YMMV / The Ghosts of the Old Castle

• Magnificent Bitch: Aunt Aksal, seemingly an ordinary cook, is a spymaster in service to Most Chief Minister Abazh. Via her agents, she learns that Abazh's main enemy, Chief Minister Nushrok, has fallen in love with his own daughter Anidag who is disgusted by him, which allows Abazh to manipulate Anidag into trying to poison Nushrok and to poison her himself. Meanwhile, Aksal encounters Olya and Yalo, idealistic girls from another world, and instantly realizes the potential in them. Easily gaining, she helps them rescue their friend from the royal prison, while in truth her goal is to have them steal the Puppet King's symbol of power. Despite the girls' numerous mistakes, Aksal's plan succeeds, and she lets the girls leave unharmed: she reasons they are from such a distant land they can't pose any danger. Aksal personally poisons the king, while Nushrok is ultimately killed by Anidag's loyal servant, clearing the way to the throne for Abazh. However, Abazh refuses to promote Aksal and, tormented by ghosts, grows insane, so Aksal allies with the late king's brother. After Abazh finds out about her betrayal, Aksal firmly tells him he'll die next if he kills her — which is exactly what happens: the day after Aksal is strangled in her sleep, her agents poison Abazh, allowing the late king's brother to ascend the throne. A resourceful and perceptive woman hiding behind a kindly motherly façade, Aksal pulls the strings in high-tier politics and doesn't let even her own assassination stop the successful completion of her last gambit.