I Became the Master of the Empress

213 – 217

“Did you call for me, Your Majesty?”

I say in a stern voice as I look at the girl named Sena who has come before me.

“Indeed.”

I gaze at her with cold eyes, but she calmly meets my stare, seemingly unafraid of the emperor himself.

Why is it that I feel a strong jealousy and envy in her gaze, or is it my imagination?

“What brings you to me?”

I answer with a composed voice.

“I hear you’ve been having tea with him quite often lately, is that true?”

She gently lifts her teacup and takes a sip.

“Yes, that’s correct. His Grace the Archduke is fond of tea.”

Devian likes tea?

He prefers coffee over tea.

Especially sighe.

“He doesn’t like tea, unless it’s sighe.”

-Zap.

As I say this with a smug look on my face, her expression stiffens slightly before she smiles faintly.

“How strange? He seems to enjoy the tea I brew, even if it’s hot.”

-Crunch…

“Are you saying I can’t brew tea as well as you?”

The ability to brew tea is an essential skill for a noblewoman.

Is she picking a fight with me? Is she in her right mind?

“How dare you! You wench!”

As I harbor such thoughts, Yipa steps forward and shouts.

“Do you have so many lives to spare?!”

But as Yipa’s angry voice rings out, Sena tilts her head with an expression of not understanding anything.

“Is it such a big problem that His Grace the Archduke likes my tea?”

That woman?

Her contemptible expression, as if she knows nothing, makes me feel disgusted.

Such an insult is a first in my life.

Unknowingly, my forehead wrinkles in frustration.

“Hah?! I heard you’re of common birth, but you really don’t know any manners, do you?”

But seeing Yipa more furiously angry than myself, I think it’s more important to calm her down first.

In my life, it’s the first time I’ve seen Yipa curse, isn’t it?

“How dare you become so arrogant just because you caught the Grand Duke’s eye?!”

“Yipa, stop it, you’re too agitated.”

Instead, I find myself calming Yipa down.

“Your Majesty! Please!”

Yipa, with a look of unjust accusation.

I speak to her as if to gently chide her.

“Yipa, can I have a word alone with Sena?”

At my words, Yipa bows her head as if embarrassed.

“I understand. I will take my leave now.”

With that, Yipa withdraws, and the sound of the door closing echoes.

-Creak.

A brief silence follows.

I speak again, with dignity in my voice.

“Ahem, but what are you two discussing that you have tea time so often?”

Sena closes her eyes gently and speaks calmly.

“We just discussed work-related matters and the state of the world.”

What? Is she using that as an excuse?

“He’s a man, and you’re a woman, meeting so frequently doesn’t give a good impression to others. Be more cautious in the future.”

As I say this, Sena’s eyes sharpen as she speaks.

“I’m afraid I cannot accept that order. The Grand Duke needs me.”

“What? You’re needed by a married man?”

The statement Sena makes could easily lead to suspicions of adultery, and I can feel my anger rising.

“Yes. The Grand Duke needs me.”

But she looks at me defiantly as she speaks.

“I am his wife, and I can do whatever you’re needed for. So tell me, why do you need to be alone together?”

“I cannot say. It’s something His Majesty cannot do. Only I am capable of it.”

Sena claims she can do something I, as his wife, cannot.

Her words, which hardly seem credible, anger me.

“What… What is this?!”

Just as I was about to shout in anger.

– Bang!

“You! What do you think you’re doing?”

Devian bursts in, flinging the door open.

His face contorts with rage.

“What am I doing? I was just asking what the two of you were discussing.”

Devian glances at me and Sena upon hearing my words.

He speaks in a cautious tone.

“Miss Sena, I apologize for the intrusion. Please, return to your duties.”

“But we haven’t finished talking!”

I protest, but Devian turns to me and says,

“Miss Sena is under the Grand Duke’s jurisdiction. Even if you are the Emperor, you can’t issue orders without a valid reason. And now, I need to speak with you.”

At Devian’s words, Sena rises from her seat.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke. I assure you, I’ve had no particular conversation with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“That’s a relief. Please, proceed back to your work.”

“Yes, I understand. Your Majesty, I hope to see you again.”

With that, she leaves the room.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Devian seems even more infuriated.

“And what about you? What’s the meaning of this?”

“As your wife, I merely asked why the two of you have been having tea so often.”

Devian replies calmly.

“It’s nothing serious. We were simply discussing state affairs.”

Ha? As if he’s not making a fool of me.

“Do you expect me to believe that Sister Sena, who isn’t even from the academy, has knowledge of state affairs?”

