The Romantic Trials Of A Transmigrated Empress
Chapter 97: Killing with a borrowed knife.

Chapter 97: Killing with a borrowed knife.

The happiness of the new changes in the system made Sigrid laugh, unexpectedly, it was more useful than she ever thought. With tools at hand, she would not have to work so hard to turn around everyone’s loyalty.

"What is making you so happy?" Roland asked. He could hear the smallest sound of laughter coming from her mouth. It was as if she was trying to control it but she failed miserably. "Do you like being in my arms so much?"

She rolled her eyes, hoping that he would not notice. Her husband had quite the big ego. Sigrid was about to respond when she felt Roland lowering his hands. They moved from where they had steadily been around her waist and trailed lower.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

He patted her backside gently and replied smugly, "I believe that it is called hugging."

"I think we have two different understandings of the meaning of the word hug." She chuckled slowly.

Despite her words which can have been taken to mean assumption, she did not make any effort to move away. Her hands just patted his back gently, like she was comforting her baby. Roland found himself happy, he thought suddenly that he was glad he had married her. She was very soft, she smelled nice, was warm, understanding and wise, able to discern every situation with accuracy.

The momentary feeling of like was doused by a reminder that this was the same woman with whom he had been so uninterested in.

His emotions fluctuated and he convinced himself that it did not matter, the past was gone, they had a future to look forward to, so what if he did not dislike his wife? Wasn’t it natural to like one’s wife?

"How was court today? Did you speak to your father?" she quizzed.

Hoe nodded, rubbing his chin against the neat hair on the top of her head.

"In two days, the Silberuss family will be no more. My father sent his knights to their residence, he found that they were digging a tunnel which leads to the palace. In that tunnel, they found weapons being stocked, military uniforms and other things indicative of the intent to rebel.

When he asked what I thought, I told him exactly what you said I should say, that for the survival of our Maximus family and the good of the kingdom, it is imperative that they be wiped out as soon as possible. Father was very pleased with my decisiveness."

If Sigrid had not coached him on how to respond, he would have asked his father to spare the women and children at least. He would have advocated for their exile and his father would have thought him weak and incompetent. There was a time for mercy, putting down a pending rebellion was not that time.

He tipped her head up suddenly and looked into her eyes.

"I haven’t kissed you today."

Sigrid’s heart fluttered, he lowered his head and she closed her eyes, expecting to feel his lips on hers. Instead, he kissed the top of her head and then let go of her, ending their hug abruptly.

She opened her surprised eyes and gave him a confused gaze. He chuckled at her reaction, content to leave her in that state for the rest of the day. As much as he would rather have carried her upstairs and engaged in a lust filled afternoon, it was not appropriate. They had guests, it was rude to keep those guests waiting.

"You make me forget myself sometimes, my princess." He took a deep breath. "Let’s go and meet your first lay-in-waiting and you can meet my advisors." He led her to the doors, pushed them open and gestured for her to step out first.

"Where is the lady that arrived today?" he asked one of the servants.

"In the orange orchard along with everyone that escorted her here. Mrs. Elsworth insisted that they become familiar with their new environment, starting with the the crown princess’s favorite places on the estate."

Sigrid and Roland walked in the direction of the plantation slowly, taking their time as they were in no hurry. While they walked, he asked her questions about her magic and how it worked in the growing of crops. She was happy to explain what she understood about her abilities.

Before they reached, he linked his arm in hers. "It is best to put up a united front when meeting new people in our home, especially the servants. Butler Charles says that servants on every estate gossip more than fishwives."

Sigrid chortled at the comparison, she concurred with the butler, the fish market at the port which her father controlled was a perfect place to prove this theory. The fishwives or women who sold fish were loud, boisterous and could be coarse.

To pass time, they often engaged in lively conversations which mostly included gossip. While that gossip was limited to their communities, it had extended to the lives of the nobles thanks to the servants that purchased fish and occasionally let slip what was happening in the houses of the rich.

"How does your butler know about fishwives?" she asked curiously.

"He was raised in a fishing town, if you want to know anything about fish he is the best person to ask. Be warned though, once he starts describing the various types of fish bait, run or else you will end up with worms or leeches in your hands." he answered with a smiled that told an amusing story that he was recalling.

They entered the orchid which was busy just like the coffee plantation. Workers were picking oranges from the trees, Mauve was trying to climb a ladder and join in on the fun but Mrs. Elsworth had her firmly in grasp as if she was keeping a toddler in check.

That did not last long when she was Sigrid, and started waving energetically. "Here, I am over here."

She was barefoot and overzealous, excited like the puppy which was running towards Roland. Things took a more ridiculous turn when Mauve laughed care freely and decided to run after the puppy.

Her two maids run after her and Mrs. Elsworth growled out Mauve’s name like the goddess of thunder.

"Are you sure that you made the right choice in your first lady-in-waiting?" Roland’s skeptical voice raised a question as he bent down and caught the puppy.

Sigrid looked up and opened her eyes and ears, the birds were singing a happy song with was intertwining with Mauve’s laughter. This was the kind of scene you saw in a fairy tale. It cemented her theory that Mauve was the original female lead even more.

The system had told her that she could kill Emmah directly, not when the halo was still in operation. If she tried, the injuries would backfire and she would suffer the pain.

Sigrid had a bright idea, she could not touch Emmah but what about Mauve? Surely, the real female lead still had some kind of buff even though Emmah had stolen her luck. She was curious to know if she could kill with a borrowed knife.

"I am more than certain that I made the right choice." She replied with