Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 507: Different Ranking System

Chapter 507: Different Ranking System

"But the others are doing it as well. Nobility is always nobility wherever we go. It runs in our blood," Narcissa pointed out.

"Yes, that is also true. There are those who still do not follow these rules. But that doesn’t mean you should do it too. You are working as an assistant in my office as the Empress. You must uphold the laws even if the others are straying. You must be a good example to the others."

"I follow the rules, Your Majesty. But this law, doesn’t it make being a noble have no value?"

"No, nobility is still of value despite this. The status of your family is still maintained since as you have said, it is in your blood indeed. Your noble status doesn’t change. You remain as one. Thus, in other contexts such as social gatherings not related to work, they will treat you according to your status as a noble from the Ryvaleh Household. But in anything work-related, you are all equal.

"Moreover, becoming a civil servant is a choice you and your family had to make knowing that this is what comes with it. If you cannot accept these conditions, then you are free to leave the civil service," Arabella pointed out and Narcissa was silenced. Thus, she decided to attack.

"I heard from His Majesty that this law was made because the rulers before noticed that the potential of the citizens was not getting maximized when only the nobility were accepted to work as officials. Thus, they amended the law since they believed it proved to be obsolete and no longer effective in the changing times. They then created this law to maximize the potential of all Valerian citizens willing to work for the palace and gather as many talented individuals as possible regardless of status and make the Empire more prosperous.

"And it was included here that everyone who works in the palace is under the protection of the Imperial Crown. Anyone who violates their rights will be punished accordingly.

"Thus, you had no right to punish Ivan, Nadia, or Odette as you please nor hurt them because of a personal assumption that had no proof, or tell them to eat elsewhere because you feel uncomfortable looking at them."

[Yes, I had no proof. But still, it is so suspicious how they were able to pass the selection and even the Imperial Civil Service Exam in their situation.]

"If you didn’t like eating with them, I believe I told everyone early on that you may bring your own chefs or have your meals brought to your room so you can eat on your own. You shouldn’t have made them leave the dining hall which I had reserved especially for my assistants. You had no right to deprive them of the food I had asked to be allocated with a budget for the convenience of my assistants.

"I wanted everyone to be comfortable so everyone could work more effectively. Yet, you ruined that for those three.

"I also made sure my office was a conducive place for concentration, but it became tense because you have intimidated the three. Of course, the others also noticed something seemed off and visibly got distracted by it even if they remained silent. I heard they did tell you off several times, but you did not listen."

[Why is everything my fault?!] Narcissa pouted. She looked like she might cry but Arabella was not done yet. Narcissa needed to face the reality and the consequences of her actions.

"And not just that. You also involved the kitchen staff who was tasked to secretly send food to Ivan when you had all the food sent away. You had him beaten up as well and made him quit his work. We found him and asked him to return under His Majesty’s protection. If you do anything to him, his family, or anyone related to him, you will be answering to His Majesty," Arabella added and Narcissa paled.

"But he was just a kitchen staff. Why? I am of noble status."

"That, again," Arabella sighed.

"Everyone working in the palace is under His Majesty’s protection regardless of status. I just told you earlier. That includes the kitchen staff, cooks, chefs, butlers, gardeners, everyone. Your noble status doesn’t give you the right to abuse anyone. It is even more reason that you must respect everyone’s rights because your household is of nobility. Or is that how things are done in Ryvaleh?" Arabella asked and Narcissa remained silent.

She learned from Narcissa’s thoughts that she hadn’t even stayed in Ryvaleh that much. She had been staying in their family’s estate here in Riva most of the time. But everyone gave and did everything she wanted. And they ensured Narcissa was always able to get what she wanted even in the social circle.

’It must be why she’s like this. She’s used to everything going her way even if she was wrong. Maybe they do not even point out that she’s wrong.’

Then that’s all the more reason for Arabella to educate her. Narcissa will not grow if she doesn’t realize her mistakes.

Even if Arabella had to spend a long time discussing more of the laws that Narcissa violated in her actions, she still needed to do it anyway to reiterate to Narcissa that what she did was wrong and she needed to be punished or be responsible for it.

"Ivan, Nadia, and Odette may be from less affluent territories but as I have said earlier, they are very much capable. They do not need to cheat to pass the selection. They have all passed with the highest marks when they took the Imperial Civil Service Exam," Arabella emphasized.

[She’s defending them again.] Narcissa thought.

’Because you are violating their rights and disrespecting the results of their hard work, effort, and resilience. They did not do anything wrong to you but you are tormenting them.’

"As to your claim that they wouldn’t have had the chance to study, that was wrong. All of them made a way to study so they could pass the exam."