Pellethia’s self-doubt was not only laced heavy in her voice, but emanated strongly from her bright green eyes. Lucianne wouldn’t have guessed that Pellethia had any problems with leading the empire had the empress not shown this side of herself to her. 

When Lucianne thought that Pellethia was strict and ferocious to her own people, the empress was actually…scared. The fear she instilled in her governing members was a defense mechanism to shield herself from her own fear of being stepped on, being overlooked, being a puppet to more than willing puppeteers.

The fear was also probably another reason why Pellethia never found it in herself to channel the Empress’s...