But Karen was no ordinary person. Grabbing stacks of documents at random, she flipped through the pages with lightning speed.
While it might have looked like casual browsing to others, she caught mistakes like a demon.
“My, my, seems we have someone in our administration who can’t count. How troubling.”
“Really now, checking relevant laws while working is basic procedure. Just because it’s not a life-or-death matter, you think you can be this sloppy?”
“How long has it been since the tax law was revised, and you’re still calculating with the old rates?!”
“Thompson, there’s no need to bring approval forms for staff business trips! Use your head to sort the documents properly.”
After firing her final barb at Thompson, Karen rose from her seat as if relieved of constipation.
While she had inflicted serious psychological damage on everyone else, she looked refreshed as if finally rid of long-standing indigestion.
“The issues I just pointed out—have them all corrected before I return from meeting Her Majesty. You know how good my memory is, right? It would be most unfortunate if you were hoping I’d forget about any of this.”
After dropping this work bomb, Karen left Lion Palace with Erich without looking back.
Curses and screams erupted behind them. Noticing Erich glancing back, Karen said.
“For work to run properly, a superior can’t be too nice. While you should be lenient when appropriate, you must be strict when necessary. Remember this—being nice isn’t always the right approach.”
While this was valuable advice that could become flesh and blood, there was one crucial problem.
To discipline subordinates Karen’s way, the person in charge had to be highly competent.
But Erich couldn’t remember even a fragment of the whirlwind document review. Naturally, he couldn’t remember what he couldn’t understand, as it was all unfamiliar to him.
“How do you remember all that?”
“Why couldn’t I? I can recite right here, word for word, books I read fifteen years ago.”
“……”
But she was no ordinary person. She was a monster who had given her first academic presentation at fourteen.
“If I fail to meet your expectations…”
After falling into silent contemplation, Erich asked Karen in a strangely slow tone.
“What happens then?”
Erich’s eyes were darkly sunken as he looked at Karen, but she failed to notice this and answered casually.
“Hmm, since I don’t have time, I suppose I’d quickly leave to find someone else besides you?”
The Queen had given her five years. But much time had already passed. Karen bit her lip slightly in anxiety.
Honestly, at this point, she was in trouble if Erich didn’t work out.
But to Erich, unaware of these circumstances, Karen’s words were incredibly cruel.
The boy, who had momentarily stopped walking as if shocked, asked in a voice like water beginning to boil.
“Then why did you choose me as your disciple? Do I mean nothing to you?”
Karen frowned at Erich’s question and asked back.
From her perspective, it was a foolish question. She had chosen him because of his bloodline, and his meaning wasn’t hers to determine.
“Why are you asking me that? Isn’t your value something you create for yourself?”
“I…”
Erich was struck speechless by Karen’s razor-sharp response.
Unable to find words to continue, Erich hesitated, but Karen moved on without waiting for him.
After walking a short distance from Lion Palace, they arrived at Queen’s House, where the Queen’s office was located.
The Queen’s House staff, having already heard that Countess Montreal had entered the capital, didn’t appear as surprised as the Lion Palace employees.
Baron Borther, who oversaw Queen’s House operations, bowed his lean face to Karen in greeting.
“It’s been a while, Countess Montreal. You look as vigorous as ever.”
“Good to see you, Baron Borther. Did you change your glasses?”
“I’m honored you noticed.”
With an expressionless face, Baron Borther announced to the Queen’s office.
“Your Majesty, Countess Montreal requests an audience.”
“Let them enter.”
Though Karen was someone who spoke her mind without being intimidated by anyone’s title or wealth, she couldn’t help feeling nervous about meeting the Queen.
She straightened her shoulders and chest, carefully entering the Queen’s office.
The Queen sat in the center of the magnificent office decorated in gold, wine, and deep green.
Perhaps because this was her office rather than the formal audience chamber, she wasn’t wearing her heavy crown.
Nevertheless, the Queen exuded a weighty presence. Karen carefully knelt and gave her greeting.
“Your Majesty, I report my safe return from Wellington.”
The Queen rested her chin on her hand, scanning the faces of Karen and Erich who had followed behind. Her beautiful lips parted slowly.
“So you are Grand Duke Erich?”
“I am honored to meet Your Royal Highness.”
Erich didn’t know the proper way to show respect to the Queen. The boy awkwardly bowed at the waist as he gave his greeting.
