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Liam himself came to escort her. The carriage was spacious, flanked by 30 palace guards on each side, all armed and standing ready.
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.
Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside.
However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn’t stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.
Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Sophie and Violet.
“Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace,” Liam said with a polite gesture.
The two women led the way, guiding Sophie and Violet inside.
The hall was lavishly decorated, with two thick carved beams standing on either side. They towered as if reaching the sky, casting a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
The new queen sat on an ornate armchair, smiling but showing signs of fatigue.
Sophie and Violet knelt respectfully before her, and Lisandra gestured for them to take seats. She gazed at Sophie with a soft smile.
“I heard you were the one leading the delegation here, Commander Devin. I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival, and now, finally, you are here.”
Sophie’s smile was warm and sincere. “I was also very happy to hear of your ascension, Your Majesty. My heartfelt congratulations to you on fulfilling your wishes.”
As Sophie studied Lisandra, she was struck by how little had changed. Though she was now queen, Lisandra’s demeanor was the same as it had been when she was the and princess. There was the same air of fatigue, the sam gravity in her presence.
Sophie understood that the life of a queen was likely as taxing as that of a grand princess—if not more so.
“It hasn’t been easy to achieve my wishes,” Lisandra said with a faint smile. “But at least now, some things are a bit more manageable.”
The attendants began to serve refreshments, which were all local Orivenia delicacies. Sophie and Violet had already eaten, so they weren’t hungry and only took a little taste of the food.
Lisandra’s hand was clenched into a fist, resting on her temple as she regarded them both. “The reason I asked you to come tonight isn’t for anything official. I simply wanted to catch up and share some private words.”
Sophie nodded. Before the formal negotiations began, it made sense to set aside the politics and speak as women who shared a certain understanding. Once the talks began, there would be no room for personal matters-only the interests of their respective nations.
Lisandra descended from her throne and joined them at the table, her posture relaxed and less formal. She regarded Sophie and Violet, taking in their youthful faces, the strength in their gazes, and the resilience in their spirits. She didn’t hide her admiration, her words full of warmth and genuine respect.
“I believe Orivenia will see more young women like you two. They will shine brightly, their names etched in the history of our land, just as yours will be.”
Violet flushed slightly, caught off guard by the praise. “Your Majesty, you flatter us.”
Lisandra shook her head with a soft smile. “It’s no flattery, it’s the truth. In September, Orivenia will hold the civil service examinations. Both men and women can participate. There will be no separate exam for women-they will have an equal chance. What do you think of this?”
This, after all, was a matter of Orivenia’s governance, and the two women had little to add beyond their approval. They could only agree with Lisandra’s wisdom, murmuring their respect for her decision.
Lisandra was unbothered by their reluctance to engage in a deeper conversation.
She smiled and said, “But you see, the system has never been fair. From the start, it was always stacked against women. Unless a woman is exceptional, the local education officials won’t even allow her to enroll. Women are also rarely recommended to sit the exams. Of course, they’ll let a few through the cracks to appease me, but never the best of them. They’re afraid.”
Violet replied, “They’re afraid that women might truly hold up half the world.”
“Indeed, part of it is that,” Lisandra said with a wry smile. “But the other reason…”
She trailed off, her expression turning solemn. A bitter edge to her voice betrayed a deeper frustration.
“Because I’m a woman, they fear that I’ll elevate more women to positions of power. If a man sat on the throne, they wouldn’t be so scared. They wouldn’t guard their positions so fiercely, because men would defend the interests and status of other men. I’ve worked so hard to get here, and yet haven’t gained what I truly desire. How can that be considered fulfilling my wishes? This path… It is still so long.”
Lisandra continued, “The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me.”
Sophie thought for a moment before replying, “In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It’s to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people.
“When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty.”
Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Simply maintaining stability in the court was already an immense challenge.
If she pushed for radical reforms now, she wouldn’t even be able to secure her throne. In that case, how could she even think about the future?
Violet nodded in agreement with Sophie’s assessment. “There is more than one way to accomplish a goal. Confronting them head-on is one way, but it’s the worst one. Changing the mindset of a single person is difficult enough-changing traditions that have lasted for a thousand years is even harder. However, you can plant the idea now, Your Majesty. Over time, there will be those who follow in your footsteps, little by little.”
After a brief pause, she added cautiously, “Just like when Sophie and I trained in Meadow Ridge—many refused to accept us at first. But we proved ourselves by defeating them one by one. Words alone won’t change anything. The best way is to be capable and prove yourself through action.”
Lisandra fell into deep thought, seriously considering their words.
After a while, she said, “You’re right-I’ve been too impatient. I feel this way because this has been on my mind for so many years, and it already feels like such a long wait. But this kingdom isn’t ready yet, and neither are the women. They’re not strong enough to compete with men just yet. They need time, and so do I.”
Lisandra didn’t continue the topic and instead relaxed, chatting with them about more personal matters.
Sitting on the throne meant she no longer had friends in court-only court officials and ministers. But with these two foreign women, she could talk like a friend, and it felt comforting.
Lisandra preferred listening to Violet since Sophie, as an envoy of Starhaven, couldn’t fully set aside her official role. Her words were always careful and reserved, often speaking in hints rather than plainly.
On the other hand, Violet spoke without hesitation, unafraid to voice her thoughts. With everything she had been doing in secret, she had developed her own views on right and wrong, and her words often carried insight.
They also talked about family, friendship, and love.
Lisandra said these were the most beautiful emotions in the world. She longed to have them all, but if she couldn’t, she wouldn’t force it.
After all, there would always be regrets in life.
Regret wasn’t beautiful, nor was it something to be celebrated-but it was, undeniably, part of life.
Overall, the conversation was pleasant.
They spoke for nearly two hours before finally taking their leave. Lisandra watched their retreating figures, picking up her now-cold coffee. In the stifling heat of net night, she had felt like a regular woman, sharing her heart with friends.
It felt truly wonderful.
She hoped to be friends with the people of Starhaven. It would be good for both nations.
Yet, few officials supported her. Even her most trusted ministers believed that neighboring countries were enemies, not potential friends. They thought any alliance was only temporary, based on mutual benefit, and warned her not to be too softhearted.
She wasn’t softhearted—she just didn’t want another war.