Remaried Empress

'They must be talking about me...'

Rashta stared anxiously at the doorway, where inside was the special banquet. It should go smoothly with Sovieshu there, but she was still apprehensive.

Would Prince Heinley say anything strange to anyone? The Empress seemed unlikely to spread rumors, but Rashta couldn't say the same about Prince Heinley. Rashta bit her lip and sighed again.

"You look blue today. Are you feeling well?"

Baron Lant appeared by her side and smiled at her teasingly.

"In truth, I'm not."

"You're very honest."

Rashta smiled and nodded. After Sovieshu, Baron Lant was her favorite person in the palace. He was not prejudiced towards her, and when rumors of her and Prince Heinley had spread, she had heard that Baron Lant stepped up to defend her honor. Rashta couldn't help but like the older man.

"Rest assured, no matter how unruly Prince Heinley is, he has no choice but to yield to our Emperor. Although the Western Kingdom has been growing in power, it still cannot eclipse the Eastern Empire."

"Yes..."

"I will do whatever I can to protect Lady Rashta's honor, so go enjoy the last day of the celebrations."

Rashta nodded, and her mood lifted as she smiled. Those who did not scorn her gathered around her in ones or twos, and before long she was surrounded by people who were close to her or who wanted to be close to her. She preened at their attention, and whether because they were being thoughtful or not, no one asked her why she did not go to the special banquet. Rashta sipped wine that was surely five times older than herself, and happily accepted the praise that the nobles lavished on her.

"The contrast between your silver hair and your dark eyes is so enviable."

"It gives off the feeling of purity, like a lily-of-the-valley."

"Duchess Tuania might need to defend her current reputation."

Duchess Tuania wasn't present, as she was likely attending the special banquet, and today more and more people approached Rashta instead.

'Today, I am the butterfly of the social circles.'

Rashta was feeling pleasantly tipsy. Even before she became the emperor's concubine, she knew beauty could be a poison. It was only after much trial did she learn how to use her own beauty as a weapon, but even then she found herself walking a precarious tightrope, always in danger.

But it was different here. Everyone praised her and loved her. Her protector was the most powerful man on earth, and no one could lay a hand on her.

"But didn't you say you were going to the special banquet? Why are you here now?"

However, it was only less than half an hour later that someone brought up an uncomfortable question.

Rashta stared at the woman who spoke. She was not a memorable aristocrat, and did not have large possessions or had duties important in the Imperial Palace. This was the first time this particular noblewoman mingled with them. The other nobles turned silent at the question, but despite their curiosity, they did not speak up.

"It's..."

Rashta quickly arranged her thoughts and made up a story.

"It's because Rashta said it was alright."

"Oh, Miss Rashta?"

"Important foreign guests usually go to the banquet. Rather than having Rashta attend, she thought it would be better to have someone who would benefit our country. "

The nobles were delighted over her answer.

"Miss Rashta is so smart for a concubine."

"Indeed. Many of the previous concubines only spent money and idled away, and held no interest in international affairs at all. Miss Rashta is certainly different from them."

Rashta smiled shyly and lowered her eyes. Their admiration was as intoxicating as a drug.

"Rashta should help His Majesty."

Rashta murmured that she wanted another drink, and a number of nobleman quickly offered her a variety of wine glasses. Rashta chose a flute with a light purple liquor, and the face of the young man she had accepted the drink from lit up.

Suddenly, Rashta caught glimpse of someone over the young man's shoulders. Someone who should not have been there.

The flute slipped from her hand, and the glass shattered on the floor.

"Miss Rashta, are you all right?"

"What happened?"

Rashta was unable to answer, and quickly jerked her head. But the one who surprised her was not there anymore.

'Did I see it wrong?'

Rashta forced her heart to calm. Perhaps it was the effects of the alcohol.

'I drank too much.'

While the servants placed the broken glass on a tray and wiped the liquor off the floor, Rashta repeatedly glanced back to where she had seen the man.

"What's wrong, Miss Rashta?"

Baron Lant noticed her strange behavior and turned towards where she was looking, and she quickly caught the hem of his robe to stop him.

"Baron Lant. I have a question."

"?"

"For the New Year's celebrations, if a nobleman doesn't come on the first day...can they come on the last day?"

"Of course. Some may not be able to come to the festivities immediately."

Rashta lowered her voice.

"Do rural aristocrats come to the New Year's celebrations? Rural aristocrats with small estates? Do you not help choose the guests?"

"Yes, I help choose them. And even nobility of a small estate can be invited."

"Even if they haven't attended for years?"

"Even if they haven't attended for a long time, we still send invitations for that reason. We don't leave them completely alone."

Rashta's lips started to quiver, and Baron Lant's expression darkened.

"Miss Rashta, what happened?"

Rashta shook her head, then took in her surroundings agains and pushed her glass towards him.

"R-Rashta's going inside. I think I'm drunk."

She answered unsteadily and waved her hand to get out of the crowd. There was nothing to worry about if she made a drunken mistake, but if not—it would be dangerous.

That man...Viscount Roteschu. The lord of the estate where she was a slave. He knew Rashta's face.

