"Welcome Back, Third Lady." Devoine and the other maids lined up to greet me on my return from my rounds.
"Do you want to eat or drink something to quench your thirst, perhaps?" He asked, I just shook my head as I took off the hat I was wearing and gave it back to Maria. "I will just rest," I said as I was heading towards my room.
As soon as I entered my room, I immediately ran towards my bed and dove into it. "I'm so tired!" I screamed as I hugged my pillow. "Milady, you should change to more comfortable clothes," Maria said, it looked like she chased after me when I entered my room.
"That can wait..." I said in drowsiness, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.
. . .
I woke up in a dark room. It seems like it's deep in the night already.
Ugh, I'm starving!
I stood up from my bed and walked towards the door so I could get to the dining room. "Milady? You're finally awake." I glanced behind me and saw Maria. "You haven't retired yet? What time is it?" I asked her as I rubbed my eyes.
"I figured that you still needed to change and eat dinner so I stayed up. It's already ten in the evening, Milady," She answered. "Was there still food?" I asked as I felt my tummy grumble in hunger.
I blushed in embarrassment, as I heard Maria and the knights who happened to pass this hallway chuckled. "Of course, the chef has prepared food for you, Milady." She said. I walked towards the dining room and sat on my usual seat.
Not long after, Maria arrived with my dinner. She served it for me and I started eating. "Have you eaten already, Maria?" I asked her between chewing. "I already did, Milady. You don't have to worry about me." She said. "All right, then." I just answered and resumed eating.
"You're still awake?" I glanced at the man who entered the room. It was Orion, he was still in his uniform so I bet that he just arrived home. "Big brother, I just woke up," I answered.
"I see." He said, he then sat on his chair and waited for his dinner.
"So it was indeed, you." I heard him remarked, I glanced at him and realized that he was staring at the clothes that I was wearing, the ones I borrowed from Maria.
That's right, I haven't changed my clothes yet.
"Ah, that's right. I went outside incognito." I replied as I continued eating. His dinner arrived as well so he started eating too. "For what reason?" He asked.
"Well, I asked our father to cancel my engagement with His Highness," I explained.
"And how was that relevant to your request?" He asked. "Since there was a law, concerning the cancellation of political marriage engagements, Father gave me a week to plan, how would I surpass the reputation of the fourth prince," I answered.
"And you figured that rounding around the marketplace could give you something in mind?" He asked so I nodded. "Was it helpful then?" He asked once more.
I sighed since I was bothered by the things I found out from my visit earlier.
In the novel, it was one perfect setting, but I failed to realize that nothing was perfect and something like this was possible.
"Poverty and unfairness in power have been going around," I said.
"Of course, utopia is not real. What are you even expecting of this world? You should be realistic. No matter how you try to improve the lives of the citizens, there are still imperfections." He explained. Of course, he was right.
"It was just that, the corruption was being done openly. And those who become the victims of it have no voice to complain about it. Earlier Sir Falcon caught a thief. I was about to send him to the Knight's custody but he said that he would rather be sent to the penal servitude and pay for his crime with hardships than just be imprisoned." I explained.
"I see, but that was a usual occurrence in this kingdom." I glanced at him wide-eyed.
"And you are fine as it is!?" I exclaimed as I slammed on the table, enough for my utensils to bounce on the plate. Orion and Maria were shocked by my reaction. "How come you have the power to correct that mistake but you didn't even care about them? Was it because they are powerless and won't even benefit you?" I asked in anger.
"What if I said yes?" He answered me with a question, before taking a sip of his tea.
"What kind of ruler are you? You can make a change but you chose to turn a blind eye to it? Why are the people who have power, tend to be incompetent!?" I burst out. After that, I turned to walk away.
But before I left, Orion spoke. "How are we incompetent, you say? Said the woman who did nothing but pampers herself with her family's wealth while she turned a blind eye to those in need." I was caught off guard by his statement. He's right, once again.
But that was the Frieda of the past. I'm different.
From now on, I will voice out all the incompetence of this government.
. . .
"Milady, what was that sudden outburst, all about? I was surprised when you suddenly shouted in anger, in front of the First Lord." Maria said as she helped me change into my nightgown after having my evening bath.
I sighed in frustration. "I'm not sure either. I was just outraged when he said that they chose to turn a blind eye from the cries of the powerless while they sit comfortably on the seat of power." I said as I watched myself on the huge body mirror, here in my room.
"You don't shout at someone like that, more specifically, you never let out that anger of that instance to the First Lord. This was the first time." Maria was like a mother to Frieda, that's why, even if Frieda was being scolded, she never said anything.
Maria was taken in by the late duchess after seeing her in an orphanage. As gratitude, she volunteered to take care of Frieda who was the youngest daughter of the duchess, at that time.
"I didn't know that you were that passionate about the poor, Milady. I'm somehow proud of that unexpected trait of yours," She said as she was now, brushing my hair gently.
Passion to help the poor?
Well yes, I once aimed to become a civil servant back then that's why I took Political Science as my course in college. I want to enter politics since there were just so many flaws that I wanted to correct in the current administration of my country, in my previous life.
Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to reach that dream because I died in my last year of college.
I was born from a family of politicians from my previous life, and I admit that my family wasn't as righteous as they should be. There is nepotism, bribery, graft, and plunder, there is corruption in all corners and I was afraid to speak in honour of my family.
I decided to change it. With another life given to me, might as well change myself for the better.
So now, I've decided.
I WILL BE ENTERING POLITICS.
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