Remaried Empress

The court doctor shifted the stethoscope with a serious expression, and fifteen minutes later he finally pulled away the cool metal instrument.

"How is he?"

"His fever is a little lower than yesterday."

Everyone around made a sound of relief.

Sovieshu had collapsed after his fight with me, and while I did not think it was my fault, I was troubled. I could be relieved now as well.

"Thank you for coming immediately."

"Not at all, Your Majesty. It is only my duty."

After the doctor and everyone else filed out of the room, I pulled over a chair to Sovieshu's bedside. He cracked open his eyes and fixed his gaze right on me, while I took a towel from a cold basin beside him, squeezed it, and placed it on his forehead. He flinched as soon as the towel touched his skin.

"It's cold."

"You're overworked."

"I heard. I was awake when the doctor said that."

"Let's not waste this trip to the villa."

I sighed as I remembered the sudden awkward kiss Sovieshu placed on me.

"Are you alright? You should take a break."

He spoke brightly, but I could detect a note of tiredness. Nevertheless, I was happy he had more energy. I took the towel from his forehead, dipped it back in cold water, and placed it back on him.

"Cold..."

Sovieshu groaned again and then murmured an apology.

"Your birthday was ruined because of me. I'm sorry."

"We return here every year. Don't mind about it."

"I can't help but mind."

"There is next year's birthday."

"But your birthday is once this year...huu. Talking to the Empress is like..."

"Like talking to a colleague?"

Sovieshu pulled a face when I echoed his words.

"Do you know you're being somewhat unkind?"

Somewhat unkind? It was outright derision, I thought.

"The doctor said you had to rest for a few more days. Shall I call in Rashta?"

Sovieshu stared at me as if he couldn't believe I what I said. I meant it this time. I knew he would rather have her take care of him than me. Of course, as I didn't want the three of us to be together, I would return to the imperial palace if she came. Wasn't this what Sovieshu wanted anyway? He only needed one person.

"Empress...are you being sarcastic?"

"Does it sound that way?"

"No?"

"No."

I answered with a single word and looked down, while Sovieshu flicked his eyes sideways towards me.

"You don't have to bring Rashta."

"I don't want you to be disappointed."

"But isn't this good for the Empress?"

Except whenever Rashta was upset, he always blamed me. On the other hand, if Rashta came here and I returned to the palace, it would actually be helpful. I had a lot of work to catch up to.

Instead of answering, I placed more ice in the bowl, then took the towel from his forehead and soaked it again. I placed the cold towel on the back of his neck, and he jumped and grabbed my wrist.

"Are you angry with me?"

"No."

"..."

"Really."

"Alright. Stop glaring at me."

He sighed, taking the towel off his neck and placing it on the quilt.

"Don't call Rashta."

Was that really alright with him? When I looked up, I saw Sovieshu's eyelids drooping downwards.

"She's beautiful and charming when she talks, but I'm not comfortable with that now. I have a headache....so I'd like it to stay quiet."

Rashta would be upset. Ever since she became his concubine, she made sure to never be far away from Sovieshu.

I simply nodded and placed the cloth back on his forehead.

*

*

*

My suspicion that Rashta would be upset was right. After a week's rest we returned to the imperial palace, and Rashta, who had been waiting in the garden, jumped inside the carriage before either of us could step out. Rashta locked Sovieshu into a fierce hug, while all she did for me was bow awkwardly. It was not unusual for a concubine to be seen by the empress, but her attitude was different, considering she had been overly friendly to me before. While she couldn't bear being from Sovieshu, she seemed more concerned that he was alone with me.

She and Sovieshu seemed unwilling to detach themselves from each other, so I went to the central palace alone and ordered the officials to bring me all my work that I had put off.

Since then, daily life continued. I spent a little more time at the central palace catching up on a week's worth of work, while Sovieshu lessened his overtime hours following the doctor's advice. Rashta still clung to Duke Elgy during the day while taking care of Sovieshu at night. I sometimes ran into Prince Heinley while going out for walks, and Queen brought back letters now and then.

Ah, but there was one change. Sovieshu summoned me less to make outrageous accusations about Rashta. He's gotten back on track with affairs concerning her, and there was less reason to make demands. Thankfully I didn't run into her often anymore, and I naturally became less fatigued even though my work increased. My heart was still sorrowful when it came to Sovieshu, but after a few years like this, perhaps we could be like a normal royal couple.

We would live a moderately dull but peaceful life, without the worry of abandonment or renunciation.

*

*

*

The next time I saw Rashta again was at a tea party hosted by Duchess Tuania.

Adjacent to the central palace was a small mansion called the Crystal House. The exterior was not made of crystal, as the name suggested, but with glass arranged at various angles that made the entire house sparkle with light.

I heard that in the past, a concubine that was loved by the emperor lived here. Nowadays it was mainly lent to nobles for a day or two. It was the Crystal House that Duchess Tuania borrowed to host her tea party, and today I was able to finish my work early and join her.

"I was afraid you were too busy to come, Your Majesty."

"Not at all."

I greeted Duchess Tuania and sat down at a table in the garden. There was a selection of tea and coffee at the table, as well as a range of cookies, cakes, and other delicacies covered with glass lids. The atmosphere was turning ripe for greeting the noblemen and women.

"Oh dear. We must be late."

A voice came from the garden entrance. I looked past a cake, and saw a man with wavy blond hair I had never seen before. Next to him was Rashta, who was being escorted by him.

