Remaried Empress

Queen used to visit me daily, but he hadn't made an appearance for the last two days. As far as I could recall, we had not communicated ever since Rashta's maid pretended to be me. Only a few hours before that revelation, Queen had been playing in my room. My mood turned somber as I remembered his chirping and the last time I hugged him. Should I raise a bird, as just Countess Eliza said?

'No. Other birds are not like Queen.'

"Are you thinking about Queen?"

Countess Eliza seemed to understand my innermost thoughts as I kept glancing at the window. I smiled awkwardly and didn't answer. I missed Queen, but if I said that out loud it could be interpreted as me wanting to see Prince Heinley. Due to that, I was cautious.

Instead of prodding me for an answer, Countess Eliza pulled out a light pink dress from the wardrobe. The dress had a thin, falling silhouette and was a little less extravagant then the dresses of the past three days.

"You won't be going to a large banquet tonight, so I will dress you more elegantly, Your Majesty."

Tomorrow was the last day of the New Year's celebrations, as well as the day of the special banquet. However, since its attendees usually changed from year to year, there was usually a preview dinner the prior evening for the guests to become more acquainted, as Countess Eliza mentioned. It was a bit unreasonable to wear an extravagant dress to dinner when it was only a relatively small gathering.

"Thank you, as always."

"I am honored."

Thanks to Countess Eliza's preparations, my straight hair was styled in waves and my pale complexion looked rosy. With her assistance, I slipped into the dress and studied myself in the mirror, then left for the central palace.

No one came to work during large holidays, but I wanted to look over a few documents. I went to my office and looked over the guest list for the special banquet. In addition to having to carry polite conversation with the foreign guests, I had to familiarize myself with their culture as to not accidentally offend them.

"..."

The most noteworthy guests were Prince Heinley and Grand Duke Kapmen. Prince Heinley was especially a prominent figure.

'I have to be careful with Grand Duke Kapmen as well...'

Grand Duke Kapmen was the only guest from another continent, who hailed from the great desert nation of Rwibt. He was invited not only because he was a great man, but also because he was a foreign student who graduated at the top of the magic academy. There was not much exchange across the continents, and the trade merchants did not linger long. Little was known about the court etiquette of Rwibt. One of the few books on the nation was "The Travelogue," written after an adventurer's visit to the desert country. I had heard that Grand Duke Kapmen had mocked the book and said it was not in the least bit accurate.

'He's already been studying overseas for a few years, and he should be treated like he's one of us...'

After some lengthy research and learning, the time for the dinner arrived.

When I left my office, I found Countess Eliza and Sir Artina nervously standing outside, and they called out "Your Majesty!" when they saw me.

"I was wondering if I should go in."

"I've been checking the clock."

At Countess Eliza's urging, I went back to my room where she touched up my hair and makeup, before heading to the eastern palace.

"Sister!"

Rashta was the first person I saw when I entered the dining room. She covered her mouth in surprise, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty!"

My smooth expression almost crumbled. Was Rashta among the twenty special guests tomorrow? No, I had checked the list only a while ago. Sovieshu must have brought her here. While one could not attend the special banquet without an invitation, those who were not invited could still go to the dinner.

A moment later, Prince Heinley, Sovieshu and Princess Soju entered the dining room. Princess Soju looked at me as if to say, 'What's wrong?' but I shook my head and went towards my seat. Prince Heinley said hello to me, and I only gave him a slight nod. I could feel Princess Soju's eyes in my direction, but I didn't acknowledge it and took my seat with my head pounding. It was only after a servant poured water into my glass that Princess Soju leaned over and whispered quietly to me.

"I thought it was a joke until a while ago."

Her voice was so low that I could barely hear it.

"What was?"

She glanced over at the Prince.

"Prince Heinley. I believe the rumor that he is a womanizer is true. He acts so sweetly to Miss Rashta in front of His Majesty, I thought he was some kind of human custard."

"Pub!"

Her expression sent me into a coughing fit as I drank from my glass, while the Princess smiled in amusement. Prince Heinley's, Rashta's, and Sovieshu's attention turned towards me at the same time, and I quickly schooled my expression and covered my mouth with a handkerchief.

