Remaried Empress

As usual, it was futile trying to avoid getting entangled with Rashta. Each time, it was either her or Sovieshu that netted me in, but this time it was Sovieshu.

Some of the foreign guests would return to their countries, while a few would stay longer at the southern palace. I returned to the western palace, leaving behind those who wanted to stay up for the drinking and revelry. I wanted to take a warm bath to relieve my fatigue of the day. The ladies-in-waiting also seemed exhausted, so instead of having them follow me, I sent them away to take their rest.

However, before I could even finish drawing the bathwater, Sovieshu's captain of the guard came to see me. I had a sinking feeling the moment I saw him. For nearly a month, all the times Sovieshu summoned me out of the blue had been unpleasant encounters.

What on earth did he want this time? My mood felt heavy as I walked through the long corridors, but I managed to control my expression. I hoped I could maintain it in front of my husband...

Finally, I entered Sovieshu's bedroom in the eastern palace. Sovieshu was seated on a chair by the bed, and I also noted Rashta on the bed with a towel on her forehead. I turned back to Sovieshu again, who had his eyes fixed on me.

"...I'll take my leave."

The captain closed the door, and the atmosphere became even more oppressive. Sovieshu slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"Do you have anything to say to me?"

His voice was curt.

"Why did you call me here?"

I spoke to him just as bluntly.

"Is that the only thing you want to say?"

"That's what I'm most curious about now."

"You do not even blink at this situation."

The first thought that came to mind was, 'I must be doing a good job of controlling my facial expression,' and the corners of my mouth tipped upwards. Sovieshu seemed even more offended by my smile.

"Are you happy that everyone thinks Rashta's a runaway slave?"

"Are you going to take your anger out on me?"

"Empress."

"I heard about Miss Rashta at the grand hall. I know you're upset, but don't take it out on me."

"Did you think I called you to vent?"

"You did not?"

"No."

"Then why did you call me?"

He did not call me to be angry at me, but weren't his remarks derisive only a while ago? He probably thought I was happy that Rashta was discovered to be a runaway slave.

Sovieshu silently watched Rashta's sleeping form. The ticking of the clock echoed in the room. Only after some time passed did Sovieshu speak.

"Did you really want to prove that Rashta is a fugitive slave?"

"That story again?"

"The Empress was born a great aristocrat. She had a good family, enormous wealth, great power, a beautiful mansion, and a natural wit and beauty. But in spite of that, she still wants to be on top of everyone."

It wasn't a compliment in this situation. I looked at Sovieshu with narrowed eyes, and he sighed.

"Rashta had nothing. She became a slave and had no memory or her parents or family. No property, no power, no home. She is like the Empress who is smart and beautiful, but she doesn't have opportunities opened to her."

"..."

"And then she met me, and she had been trying to get these for her own. The chance to be loved, to eat a warm meal, to relax on a comfortable bed, to learn something."

She also took my husband, but I didn't say this because my pride was injured. I wanted to ask if he wanted me to sympathize with Rasta, but I couldn't say it either. I just stared at him without a word. I couldn't understand why he was talking so much—was he asking me to take care of Rashta because she was in trouble?

"I don't need you to understand Rashta. But you have the smallest compassion...can you give it?"

"Compassion?"

"The compassion the Empress shows here and there—for example, towards the orphanages, elderly homes, medical centers, temples, scholarship centers. Why can you not spare that compassion to Rashta!"

Sovieshu exploded at me, but then he stopped himself and collapsed back into his chair. Rashta reached out with a groan, and he quickly took her hand. I noticed that she was wearing a shirt with wide sleeves. I wanted to clench my fist.

"Rashta is your concubine, so you should take care of her. I'm not looking after her because she's not under my jurisdiction."

"Who said you had to look after her? Ha. I don't want you to take care of her, so please leave her alone!"

"Have I ever provoked her?"

"Yesterday in front of Prince Heinley, when he insulted Rashta. Of the two of them, Prince Heinley and Rashta, you should have sided with Rashta. If you don't know who's telling the truth, then you should stand by your subjects!"

"As I said, I knew the truth, and sided with Prince Heinley accordingly."

"Rashta lied?"

"It is you who believe in her innocence, not me."

"Well, that was yesterday. How about today? Why were you trying to undermine her today?"

"You know I never spoke to Miss Rashta today."

"Did you. You never talked to Rashta herself, but you called Viscount Roteschu from behind her back."

The air seemed to crack when he made the accusation. I knew it couldn't really be, but it sounded like it. I glared at Sovieshu.

"What are you talking about?"

"You wanted to prove that Rashta is a runaway slave, and so you brought Viscount Roteschu."

"...I invited the viscount because of Miss Rashta?"

What kind of ridiculous invention was this? I was dumbfounded. Sovieshu let out an exhale.

"Ever since I said that Rashta wasn't an escaped slave, didn't you want to prove me otherwise? Were you so offended by everyone loving her?"

"You're speaking nonsense."

I forced my voice to sound calm, but I felt ready to burst. Sovieshu stood straight up from his chair, his eyes flashing threateningly.

"Who knows the guest invitations better than the Empress? You must have been working hard. You invited Viscount Roteschu."

"Yes, I know the invitations very well. It was my job. However, I invited him weeks before Rashta even came to the palace."

