EARLY that morning…

NEOMA gulped while watching her Papa Boss and Count Kyle Sprouse's reaction.

Right now, the three of them were having breakfast in the dining hall in her father's palace.

Only Lewis and Geoffrey Kinsley were in the dining hall. The two were guarding by the door. Of course, the entire dining hall was covered with soundproof barrier magic.

"Alright, let's give it a try,

" her Papa Boss said after careful deliberation.

"I believe the punishment that you came up with is appropriate, Neoma.

"

She still held her breath because Count Kyle Sprouse remained silent.

The count wasn't just her father's aide. Kyle Sprouse was also the chamberlain, and one of his jobs was managing the money and wealth kept in the Royal Chamber. So, of course, the count should be involved in planning the punishment for the Wisterias who embezzled rare jewels from the Royal Family.

"Embezzlement isn't that grave of a crime for the Wisterias to lose their title,

" Kyle Sprouse said carefully.

"Thus, I also believe that the punishment that Princess Neoma came up with is the best way to wrap this up. However…

"

"Yes?

" Neoma asked nervously.

"Is there a problem?

"

The count nodded before he gave an explanation.

"The nobles won't easily agree with our plan. We must appease them first, and the fastest way to do that is to temporarily withdraw the recent bill that we tried to pass.

" Kyle Sprouse turned to her Papa Boss.

"Your Majesty, I'm talking about that law that would allow outstanding individuals to receive noble titles. The majority of the nobles still object to it. We must give up on this one to push through Princess Neoma's suggestion.

"

It did not surprise her to hear that. After all, she already knew that the punishment that she came up with wouldn't be easy to execute.

"Punishing the Wisterias must come first,

" her Papa Boss said.

"We will give up on the recent bill in the meantime.

"

"Don't worry, Papa Boss,

" she assured her father.

"Once we execute this properly, I will create an opportunity for us to

"revive

" the law that we're about to drop temporarily.

"

Her father raised an eyebrow at her.

"And how would you do that?

"

She just smiled.

Of course, she had a plan. She just didn't want to share it with her Papa Boss yet because Kyle Sprouse was still with them. But to be honest, her plan was simple.

I just need to turn my teammates into heroes of the empire.

Only Juri was the pure noble among her

"children.

" Jeno was only

"half-noble,

" Lewis was a knight but he was a former slave, Greko would be a commoner soon, Xion was an assassin, and Paige Avery practically didn't exist in that era.

If her team accomplished something big in the future, she could demand the nobles to reward her

"children

" with noble titles. That would open the discussion about granting outstanding individuals with noble titles.

"Just trust me, Papa Boss.

"

Her father sipped his tea.

"Alright.

"

"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, I must take my leave,

" Kyle Sprouse said in a hurry.

"I shall prepare to meet our esteemed guests.

"

After she and her father nodded, the count bowed and left the dining hall.

They were supposed to continue their breakfast when Alphen, the head butler of her palace, arrived to deliver an urgent message to her.

She beamed because she was expecting only one urgent message from the butler. In the past, she ordered Alphen that no matter where she was or what the situation was, he must report it to her once

"he

" sent a letter to her.

"Your Royal Highness, please excuse me,

" Alphen said, then he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"A letter from Lord Ruston Stroganoff has arrived at the palace.

"

Her smile widened.

Before Ruto left the palace to study abroad, they decided to communicate through letters. But since her identity as Neoma was a secret, they used a complicated method to make sure that only Alphen, her trusted butler, would receive Ruto's letters for her.

"Should I deliver it to Your Royal Highness after your meeting or–

"

"I'll read it now!

"

Her Papa Boss looked surprised by her sudden enthusiasm.

"What is it, Neoma?

"

"Ah, Papa Boss,

" Neoma said, then she clasped her hands together.

"Please delay the meeting for five minutes!

"

***

NEOMA risked it all just to read Ruto's letter.

She asked her Papa Boss to delay the meeting for five minutes because she knew she couldn't concentrate while thinking of Ruto's message. And she expected that reading it right away would give her the energy that she needed to get through today's meeting.

But what the ** did she just read?

"Miss Ramsay, this is the first and last letter I'm sending to you. Please don't wait for me to return as well. Thank you for caring about someone like me, but you can stop now. Sorry.