Now that Princess Soju pointed it out, the atmosphere did seem strange. Prince Heinley was aloof and mysterious as always, but Sovieshu seemed more on edge than usual. From time to time he shot glances between Prince Heinley and Rashta. And Rashta...she seemed to be enjoying the situation. Her cheeks were more flushed than usual at the attention of both the Emperor and the Prince.

'If it had been Rashta that Prince Heinley was with from the beginning, then what would have happened...?'

My heart throbbed at the sudden thought, but I soon shook it away. Even if it wasn't Rashta, Sovieshu would have still brought in a concubine one day. Princess Soju leaned towards me again.

"Strange. Prince Heinley was so openly sweet on Miss Rashta before. Not now."

I did not bother looking in their direction this time. Soon after, the table filled up with all the guests, and the servants brought in the first course—mulled wine, fresh celery, salmon with potatoes, and chicken poached in wine.

It was well into the middle of a long meal when, suddenly, there was a sharp crash. The dining room turned silent. Sovieshu was staring at Prince Heinley, his golden goblet spilled over his plate. Everyone watched them with bated breath.

"That's rude, Prince Heinley."

"What do you mean? What's rude? Is it rude of me to point out that the one who claimed to exchange letters with me doesn't know the contents of said letters? Is it rude for me to protest when I find out later she's deceiving me?"

"Prince Heinley. Watch your language." 

"Tell your concubine to be careful."

"!"

"This is disgraceful. First the maid, then her master Lady Rashta. Are you scorning the Western Kingdom, scorning me, or scorning my promises?"

Rashta's eyes were as wide as saucers, while Prince Heinley leaned back against his seat and stared at Sovieshu coldly.

"Oh, perhaps—Did His Majesty order Lady Rashta to do it? Use me?"

"Prince Heinley!"

Despite the anger on Sovieshu's face, Prince Heinley looked unimpressed.

"I'm sure Rashta wrote those letters. She was confused for a moment. The contents can be confusing, can't they?"

"Does it make sense to confuse half the contents of the letters?"

Sovieshu turned even redder the face. Princess Soju was riveted on them as if she were entertained, and she set down her fork and started eating cookies as she were watching a play.

"Goodness...So Lady Rashta has a poor brain? Ten things, half forgotten? If her wit is the issue, then I'll admit my wrong."

In an instant, the atmosphere turned ugly. I could only hear the sound of Princess Soju eating the cookies. With her lively and dependable personality, she showed her curiosity to the fullest extent.

"Am I the strange one here, everyone? The lady sitting here, Rashta, called herself my friend yesterday. I believed it because I thought that a famous lady like Rashta wouldn't lie, and I spent all day honoring her. And as Princess Soju put it, I was as soft as a human custard."

Princess Soju flinched.

'Prince Heinley has good ears.'

"That's right."

The Princess automatically sided with Prince Heinley in return for him calling her out. Prince Heinley looked around and spoke again.

"But there was something strange during our conversation. Lady Rashta didn't know more than half of what she has exchanged with me. She knew nothing about our recent exchanges. Isn't it strange that she doesn't know half the contents, as well as the contents from only one or two letters ago? Lady Rashta's maid didn't know that as well."

Everyone nodded, and Rashta's ears turned red. Sovieshu glared at Prince Heinley as if he could shoot lightning from his eyes.

"Enough of this, Prince Heinley."

"It was supposed to be a quiet matter, but it was the Emperor of the Eastern Empire that brought it out to the open."

"Shouldn't a knight protect his lady if she's in trouble? If the Western Kingdom condemns a poor woman over a trivial matter and calls that chivalry, then there's nothing left for me to explain."

"No, no. My lady was falsely impersonated, and I must protect her too."

"What?"

A playful smile lifted on the Prince's mouth.

"Of course, my letter acquaintance may be a man, not a lady."

His gaze fell on me for a moment, and my heart ran cold. It occurred to me that I wrote 'I am a man' as a hint.

'He's mistaken...right?'

