Remaried Empress

"Prince Heinley seems to be a completely different person than the rumors suggest."

Countess Eliza, who was playing chess nearby, turned her head at my faintly spoken words.

"Hm? What did you say, Your Highness?"

I turned my book upside down and placed it on my lap. Could I tell them this? Would it sound strange?

My ladies-in-waiting knew I was the real letter friend, and so there was no need for me to say anything more. However, I thought it would be helpful if I could change any of the rumors about Prince Heinley with my own words...

"Prince Heinley. He seems better than I thought."

I spoke nonchalantly as I picked up my teacup from the table and took a sip. Laura, who was playing opposite of Countess Eliza, surreptitiously changed a horse's position while the Countess was not looking.

"Right. And he knew that the maid and the slave didn't write those letters! Ah—that was wrong. Anyway, he found out quickly. Even though he's a womanizer, he's more faithful than other nobles."

Countess Eliza had slapped Laura on the back of the hand and restored the horse's original position on the board.

"Laura is right. Though he may seem like a carefree person, he's not frivolous."

A lady-in-waiting sitting comfortably on an armchair gave a vindictive laugh.

"Even more so, I liked it when the slave's lie came to light."

Sympathetic comments started to spring up from the other ladies.

"Did you see how his blood pressure went up when she lied so shamelessly to him?"

"The foreign nobles who mingle with her must have come to their senses by now."

However, Artina, who was silently standing by the door, immediately threw cold water into situation.

"I don't believe so."

At Artina's certain tone, the ladies-in-waiting all turned to him with questioning expressions. The knight nervously scratched his cheek, as if overwhelmed by the ladies looking at him all at once.

"Baron Lant is responsible for Miss Rashta's affairs, and he talks about her differently."

"Differently? How?"

Laura eyes were wide as she questioned him. I also looked at Artina, setting the now empty cup back on the table.

I knew Baron Lant—he was Sovieshu's secretary, and quite a brilliant man. Moreover, he was extremely fond of Rashta, and it was only good for her if Baron Lant was coming forward and turning the rumors around.

"Because of Miss Rashta's beauty and charm, some say that the Emperor and Prince Heinley are fighting over her."

When two conflicting rumors spread, there would be at least one that believed one story or the other. Baron Lant had planned this out carefully.

Laura shut the chessboard in frustration.

"I absolutely despise her!"

"Watch your mouth, Laura. You are a lady-in-waiting of the Empress, and offensive language will only hurt Her Majesty's image."

"I am careful in front of others, Countess Eliza. Yet still...I have no other way to express my emotions!"

Then, as Laura cried out her frustration, there was a tap on the window.

"Queen!"

It had been several days since he came here last, and I quickly got up and opened the window to let him in. I was so happy to see him after such a long time that I held him tightly.

– !

Queen embraced me with his wings, and Laura finally calmed down and gave a giggle.

"That bird is so sweet. Look how he holds Her Majesty. Maybe he's not a bird."

– !

I scolded the ladies for teasing Queen, then I gently placed him on my lap and stroked his head.

Queen large purple eyes closed as he dozed off, but occasionally he startled and looked at me.

"I missed you."

I confessed my feelings frankly to him, and he peered at me as if he understood me.

"..."

Strange. Why did this bird remind me Prince Heinley? Well, perhaps it was because Prince Heinley was the bird's owner.

"Ah."

I almost forget to check the note on his leg. I took it the piece of paper, set Queen aside and opened it.

– I had wagered my identity. Why don't you want to participate in the bet?

Did Prince Heinley know that I was the letter acquaintance or not? A few hours ago, I told myself that the writer was Prince Heinley, but I didn't even have the time to ask him because Sovieshu and I immediately fought...

I hesitated before writing my response.

– Please keep our friendship by letter only.

Queen watched me patiently as I wrote. As soon as I lifted my hand from the paper, he checked the contents, then made a strange noises and started jumping up and down.

– Gu! Gu! Gu!

He seemed to be criticizing me on behalf of his owner.

"Don't be so upset, Queen. I prefer it this way."

– Gu!

"If your master and I meet each other, we will be Eastern Empress and the Western Prince, not friends that can speak casually to each other. We would have to be careful how we behave in front of other people."

– ...

"I have become a source of entertainment because of Sovieshu and Rashta. Under these circumstances, the rumors will worsen if it's discovered that I'm exchanging letters with a womanizer."

Maybe it was because Queen seemed so intelligent, but before I knew it, I was confessing my true feelings.

Queen's beak opened as if in surprise. I closed his beak shut and hurriedly added an explanation.

"I know your master is not as bad as the rumors say. I think he's a good person, in fact. Hm? Ha ha, why are you embarrassed?"

Rashta reclined on the bed, hugging a cushion and looking a picture of delicate beauty in a thin lavender nightgown. Lying next to her was Sovieshu, who was sweeping his fingers through her soft silver hair.

"Prince Heinley is known for his cruelty and for being a womanizer. Don't trust people so blindly from now on."

"Rashta didn't know..."

"It's alright. Anyone can make mistakes. Just don't make that same mistake in the future."

"But this isn't Rashta's fault, right?"

"Of course. It was that man who made a disturbance."

Rashta leaned her head against Sovieshu's shoulder.

"But I'm glad His Majesty protected Rashta."

"I'm glad too. I hope you're feeling better."

"Tomorrow is the special banquet! Let's just relax and socialize with people! I want to be friends with Princess Soju."

Rashta smiled and patted the cushion like a drum. Sovieshu, who normally would have smiled at her adoorable behavior, was like a stone.

"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

"You..."

