Seven days later.
Following the annual tradition, Alexia first delivered a passionate speech, then exchanged compliments with the many ministers.
Halfway through the birthday banquet, she quietly slipped away to a hidden box that overlooked the entire venue.
As soon as she entered the box, she turned and pinned Simon against the door.
She narrowed her eyes, her tone firm as she questioned, “What exactly happened this year? Why are there so many fewer attendees? I don’t recall ever instructing you to execute so many people before.”
Birthday banquets in the past had never been this desolate.
Though some ministers would deliberately absent themselves, most still attended out of fear of her authority.
After all, as the Empress of the Empire, she was at least owed their respect.
Yet this year’s banquet saw attendance drop by a third compared to previous years.
She wasn’t an idiot—there was no way she wouldn’t notice.
No wonder the matters she had to handle lately had increased.
So the people responsible for this part had vanished, and all their duties had been shifted to her.
And the only one capable of making them disappear without her noticing was Simon, standing before her.
But this… was it possible?
Just a week ago, she had interrogated Simon.
His reactions had been without deceit, the contract still firm, with no sign of betrayal.
Simon looked down at Alexia, lying with an unchanged expression.
“Previously, Her Majesty the Empress ordered me to investigate Heretical Cult followers who desecrated Lady Pandas’ remains. I found those people suspicious and detained them in advance.”
If those people weren’t controlled ahead of time, once Pandas and Alexia’s conflict broke out, they’d side with Pandas.
The final outcome would be self-evident.
Alexia could never tolerate betrayal.
To her, no sacrifice was unacceptable, and no betrayal could ever be forgiven.
Though such actions could strengthen her rule, they also made her future increasingly precarious.
Because the vast territory of the Empire couldn’t possibly be managed by a single Empress alone—not even Lothen could achieve that.
Without a mature administrative system, Alexia would be unable to move, and the Empire would face a dire shortage of talent.
This was not a simulation game where a single player could control everything, and characters only needed basic abilities.
Therefore, his actions were more to protect them, sparing them from the disasters that would follow.
Most of those he screened had clean backgrounds; though many were mediocre, each had their own strengths.
Occasionally, if someone was particularly outstanding, he wouldn’t care too much about their origins.
Just like the author of , Simon had thrown him directly into the royal prison, without informing Alexia.
As the fever over faded, and Alexia became busier, the matter slipped from her mind.
After all, she had always trusted Simon’s work.
Eradicating the roots was a given.
“Detained?” Alexia frowned. “Is it necessary to lock them up just because they’re related to the Heretical Cult? Heretical Cultists are beyond salvation! They should be executed outright.”
“Then, is this outside what Her Majesty the Empress expects?”
Simon countered.
Alexia released her grip, turning away.
She walked to the window and looked out, seeing that even at her birthday banquet, ministers dared to flirt with attendants, and after she left, openly formed cliques for personal gain.
She felt extreme disappointment.
“How can you govern effectively when surrounded by such vermin?”
Simon moved behind Alexia.
“I know what Her Majesty needs. That’s why I’ve already prepared for you.”
In truth, those people were completely innocent, but due to the presence of the Malicious Witch, they instinctively resisted serving Alexia.
After the conflict between Alexia and Pandas was settled, he would find a way to eliminate the influence of the Malicious Witch—or deal with her outright.
After all, if those people died in the subsequent rebellion, it would be a tremendous loss.
His actions were also for the Empire’s future.
For an empire to thrive, it required a constant supply of talent.
If a gap appeared, destruction would be close at hand.
This was vividly illustrated in Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
The Battle of Yiling directly caused the downfall of Shu Han’s second-generation talent, leading to a lack of successors and national decline.
Alexia was momentarily stunned by Simon’s words, but quickly understood their meaning.
“…Simon, are you asking me to use those people?”
Alexia shook her head.
“I can’t risk the Empire’s people.”
After all, those people were connected to evil gods, which she found deeply repugnant.
Simon naturally understood Alexia’s concerns, but if he wanted her to accept under the pretense of ‘loyalty,’ he had no choice but to phrase it this way.
He couldn’t tell her outright: In the future, you’ll execute these people, leaving the Empire without anyone to use, and you’ll regret it.
He was just a knight, unable to use prophetic magic.
If he spoke so directly, Alexia would only suspect the contract had malfunctioned.
“When the time comes, I’ll ask Gerald to personally verify them. Your Majesty, if they are truly innocent, I am willing to stake my life…”
Alexia suddenly turned, lunged at Simon, stood on tiptoe, and bit his lips to stop him from speaking further.
A bite to punish him.
Afterward, she released him and looked at Simon seriously.
“I forbid you from speaking so lightly of dying for others.”
Simon was her knight.
How could he die for someone else?
Even if those people might achieve great things in the future, no meant no, for any reason.
“Simon, listen! You can only die to protect me. Any other death, I will not accept!”
Her voice rose, word by word.
“If you dare do such a thing, I’ll tear you out of the cycle of reincarnation and never let you rest for all eternity!!!”
For the first time, Alexia’s voice betrayed a loss of control.
The high pitch trembled and cracked, no longer as steady as usual.
“Simon, I… don’t allow you to ever put me in such a dilemma again.”
Alexia’s sickly and domineering declaration struck Simon to his core.
He hadn’t expected a casual remark to cause such emotional upheaval in her.
Especially this kind of loss of composure—it was unimaginable coming from Alexia.
Yet because of it, the burden in his heart was lifted, and he finally understood her feelings.
No one else had ever made Alexia lose her composure like this.
She had truly given her heart to him.
Simon immediately took Alexia’s hand, knelt on one knee before her, and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“As you command, my Empress. I will never let you be troubled.”