"System Call! Emergency!" I shouted, I braced myself for impact but none came forth, I opened my eyes only to see a light blue shield covering me from the centipedes' attack. A screen popped up with pink and white borders again:
Quest:
You have completed the exercise time! We will now teleport you back to the Palace!
[Complete] Survive for 3 hours in the desert [3/3]
-- Administrator
________________________________
I sighed in relief and watched the silver-haired man smirk, "Till next time my sweet darling!~" He said as he flipped his hair and left on one of the centipedes, I started to fade away and landed on one of the palace training grounds for the imperial knights with sand all over my body and my dress all ripped up. I stood up from where I was and walked away from the perplexed knights, "What's the queen doing here?"
"You think she came to watch us?"
"Why would she even bother?" I heard whispers and murmurs behind my back and walked away, [why even bother. It's not like they were the ones that started with the rumors, I need to find Ivy. She's the one who is the real villianess. I need to get rid of her so that my name will not be tarnished again, I read in the novel that both the empress and Ivy were great friends. Emphasis on "friends"] I thought and chuckled, Magdalena walked steadily towards me and draped a blanket over my shoulders. I thanked her as we headed back, "Magdalena, Is it possible to invite Ivy to the palace within a few days?" I asked lost in thought, "Yes your highness, if you were to order her to come now she would still arrive as you have asked, Your Highness." She said as she looked down, the sand was still sifting from my ripped up dress.
"And Magdalena, Can you please get me those clothes I asked of you earlier?" I demanded, the sand was starting to make my skin itch, I really didn't like it. I started to think of a plan to shame Ivy so she never says anything ever again. maybe that way she won't tarnish Annalisa's name and will stop looking for the power of the imperial family. [There's also the Villain, Mikhael I have to look out for, He's not that much of a problem, on the contrary I plan on helping him get back on track! If he turns out to still want to chase for the male lead for revenge I'll have to take measures. But for now, He won't appear, I haven't seen him and I'm only 15.] I averted my eyes in thought, [If I can convince Cristian of the male lead's innocence, then the whole drama that takes up 3/4 of the story will be gone and unecessary.] I walked to my chambers and magdalena was already present with pants and a polo shirt.
"Thank you Magdalena," I smiled and headed in closing my room doors, [it's weird how I haven't received a notification of--]
Ping!
Quest:
[Incomplete] Boost your self-esteem by looking for a loyal follower in the streets [0/1]
Note: This follower will be in the main streets of the slums, watch out for thieves.
Penalty: None
Succeed: 10% strength buff
[ugh are you kidding me? This is literally rigged! I am not doing this quest!] I groaned and dismissed the quest, [I have no idea what that administrator is thinking!] I threw myself on my bed and slept peacefully.
ヽ(*⌒▽⌒*)ﾉ The Next day ╰(▔∀▔)╯
___________________________________________________
Ping!
Quest:
[Incomplete] Boost your self-esteem by looking for a loyal follower in the streets [0/1]
Note: This follower will be in the main streets of the slums, watch out for thieves.
Penalty: None
Succeed: 10% strength buff
"Can't it just stop popping up?! I'm trying hard to do my daily workout!" I shouted, I was currently running aroun the track I ordered to be made for me to workout in. Of course only few people know of this place. I ran calmly around the track prepared for me, after I showed the architect a sketch of what I wanted, his reaction was expected. "Your Highness! How did you come up with this?! THIS IS GENIUS!!"
[it's just a simple track. I guess since they haven't been invented or designed yet...it makes sense] <-- Feels proud of herself. I turned only to find the screen again, it popped up everytime I tried to do something insignificant! "WHAT NOW?!" I turned as I ran and found laos' crying face. "Stop pretending like that hurt you. It's annoying." I groaned, He laughed at his own jokes. [how stupid] I clicked my tongue and saw the screen pop up again.
"What's wrong?" Laos asked with a smug expression, something I just couldn't bear anymore. It's like he's become a real child, Like why?! WHat?!!
"STOP. APPEARING." I groaned as I slapped the screen and in the process Laos, "Hic! hic..! How could you..! WHen all I've ever done is bless you with a kingdom!" He looked down as I watched in shock, [did I really do that???] "HOW DARE YOU! YOU STUPID HUMAN! YOU'D BE BETTER OFF DEAD THAN TO BE LIVING HERE!!!" He pouted, I held in my laughter and saw as he ran off at a large distance he stopped. "HUh??? Why'd you have to go that far?" I asked, he smirked and a bright golden beam started to emerge from his clasped hands as they started to seperate. [oh sh--] I started to run from the beam but it was all to no avail.
"HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT ME!!!"
"..?"
"Isn't he cute?"
"Just look at how he's throwing his tantrum" The servants gushed, they can't see what's actually going on though.
"I'm proud of serving such an adorable child." The knight cried in a corner.
[YOU PEOPLE WON'T COME AND HELP ME???] I groaned, [WHERE IS YOUR LOYALTY??!?!??!]
(⌒▽⌒)☆ 1 Week Later (⌒▽⌒)☆
_____________________________________________
"Hufff...huff...! Huff!"
Ping!
Quest:
[Incomplete] Boost your self-esteem by looking for a loyal follower in the streets [0/1]
Note: This follower will be in the main streets of the slums, watch out for thieves.
Penalty: None
Succeed: 10% strength buff
"it's not even surprising anymore...Just why does it keep sending this pop up? Does the admin really hate me that much?" I clenched my fists as I had finished my daily workout early, "Your Highness," Magdalena handed me spare clothes and walked off. I scurried to my chambers and slumped against the door, whilst I sat on the floor. I really felt confused. What would I, the Empress, have to do at the slums? It's not like I hate commoners or poor people in general. I just don't see the point in going. Besides, there is no penalty, so why does it keep popping up? Is there a purpose for the quest? if so, what makes it so important that it's been a week since it's kept popping up on my face?
"Your Majesty, the nobles' meeting will start within 10 minutes, Shall I prepare you?" Magdalena asked as she gently knocked on my door. [I've known her long enough to know that she is not what she seems]
"Uh...sure Magda. I just need to uh-- fix my chimney! yeah!" I stuttered, I could feel her glare through the walls and doors. "You can ask a servant to fix that your highness."
"But uh-- I need spire-- I mean prior! NO I meant FIRE! YES! I need fire to spark her!"
"HER?" her dark ominous aura had reached me at such a distance, She slammed the door open and literally (not really) teleported to Annalisa almost immediately.
"Your Highness," She glared as she smiled, "You do realize you'll have to be in that meeting within 3 minutes, right? It's late. So GET PREPARED." She beamed a smile, I trembled and nodded.
[I thought I was a perfectionist, but there's magda fixing everything for me...] I bit my lip and nodded.
[I'll fix the quest later, for now, I'll have to attend the meeting.]
(￣ v￣|||) At the meeting (￣v ￣|||)
____________________________________________
"Your Highness" Everyone stood up from their porcelain seats and bowed as I entered proudly, "So, what's with the sudden call?" I asked raising an eyebrow. Everyone looked at me in shock, [Tsk. Same old, same old] Everyon thought in unison.
"Your Majesty, We've prepared the reports for the pandemic in the south, it seems it's been spreading quite rapidly within these few weeks since our last meeting." Count Zephyr stated, he was the count that simply embezzled whilst Annalisa was empress. He even called her, "Queen" behind her back. [Calling an empress, "Queen" is like saying all she is, is a concubine and periodt.] I pondered as I was handed the reports from the south of Dampierre.
"Hm...Clean the Imperial palace 5 times the normal amount, send knights to fix the situation of the pandemic by cleaning the streets during their shifts and have them bring what I call, A "Hand Sanitizer," I recalled making that a few days ago when I had nothing to do, I finished reviewing all the papers for the new law that was implemented and fized a few problems involving a certain Archduke Cristian. [He seems to be the star of the show in fact]
"Hand Sanitizer? May I ask what that is your highness?" Marchioness Isabelle queried, narrowing her eyes at me like a vulture, [how can we trust her intentions are to help?] Marchioness Isabella, She's got good intentions and has taken over her family since her husband's sudden death 2 years ago, but she still doubts everyone around her except her children. They're all boys, grown and adults.
"A hand sanitizer is something--" [Wait--! I can't tell them it's to eliminate germs since they don't know what that is...] "It's to clean one's hands so that all of the dirt accumulated will dissipate into thin air once you place it in your hands. It'll also help remove the smells." I said, My expression as always [emotionless and dull] The nobles thought, [she has no care in the world and now she decides to care for her empire? She should just continue crying and being all depressed like the little girl she is instead of pretending to care]
"I have a question. Do any of you, trust in your Empress?" I glowered, The nobles gulped as they looked at each other, they could just lie but, it was hard to do it. It was like she had the power to see the truth, [I want to know their thoughts on this too! It's better to get to know your subordinates] <--- Misunderstood the whole situation.
"..?"