Even if Prince Heinley discovered that Rashta was the false friend, there was still no way he could tell I was the real one.

It was then.

Rashta, who had not said a word so far, whimpered, "It's too much." Everyone's eyes shifted from Sovieshu and Prince Heinley towards Rashta, who sniffled as if she were the main character in a play. One of Prince Heinley's eyebrows lifted.

"Why did you try to deceive me again, Lady Rashta? Why did you play a trick with the maid?"

Rashta let out a sob.

"I said the contents of the letter exactly. But Prince Heinley keeps insisting it's a lie."

What on earth...

My lips parted at that moment. What did she just say? Tears started to stream down her eyes.

"I think I know why you're doing this. Is it because Rashta is not the kind of person you wanted? Were all the gestures of friendship you sent to Rashta false?"

She was the image of a tragic heroine who had been wrongly abandoned. Sovieshu clenched his jaw as he glared at the Prince.

"Is that true?"

Prince Heinley's shoulders jerked as he laughed, then he sighed and shook his head.

"You must be crazy."

"Are you accusing of Rashta being a liar because you saw her with His Majesty?"

I once believed Rashta's naivety came from innocence and ignorance. Now I knew that she was deviously cunning woman. Prince Heinley clicked his tongue.

"Lady Rashta. You are the most brazen person I have ever met."

"For the sake of our friendship, please don't keep saying things that will hurt Rashta."

Rashta dissolved into tears, and some of the surrounding nobles began to look uncomfortable. For those who didn't know the truth, Rashta appeared so confident in the truth that they were confused to what was real. Princess Soju was busy watching with wide eyes with her cookies in her mouth, while Duchess Tuania calmly watched the situation with her arms folded.

In the meanwhile, only Grand Duke Kapmen was delicately working on his meal. With his long, sharp eyes and healthy caramel-colored skin, he moved his utensils with a dull expression, as if he found the whole affair tiresome.

'I should come forward and say that I'm Prince Heinley's letter acquaintance...'

I stared blankly at Kapmen as I agonized over the decision. If I sided with the Prince, the others would mock not only Rashta, but also Sovieshu who had stood up for her. However, I didn't want to see Prince Heinley be blamed because of Rashta. The friendship that Rashta repeatedly claimed was hers was between me and Prince Heinley.

At that moment, Grand Duke Kapmen, who was eating like a machine, looked paused and looked up at me in surprise. I nodded slightly as our eyes met. Kapmen stared at me without responding, then he looked at Rashta and Prince Heinley then smiled quietly.

'What's the matter with him?'

However, it wasn't the abnormal behavior of Grand Duke Kapmen that was the problem at this moment.

'I wanted to stay quiet, but there is a misunderstanding. I should fix it.'

I finished debating internally with myself and readied myself to speak. Everyone turned to me. They seemed to be enjoying the whirlwind of events. Only Rashta was staring at me with her eyes wide open. Suddenly, it occurred to me that Viscountess Verdi must have told her I was the letter acquaintance, and I felt a sense of irony in the situation. I couldn't understand why Rashta thought she could pretend to be me and think I would stay quiet.

I spoke to Sovieshu, keeping my face as still as possible.

"Your Majesty, I know who it was that exchanged letters with Prince Heinley...and it was not Rashta."

Prince Heinley's face lit up. Rashta, on the other hand, stared at me with a look of betrayal, while Sovieshu's face turned white.

"Empress."

He addressed me in a low voice.

"This is not a matter for you to decide. Just because you dislike Rashta doesn't mean you should take Prince Heinley's side."

"I am only on the side of truth."

As soon as I was finished, Prince Heinley spoke up acidly.

"Your Majesty the Empress. It must be frustrating that the Emperor treats all the words from Lady Rashta's lips as truth."

The remark bled the last of Sovieshu's patience.

"I cannot tolerate this anymore."

Sovieshu stood up and drew out his sword. It was a decorative piece not made for combat, but it was enough to injure a defenseless person. The mood in the room quickly became tense.

"Prince Heinley, how dare you defile my honor. I challenge you to a duel."

"If I kill you now, may I leave here safely? Then, I will accept the duel."