Remaried Empress

Rashta felt certain her child was gone forever, but the viscount's confident manner wracked her with doubt.

"And Rashta, think carefully. What would people think if I were to suddenly disappear after I said you were a runaway slave? Wouldn't they say the Emperor was trying to hide something?"

Rashta was accustomed to listening Roteschu speak as if he would trample her underfoot, but his voice suddenly took on a pleasing tone. She swallowed hard.

"Besides, one can't live so innocently in the Imperial Palace. So much deception to do, how could you leave that kind of work to someone who doesn't know your secret?"

"What do you mean?"

"You foolish creature, I'm saying you should direct that hostile glare towards someone else. I already know everything about you. In other words, I can perfectly be your hands and ears."

"I don't need someone like you!"

Viscount Roteschu tutted at her.

"Playing dress up doesn't make you a lady, Rashta. Perhaps after a time you will be able to shake off the past and be accepted among the nobles, but by then, would you still be a concubine that the Emperor loves?"

Rashta's eyes trembled.

"The Emperor says he only loves Rashta."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Well, how should I say this—you haven't forgotten my son, have you?"

Rashta bit her lip. The viscount's son, who had whispered his vows of love to her, began to change as the birth of Rashta's baby approached. He started out persistent and stubborn, but gradually exhausted himself.

After the baby died, Rashta had pleaded with him to run away together. Eventually he told her, I love you, but I don't want to change my life for you.

– You looked like you were stuck in a mire, and I wished to save you from it. But I was wrong. You are the mire, and I can't save you from it. Even any children born between use will be dragged into that mire, and trapped in it.

That miserable day. It wasn't just the baby that Rashta lost.

Rashta clenched her fists, and blood began to seep from where her fingernails bit her flesh. Instead of stopping, Viscount Roteschu continued to run his blade-like tongue across Rashta's wounds.

"The more you are loved by the Emperor, the more other poor, beautiful women will look at your situation and hope. To escape their mire, they'll want to latch on to the Emperor as well."

"Then—"

"Then what? Greedy nobles, foreign lords, and anyone interested in political collusion will send all kinds of beautiful women to the Emperor. And many of those women will have education and status."

"..."

"You are not an empress, Rashta. If you lose the emperor's love, you go back into slavery."

"If that's the case...it's no use whether you help me or not."

"No. It's up to you and your ability to remain in his favor, but I can make sure no other concubine will come around or last."

"How?"

"First you have to let me in."

Viscount Roteschu bent slightly at the waist and spoke in a low voice.

"If you help me and my family come to the center of power, I will play the role as your parent. Your child is my grandchild, and what is good for it is good for me. "

The words would have sounded tempting to Rashta if it were not for the speaker. How could a man like him accept a slave as his daughter-in-law? Even a passing dog would laugh at them. It was clear that he only wanted to keep her close to him to leech from her.

Rashta's expression didn't change, and Viscount Roteschu chuckled.

"You don't believe me. But you'll know at a glance that your child looks like you."

Rashta couldn't speak, frozen as if she lost all function of her body. Viscount Roteschu stared at her and stood up with a satisfied smile.

"Think carefully. I will continue to pretend to be an idiot who can't recognize faces, as His Majesty commanded."

*

*

*

The New Year's three-day celebrations came to an end, and most of the guests returned to their respective homes, save a few who requested to stay longer—including Prince Heinley. I reviewed and filled out the period of stay for the remaining guests, their secretaries, servants and knights. When I saw Prince Heinley's leave date marked "undetermined," I smiled reflexively.

I remembered he insisted that Queen did not eat raw food. Earlier I had consulted with an ornithologist and asked if there was a bird with such a diet, and recalled what he had said.

"A bird that doesn't eat raw food? Do you mean it cooks its food? Such a bird would tip the academic world, Your Majesty."

Perhaps Prince Heinley was not feeding Queen properly by mistake.

'But Queen seemed to hate bugs.'

Maybe the person in charge of feeding Queen cut up the caterpillars? No wonder Queen was surprised to see a live one. Next time I would give that to him.

I encountered Prince Heinley on the way back from work, so I took a walk with him and told him about my plan. I wanted to inform him in case hey might misunderstand that I was trying to feed Queen some strange food.

"Ah..."

After my explanation, the prince made a strange groaning noise.

"Prince? Are you okay?"

"Please...can you just give water?"

"An ornithologist—"

"Eastern birds and Western birds have different temperaments. Western birds eat cooked food."

"..."

Was I supposed to believe that? I made a skeptical expression, and he looked at me imploringly.

"You can just pat his head. That's enough."

Did Prince Heinley not like other people feeding Queen? I once heard about a dog that didn't eat anything other than what the owner gave. It could be the same with the bird. I smiled and nodded, wondering if I was being rude, though the tension in Prince Heinley's face didn't loosen.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'm sure feeding him is lovely, but he's already lovely himself."

"No...but I'm sorry anyway."

He sighed and raked his hand through his blond hair.

"Just. There are a lot of constraints."

"?"

"It's the Queen's birthday soon, isn't it?"

"It's his birthday?"

Prince Heinley burst out laughing, then corrected himself.

"I meant your birthday, Your Majesty."

"You knew?"