"Your Majesty?"

"Rashta, you won't be able to attend the special banquet tomorrow."

Rashta stared at Sovieshu with wide eyes. He felt sheepish after giving her the unexpected news, except that was not the way it should be.

"What? Why, Your Majesty?"

"There can only be twenty special guests."

"Can't I be one of them?"

"The Empress and I invite ten people each, and we've already sent out the invitations..."

"You can be flexible and add one more..."

"But Rashta. The moment we are flexible, the special banquet becomes less special."

Rashta made a shocked, unblinking expression at his refusal, and Sovieshu felt forced to explain.

"As I said, it's only for those invited. I don't know why you think it would suddenly change."

"Rashta is your concubine. Your lady. Rashta thought she could go without being invited...You should have invited her too."

Rashta's face was red as she whimpered.

"Oh goodness, Rashta."

Sovieshu took out a handkerchief and patted away the tears that had sprung up in her eyes. But the tears gathered again, and the handkerchief was useless.

"Do you really wish to go?"

"I told everyone at the dinner that I would go to the special banquet."

"..."

Sovieshu frowned.

"You should've asked me."

"It's strange to ask. Besides, His Majesty took Rashta to dinner with the special guests, so of course Rashta thought..."

"It's my fault."

Sovieshu sighed and rubbed Rashta's shoulder, but she kept crying, waiting for Sovieshu to change his words. However, no matter how long she waited, it did not happen.

"So in the end, you're not taking me."

Rashta wept like a child, and Sovieshu clenched his jaw at the innocence of it. Having only seen the court nobles cry silently, he was amazed whenever Rashta expressed her true feelings honestly.

"I'm sorry, Rashta. Don't cry."

"You saw what happened today. If Rashta doesn't go, Prince Heinley will say something to the guests. He said he was going to spread rumors."

Rashta had a point, and Sovieshu sighed again. However, many of the guests consisted of foreign royal family members and powerful nobles, and were considered the most important people of the year. To set aside an important guest to allow a concubine could cause an international problem.

"Don't worry, I'll be there. I won't let Prince Heinley say anything strange."

Rashta's expression was still morose. After stewing on the subject, Sovieshu finally let out a sigh.

"I will ask the Empress if she spare a seat. Some of the guests are subjects of this country, so we won't have to worry about an international problem."

*

*

*

The morning sun shone through the thin curtains, casting shadows on the floor in the shape of the window frames.

I yawned and raised myself from the bed. My heart wasn't heavy despite the incident from yesterday. Perhaps it was because of Prince Heinley and Queen...

I patted my face to wake myself up, then went to the bathroom to wash my face. Behind me, my ladies-in-waiting prepared the bathtub with petals and salts. My clothes were removed and I sank into the warm water, allowing my muscles to relax. I closed my eyes and leaned against the bathtub as the ladies-in-waiting massaged my head with careful hands.

After the bath, I put on a robe and went into the bedroom. As it was the last day of the New Year's celebration and the day of the special banquet, the dress selected for me was extravagant, but not overly so, and simultaneously captured a sense of calm and splendor.

After getting dressed, I placed on my diamond earrings and crown. The crown wasn't made for ceremonial purposes, and wasn't too large and heavy. I looked over my notes on the special guests while the ladies styled my hair to match the crown.

However, before they could finish, one of Sovieshu's secretaries arrived. As I was already dressed, I allowed him in, and the secretary conveyed Sovieshu's words with great embarrassment.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor would like a word with you."

"Now?"

"Yes, it's about the special banquet, so please come quickly—"

It had to be urgent if it was about the special banquet. I nodded and ordered the ladies to quickly finish my hair.

"We'll put it together when you get back."

"Is that alright? I don't want to bother you twice."

"It's fine."

"Then you can have breakfast first while I'm gone."

Various scenarios about the guests ran through my head when I followed Sovieshu's secretary to the eastern palace. Did someone suddenly declare war? Have one of the foreign guests complained about the country? Or did one of them offend us? Has anyone suddenly announced their absence?

"What's going on?"

I immediately questioned Sovieshu as soon as I entered his room. Rashta was sitting on the bed, but I pretended not to know her. However, I did notice her staring at me—no, staring at the crown on my head, more exactly.

I frowned in discomfort, but Rashta continued staring with a bewitched expression and did not look away. Sovieshu was the first to speak.

"Can you make room for one more person?"

"Is something wrong? Are there any reports that Secretary Bimeli or the Chief Magician Calenzano are able to attend?"

The secretary and the chief magician were those who originally had reservations. They were invited by Sovieshu, but they did not attend the New Year's ceremony because they had already refused for other reasons.

"No, it's not them."

"Then...?"

Who on earth were we supposed to set up a seat for? I studied Sovieshu closely, who seemed caught in an awkward silence.

"I want to take Rashta with me..."

"..."

"Can you do that?"

"..."

"Empress? Why won't you talk to me?"

I was going to apologize, but quickly shoved it down because I didn't think it was something I should apologize for.

"No, Your Majesty."

Sovieshu's brow furrowed at my flat refusal.

"One seat is fine. There is surely one or two people the Empress can ask."

"It's possible to ask for consent if they agree. But if Secretary Bimeli or the Chief Magician Calenzano came, they would be offended by the sudden cancellation of the invitation...for your concubine."

Sovieshu's expression turned even colder.

"I understand the connotation of your words, Empress."

"The answer would have been the same if it had been my lover, or even if it had been another concubine that was not Rashta."

"Then why don't we exclude people such as Duchess Tuania?"

"I don't want to hurt the people I cherish, Your Majesty."

"!"