Standing in front of Kaguya was a woman with magnificent silver-blue hair and deep, icy blue eyes. Her features were exquisite, with a queenly, almond-shaped face and crystal-clear white skin. Her figure was voluptuous, and she exuded a commanding aura with a captivating charm.
Kaguya seemed unfazed, lounging lazily on a plush, comfortable sofa. She held a teacup in her pale hands, sipping from it before exhaling softly. Then, she looked up and smiled lightly, saying, "I'm surprised the Empire's strongest general, Esdeath, has graced me with her presence. I'm truly honored."
"Your Highness," Esdeath said with a slight bow, her deep eyes fixed on Kaguya, her lips curling into a faint smile. "You are the one who surprises me."
"I wonder what business General Esdeath has with me today," Kaguya asked softly, placing her teacup on the table.
"I heard there was a massive meteor strike on the town yesterday, and since Your Highness is here, I came to investigate," Esdeath replied, her voice rich and magnetic, with an indescribable allure.
"Thank you for your concern, General," Kaguya replied with a smile, shifting the conversation. "But surely you have other matters to discuss?"
"Indeed, Your Highness possesses incredible strength," Esdeath said, her eyes gleaming with a barely noticeable excitement. "If possible, I would like to spar with you."
"I'm sorry," Kaguya smiled gently, elegantly raising her teacup and taking another sip. "I have many affairs to attend to and cannot accompany you."
"Is that so? What a pity," Esdeath murmured, a glint of light flashing in her deep blue eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled into a slight smile.
As soon as she spoke, three ice pillars materialized in the air beside Esdeath, shooting toward Kaguya like lightning.
However, when they reached within half a meter of Kaguya, it was as if an invisible force stopped them from advancing further.
"General Esdeath, is this how you show your manners?" Kaguya chuckled softly. "Such behavior doesn't suit someone of your esteemed rank."
With Kaguya's gentle smile, the ice pillars hovering before her suddenly shattered, turning into glittering ice shards like tiny stars. The coldness they brought lingered briefly before dissipating into the air.
"Forgive me for my impatience," Esdeath said with a slight bow, raising her head with a determined gaze in her blue eyes. "Nonetheless, I look forward to facing Your Highness in battle."
Watching Esdeath's perfect figure gradually recede, Kaguya furrowed her brows slightly.
She hadn't expected her display of power to attract Esdeath so quickly, although given Esdeath's competitive nature, it was only a matter of time before she came seeking a challenge. Still, Kaguya hadn't anticipated it would happen so soon.
Judging by Esdeath's demeanor, she seemed to have set her sights on Kaguya, not out of any deep-seated hatred or conflict of interest, but perhaps simply because Esdeath had found an intriguing opponent worth pursuing. After all, she was so powerful that she had no equals.
However, this could pose quite a headache for Kaguya, not because she feared Esdeath or believed she couldn't defeat her. The concern was that Esdeath might interfere at a critical moment, causing complications for Kaguya.
In truth, from a personal standpoint, Kaguya quite admired Esdeath, but it was mere admiration. If Esdeath ever stood in the way of her plans, Kaguya wouldn't hesitate to act decisively.
A chill as cold as ice flashed through Kaguya's autumn-water-clear eyes.
Perhaps sensing Kaguya's intent, Esdeath paused at the mansion's exit, turning back to gaze at the distant silhouette, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile.
"Princess, what an interesting person," Esdeath murmured, clutching her chest with a slight blush on her face. "But why is my heart racing? Is it the anticipation of the upcoming battle? Oh, wait..."
Suddenly recalling something, Esdeath pulled a small booklet from her pocket, flipping through it carefully. A look of realization dawned on her strong-willed face.
"So that's it?" Esdeath said, touching her blushing cheek as she glanced into the distance. "Is this what it feels like?"
She held a small booklet with pink letters on the cover that read Love Guide.
In truth, dear girl, you're overthinking it.
Meanwhile, as Kaguya was absorbed in her work, she suddenly shivered, a chill creeping up her spine. Looking up, she gazed out the window at the withering leaves in the autumn breeze and mused, Winter is finally coming.
There were many tasks to handle, such as resettling the villagers who had been displaced and injured during the chaos, rebuilding homes, dealing with corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants who had colluded with the former town chief, and appointing a new town chief while deploying troops to prevent further disturbances.
The myriad issues kept Kaguya extremely busy, making her realize the necessity of recruiting capable administrators. Most of her subordinates were military officers, adept at leading troops into battle, but when it came to managing affairs, they were like ducks on a leash—likely less capable than she was.
The only thing that offered Kaguya some respite was the prospect of confiscating assets. On the night Eric was executed, Kaguya ordered his mansion and properties to be surrounded by heavy troops to prevent any transfer of assets.
The following day, during the confiscation, Kaguya discovered that Eric was a staggering embezzler, with millions of gold coins hidden in a secret underground chamber in his mansion. The place was filled to the brim with treasures, jewelry, jade, and priceless paintings, many bearing royal insignias.
As for the common people's properties and lands he had seized, they were beyond estimation.
But rather than feeling pleased, Kaguya was deeply troubled. If a minor town chief could run rampant, exploiting and oppressing the populace, hiding his actions while being so egregiously corrupt, what of the other areas in her territory?