Even though it was a threat, the maid still smiled through her tears, “It matters not what happens to me. I thank you for looking out for my family…”

“Yeah, yeah…” Veronica didn’t take too kindly to tears. “Just take her away, Sir Nate. Go do your thing as well, Sir Ephraim.”

“Yes, your highness!” They both shouted in unison.

The two of them left, dragging the now, silently grateful maid with them. The emperor and Veronica were left alone in what was considered to be awkward silence. He soon broke it, looking at his shell of a daughter.

“You have a pure heart, princess,” He complimented her. “You have no need to waste it on foolish subjects such as her.”

She kept her eyes on the halted timer, “My heart is far from pure. I simply hate blood being spilled needlessly.”

“Your life was almost forfeit a second time. I wouldn’t call it a needless spill.”

“You almost dragged two innocent people into the mix. It was needless.” Veronica stated matter-of-factly. “Besides, you should try to gain some intel from that girl instead of killing her outright.”

He smirked, “You’re right. I was being foolish…”

Well, at least he’s aware…

The timer stayed at two seconds. It made no sense for her to continue looking at it and bowed to the emperor, “My apologies for barging in on your meeting, your majesty.”

“Rise, it was only brief.” He shook his head. “I must say, I’m ignorant of your choice of clothing, though.”

She was confused for a moment before realizing that she was wearing her training outfit. Genevieve still had those bright, frilly dresses in her closet. Just the thought of them made her left eye twitch.

“Unfortunately…” Veronica breathed under her breath.

Emperor Isaac caught onto her momentary disgust, “I thought you liked the dresses I picked out for you. Was my judgment wrong?”

It’s not. I’m just not your daughter. The words were stuck in her throat.

“As cute as those dresses are,” Veronica lied through her teeth. “I don’t see myself in them. I’m afraid that it will collect dust in my wardrobe.”

If Veronica was the least bit normal, she would’ve tried on those dresses and went for a whirl. Maybe carry along a parasol while she strolls through the garden and breathes in the fresh air. Probably start some small talk with a few maidservants here and there.

But she wasn’t normal in the slightest. In her previous life, she barely had interests and simply went back and forth from home to work. Her interest was her work, to the point where she brought her work home with her. Her only friends were her two assistants and the test tubes on her table.

Well, at this point, it should only be her test tubes. Alas, she doesn’t even have those.

“I see…” Isaac pondered. “I’ll make sure to do better next time. You can toss those dresses away if you wish.”

Veronica blinked, “Toss? I’m sure you spent quite a bit of coin on those dresses, father. We should just sell it.”

“Do you question the extent of my imperial coffers?”

I’m not even going to entertain that question with an answer… A bead of sweat appeared on her cheek. 

Isaac folded his hands on the desk, thinking out loud, “Maybe you’re entertaining the idea of selling those dresses because you need a bigger allowance…”

That’s far from the truth. More beads of sweat appeared. Genevieve has quite a lump sum already…

“You are twenty-two,” Isaac murmured. “You should have a much bigger budget compared to your brothers.”

She really doesn’t.

“Maybe three times the amount should be enough for an adult imperial princess…”

Uh… Is he out of his mind? She blinked at him, annoyed.

Doesn’t Emperor Isaac realize that Empress Delilah won’t accept that? Giving the eldest daughter of the previous empress preferential treatment compared to her sons who are vying for the throne that he keeps? She’ll use the excuse that Genevieve should’ve been married off already.

Even then, she’s not trying to do that either. She wants the girl dead.

Genevieve’s potential is a clear threat to Empress Delilah.

I’d better nip this in the bud now. I don’t feel like dealing with that woman right now.

“Your majesty…” Veronica sighed. “I’m fine. The budget can stay the way it is. There’s no need for an increase at this time. I’m not frugal but I’m also not wasteful.”

“Not wasteful?” Isaac rested his cheek on his knuckle. “I see. Do what you wish.”

She bowed, “I thank you for making a wise decision, your majesty. I’d like to be excused now.”

