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Therefore, the policy outline for the first two years was determined by the former Monarch.

Isabel certainly knew this.

But when she took over the document, her tone was icy and serious as she said, "Not entirely, Lord Camelot.

"There is still one Knight I trust who has not arrived. His presence is of utmost importance."

"...Then, has he sworn fealty to you?" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

Minister Camelot inquired.

Upon hearing this, Isabel's lips curved slightly upwards, but they quickly flattened out again.

Even though she kept a stern face and lowered her voice, she couldn't hide the joy in her tone, "Yes, as early as last night. Lord Moriarty had already sworn his loyalty to me, and I have granted him the title of Knight.

"Today, he is absent from this first Round Table meeting I preside over due to ill health, but he has my permission."

Isabel spoke very clearly, with a slow tone. She did this to avoid making mistakes or stammering inadvertently and thus compromising her dignity.

She had practiced these words in front of a mirror before. She had gone over everything she might say several times and finally found the smoothest, coldest, and most serious tone with the help of Aiwass.

She would try to ensure that each of her sentences fell within this tone.

For this, she had stayed up all night without sleep.

Seeing that the other Knights had no comments, Isabel lowered her head and read through the document.

Most of it was about maintaining the status quo, with only a few points worthy of discussion.

Once Isabel finished reading the policy outline, she handed the document to the Grand Justice for archiving.

The first to speak was the Guardian, also the Minister of Military Affairs.

"Your Majesty," he asked respectfully, "You mentioned a 5% increase in military spending and a round of compulsory conscription for men over twenty-six... Does this mean we are preparing for war?"

"Yes."

Isabel answered calmly.

The moment her word fell, the whole Round Table Hall erupted into noise.

"Silence!"

The Guardian, as the head of the Knights, immediately raised his voice, and the invisible ripples spread out, restoring quiet to the Round Table Hall.

"I have no further questions."

He nodded respectfully and sat down.

After this opening, the new Minister of Commerce stood up somewhat uneasily and nervously, "Your Majesty, who should we be wary of as our target? Star Antimony or Iris Flower? How likely is war, and how long is it expected to last?"

"—Lord Griffiths, these are not questions you should be asking."

Isabel answered calmly, her attitude very firm, and even hostile.

She always remembered what Aiwass told her — for those ministers she could trust, nod along with whatever they say and answer their questions directly; but for those who were uncertain in their stance yet questioning her, or intentionally posing challenges, she should push the topic back to them, and it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more forceful in her stance, even showing a slight hostility was permissible.

Then, she would go back and inform Aiwass of their reactions to these pushed-back topics.

She may not understand politics, but Isabel was very good at performing.

If she did not yet know how to be a qualified queen, then for the time being, she could "play" the part of one.

And the new Minister of Commerce, Griffiths, noticed Isabel's gaze. He was suddenly shocked.

What a cold look it was — it seemed like a warning, an unquestionable ray of Authority. It was as if he was not facing the art student Isabel, but her grandmother, Queen Sofia herself.

No, she was even more firm than Sofia!

Those emerald eyes had the majesty of a lion king.

The Minister of Commerce suddenly felt guilty… Although this matter did indeed have something to do with him, under that gaze, he felt as if his very soul was laid bare.

Add to that the Guardian squinting at him, along with the recent arrest of the Minister of the Navy and the direct execution of the Maritime Minister the day before yesterday… it made him break out in a cold sweat. The speech he had mentally drafted, containing all his proposals, was abruptly swallowed back.

— Did she really lack the talent for the Path of Authority?

The idea emerged in the mind of the Minister of Commerce, who then forced an apology and sat down.

A brief Silence fell over the Round Table Hall.

After that, Minister of Palace Affairs Mycroft Hermes leisurely rose to his feet and spoke, "Your Majesty, should we hire a new batch of staff for the Hall of Silver and Tin?"

"Lord Hermes, you decide on that matter," Isabel answered without hesitation.

Subsequently, the other ministers also began to speak, holding back their previous disdain and challenges, and temporarily addressing the urgent matters at hand.

"Your Majesty, Queen Sofia had previously promised to allocate funds to the Department of Agriculture…"

"I will consider it."

"Your respected Majesty, the Holy Nation has proposed a list of students for overseas study that requires your final confirmation."

"Leave it for now, I will look at it later."

"Your Majesty, the thing is... the Gryphon Division's gryphons are severely lacking, and we have not been able to provide gryphons to the frontline Inspectors on schedule for a long time… what do you think…"

"There should be enough gryphons, you figure it out yourself."

Remembering all of Aiwass's requests, Isabel dealt with the governmental affairs in an orderly fashion. She was performing as a queen who was dignified and meticulous in thought.

In the first Round Table meeting with the queen in attendance, which primarily entailed designating the main policies to follow, there was no need for the knights to vote on any proposals.

And as Isabel grew more into her role, her gaze becoming sharper, those old knights with ulterior motives exchanged looks, displaying peculiar expressions on their faces.

Eventually, the first Round Table meeting ended in an unusually harmonious and calm atmosphere.

"Lords, the Silver-Crowned Dragon watches over Avalon."

The young queen's farewell words, at this moment, sounded like some sort of threat.

None of the difficulties Isabel had imagined occurred — but she did not breathe a sigh of relief here. Instead, she calmly closed her eyes, took hold of the scepter, and rested with her eyes closed, waiting for the knights to leave.

— But in reality, she was rapidly recalling the contents of the meeting and the attitudes of all the ministers. Later, she would have to recount them to Aiwass, and any memory lapse could be deadly.

When the knights looked at each other, as if they wanted to say something but it was not appropriate to speak here...

Only the unnoticed Minister Mycroft Hermes, tucked away in the corner, with his plump figure, seemed to see through something, hands folded in his sleeves, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.