Remaried Empress

"My apologies, Lady Rashta, but I am already exhausted."

Prince Heinley smiled and turned away.

"I cannot dance twice in a row. The handsome man has a surprisingly weak constitution."

"Then what about after you take a break? When you get your strength back."

"Then..."

Prince Heinley suddenly looked over and our eyes met, and his gaze softened.

"There's someone I want to dance with again."

I pondered his repeated refusal towards her. He was determined to cut her off, far different from how most nobles presented themselves. Rashta didn't expect to be rejected, and she touched her hair, disconcerted, and turned away. Our gazes met, but she didn't acknowledge me and instead turned to Sovieshu with her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Your Majesty, Rashta has no one to dance with."

"Take a break. You cannot dance with the same person twice in a row."

Rashta was similar to Prince Heinley. He, too, had no qualms about expressing his feelings, when most nobles would be too proud to voice their thoughts out loud.

"Hing..."

She whined like a baby, and the surrounding nobles chuckled, not out of mockery, but of endearment. Rashta was not noble, and her behavior was rude, to say the least, but to everyone else she was like a fresh and pure novelty.

"Lady Rashta, would you like to dance with me?"

Several other noblemen approached Rashta, but she weakly replied, "No thank you," then trudged towards the edge of the room. Sovieshu stiffened, as if he wanted to run towards her. If the music hadn't started at that moment, he might have really gone after her, but he stayed on the floor.

Coincidentally, the music was calm and the dance required some distant from one's partner. Sovieshu and I had been dance partners since we were young, and we were used to falling into the rhythm together. As children, we held onto each other with laughter, complaining that the steps were awkward.

'Those days will never come anymore.'

When I remembered holding a large map and discussing new construction projects, I felt a chill in the corner of my heart. How stupid and naive I was at the time to believe Sovieshu and I would be together for the rest of our lives. When the dance finally brought us close to each other, I still felt like we were far apart.

"Earlier."

Sovieshu spoke in a low voice.

"What did you talk about with Prince Heinley?"

"We had a normal conversation."

"..."

"..."

"Have you heard the rumors about him?"

What did he mean by that? I didn't say anything for a while to focus on the complicated steps, but I didn't miss the crease between Sovieshu's eyebrows.

"What do you mean you had a 'normal' conversation with him?"

"He was very entertaining."

"He's a womanizer, so of course he's entertaining. People like funny men."

The distance between us grew apart again. As I turned around, I saw Prince Heinley standing near a table and watching me. He smiled and waved one hand when our eyes met.

"I have Rashta as my concubine, so I won't tell you that you cannot take another man as your lover as well."

"?"

"Still, I don't believe it should be Prince Heinley."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"If you are with Prince Heinley, he will not be your concubine, but you will be his."

"!"

"Wouldn't that be disgraceful to the Empress of the Eastern Empire?"

"I don't know what you're imagining, but Prince Heinley and I don't have that kind of relationship."

"Good. Don't be the match for the fire that spreads everywhere."

"He isn't–"

I was about to protest that Prince Heinley wasn't like that, when Sovieshu suddenly came to a halt. The music hadn't stopped yet. Sovieshu was frozen on the floor, and I couldn't dance alone and stopped as well, jamming the traffic around us.

"Your Majesty?"

What was the matter? I wondered if he sprained a foot, but Sovieshu strode away. The people around me looked on with puzzled expressions. Sovieshu finally stopped in front of Rashta. She was standing against the wall, crying.

"Rashta. Why are you crying?"

Sovieshu looked at her in surprise, and Rashta stretched out her arms and hugged him around the neck.

The murmur of the crowd grew louder. I could feel the nobles' eyes on me. Sovieshu and I were dancing together, before he threw me away and went to Rashta.

My jaw clenched. I felt blood drain from my head as my vision turned spotty. Rashta kept crying while Sovieshu tried to comfort her, and eventually her picked her up and they left.

"Oh my god. So it's true that the Emperor loves the concubine."

