TSMMT Ch 91

An Arduous Task

It occurred one month before Revius received the financial report.

Why is she being so serious?!

Saruvia squirmed in anxiety as she watched Dianna work. She excluded both Leonie and Saruvia, consulting directly with the maids regarding palace affairs. With mere maids!

Panic seized Saruvia. Becoming queen stood as her family's long-cherished ambition, as well as her own. Yet the moment Dianna arrived, she feigned meek obedience while stabbing Saruvia in the back.

Why? Why on earth was she doing this?

Her anxiety proved short-lived, however, when news arrived that even the informants she planted within the royal palace had been dismissed. Receiving that report, she smiled in relief.

What is this? She is far stupider than I anticipated.

Boldly firing those who held established positions within the palace was all well and good, but why did she fail to anticipate the inevitable backlash?

Saruvia rose from her seat immediately, resolving to contact the additional hidden informants she had kept in reserve.

Every action taken by a foreign queen would only breed hostility among the locals. Did Dianna fail to realize that such drastic measures would trigger violent resistance? Saruvia merely needed to construct the spark.

Dianna's project was destined to end in total failure. Saruvia released a venomous smile.

---

Even with Revius entrusting full authority over the budget to Dianna, the work proved far from easy.

She reviewed official documents continuously, tracking every movement of the funds. Because Guiscard was not a Panborough king who consolidated power through lavish social gatherings, the budget allocated for hosting guests remained small.

Maintenance expenses for the ancient palace, constructed during the founding era, were fixed, and no additional expenditures went toward purchasing luxury decor or fine art.

Having endured lengthy civil wars that altered the nation's name multiple times, Lodbrog lacked an environment for art to flourish. The realm possessed neither the time nor the financial leeway to embellish and refine the royal palace.

Ultimately, labor costs consumed the largest portion of the budget.

Fine, I shall tackle just this. Since I am destined to be condemned anyway, I might as well execute it thoroughly.

Starting with the dismissal of the trash who had groped her hand, Dianna ordered the eviction of the honorary officials.

Furthermore, she slashed their pensions to one-tenth of their original amount, eliminated an excessive number of supervisors, and increased the salaries of those who performed actual labor.

She appointed several workers as internal inspectors, instructing them to report on private palace operations. Dianna obtained detailed reports down to the families of the laundry staff.

The royal palace was essentially a massive mansion. Because employees across different departments shared weak ties, winning over select individuals proved remarkably simple. Dianna noted those who worked diligently and appointed them to managerial positions.

Yet executing such a sweeping reform was hardly smooth sailing.

[Saruvia] "Your Majesty, severe trouble has arisen!"

Saruvia rushed into the room, shouting at Dianna. She knit her brows as she looked at Saruvia. A peculiar excitement glittered in her eyes.

[Dianna] "What happened?"

[Saruvia] "The individuals ordered to vacate the palace are staging a sit-in protest!"

[Dianna] "……"

[Saruvia] "They refuse to move a single step, squatting on the grounds while shouting criticisms against Your Majesty."

Watching Saruvia observe her reactions, Dianna harbored a conviction that she had orchestrated this entire scheme. Dianna rose from her seat.

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[Protester] "You can't treat us this way!"

[Protester] "After dedicating our loyalty to the palace, we receive such cold rejection in return?!"

[Protester] "We can't leave! This place is our livelihood!"

[Protester] "We refuse to leave! We will not leave!"

It was an absolute spectacle. Watching the scene, Dianna could find no other words for it.

People lay sprawled out in front of the servants' quarters, shouting at the top of their lungs, while passersby gathered to spectate. The pickets they held carried no direct insults toward Dianna, yet contained indirect jabs:

Don't expel those who offered absolute loyalty!

May the newcomer respect the foundations of the palace!

Lodbrog honors and respects its long-serving veterans!

Please respect the laws of our kingdom!

Every sign contained indirect criticism aimed at Dianna, disguised as desperate pleas. Crafting such clever slogans was undoubtedly Saruvia's handiwork.

She looked back at Saruvia standing behind her.

[Saruvia] "What should we do…… They are so pitiful."

Tears welled in her eyes.

[Saruvia] "Your Majesty, can you find it in your heart to extend mercy toward them?"

She intentionally raised her voice, desperate to highlight her own presence.

Bullshit. If you pity them so much, hire them yourself, Lady Levian.

Had Leonie been present, she would surely have voiced those exact words. Dianna missed her, who happened to be off duty today.

Shifting her focus back to reality, Dianna felt a surge of irritation. Had Guiscard or Revius commanded these people to leave, they would have departed in silence. Yet they dared to pull such a stunt against her. Against the Queen of a nation……

[Protester] "You can't alter everything to suit Panborough ways!"

[Protester] "We are not tools meant to serve Your Majesty's dignity!"

Dianna looked behind her. Her entourage was remarkably small: one guard knight, one lady-in-waiting, and a few accompanying maids. In contrast, the evicted servants staging the protest numbered nearly one hundred.

[Protesters] "We refuse to leave!"

[Protesters] "We can't leave!"

From the center of the crowd, a man stepped forward to lead the demonstration. Dianna stared at him with a cold expression.

[S. Servant] "Your Majesty, we recognize that as someone arriving from a foreign realm, you may remain ignorant regarding the culture of this royal palace. However, we beg you to respect the ways of Lodbrog."

Ah. So that is your game?

