Fear

Marchioness Claire Miller and Aubrey Miller are the center of social gatherings. They are the ones who create the trend and the flow of the economy from the social circles. Meanwhile, Nash Miller, the prime minister focuses his work on humanitarian rights and work related topics.

Because of him, vagrants was able to settle down and many commoners were able to form a stable life with the policies he has implemented.

Although they do not possess any military power like the Theano duchy, they have the unwavering support from the masses making them one of the five pillars in Vanifi.

"It is a pleasure to have you here, marquis Miller. I am sorry about not responding to your letters as I was busy with work"

"No need to apologize, baroness. I simply came here to formally apologize at what happened some time ago"

Formally? Ah! Its one of those!

"Here, baroness"

Its where nobles would bribe the victim!

The marquis handed out an insignia of the Millers.

"Please use this whenever you are in need of our help, baroness"

"I am sorry but I can't take that"

"Is, is it not enough, baroness?"

"No, it is not like that" I pulled out the insignia that Charles gave me. "Because I have already received one from Sir Charles, therefore there is no need for me to receive a second one, marquis"

"Hahaha!!!"

The marquis bursted into laughter after seeing that his son has done the same thing before he could.

"The apple really don't fall far from the tree... Hahaha!"

The marquis laugh so hard that his knees was on the floor.

"My lady, I-"

The door opened. It was a knight who opened it.

Seeing the marquis laughing as he kneels on the floor and me who is standing in front of the marquis with two insignia from the Miller household made a weird expression on his face.

It was like holding back his laughter while getting mad at the same time.

"Forgive me for my impudence! I will go now"

The knight hurriedly went away with his conflicted look after closing the door.

"I am sorry, baroness. It looks like I only cause a commotion here"

"Do not mind it, marquis. Anyway, I do appreciate the thought but there is no need for you to give me something anymore. It was all an accident. Nothing more, nothing less. I just hope that the Millers will not be awkward around me"

"Of course, baroness. Thank you for your understanding"

The marquis left happily after we chatted a bit more over some tea.

Meanwhile, the knight who seemed to report something important to me earlier have already spread word about what he saw earlier.

"Really? The lady was able to make the prime minister kneel?!"

"But I heard that the prime minister was laughing though. Maybe they just chat normally"

"But it doesn't change the fact that the marquis was in all fours"

In all fours what now?

He was force to kneel since his stomach hurt from laughing too much but I don't remember him going all fours.

"Meow~"

"Xavier?... How was it? Was it fun?"

The cat that jumped to my shoulder nodded with satisfaction.

For the past two weeks that I was busy extracting the medicinal herbs, Xavier was busy wandering around the capital to see how different it was from Loate's capital.

Of course, the empire's capital would look like a city that the Goddess herself created in comparison to Loate's capital city which is only a small country.

"Your evaluation?"

Xavier then hit my cheek with his soft paws ten times. He gave a ten out of ten score for the empire's capital.

"Oh really? Then, I suppose you have caught their ringleaders as well?"

The cat nodded with its eyes closed as if to brag.

Putting the appearance of the capital aside, Xavier was busy looking into back streets and alleyways that are being infested by thugs and bandits.

While this is the capital where the imperial family lives, that doesn't mean they have the manpower to keep every street clean from corruption.

Knowing Xavier, he must have instilled fear upon those robbers in the alleyways to make them obedient.

"My lady, why do you keep on talking at that black cat as if he understands you?"

Of course. Being around me all the time will make him suspicious. I can communicate telepathically with Almas but I can't do the same for Xavier.

"Well, you see, this cat of mine is very intelligent. Try it. He will do anything you say"

"Really?!"

John stroke his chin while Xavier was busy punching me with his soft paws.

"Can you roll on the ground three times. Then jump three times. And finally dance as you go to that vase over there"

Me and Xavier were looking at each other. Knowing that he doesn't have much of a choice, he did as what John told him to so that he can hide his identity.

Xavier rolled on the ground exactly three times. He then jump three times. And lastly, wiggled his butt as he approach the vase that John pointed to.

"Wow, my lady! He is indeed a smart cat!"

While John was praising Xavier, I took in all of his fury by enduring the endless soft paw strikes as I carry him on my arms.

"You are really similar to her majesty, my lady!"

"...."

"My lady?"

Hearing him compare me to the empress made me stop in place.

"I am not as strong willed as the empress, John"

"The how come you always do things perfectly?"

"That's just... just because I am afraid of making mistakes to the point I am traumatized by it"

Nobles would laugh at me if they found out I have atelophobia.

"Unlike the empress who can embrace her weaknesses, I can't. I am only able to maintain my sanity with the little paradise I created in my mind"

"...."

"You won't laugh or question me?"

Seeing me shiver, John removed his coat and hugged me as he put it on me. The warmth was able to calm my trembling body from remembering my dark past.

"No. Because I can sympathize with the lady's situation, therefore I won't. I am grateful though"

"For what?"

"For telling me about it. That you trust me enough for you to tell me about it"

"...Yeah"