"Yes."

As the two of them left, the gaze of the crowd pressed down harder on me.

"But I heard she was a runaway slave. Is that true?"

"What? Really?"

"Nonsense. The Emperor just said it was a rumor."

"Watch your mouth. His Majesty said he would punish anyone that spoke of it." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"No, wait a minute. Does the Eastern Empire allow runaways slaves to become concubines? This is not possible in our Northern Kingdom. I even brought her the Sea Jewels of the Northern Kingdom as a gift."

"I'm sure the Emperor did nothing of the sort."

The music stopped, and everyone was either looking at me or talking about Rashta. I wanted nothing more than to flee the room, but I forced myself to walk calmly away.

I had no idea where I was going, but I heard someone following my footsteps and glimpsed Prince Heinley's reflection on a smooth pillar. I did not feel like being civil and talking to a foreign prince. For now...I just wanted to sit somewhere.

I found myself walking through an empty palace corridor. Sir Artina, the deputy commander of the knights, fell into step beside me.

"Are you all right, Your Highness?"

"I'm fine."

"You should get some rest. You look pale."

I nodded. I went to my chambers, passing the drawing room before going into the bedroom. I fell face down on the bed, hugging the pillow and curling up on myself. My whole body felt unbearably heavy. How much was I carrying on my shoulders?

– Gu....

There was a tap on glass, and I saw a Queen sitting by the window. I opened it wearily, and Queen entered, blinking his large eyes. I took the bird into my arms. As his heat spread from his warm little body into mine, tears burst out of my eyes.

– ...

How could this creature provide such great comfort? I soaked in the warmth Queen gave me like a person abandoned in a bitter winter. By the time I was finally calm, I realized I had been hugging the bird for too long. He was probably annoyed. I looked up, and to my surprise, Queen was simply peering at me.

"Thank you."

– Gu...

"You always give me strength."

I was embarrassed to say it out loud and whispered it in his ear, and Quinn covered his face with his wings.

"Sometimes you're like a real person."

– !

Queen's eyes widened and he darted around the room, and there was a commotion outside. The paper hanging above the bed fluttered, and I pulled him towards me.

I rang the bell to signal my permission for them to come in, and the main door opened and voices came inside. I went into the drawing room with Queen in my arms, finding several ladies-in-waiting there, including Countess Eliza and Laura. They had come straight from the party, and were dressed more splendidly than usual. However, the clock showed that the end of the ball itself was some time away. Why were they here?

"Countess, what's going on?"

Although I wasn't expecting Countess Eliza, it was even more curious that Laura was here when she had been looking forward to the New Year's celebrations. Did I spoil the mood? Did they come after me because I ran away?

Even so, I did not want to be consoled, strange as it may be. It was my pride that was injured when my husband loved another woman. There was nothing wrong with my reaction, but it was Sovieshu and Rashta that remained dignified while I shrank. I couldn't even explain this vague feeling, so I couldn't bring myself to speak about it.

However, the way Sovieshu rushed to Rashta did not seem to be on their minds. Countess Eliza quickly fanned her face, and Laura kept nervously touching her curls.

What was wrong? Come to think of it, everyone seemed to be quite agitated.

"Your Majesty. There was a messenger from the Verdi estate."

Countess Eliza lowered her fan as she spoke, and I stood there in confusion.

"The Verdi estate?"

"Yes."

"Is it from Viscountess Verdi?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The message said that Viscountess Verdi can no longer serve as the lady-in-waiting for the Empress."

Viscountess Verdi...didn't she borrow money from me a few days ago? Back then she looked like she was at the end of her rope.

"Are you sure it was from Viscountess Verdi?"

I looked on in bewilderment. Her household was in massive debt because of the troubled actions of the husband and son. The debt was not enough to leave them on the streets, but most of their income had been used to pay it off. And now Viscountess Verdi was quitting her position as lady-in-waiting?

Laura continued anxiously.