The correct form of address was ‘Your Majesty.’ The Queen’s lips curled up in an amused smile at his use of the formal ‘Royal Highness.’
“What an amusing child. Why not just call me a goddess?”
“My deepest apologies. The Grand Duke, due to his father’s untimely passing, has not had the opportunity to learn proper etiquette. I assure you that by the next time he meets Your Majesty, he will have mastered it completely.”
Karen, having quickly noticed the mistake, lowered her head even further and responded with utmost politeness.
Erich, who had been standing expressionless, now showed a hint of embarrassment on his face at Karen’s words.
The Queen keenly caught the subtle change in Erich’s expression.
“Oh-ho.”
It was the first time the Queen had spoken in such an amused tone. She was like a deity—she never spoke unnecessarily. At the Queen’s exclamation, Karen immediately responded.
“Do you have any commands for me, Your Majesty?”
“Do you wish to hear my words?”
“……”
When the Queen spoke, it was akin to a ‘prophecy.’ Was Erich truly a suitable candidate for royalty?
The Queen could have answered that question right here and now. But did Karen truly want to hear the precise answer?
To that, Karen could not respond.
The Queen’s words left Karen visibly flustered, and above her bowed head, the Queen continued in a soft tone.
“The Grand Duke and I are cousins, are we not? I could grant him a palace of his own. What will you do? Will he live in the royal palace?”
This was an idea Karen had not considered. Since she lived with her master, Von Neumann, she had naturally assumed Erich would live with her as well.
‘Ah, of course, he’s royalty. It makes sense for him to live in the royal palace.’
She wanted to smack herself for such a foolish assumption. And soon, the thought crept in that the Queen might be subtly criticizing her shortsightedness.
Just as Karen was about to offer another apology, Erich spoke up.
“I believe it is too early for me to reside in the palace, as my etiquette is still lacking. I am grateful for Your Majesty’s consideration.”
“Is that so.”
The Queen nodded calmly at Erich’s response. It was then that Karen raised her head to look at her.
The Queen’s smile had vanished, replaced by an expression of weariness. Waving her elegant fingers, she issued a dismissal.
“You may leave. I am tired. I only hope that your return has eased some of my burdens, even slightly.”
How could Karen dare to object? She bowed her head respectfully.
*** *** *** *** ***
After the draining audience with the Queen, Karen didn’t return to Lion Palace as she had said she would. Instead, she simply got into the carriage heading home.
Confused by this, Erich asked in a quiet voice inside the carriage:
“Aren’t we going back to Lion Palace? You said you would check their corrections again.”
“No need. Since I said I’d check again, they’ll redo everything promptly. Not knowing when I’ll return, they’ll even observe their work hours precisely.”
“But…”
Erich recalled how everyone had panicked at the mere sight of Karen.
The longer Karen delayed her return, the more their anxiety would grow.
‘They’ll resent her if she doesn’t show up after all this.’
He didn’t want them to resent and hate Karen. As Erich was gazing at her thoughtfully,
Karen, completely relaxed against the carriage seat, spoke in a languid voice:
“A ruler doesn’t need to listen to everyone’s voice. If you try to do everything yourself, you’ll be the only one who collapses. Your job is to create enough tension that they won’t slack off even without your direct supervision.”
“Won’t they hate me then?”
Despite being cursed as a demon countless times, Erich still didn’t want to be hated by others.
Honestly, it was bearable when people badmouthed this nonexistent demon figure. But he wasn’t sure he could handle being pointed at and criticized to his face.
To such an Erich, Karen gave a clear answer:
“That’s why you need someone to take the hatred. Just like how I take the hatred in place of Her Majesty.”
“You…”
Erich was momentarily lost for words at Karen’s statement. Karen, arms crossed and gazing out the window, looked so peaceful that it made Erich’s heart ache.
To take the blame for someone else’s sake. And to be so calm about it.
‘Were you always someone who could work so devotedly for another?’
In just the short span of a month, Erich had noticed that Karen was actually completely indifferent to him.
She was equally indifferent to everyone. All she cared about was efficient work execution.
He envied the Queen who commanded such loyalty from her. At least to Karen, the Queen wasn’t someone without meaning.
“Will you work for me like that someday too?”
The question burst from Erich’s lips impulsively.
Though he immediately regretted it, he didn’t childishly cover his mouth.
‘Could I ever mean that much to you? If I do well with everything you’ve taught me and show good results?’
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