I smiled weakly. Large celebrations were usually held on the birthdays of the emperors and empresses, but mine was too close to New Year's. Holding large parties in succession with one another could hurt public opinion and place a burden on the nobles. Since my childhood, my birthdays had been a more intimate affair of dinner with family and acquaintances. Prince Heinley didn't know this, of course.

When I smiled awkwardly, he stopped walking and offered his own grin.

"I know the day, but I still don't know what you would like."

"You mean as a gift?"

"I'm your best friend. I want to spend that day with you, don't you know?"

"!"

Before I could answer, I heard a rustling sound. Instead of answering Prince Heinley, I looked around and spotted someone I didn't expect to see.

It was Sovieshu. Other than a single knight, he was walking alone. Sovieshu's gaze landed on me and Prince Heinley.

"...Empress."

Sovieshu called out to me in a stern voice and frowned.

"You're with him?"

I didn't want to answer, as my feelings about Sovieshu were still unresolved.

"Yes."

I offered him the bluntest reply, and the crease Sovieshu's forehead on grew deeper.

"Prince Heinley. How long are you going to remain here?"

Prince Heinley replied with a broad smile, even though he had an argument with the Emperor only a few days ago.

"About two to three weeks, I think."

"Isn't that too long? The Western king is not in the best health, and it's not good for the crown prince to stay away."

Sovieshu was not shy in hiding his dislike for Prince Heinley, which had built up since Prince Heinley's conflict with Rashta. Sovieshu's observation wasn't wrong, however.

"Thank you for your concern."

Prince Heinley responded with a simple smile and said nothing more. A strained silence reigned over the group.

"I'll take my leave first, Your Majesty. "

I quickly said goodbye to Sovieshu, as we would only hurt each other's feelings if I stayed any longer. However, Sovieshu looked offended and called out to me again.

"Empress."

That look...did he just want to insult me in front of Prince Heinley? That was my first thought going by past experience. To my misfortune, or perhaps it was a blessing, he spoke to Prince Heinley first.

"I need to talk to the Empress, and I hope that you will go your own way."

"I was already walking with her, Your Majesty."

"I have something to say to the Empress, Prince Heinley."

Sovieshu cut between me and Prince Heinley, and he held out his arm for me to take.

When I looked at Prince Heinley, I saw his lips were pressed tight, as if he wished I wouldn't follow my husband. I took Sovieshu's hand, feeling sorry for Prince Heinley who looked like a sad golden retriever, while Sovieshu shot a glare at him.

"Why are you looking at the Empress with a miserable expression?"

Sovieshu stared down at him as if he found him pathetic.

"The Empress was showing me around, and the Emperor has taken my guide."

"The Empress is my wife, not a tour guide for a prince."

Sovieshu wrapped his arm possessively around my shoulder. I could not deny him, and sighed and walked alongside his footsteps. It wasn't until when Prince Heinley was out of sight did he drop his arm.

"Why are you showing around that womanizer?"

"I ran into him on the way from work."

"Let someone else handle it from now on. There are many other people in the palace, yet he wants the Empress to guide him?"

"Prince Heinley is the successor to a powerful nation with extensive wealth and military power. We don't have to be on bad terms."

Sovieshu glanced towards the knight, who took a bow and stepped away. Sovieshu rested his arm against a pillar and gave me a reproachful stare. I suspected didn't want me to cultivate relations with the man who demeaned Rashta.

"To be honest, I don't want you to take care of him."

I knew it. He was incredibly obvious. He smiled grimly and emphasized his words.

"He has a nice face, and he acts like a pet dog in front of you. But he will only bring scandal if you associate with him."

"Scandal?"

"Other noblewomen and young ladies attach themselves to this womanizer believing they're in a relationship. However, the Empress is one of the most honorable people in this country. You represent the Empire. Where is the Imperial Household's honor if you are swayed by a Western womanizer?"

"My honor is not tarnished by talking to him. If you don't see this friendship as a friendship with any other noble, the West would be unhappy with you."

"You won't listen to me."

"If this is about Miss Rashta—"

"Who says it's about Rashta? Why is the name Rashta being brought up here?"

Because she was the reason why he hated Prince Heinley. I stared at Sovieshu despite his feign to ignorance, and he gave a frustrated sigh.

"You truly hate Rashta."

"I only said the name because she's the reason why you want to ostracize Prince Heinley."

"No. You hate her, so you're using her as a shield in everything."

I was tired. I didn't want to answer back.

"I will leave if you continue on like this."

"About Rashta—"

I took a few steps and stopped. As I turned around, Sovieshu cleared his throat, and his voice softened.

"Before. I spoke too harshly to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Three days ago."

"..."

"I shouldn't have blamed you when Viscount Roteschu came...I was upset. I'm sorry."

"Yes..."

Sovieshu awkwardly kept staring at the ground instead of me.

'He loses his temper when it comes to Rashta, but he comes back to his senses in about three days?'

I should remember that next time something with Rashta happened again. I gave a mechanical smile, nodded, and turned around again.

"Empress."

But Sovieshu called out to me once more. I turned back, and he approached me hesitantly.

"It will be your birthday soon. We've been estranged from each other lately...perhaps we can go to the villa to reconcile. What do you think?"