Elizabeth felt a pang of regret.

‘If only someone as talented as Penelope could serve in the palace.’

Since ascending to her role as Empress, Elizabeth had grown increasingly weary.

The imperial palace was little more than a den of vipers, teeming with schemes and deception.

Most troubling of all was the difficulty of keeping trustworthy people close. Even if an exceptional candidate emerged, they could not be appointed unless they were aligned with the Emperor’s faction. The entrenched aristocratic factions wielded too much influence.

‘The Emperor’s allies are excessively hostile toward anyone not within their circle.’

Perhaps it was because Ulis had ascended to the throne by overthrowing the previous emperor. Those loyal to the Emperor’s faction were aggressive and ruthless to an unreasonable degree.