing. If not, the first time Ares sees the Empress Dowager, even if she is now a child, who knows what must have happened? Although he paused, astonished when he saw the hidden entity for the first time, he was quick enough to act as if it was nothing.


    He didn''t expect Sire Akan to serve someone with a unique and hidden identity directly. At that time, when he escaped the Shubert Mansion, where he was maltreated, Ares just vowed to Sire Akan that he would serve the Emperor''s loyalty. He won''t be useless. He''ll do anything if he is out of Count Shubert''s grasp.


    He smiles sadly, staring at Ett. Such a beautiful being locked up in this world, unable to be free. If she does, won''t she be targeted for obsession?


    "Oh, alack."


    Ares felt empathy for her after knowing who he would serve, getting a brief background about her, and hearing the old stories from her mother. Sometimes, being blessed with good looks can be exploited quite harshly.


    Ares was once greatly exploited because of his looks. He understands her even if it''s too little.


    Ares smiled; he had already figured out who their benefactor was. To think that the person his mother was trading with was the Empress Dowager, he''ll keep it at that. After all, when there were times that he couldn''t communicate and send money to his mother, it was only the Empress Dowager who gave a hefty sum to help with the expenses that even he couldn''t provide.


    "Right. After this, should I take the Matriarch to the chamber?"


    That''s one of the things he must do, but it seems inappropriate.


    "I should ask the Matriarch when she wakes up."