"She quit in quite a hurry. Maybe Viscountess Verdi fought with her husband or son?"

Another lady-in-waiting made a suggestion with a concerned look.

"It might be a good idea to send someone to check on the situation."

"I suppose so."

*

*

*

The next day proved our worries over Viscountess Verdi unnecessary.

I was not obligated to stand with Sovieshu to the banquet on the second day, so I relaxed a little as I went to the banquet hall myself. There were many noblewomen there, including Countess Eliza and Laura, and Princess Soju from the Southern Kingdom. Princess Soju was the typical southerner ideal, sweet and generous and a skilled conversationalist. Everyone's attention was drawn to what she said, when she suddenly looked over her shoulder and said, "That's her."

When I turned around, Rashta was walking alone, smiling at the people around her. She seemed even more dazzling in the daytime. If our eyes met, she would come here as talk to me as if I were her sister again, so I turned my head away.

"Oh my God."

But this time, Laura was staring at Rashta.

"What is it?"

I couldn't help my curiosity, and Laura answered with a glare at Rashta.

"The blue silk she's wearing, Your Majesty. Isn't that the one Grand Duke Lilteang tried to gift to you?"

I looked back and saw Laura was telling the truth. Rashta was arrayed in a gown of blue silk. The ladies clicked their tongues.

"Grand Duke Lilteang is truly incredible."

"I know. He moved as soon as he was rejected by Her Majesty."

I turned back again, and this time it was Countess Eliza that spoke, her voice low and confused.

"I don't think the silk was the only thing that went from the Empress to her."

What was she talking about?

This was starting to be a nuisance, but I looked back again, and his time I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Viscountess Verdi was standing next to Rashta, the day after Viscountess Verdi informed me that she couldn't be my lady-in-waiting. I didn't see her at first as she was hidden by someone else, but now I could see it clearly. Viscountess Verdi was next to Rashta. Laura had been worried about Viscountess Verdi all night, and she yelled sharply.

"I can't believe it. Is she mad?"

Rashta and Viscountess Verdi looked over in our direction at the source of the loud noise. Viscountess Verdi quickly avoided my gaze when she saw me.

"..."

I thought the gift of blue silk from Lilteang was amusing, but this time I was upset. The lady-in-waiting was standing next to the women who took my husband. She had borrowed a lot of money from me. I didn't know where Viscountess Verdi's plan came from or how she changed her mind, but before she was the one who mocked Rashta the most.

"..."

Count Eliza and Laura said something next to me, but I didn't hear them. What should I say about this? Was I embarrassed? In disbelief? Was the concubine here to take everything of mine away?

No. Perhaps Viscountess Verdi was not my companion from the beginning. Perhaps she was only with me for money, but I couldn't allow myself to look flustered. Princess Soju clicked her tongue.

"I don't understand the concubine system. There is no such strange system in the Southern Kingdom. In polite terms she a concubine, but isn't it still cheating? But since the law approves of her as a concubine, she holds her head high without realizing how shameful it is."

"It's as you say. Isn't strange how she can pass in front of the Empress with her back held straight?"

Laura fired up in defense of me, while I ignored them and picked out the sweetest champagne. Yesterday I had left my seat and fled, so I thought I'd stay as long as possible today. It wouldn't be easy though. While I appreciated everything that Princess Soju and the other ladies said, I didn't want to talk about it in public.

I wondered how the story would spread. Everyone would pretend to be respectful on the surface, but they thought little of me for sending gifts to Rashta and would talk about me behind my back.

"Shall we talk about something else?"

In the end, I indirectly indicated that I did not want to discuss it. Fortunately, Princess Soju took no offense and redirected the conversation.

"Oh, I heard an interesting story about Prince Heinley this morning."

"An interesting story?"

"It was when we were eating together in the southern palace. I heard he exchanged letters anonymously with someone in the Eastern Empire."

"!"

"He said he wanted to find them, and that they should meet him at the southern palace. The gossip is everywhere."