“I only have your wisdom to thank, dear daughter,” he closed his eyes. “You may go.”

Veronica made her way out the door, silently grateful that the emperor listened to her. Now, she just has to figure out the system’s verdict.

Isaac heard her footsteps vanish down the halls, so he put his glasses back on to read the documents on the desk. However, he found himself losing focus. The fact that the princess would rather sport training gear than the dresses he got for her clouded his mind. It made him feel like he barely knew her.

It didn’t sit right with him.

He muttered under his breath, tapping on the records, “I should call in the best tailors and have her meet with them…”

—

Veronica trekked back to Genevieve’s room. It was an awkward walk back, not bothering to look at the horrified looks of the servants in the hallways. Her eyes fixated mostly on the halted timer, wondering why it was so stuck.

Is it waiting until I get back to my room? Veronica pondered.

Did she clear another hidden quest? Maybe she’s supposed to get another gift box. The system itself doesn’t appear to be visible to others, but maybe the rewards are? If that’s the case, it would be better for the system not to place her in a difficult position. She did not feel like coming up with an explanation for a freakishly pink gift box, randomly floating in the air.

Veronica entered the room. Like clockwork, the system appeared with a congratulatory message.

Announcement!

Your quick outburst helped stop the wrath of the emperor and protect the maid and her family members!

Reward

Gift box x1

Really?!

“You really are enjoying this, aren’t you?!” Veronica screamed at the system when she realized that no one was around to hear her. “Did you know how terrified I was when you said I only had twenty seconds to defy the emperor’s orders?!”

The system looked as though it was sweating profusely.

Veronica was seething with undeniable rage. “That maid wasn’t innocent and you know it! Why’d you make me step in like that?! Huh?!”

A message quickly popped up, explaining itself.

Announcement!

You can not, under any circumstance, allow your actions to lead to the death of a fellow human being! Doing so will make your total goal count go up!

Each life lost due to your carelessness adds one million more to your current goal count!

Each human life is worth one million more to save?! She couldn’t believe the words she was reading.

Veronica’s back was to the door, staring at the system in shock, “Wait, so you’re telling me that the current count was based on the amount of people I killed previously…?”

The system simply nodded. She held her head in disbelief.

Those bastards! There were one hundred people in that building…! What kind of ratio…?! She huffed, realizing something very important.

“Hey! I saved those sisters back there, didn’t I? Don’t they count towards the total?” It felt like she was grasping at straws at this point.

The system shook its head.

Announcement!

Since bringing the maid to the emperor to be punished was your doing, it doesn’t count towards the total.

Only outside sources beyond your control may count towards the goal.

A darkened expression befell upon Veronica. The angels were spewing nonsense in her face and she wasn’t particularly happy about it. She didn’t realize that she was already making her way towards the table of poisoned food.

“Maybe if I eat enough of this, the devil himself will escort me back.” She stabbed at the icey cold steak with a knife, nearly splitting the table.

The system stood in her way. Well, in this case, floated, and panicked at Veronica. She simply glared at it.

“You’re pretty much telling me that conflict only regarding the gates counts towards the goal, right?” She glared at the blaring red screen. “I can’t even BEGIN searching for gates in this weak body! Yet, you’re the one panicking over here?!”

The system pondered for a quick moment before generating a new message.

Announcement!

It’s not necessarily limited to just gates. Any type of crime against humanity that you’re willing to step in and resolve will count towards the goal as well.

Crimes against humanity are of the following: slavery, terrorism, and the stripping of civil rights. Of course, sometimes partaking in these types of assignments will come with penalties. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of doing these assignments.

For example, if a life must be ended to save twenty million people, it would be in your best interest to end that life and make it count towards your goal. If one person must die to save a couple people, it wouldn’t be in your best interest to end that life.

However, morals can be at play. Maybe you already saved ninety-nine million people but a bandit has a child at knifepoint. You could kill them and save that child and only have two million people left to save.

You’ll be the one to cast the die.