'Oh. Is that Duke Elgy?'

The man's eyes fell on me.

He studied me for a moment, but I didn't turn away. Although Prince Heinley had warned me that Duke Elgy was like a living cursed doll or a real ghost story, it would be strange if I suddenly avoided him.

It was only a brief moment, but if felt like time had slowed down as the man smiled brightly and approached me.

"Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"You are Duke Elgy Klaudia?"

"You recognized me right away?"

It was the first time I had met him, but he had a strikingly beautiful face that could not easily be forgotten. The man next to Rashta could only be Duke Elgy as well.

The duke bent his knee and reached out his hand. I placed my hand in his, and he offered a gentle kiss before letting me go with a faint upturn of his lips. I smiled ceremoniously and looked towards Duchess Tuania. Duke Elgy was a well-known socialite, so it was unsurprising that she had invited him. What was more curious was that she had invited Rashta as well.

However, as soon as I saw the look on Duchess Tuania's face, I knew that she didn't intend Rashta to be here. Duke Elgy must have brought her as his partner. The fact was evident in the subsequent conversation between Duchess Tuania and Duke Elgy.

"I didn't realize that Duke Elgy would bring Miss Rashta."

"I thought bringing Rashta to a socialite party such as yours would help Rashta too. Is that alright, My Lady?"

"I'm embarrassed that a man of renown like Duke Elgy would flatter me."

While the two were exchanging reproaches disguised as greetings, Rashta bowed to me too, while I drank my tea with a silent acknowledgment. But I could not taste the tea at all.

It was because of Rashta. Her presence alone made me want to leave. However, if I was seen avoiding Rashta, it would be the social gossip among the nobles for a week. I didn't want to be spoken of in the same sentence as her, and so I was forced to stay here until a after few others had left.

My worry only grew after Duke Elgy, finishing his intimate conversation with Duchess Tuania, sat opposite me with Rashta. Fortunately, she and I didn't have the opportunity to exchange words.

"Did you hear about Baron Riven?"

"I heard that he wanted his bastard son to be his successor, and the baroness ended up divorcing him, right?"

"Isn't the baroness from the Chrome kingdom? I heard she left with their children and went back to her family."

"Wasn't Baroness Riven the sister of Miss Aleisia?"

"What's she doing these days?"

"I heard before New Year's—"

But as Duchess Tuania was talking about Aleisia's recent affairs, Rashta asked in a small voice, "Who is Aleisia?" The question was not directed to the duchess, but she seemed to have heard. Duchess Tuania paused, while the person sitting next to Rashta replied in a mischievous voice.

"She's Rashta's predecessor."

"Predecessor?"

"She was once a concubine of the previous Emperor."

"Ah..."

Rashta widened her eyes and blinked.

"If Miss Aleisia's sister is a baroness, is Miss Aleisia originally a noblewoman?"

"Yes. It was at a ball that her and the previous emperor met."

"So how's Miss Aleisia doing now?"

It was if the atmosphere had been doused with cold water. Everyone stopped talking and focused their attention on Rashta. Some looked at her with curiosity, others with sympathy, yet others with spite.

The person who answered Rashta didn't look happy and said, "Well."

Miss Aleisia—

"I heard she was forced to leave. What a pity."

It was Duke Elgy who answered, and Rashta looked sideways in surprise. He smiled as Rashta stared at him, a crumple between her brows.

"The emperor quickly tired of Miss Aleisia. She had the shortest time as concubine than any other concubine. It was all over so fast..."

Surely Duke Elgy knew that it was not a story for someone like Rashta. However, he was completely calm, and smiled as he took a sip of tea.

Rashta blinked her large eyes. She had been upset when I once mentioned another concubine after her. It must have been unthinkable back then, but now she was confronted with a concubine who had taken the same road as hers and had a bad ending. Rashta was completely frozen, and some nobles turned their eyes towards her in pity.

I thought Rashta would remain tight-lipped, but instead of staying silent, she quickly erased the surprise on her face and spoke, her face red.

"I hear that the nobles have many lovers. It seems to be true."

Some jumped in to sympathize with her.

"There are some couples with no other lovers."

"There are not many like Countess Eliza."

"Political marriages are more the norm."

Rashta nodded one at each of their words and smiled back.

"Right, of course...actually, Rashta was very surprised when she heard that the Duchess Tuania had five lovers. But now that I heard it is natural, I feel like I'm going through a new world."

This time, there was a wave of silence. Everyone's mouth was open. Duchess Tuania's forked clinked down on her plate.

"Ah."

Rashta turned red, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Was it something I shouldn't say? I'm sorry."

"It's not something you should say, because it's ridiculous nonsense, Miss Rashta."

Duchess Tuania's voice was as dangerous as thin ice. Rashta repeatedly apologized, but the duchess' face did not soften.

"I'm sorry, My Lady. Miss Rashta is not used to the etiquette of the nobility. She's only repeating what she heard."

When Duke Elgy sided with Rashta again, Duchess Tuania finally stood up.

"I find it unbearable that there are two people so rude that they cannot even observe etiquette. Especially you, Duke Elgy. If you wanted to bring someone who didn't know how to behave, you should have taught them the least bit of pretense. Rudeness is worse than pretense."

"Oh, are you angry?"

"Yes. Today's party ends here. I'm sorry to have brought you to this strange occasion, Your Majesty."