The Empress Wins This Round

Semiramis had traded her construction clothes for a black gown that showed off her regal elegance.

Semiramis said, "You're back. Right on time, too."

Yuan Shikai asked, "Did anything major happen? A crisis threatening to destroy the world, for example?"

"Sorry, no," Semiramis said. "Though I suppose there was something, if you insist." She produced a newspaper from somewhere and handed it to Yuan Shikai.

I took one look at the contents and immediately put the paper away. Everyone wanted to see what was in it, but there was nothing they could do once I'd tucked it out of sight.

Even the proud empress had learned a few tricks. The first thing on the page Semiramis handed me was a feature on the First Earl and the First Earl's wife.

It showed an intimate photo of the newly appointed earl and his wife together. I had no idea which expert had doctored it, but their likenesses were uncannily convincing. Magecraft must have been involved.

Justeaze and Jeanne d'Arc probably wouldn't say anything if they saw it. Sajyou Manaka, on the other hand, would grumble about it for ages.

One clear, pleasant morning, I leaned against a railing in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and looked down at Trifas, bustling with life.

"What do you think of your territory?" Semiramis asked.

"Territory, fame, power, profit—I've never cared about any of them," I said. "I'll leave all that to you."

"At first, I only wanted a home here. I don't know how it turned into all this. It's thanks to you. You really are the empress of Assyria. Sorry to leave this place in your hands from now on."

"Is that a compliment?" Semiramis asked. "Or an assignment you're handing me before you leave?"

Her instincts were sharp. She'd guessed I was