In her understanding of the Empress, she would be executed on the spot in a fit of rage.
The Empress cannot tolerate the slightest imperfection in her eyes, and strictly speaking, her actions amounted to surrender.
However, the Empress’s disposition left her sowhat puzzled.
After hearing her confession, Sofia patiently asked a heap of questions, then told her not to feel pressured and to take a few days off before returning to work.
Originally, Angelina closed her eyes awaiting death, but she hadn’t expected the Empress to say that, returning ho with the joy of surviving a disaster.
She dared not truly rest, but rely feigned staying at ho for a few days before returning to her post.
However, just as she returned to the Shadow Sanctuary, she was inford to report to the Cabinet.
In a bewildered state, Angelina was appointed as Assistant to the Pri Minister, a real-level deputy minister, equivalent to a deputy Minister of the Cabinet.
Shock and ecstasy enveloped Angelina, and she burst into tears of joy, inwardly vowing to burn everything for the Empire.
Just as she was filled with fighting spirit, ready to achieve sothing, she realized she was rely a nominal Assistant to the Pri Minister, having a high rank but no power.
According to the Empress’s Holy Edict, she must observe every Cabinet decision and participate in every eting, but not utter a word.
Moreover, her na was included in the list of monthly audiences with the Empress.
To put it simply, she was to be completely involved in national decision-making but remain silent.
Aside from having no power, she was no different from a normal Cabinet deputy.
Her salary increased, her mansion expanded, she gained a title, was assigned a maid, and had a special car for commuting.
Those unaware of the truth envied her, committing a mistake outside but not being punished, and instead being promoted.
If not for the mismatched ages, so even suspected she was the Empress’s illegitimate daughter.
Could anyone not related enjoy this treatnt?
However, the Empress was only six years older than Angelina, and even the boldest would not dare suggest a five-year-old child could do such things.
Such gossip, even The Sun wouldn’t dare fabricate.
Thus, a new rumor erged, saying Angelina was the Empress’s half-sister, born from a night of romance during the Empress’s father’s trip to Saint Rurik Palace years ago.
Considering Angelina’s striking appearance and her temperant, a mixture of fury and indifference, this rumor had a broad audience.
This gossip, The Sun not only dared to report it but even issued a special edition.
Outsiders envied Angelina, but only she, in the middle of it all, knew the discomfort.
The feeling of only being able to look but not touch, oops, only watch but not speak, was truly painful.
Knowing better options but unable to speak out was suffocating her.
Perhaps this was the real punishnt from the Empress, more agonizing than death.
After adjusting her mindset, Angelina accepted this punishnt called Silence.
She watched calmly as the Cabinet and the General Staff made all decisions, as well as Sofia’s monthly Holy Edict during the audience with the Empress.
Initially on the verge of madness, she gradually settled down, cold-eyed observing.
Unconsciously, she adapted to her new role, almost forgetting she could still speak, even at ho she was lost in the sea of books.
The books Roland gifted her were eclectic and diverse, even though most were donated to the Imperial Library, the remaining dozens greatly enlightened her.
Though the Empress was punishing her, perhaps out of consideration for her years of service, she retained permission to read at the Imperial Library.
And so, spring passed into sumr, another half-year without realizing.
Angelina hadn’t even noticed her gaze was no longer piercing, her smile no longer a forced facade.
She chuckled at the foolish policies the Cabinet ca up with off the top of their heads.
She also gave a knowing smile at the excellent strategies discussed by the Cabinet.
She gradually got used to not speaking at all and adapted to the nightly racing thoughts.
When she turned punishnt into enjoynt, Sofia suddenly called her na and asked her to speak.
After a brief jolt of surprise and excitent, Angelina used the back of her hand to wipe away tears.
The Empress never liked cowards and detested tears even more.
Her brain whirled rapidly, the snippets of the past half-year flashed by swiftly, the sight and sound of things, books from ancient and modern tis, seed to fuse in an instant.
Sahalin spoke correctly but overlooked a crucial point.
"Because... because the enemy wouldn’t think of it either."
Having not spoken for over half a year, her vocal cords were slightly unaccustod, her voice hoarse and deep.
A sharp gleam burst from Sofia’s eyes, she exhaled a breath.
Talent needs to be honed.
Angelina was excellent in all but too impulsive, always preferring force over intellect.
Yet her prowess wasn’t as formidable as she thought, nor was her mind as poor as others believed.
Intending to cultivate Angelina into a wise general, she hadn’t expected this fellow idolized her, preparing to follow a path of violence.
It’s not wrong to believe in strength; the error lies in insufficient strength.
Sofia had long wanted Angelina to change, just lacked the right opportunity.
Seizing the chance when Angelina was captured by Roland, she imposed pressure on Angelina, leading her to awaken.
Fortunately, it seems the effect is good.
To be fair, the answer Angelina provided might not be identical to what Suvorov thought.
But that doesn’t matter.
What matters is Angelina was independently thinking and pinpointed a crucial elent Sahalin overlooked.
The human heart.
Sahalin’s ability and experience admittedly outpaced Angelina’s, but his level of cognition would never surpass Suvorov or Borisov, no matter how trained, he’d rely be another Executive Officer with superior execution.
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