But to my remark, Devian nods.

“Exactly because she’s not an elite. She understands the lives of the imperial citizens living in the provinces better.”

Devian’s smooth words furrow my brow.

“Besides, my relationship with Sena is honorable. Didn’t we prove that with the Orb of Chastity last time?”

“That is…”

Certainly, Devian’s purity can be said to be guaranteed by the Vatican.

But apart from that…

“What will happen later? Besides, if a man and a woman are alone in the same space for a long time, rumors are bound to arise. Do you want to tarnish the royal family’s reputation?”

As I press him, Devian sighs.

“Hoo… Let’s not talk about this.”

With that, Devian turns away.

I call out to him as he does.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m off to work, I can’t waste time in such a pointless place.”

And with that, Devian also leaves my room.

-Bang!

“Sob…”

It’s infuriating.

Never in my life have I felt such indignation.

What I want from him isn’t much.

Naturally, if we were married, I’d hope not to be misunderstood.

If there’s a reason we need to be alone, couldn’t he at least give me an explanation?

“Sniff…”

Tears I didn’t even notice start to spill, and I wipe them away with my hand.

Doesn’t my current situation look like I’m being slapped down by my husband, persecuted like an adulteress?

Why does he make me out to be so vile?

“It’s too much…”

The room feels empty after he’s gone.

All I want… is simply to be loved by him.

Does he truly love me?

***

“Ha… Damn it. She’s gotten better at arguing recently.”

I leave Theodora’s room feeling annoyed.

The reason being, as the days pass, her eloquence improves, and she uses it to torment me and cause trouble like today.

In fact, I fled from her words, which were full of royal dignity.

Because it’s hard to counterargue against her.

I thought to myself, “What’s going on with Sena?”

As soon as I heard the report that Sena was being led away by Ipah’s hands, I moved immediately.

According to her, Sena is a saintly candidate, after all.

As she treated me during that time, I felt obligated to protect her.

That’s just the way people are, after all.

My emotions only go up to that point.

But every time I hear the rumors spreading around the palace, I get goosebumps on my arms.

Why do I always get tangled up with Sena? She’s really perverted, after all!

Her chest is all that’s expanded, and she has an incredibly depraved taste.

On top of that, she wants to engage in a s*xual relationship using the back door, citing the need to preserve her purity.

When her boyfriend is with other women, she watches and enjoys her happy time…

Physiologically, such a woman is not my type.

In the first place, it’s a yuri novel, and heroines can have unusual tastes…

That’s just a setting for the purpose of the novel, so I liked it.

If my real girlfriend had such a taste, it would be troublesome.

And Theo would be jealous of it too.

Why is she jealous of it?

This situation is making my head spin.

“Uh… anyway, I should get back to work.”

So I do my job in the office.

***

The carriage heading towards the Vatican.

Sena is not feeling bad right now.

‘Is she jealous of me?’

Sena has a great liking for Debiyan.

He’s a man with a noble sacrifice, intellectual appearance, and good manners and consideration.

It’s not just that…

To the outside world, he may seem like the embodiment of power, but Sena knows he’s actually a man with a tender heart.

If she hadn’t been a candidate for sainthood, and if he hadn’t been a married man, Sena might have openly tempted him.

Is it because she can’t have him?

Her fondness for Devian grows ever stronger.

In a situation where he might go blind, his desperate struggle to deal with the demon worshippers brings tears to her eyes.

Having witnessed his ordeal, she feels a sense of kinship and admiration.

Sena thinks to herself,

The more she talks to him, working in the Grand Duke’s office, the more she believes there’s no woman who wouldn’t fall for him.

Sena envies the current emperor.

For having nothing but well-placed parents and a beautiful appearance.

Her jealousy of the woman who married Devian without knowing his worth.

But as much as Sena cares about Theodora…

No, more than Theodora cares about Sena, she feels like she’s on cloud nine.

‘After all, he said he would annul the marriage…’

Sena overheard Devian’s conversation with the Pope.

He’s not consummating his marriage with Theodora just to annul it after dealing with the demon worshippers.

He doesn’t love Theodora.

Therefore, if the demon worshippers and the locusts die, her position as a candidate for this generation’s saintess will be revoked.

‘Then… could I marry him?’

Sena imagines a future with Devian in her mind.

‘He’s too great a man for you to have. So give up.’

With that thought, she giggles and smiles, while another thought crosses her mind.

‘Well… if he misses me too much, I might not refuse him, hehe…’