Few chosen maids were outside Ett's chamber, and no one had entered her room after she returned. Only one maid would open the door thrice to give her a meal until it became twice a day. Well, that was what she suggested. Unless there are times she would feel hungry.

"At least I'm not mistreated like the other ancestors."

Which is good, less acting.

Ett stared blankly at a piece of paper in front of her.

Documents. Piles and piles of documents. She felt the urge to put it away for a bit.

After surveying the sizable list of duties needed, Ett wished she had her laptop, where her Excel software would save her more time and other tools that could be used in organizing all of the contents of these papers.

"I can see my future."

The days of being an upgraded office employee: Royal worker.

This week, Ett ignored all the work she should do. She just stayed silently contemplating and lazing around in an excuse she was resting.

Philosophical thoughts run through her mind.

Of course, she knows she can't be idle this long and does her duties as the only remaining relative of the current ruling leader of the empire. Hehe, those who hate them must be having a chilling time to kill them since they are just two people remaining. Well, if her identity is revealed. Yet, what could she do?

"I miss my masterpieces."

Although this place has a wealth of thousands and millions of pounds, she still prefers her modern life. Just a freelancer, having her own time but most of the time being overworked and, most of the time, broke.

Life is hard being a modern independent woman, but she is alone, living in her own rent, enjoying and suffering while reading her sort of entertainment, and somehow has her own subjective peace that others might not understand, and that's enough for her. That's her home where she belongs, with all her library of books and OC-inspired drawings shut from most of the world's entertainment.

The story depicted that Ett had been severely injured and unconscious when she arrived at 'that' place. The word 'disgraced' that the author uses for Ett when she comes to that place is contextualized as quite elusive; who knows what kind of 'disgrace' the novel Ett encountered?

"Where is the emperor?"

Ett asked casually.

"Answering the Empress Dowager, we last saw the emperor in his study room with Butler Xiwen."

"How long?"

"About two hours ago."

"Two hours ago…"

In the novel, this Guren was much more workaholic than the ML; whenever the female lead visited him, it should be by appointment only. When they met by 'chance,' they would talk a little; seeing them in a long time was rare.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Guren was in his mid-20s when those scenes happened. For a child to experience an adult's work as extensive as ruling an empire with few people to assist him… ha. Does she even have the right to think about how unfairness when she's also part of his suffering?

"Empress Dowager, your requested dessert and tea are here."

"Place it on the table and leave."

"Yes."

Observing the maid's graceful bearing that comes and goes, her wondering thoughts only came back when her chamber door closed.

Ett nervously chewed her inner cheek, the smell of the night infused with the distant familiarity of the place she was looking at.

Should she go back and try it again? Is there a sleeping pill at this time so she can keep it after going to that place? Would that be considered fainting? But what if the waves are stronger? How about escaping through the night and continuing the story where it was based without her?

At least she knows how the story will revolve. And whatever disgrace that is, she could still do it. After all, she could take advantage of sliver of lines.

"I don't even know how to treat a child or how much more to care for him."

Watching and looking at them at arm's length is the usual setting whenever she meets a kid. Similarly, in the novel, Ett has a complicated relationship with Guren. Besides, she was waiting for something to happen right now. Well, she was expecting something to occur. Is there any plot armour?

"A novel once said: 'The silence was deafening.'"

There is none of it these days.

As the villain's mother and villainess, no one knows of her existence unless the people in this palace shut their mouths. While the citizens only know that the late Emperor had only one daughter, it is known that she died of childbirth.

Regarding Guren's father, they all knew, even if it was suspicion, that he might have been killed because of his deep love for his daughter.

Ett sneered. "The great thing is you witness that scumbag's death, Ett."

Ett's father, the old Emperor, passed away knowing how ethereal his daughter was and could send nations to crumble with her features. So, he locked her like a princess from a Disney movie.

In the story, the twisted Emperor even went to the point where he caused temporary blindness when Guren's father and Ett copulated. It's not because he was precious to her, but just an object like a rare gem that should be kept inside his treasury.

Yes, there was even a time when he locked his daughter in his treasury! Ett doesn't want to think further and grabs a mirror to stare at the living disaster called Ett. Her beauty was not cute; it was heaven-defying.

Indeed, just like in the novel, only one glance and almost all of them would fall under her feet. Unless they have a strong mentality or are brainwashed like the servants, then they, on some levels, are not affected.

Just by looking at her features, Ett feels like she could forever fall in love with herself.

"Fantastic. Now, what should I do?"

This little face had a son older than her current physical age.

What a cumbersome plot.

"Gah, at least make him younger than me. Why does it have to be like this? It's not cute at all."

Enough. She should stop mopping around and do what she could do. First, she must find a man to help her solve her height problem. Ett groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"He won't appear until it's later in the story."

Not even attempted, yet the result was a failure.

Ha!

No way, Sherlock, she will find that man as early as possible.

The earlier, the better, and she will get into her son's smooth sailing ruling the day the male lead destroys the Adiand Empire. Even if she is not the Ett in the book, they share something about treating children.

If that happens, It will repeat itself, and then she'll die at his hands, Guren dies from the male lead's hand, and a new empire is born.

The end of a new beginning.

"…"

Yeah, it should be like that. Why should Ett concern herself with this novel? Complicated emotions would arise, and it would be too taxing.

No buddie. Nuh-uh.

I'm too selfish to do that.