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The arena was packed with spectators. It made sense since the empress, who was single, organized a tournament as a means to find a prince consort, which drew immense interest from the imperial citizens.
The number of nobles who had gathered to support the participants, or rather, the prospective prince consorts from their families, was also staggering. And they all cheered for me as I made my entrance.
As I walked into the roaring cheers that vibrated through the air, Edwin, chuckling beside me, said, "Raviel, look at this. Everyone likes you."
"They're all just enjoying this weird spectacle."
"No, it's you they like. Of course, you're the best."
I couldn't help but smirk at Edwin's earnest nodding. If all these people really liked me, that was probably because I was the empress, as people often tended to favor those in power.
The one hundred seventy-eight husband candidates looking at me might also secretly hope to win this game. After all, the empress's husband would hold power too, even though they remained unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.
I chuckled and walked on, prompting Edwin to blurt out nonsense that I also seemed in a good mood.
Both of us took our seats on the dais, which offered the best view of the arena. The one hundred seventy-eight men simultaneously knelt on one knee before me. The packed audience also bowed their heads in respect.
Even Edwin, standing beside me, knelt and paid his respects. Although he was just joking around, I always felt a tingling pleasure at such moments. This was why I endured all the hardships of being an empress.
I held my head high and spoke in a voice neither loud nor soft, "Rise."
And upon my command, everyone stood up. I scrutinized the worker candidates. They all looked sturdy, which pleased me.
Considering that one of the secretaries had to take a day off due to a high fever, physical strength was evidently crucial.
The ones standing in the front row were participants from the four major ducal families. I looked each one in the eye, then paid special attention to Duke Dehart.
His ash-gray hair and black eyes were a plain combination, but his face was somehow captivating, perhaps due to his distinct features. He stood out more than the second son of House Pargos, who boasted vibrant blond hair beside the Duke.
I had felt the same when I first saw him. During that dreadfully cold winter, when I headed north with my last hope, he saved House Sutton, our family, with the same expressionless face.
I had planned to thank him when we were to meet again, but since I had regressed, it was our first encounter from his perspective. So I would have to express my gratitude in my heart.
Before regressing, let’s say, back when I first became Count Sutton, I was just a fourteen-year-old girl in charge of a household, enough to become a subject of ridicule.
Those were really challenging times, more than necessary. I had to deal with a lot of disrespect and was even taken advantage of multiple times.
The only thing that kept me going was the thought of not ruining the family legacy my parents had left behind. However, there were many days when I cried alone, and that particular day was no exception.
I had been scammed badly and needed to sell goods urgently. Desperate for money to survive the winter, I visited various lords, practically begging, since no one would buy goods from our trading house.
And that man, Duke Dehart, had bought our goods. They weren't even essential in the north, but he might have taken pity on me who was shivering pathetically. Anyway, thanks to him, I survived that winter.
'Monster of the North? More like a savior of the Suttons.'
I chuckled, snapping out of the past memories, then gave a brief pep talk to the participants before I sat down.
'Come to think of it, what happened to that damn scammer?'
After traveling back in time, leading the house became much easier. I had already experienced it once, and with all kinds of knowledge gained from that, I thought it was expected, but this time was definitely smoother than before.
The fraudsters trying to con me were nowhere to be seen. I had been ready to half-kill that scammer––the one who forced me to go door-to-door selling––if he showed up again, but he never did.
"Raviel, it's starting," Edwin's voice pulled me back to the present.
As I looked at the arena, I saw Jepeto Delmoi and some Viscount's son facing each other with swords. Even before it began, the outcome seemed obvious.
I might not know how to wield a sword, but I was still the empire's number one swordsman's sister. I'd been watching Edwin's sword training for years, so just from their stances, I could roughly guess the outcome.
As expected, the match was quickly decided when Jepeto sent his opponent's sword flying. I heard Edwin whistling from beside me, soon followed by a thunderous applause. Jepeto gracefully sheathed his sword, bowed to me, and left the arena.
Then, the second match began. This time, Dulchen Pargos stepped onto the arena. I clicked my tongue in disappointment. I had planned to leave after watching one match, but it ended too quickly, and I missed my chance.
Hearing me, and perhaps misunderstanding, Edwin asked with a smile, "You don't like that guy, Raviel?"
"It's your eyes I don't like. Eddy, relax your gaze. And stop smiling like a lunatic, I've told you."
"Even if I am, you wouldn't abandon me, so it's fine."
"That's true, but still, relax your eyes. I raised you well; I'd be upset if people called my brother insane."
"Okay, hehe."
Edwin laughed brightly. Not just because he was my little brother, but Edwin was really cute at times like this.
As I was about to pat his head, a painful scream rang out from the arena.
I turned my head and found a man, seemingly with a broken right leg, unsteadily standing on his sword.
His opponent, Dulchen, had a relaxed face as if teasing with the injured man. Dulchen's lips moved, saying something to his opponent, but I couldn't hear it from here.