As she was leaving, a loud voice behind Rashta proclaimed, "What? Am I seeing right?"

Goose flesh erupted on Rashta's back. Her face paled, and her eyes darkened in fear.

Rashta was reeling, and Baron Lant hastened towards her.

"Miss Rashta?"

Baron Lant called out to her anxiously, but she didn't answer.

"'Miss' Rashta?"

The loud voice grew closer, dripping in mockery.

"What is this now? Have you changed your identity?"

The surroundings became deathly silent.

"The world is getting better. A runaway slave gets treated like a lady now? Hm?"

"So you stopped looking for your letter friend?"

"Yes. If they haven't revealed themselves by now, then they never will."

"But you wanted it badly enough to go public..."

"I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable because of me."

Prince Heinley kept his promise. I awkwardly cut a piece of cake across the table where he was talking to a noblewoman. From time to time he looked at me, and I just smiled and nodded, hoping it wouldn't seem odd.

'He's a good man...'

Sovieshu would have cut off Prince Heinley if he said anything strange, but the prince said nary a word about Rashta at all.

The conversation went from Prince Heinley's letters to Grand Duke Kapmen's continent, his magic, and how it worked in war. The grand duke offered only a few words, and did not speak about magic though he had graduated from a magical academy. He was equally silent on other topics, but my attention turned towards the door when it opened and someone came in. It was the captain of the guard.

'What's going on?'

Our eyes met, and he bowed towards me. Sovieshu still hadn't noticed him, as his eyes were on Prince Heinley.

"Your Majesty the Emperor."

Sovieshu turned his head, and the knight delivered his message.

"You need to come to the grand hall."

He sounded serious. There were only twenty people in the room, so everyone could hear what he said. All the guests' eyes were on him.

"Why is that?"

The captain seemed reluctant to answer in present company, but Sovieshu picked up on it and went outside with the knight.

'What's going on?'

I considered following them, but decided against it. If I was needed, then the knight would have spoken to me as well, and I wouldn't be required if it had to do with Rashta or anything like that.

'I don't need to leave.'

I made up my mind and turned towards the guests again. When the time came, I left the Red Rose room and went to the grand banquet hall. I had to check on the other guests as well, and when the sun went down I had to inspect the fireworks.

'I also made a promise to meet with Laura.'

However, the atmosphere at the grand banquet hall was livelier than I expected.

'Did something happen?'

People usually tired out at days-long celebrations. Everyone would dress up for the last day, but the energy was usually not the same as the first. From the entrance I spied people talking and laughing, and the noise grew louder as I went in. I looked around confusedly, and Laura ran over to me.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty, did you hear?"

"Did something interesting happen? I've been in the Red Rose room, so I don't know what's going on."

"Something very interesting happened."

Laura's nostrils were flared in excitement, and she moved me to a suitable place for conversation. Nearby, there was a spread of crispy fried seafood, small dishes of pumpkin puddings, and milky coffee.

"You can listen while you eat. It's an appetizing story!"

"What happened?"

Laura pushed a pumpkin pudding and a fork towards me.

"Thank you, Laura."

"You remember Rashta?"

It was not a topic I was fond of. I grimaced slightly, but Laura continued, despite knowing that I didn't like talking about her.

"Do you remember the rumor that she was a runaway slave?"

"Yes, but are we not allowed to speak of it?"

Sovieshu had said he would punish those that did. Could they speak about this in a crowded place? I was worried, but Laura shouted out before I could stop her.

"She really is an escaped slave! Viscount Roteschu arrived at the party for the first time, and he recognized Rashta!"

"Viscount Roteschu?"

"She was his slave, then she ran away!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. If the Emperor was here he would've stopped him. Not only that, the viscount had only been in the capital for a few hours. He didn't know about the rumors about Rashta or the order not to talk about her. That's why he openly said Rashta was a slave in public!"

"Ah..."

"Rashta said she was not, but everyone believed Roteschu. She looked mortified."

Laura snorted.

"All the nobles who came up to Rashta must have seen it now."

"And where are they now?"

"When Rashta fainted, Baron Lant carried her to her bedroom. Then the captain of the royal guard came and took Viscount Roteschu."

So that was why the captain was looking for Sovieshu. For a moment, some unexplained feeling welled up inside me. Was it...vindication? Yes. I thought so. Sovieshu had been furious when he suspected I spread false rumors about Rashta as a runaway slave. The resentment and sorrow I felt now turned to satisfaction.

However, there was a small corner in my heart that didn't feel thrilled. Where did this uncomfortable feeling come from?

"..."

I couldn't figure it out, and I decided to leave it be for now.

In any case, did Sovieshu not realize Rashta was a runaway slave when he rescued her? However, even if he did know, I didn't think Sovieshu would hate her. He had brought her here because of her pitiful circumstances and his powerful desire to protect her. Whether he fell in love with her then or not, that was their first meeting. And whether Rashta was a commoner or a fugitive slave, Sovieshu would still love her. He would try to protect Rashta from ridicule.

I didn't know what would happen, but I did know that I didn't want to get involved.