Winter

''Your majesty, Countess Mille has sent a letter.''

''Your majesty should lift your arm higher.''

''Decline.'' Rose replied, lifting her arm higher as Valerie took and noted down her measurement with the assistance of another maid.

''Viscountess Sanders has a letter….''

''Decline.'' Rose repeated. ''Decline all, Leanna.'' She said in a sharper tone that depicted her annoyance towards the letters coming to the empress's palace like falling leaves.

''...Your majesty....'' Leanna did not seem to readily accept her words, but the sharp stare made her swallow whatever words she wanted to say.

''Ha...'' Glancing at the new stacks of exquisite envelopes with Leanna, Rose released an annoyed sigh when thinking of how she had to reply different letters almost every minute just yesterday!