The man with the broken leg then let out a loud kiai, raising his sword, and even managed to swing at Dulchen, who easily dodged and kicked him in return.
Dulchen was unnecessarily dragging out the fight, provoking the injured man, when he could easily overpower.
Watching the fallen man struggle to get up, I spoke up, "Eddy, end this."
"Okay, Raviel."
Edwin dashed into the arena, creating a gust of wind. He assisted the fallen man who had dodged Dulchen's swinging sword and had collapsed.
As the doctors approached on Edwin's gesture, the man with the broken leg looked at me. His leg dangled, leaving me puzzled as to why he was glancing at me, but I nodded in his direction.
As the match seemed to end there, Dulchen complained, "How can you intrude on a sacred duel like this?"
His eyes were on Edwin, but his voice was loud enough for me to hear.
"If you call that sacred, the gods would be angry," I said indifferently, resting my chin on my hand, making sure my voice was also audible to him.
Dulchen looked at me, and I gestured toward Edwin with my chin.
"If you're so upset, this kid will fight you. Want to try?"
Edwin, eyes sparkling with excitement, drew his sword. Watching him stretch his neck and loosen up, Dulchen clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.
'I don't know your skills, but you're already disqualified.'
With that thought, I stood up from my seat.
"Anyone who kills their opponent during the match will be charged with murder. Inflicting unnecessary injuries will also result in immediate disqualification."
Dulchen, while leaving the arena, turned around and protested, "Your Majesty, where is such a rule?"
"Here."
"Huh?"
"In a competition to choose my husband, my word is the law. Is there a problem?"
"No, it's not that. I mean... What about me?"
"I won't apply it retroactively, but be extra careful in the future."
Finally, Dulchen closed his mouth.
'Good, the atmosphere is just right. This is the moment.'
Seizing the opportunity, I naturally descended from the dais. Returning to the Imperial Palace and preparing for a meeting would be far more productive.
Edwin hopped down from the arena and asked, "Raviel, you're leaving already?"
"You stay and enjoy. Don't cause any trouble, though."
"Okay!"
I thought he would want to come along, but it seemed this tournament was quite entertaining for him.
***
During the meeting that day, the currency issue with the Zilton Empire was initially brought up, eventually becoming the most expensive mess of my reign, four months after my accession.
The Gripton Empire bordered the Seven Hills Empire to the northeast and the Zilton Empire to the northwest.
Seven Hills had maintained a longstanding friendly relationship with Zilton, a commercial empire. We had been collectively keeping the aggressive Gripton in check, as they were always poised to cross the border.
However, we now found ourselves in a trade dispute with Zilton, another mess left behind by the previous emperor.
The former emperor's uncle had been in charge of dealings with Zilton and skimming money off the exchange rate differences between the two empires. This accumulated over time, and now it had exploded.
The difference between the 12-gram gold coins of Seven Hills and the 14-gram gold coins of Zilton had accumulated, resulting in a staggering debt of 320,000 golds.
Zilton, having been patient due to their friendly relations with Seven Hills, formally lodged a complaint, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, already on the brink of financial collapse, declared it was too much to handle.
"Pin the responsibility on those who entrusted national trade to private companies without oversight and didn't manage it. Cut his belly," I instructed the guards, nonchalantly gesturing toward the Foreign Minister.
"Wh-what? Your… your Majesty, what are you saying?"
"Don't worry, it's not about you. Just follow them."
"N-no, Your Majesty. Didn't you say cut my belly?"
"Yes, that's what I said. You understood it well, so make sure it's done nicely."
"Please have mercy, Your Majesty!! I'm innocent!!"
"No. Take him away."
The guards seized the Foreign Minister's arms. The council room fell silent as if doused in cold water.
The other nobles, who initially thought I wouldn't really do it, recognized my seriousness when they witnessed me ignoring the Foreign Minister being dragged away and returning my attention to the documents.
"Your… your Majesty, this is too harsh."
"Though the mismanagement is evident, isn't there someone else who embezzled?"
"He has served the empire for many years, Your Majesty."
As everyone chimed in, my patience, preserved by my busy schedule that left me no time for anger and therefore allowed me to maintain the facade of an elegant empress, finally snapped.
I slammed the table and shouted, "Harsh? A man who's been feeding off the empire for twelve years doesn't even have the shame to admit his incompetence, and you think threatening to cut his belly is harsh? Shouldn't you all be coming up with solutions instead of shamelessly asking for money? Why should the empire's taxes clean up your incompetence?"
Everyone, including the pleading ministers and the wailing Foreign Minister, fell silent.
I glared at the Foreign Minister and questioned, "Tell me. If you speak the truth now, I won't cut your belly. Did you really not know that the Margos Trading House was embezzling?"
His eyes flickered in fear.
'Better speak wisely. Everything will come out in the investigation.'