Dianna scowled and whispered to one of her maids. The maid quietly withdrew from the scene.

What if these protesters suddenly turned violent? Authority was a mere illusion before bare fists, and in truth, Dianna possessed virtually no real authority here.

If they launched an attack against her, what would become of her? If she displayed a retreat right now, the crowd would mock her mercilessly.

Scanning her surroundings, Dianna fixed her gaze on the kneeling man. He was one of the honorary officials who had previously grabbed and groped her hand. Even after receiving the eviction order, this scum had disobeyed her command.

[Dianna] "Do you remember me?"

At her low question, the man cleared his throat.

[S. Servant] "Ahem, how could a mere servant such as I recognize Your Majesty's noble face?"

[Dianna] "I remember you, yet you fail to remember me?"

When she gestured for her maids to speak, they voiced fierce accusations.

[Maid] "That is correct! He is the man who dared to harass Your Majesty!"

[Maid] "Inflict heavy punishment upon him!"

[Maid] "Cutting off that hand is only proper!"

[Maid] "No, slice out his tongue as well!"

The people of Lodbrog are far too aggressive……

Ignoring the violent demands of her maids behind her, Dianna stared at the trash standing before her.

Glaring at the maids, the middle-aged man addressed Dianna.

[S. Servant] "Do you now intend to use your maids to corner me?"

[Dianna] "Me? Why on earth would I?"

She offered a cold smile.

[Dianna] "Why would I waste effort cornering a piece of trash I would never look at twice? Do you possess such value?"

A look of utter disgust crossed her features.

Had a new, proper queen arrived, these people would never have dared to stage such a resistance.

[Dianna] "Must I state with my own lips that you harassed the maids?"

[S. Servant] "This is slander! Your Majesty is slandering me!"

The man insisted stubbornly. Resentment flared within Dianna, but she spoke calmly.

[Dianna] "I issue a final warning. Cause no further commotion and leave quietly."

At her words, the protesters scoffed in unison. They were by no means individuals who would be frightened by a mere warning. What authority could a Panborough queen without any political backing possibly command? Just as Saruvia had advised them, they believed they held every right to challenge the Queen's foolish decision.

[Protesters] "We will never leave!"

Hearing their shrieking cries, Dianna resisted the urge to cover her ears.

In my past life and this present one, everyone views me as an easy target. That is precisely why I chose death over returning to this place.

Though she tried to attribute no meaning to anything, watching these people pretend to be helpless victims revolted her. The wealth they had embezzled over the years was sufficient to purchase a mansion fit for a lower noble.

Had truly desperate, powerless victims expressed their grievances to Dianna in this manner, she would have listened to their voices. Yet seeing these corrupt individuals steal from the truly vulnerable without recognizing their own wrongdoing, Dianna resolved in that instant to show mercy to no one.

[Bill] "Your Majesty!"

At the sound of someone calling her, Dianna shifted her gaze. Her expression hardened as she turned around.

The thunderous clatter of horse hooves echoed through the quiet area. Knights mounted on black warhorses appeared, clad in gleaming armor.

The chaotic atmosphere froze into a cold silence instantly.

They were the Vargrhati Order—the knights serving directly under the King.

[Bill] "Your Majesty, are you unharmed?!"

Guiscard had left a portion of the Vargrhati Order behind rather than taking every member to the front lines. However, because Dianna shared a terrible relationship with the order, she had interacted with none of them aside from Logaple.

Utterly bewildered, Dianna looked at the maid she had dispatched earlier. The maid's eyes sparkled brightly as she gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Dianna felt thoroughly wronged.

I never told you to bring those men.

Dianna had instructed the maid to summon the Royal Guard, not the King's personal Vargrhati Order. While the Royal Guard was obligated to obey the Queen's commands, the Vargrhati Order answered strictly to the King. Their arrival here was entirely unexpected.

Dianna observed the mounted knights. Wearing full helmets, they appeared like grim reapers ready to claim human lives at any moment.

Noticing Dianna, the knights dismounted immediately and bowed deeply before her.

[Saruvia] "Your Majesty?"

At Saruvia's confused call, Dianna regained her composure. Displaying bewilderment now would only embarrass both parties. She had to project an impression that she had expected their arrival all along.

[Bill] "We have rushed here at Your Majesty's command."

A knight delivered a crisp greeting. The knights' training grounds stood near the servants' quarters, making their dramatic arrival on horseback feel ridiculously exaggerated. Dianna's face flushed with heat.

[Dianna] "What is your name?"

[Bill] "Bill Barda."

Dianna knit her brows. Bill.

She remembered the name clearly—the very man who had once called her unsightly. She suppressed the bitter memory.

This man dislikes me. So why did he come here? I would have preferred Logaple instead.

Because Bill's face remained concealed beneath his helmet, Dianna took small comfort in that fact.

Regardless, their arrival indicated an intent to follow her commands. How should she proceed? One thing stood certain: she couldn't back down now.

She spoke in a low voice, striving to make her tone sound arrogantly composed.

[Dianna] "I shall ask Sir Bill Barda regarding the laws of the royal palace."

[Bill] "Speak, Your Majesty."

[Dianna] "In the absence of His Majesty the King, what do you call it when people refuse to obey a command issued by his wife?"

The knight looked up at her and spoke in a low, heavy voice.

[Bill] "It is called treason."

His voice was not particularly loud. Yet that single word cast a chilling terror over everyone present.

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