"He's not an important guest, so why did you invite him to the celebrations?"

"As I said before...I'm not interested in every single thing concerning Miss Rashta. And you were confident that she was not a runaway slave. Under these circumstances, why would I not send an invitation to Viscount Roteschu?"

I didn't even know she was his slave. The only connection I knew was that Sovieshu had found her on the hunting grounds near Roteschu's estate. Since then, I had never heard mention of it, and if Rashta was commoner, then Roteschu's attendance was irrelevant. Yet somehow, Sovieshu thought I calculated Rashta was Roteschu's slave? Me? I was dumbfounded.

"If you have any consideration—"

"You should take care of her yourself. You can't expect me to look after her, even if I didn't know she was Roteschu's slave."

"...You're heartless. A woman who has been living in poverty her whole life now wants to stand straight, and you don't want to see it? You don't want to be tarnished? The Empress is a horrible woman."

Roteschu nervously fidgeted his hands. He was the lord of a small country estate, though that didn't necessarily mean he was unimportant. Many heroes, military officials, and ranking nobles chose to live peaceful lives on a small estate, leaving the capital behind them as far away as possible. In some cases, it wasn't the size or geographical features of the land that was important, but its location. For instance, the region of Wirwol was located in a deep mountain valley far from the capital, but its value couldn't be ignored as it hosted the mage's headquarters and magical academy.

But that wasn't applicable to Roteschu. His estate in Rimwell was not open to development, as it was the location of the Emperor's forests and hunting grounds. Naturally, he had never seen the Emperor at a distance, let alone in a private meeting.

"..."

In line of the emperor's withering glare, Viscount Roteschu lowered his eyes. It was a very uncomfortable experience.

Although Roteschu's friends occasionally ridiculed him for the modesty of his estate, he did not hate his position. Larger estates were under the influence of the Emperor, while Roteschu could respectably reign like a king over his own smaller one. He had never prostrated himself before anyone—until now. He was intimidated by the Emperor, a man as young as his son, and his pride was dented for it.

"Viscount Roteschu. Explain what happened today."

At last the Emperor spoke. For a moment, Viscount Roteschu couldn't make sense of what he meant. Earlier, the Emperor's secretary had carried Rashta to the bedroom, while Viscount Roteschu himself was arrested by the captain of the guard and dragged to this vacant room in the eastern palace. The reason why was known to everyone—so why explain it again?

But eventually he understood. It was a command by the Emperor to bring this all back to normal.

"I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I frequently misidentify people's faces. The slave who fled from my estate was also beautiful like Miss Rashta and had silver hair and dark eyes, and I mistook Miss Rashta for her."

Viscount Roteschu bowed again and continued wheedling his way out.

"I have tarnished the reputation of the Emperor's concubine, Miss Rashta. Please forgive me for my mistake. "

His head was lowered, but his eyes glistened with interest. The young emperor continued to protect Rashta despite knowing she was a runaway slave. Roteschu was truly impressed with the young woman. She thought she could simply wash away her identity and position herself as an imperial concubine. Did the Emperor truly favor her that much? Roteschu had known back at the manor that she could keep men under her thumb, but her talent was greater than he expected.

"Yes. And you should remember to watch your mouth, Viscount Roteschu."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Roteschu's lips rose into a faint smirk. Perhaps he could get away from being a little country lord and obtain a more privileged position.

*

*

*

I followed the long corridor with my guards behind me. Both head and heart were heavy, as were my footsteps. Even my dress seemed to weigh me down. Each step I took, I felt a pricking around my ribs.

When I arrived at the western palace, I leaned my head against a pillar to brace myself against the sick feeling inside. My pride was injured. Why was Sovieshu so stubborn when it came to Rashta? Where was the Sovieshu I knew, whose eyes glistened when he read a book on the reign of the previous emperors?

"Queen."

There was a rustling sound and a voice from down the hallway. There was only one person who called me Queen. I quickly straightened up and turned around, and found Prince Heinley standing a ways away and frowning at me.

"Sorry. I'm not presentable."

I was lucky that I didn't shed tears, and I placed a smile on my face.

"Are you taking a walk?"

But the prince did not react. He kept looking at my face. Were my eyes red? I turned around for a moment as he approached, and when I turned back he was nearer. Prince Heinley lifted his hand, then stopped, leaving it to hover near my face. His hand was trembling.

"I usually wipe away my friend's tears and hug them when they are heartbroken."

"..."

"Because the Queen is my friend, can I do that?"

I shook my head, and the prince withdrew, but he still looked sorrowful and his ears were flushed.

"Did your husband insult you again?"

Again?

"...Why do you think that?"

"Just. I just do."

"I can't really say. It's personal."

"I should have met the Queen first."

"?"

"If I had been born five years earlier...damn it."

Prince Heinley lips quivered. I was surprised to see him in so much hurt when I hadn't even explained what happened. What was he talking about?

He hesitated a moment before speaking again.

"If I can't offer you any consolation, would you like me to send you Queen?"

I couldn't hug Prince Heinley to calm myself, but the bird's presence would be a welcome warmth.

"Yes. Where is Queen now?"

"I'll send him to your room."

"It's alright if we see him together. I have a lot of questions about Queen..."

"!"