"

She wanted to throw the crumpled paper in her hand, but she stopped herself.

How can I be sure that this letter is really from Ruto? Granted that they delivered it through the method that Ruto taught Alphen, I still shouldn't easily believe this letter. Even if this looks like Ruto's penmanship, I don't know if someone forced him to write this bull** or what.

She needed to talk to him, but her five minutes were already up.

I'll end the meeting first before I deal with this.

Neoma took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Ruto won't do this to me, right?

"

***

"DON'T you think this is too much of a punishment, Your Majesty? Your Royal Highness?

"

Neoma didn't mean to look cold or arrogant today. But when she turned to Count Sergio Wisteria, she noticed that her icy glare made the old man flinch.

Count Sergio Wisteria didn't resemble his daughter Juri at all. Well, the count was a good-looking and fit

"ahjussi

" in his mid-forties. He dressed like someone in his position, and his stoic face look intimidating.

I'm glad Juri grew up as a bright child.

"Too much you say, my lord?

" Neoma asked in an icy tone. Again, she didn't mean to sound heartless. She just couldn't help it because she was in a bad mood.

"Then shall we just compute the cumulative amount that you have profited off of embezzling the rare jewels that the Hisa Trees produce, then make you pay for it?

"

Count Wisteria pulled out a handkerchief from the pocket of his suit, then wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead.

She then quietly looked at the people around her.

Her Papa Boss was seated around the round table, she was on her father's right side, while Count Kyle Sprouse was on the left side.

On the other hand, their guests were sitting on the couch across from the round table.

Their esteemed guests were, of course, Count Sergio Wisteria and his wife Countess Jade Wisteria.

Countess Wisteria is Madam Hammock's daughter…

She could see the resemblance between the duchess and the late Healing Sage.

Juri also looks like her mother's younger version.

Anyway…

Lady Sera Wisteria didn't attend the meeting because she was still under house arrest. Only this time, she was locked up in the Wisteria State.

Duke Samuel Wisteria, the current head of House Wisteria, is sick, so his successor attended the meeting in his place. Count Sergio Wisteria came as his father's representative, so we're treating him like he's the duke.

That meant she had to pressure the count to do the bidding.

"Count Wisteria, you're lucky we currently lack nobles in the Royal Capital at the moment,

" her Papa Boss said in an icy voice, his eyes had now turned glowing red.

"Had this happened before the recent

"purge,

" you would have paid for your crimes with your entire family's lives.

"

She clenched her hands because she disagreed with her Papa Boss, but she didn't let it show.

Well, Papa Boss is just scaring the count. But even if he's serious, I would stop him. I can't let Juri die.

"Is it too hard for you?

" Neoma asked, her voice still cold and her aura different from usual.

"Is it really hard for the Wisterias to invest in the non-profit hospital that the Royal Family plans to build for the poor?

"

Yes, that was her

"punishment

" for the Wisterias.

But it wasn't like she needed the Wisterias' money. What she needed from the family was their support. After all, Wisteria was an influential family in the medical world.

Of course, her demand didn't end there.

"I don't think it's difficult for the Wisterias to support commoners who have the potential to become doctors and Healing Sages in the future,

" Neoma continued, then she smiled. But she was pretty sure that her smile was anything but friendly.

"The empire's law doesn't forbid commoners and women from becoming doctors and Healing Sages, right?

"

The Royal Family of the past thought lowly of being a doctor as a profession. They thought it was a job that didn't suit the nobility. Therefore, they allowed intelligent and talented commoners, even women, to become doctors and Healing Sages.

But recently, when the empire recognized the importance of the said profession, the field was suddenly dominated by the rich who could afford to study Medicine.

"We will do it.

"

Her thoughts were interrupted when Countess Jade Wisteria spoke for the first time. The countess kept quiet after greeting them earlier.

Count Sergio Wisteria turned to his wife with a shocked look on his face.

"Darling…

"

"Your Royal Highness, I'm interested in this business,

" Countess Wisteria said softly while coldly ignoring her husband. Then she put a hand on her chest as if she was pointing to herself.

"I would also like to suggest inviting House Hammock to be a part of this wonderful project.

"

Neoma didn't sense malice or greediness from Countess Wisteria.

As expected, women are the hope of this godforsaken empire.

***

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