The announcent was done in a few minutes so Arabella headed to the hall where her newly picked assistants were guided to.
Alwin was still with her along with Rendell since they were wary of possible attackers.
Alwin was serious about protecting her this ti since he didn’t want to be sent back to Estrella again.
He was still wearing his cloak though and hiding his face. She surmised it was because he was too beautiful. If he showed his face, everyone in the palace would be chard. It might cause a lot of other problems.
Arabella wasn’t eager to make problems for herself so she just let Alwin hide his face.
It would be a problem if rumors spread about Alwin’s beauty all over Riva and noble ladies visit the palace or magic tower every single day just to see him. It would cause quite the commotion.
She might have to entertain so of the ladies as well if they were from the more powerful families. They might make visiting her a reason to see Alwin. It would delay much of her work if she had to have tea with ladies every single day.
Her socializing work was scheduled for later. She doesn’t have ti for it right now.
For now, she had to focus on her assistants. Her cute assistants. They instantly rose upon hearing the announcent of her arrival. They beca stiff and nervous.
Ronald was the only one who managed to frown when he saw his older brother Raymond enter with her.
[Why is elder brother here too? Does he enjoy looking down on so much? How many tis does he want to bow to him today?]
’Oh my, it seems these two have more issues between them than I thought.’
Raymond also ca along when she said she would talk to her assistants a bit since he was worried Arabella might be nervous to deal with her own assistants for the first ti.
But Arabella was not at all nervous. She had already done this before in her past life.
It was true though that she had been very nervous the first ti since she was scared of making mistakes. But this ti, she already knew what she should do. And she had the confidence of a forty-year-old.
Her assistants were just done introducing themselves to each other and had not yet begun eating when they arrived. They all bowed to greet them.
"Be at ease. I just ca to give so announcents."
Everyone remained stiff though as if she was there to test them again.
Arabella decided to make it quick so they could enjoy their al while its warm and the chefs efforts wouldn’t go to waste.
"Everyone, thank you for heeding my summons."
It was an Imperial Summons so they couldn’t really say no, unless it was a valid reason enough to turn down the Empress. But she was still grateful they ca so she got to et and hire them.
[She thanked us?!!]
They were so surprised she even thanked them.
But it was only proper.
After all, they would be her hands and feet from now on. They would help her a lot not only in her work, but also in her plans for the future.
[Why does she sound sincere? Like it’s not just a formality?]
Of course, it was sincere. They deserved gratitude and sincerity.
Arabella had gone through an entire lifeti to learn a lot of things. And she’s just beginning to learn to be grateful about this chance to correct her mistakes and about everything she gained in this life.
She knew she was using them for her goals, but she would treasure them as best she could. She was truly sincere with her gratitude. And she could thank them many more tis in the future as they help her in Valeria.
She would no longer be an ingrate as she did in her previous life.
"You all did well on the tasks given by the Head Ministers. I chose you all because you perford best among all the candidates. I was impressed with the quality of your work and your efficiency."
[She’s praising us?!!]
[I got praised by Her Majesty right after getting hired?!]
[Her Majesty is so humble and kind.]
[I got praised?! Her Majesty is even more beautiful now that I can see her much more closely. I will get to see this goddess every single day?]
[Her Majesty is so kind. I will do even better in my real tasks.]
She was glad they were happy with her words of praise. She was quite unsure if she should have said it but she thought it would be best to praise them first after all pressure and stress from the tasks they had gone through.
"I hope you can work for with the sa diligence and determination."
Arabella eyed each of them and they all replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. We will do our best to et your expectations."
"You will start working after two weeks and your salary will be given to you at the end of each month. You can take a few days off when you have matters to attend to but you have to inform in advance. When there’s a lot of work to do, you have to work overti. You shall be compensated accordingly, of course. Does this work for everyone?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
They had no qualms about overti since everyone does it. Nadia and Odette rather liked it since it ant more pay.
"If you need more ti to prepare, you may co in a bit later than the others," she glanced at Ivan, Nadia, and Odette who lived farthest from the capital. But the three were set on starting right away.
[I can begin right away. I’ve been staying here in Riva for a while anyway. I have no plans to go back ho either. Rather, I’d prefer if we begin working sooner since the rent is quite high here in the capital. I have to pay for my lodging soon. My damned forr superior didn’t release my salary for three months.]
She learned from his thoughts that Ivan was already staying in the capital for a year since he was already employed.
But Ivan recently resigned because his superior and coworkers kept bullying him. He also left the dorm for new hires because the bullying followed even there.
And Ivan recently had another fight with his superior when he asked for his pay which had been delayed for months. He ultimately decided to quit when his superior refused to give him his salary.
’This is new. I thought Ivan would put up with his superior for years since it was difficult for him to get hired because he was a commoner.’
She wondered if, in the past, Ivan ended up returning to his forr superior despite the bad treatnt because he did not get a new job so he could keep staying in Riva.
It ant hiring him now was the right choice before Ivan experiences more bullying.
[I want to begin right away. I have to send so money and supplies as soon as possible.]
Nadia fidgeted since she was worried about more of her people going hungry.
[I also have nowhere to stay for two weeks. Should I get a part-ti job in the anti? A waitress in a diner would probably be fine since they usually stay in. But where should I stay while working for the Empress?]
’A waitress?!’
Arabella was shocked Nadia would even work as a waitress when she was the princess of Safiro. Nadia clearly had no more pride as a princess. If she had cast it aside completely long ago, it ant the situation in Safiro as truly dire.
Arabella had been taught since she was small to always keep in mind her honor and pride as the princess of Lobelius. And she only realized recently she had been so entitled with a lot of things because of it.
Now that she could look at her past with a broader perspective, she still had lived quite a good life.
If only she had tried putting her feet in other’s shoes and not only looked at her own problems and suffering, she wouldn’t have strayed. But she had wallowed in self-pity, thinking she was the only one suffering so much in the world. And that was what led her to selfishly commit mistakes.
She was amazed at Nadia’s strength and will. Nadia was not even thinking that she was suffering. She was only worried about her people and how she could help them.
Arabella was already learning a lot from her.
’You don’t have to be so worried anymore. I will do my best to help you and your people,’ Arabella internally promised.
Nadia had no experience working in Riva yet so she didn’t know most new hires were provided with lodging especially if they were from outside the capital.
[Would there be a cheap inn I could stay in for two weeks while I search for a place to stay while I work for Her Majesty?]
Odette was also worried about her lodging. She also didn’t know it would be provided.
’But why wouldn’t they have a place to stay while waiting for deploynt? What about their residence here?’
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A/N:
SPECIAL NTION to the following for RANKING in TOP 5 of MOST POWER VOTES given:
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