Remaried Empress

After completing my mission at Wirwol, I stayed for another day before leaving early in the morning for the Imperial Palace. It was evening when I finally arrived.

"I've added rose-scented bath salts to help relieve your fatigue, Your Majesty."

"Thank you."

To my gratitude, Countess Eliza had timed the preparation of my bath with my arrival. I dipped my foot into the hot water, then felt a tingling sensation as I gradually submerged myself.

"How was your trip to Wirwol, Your Majesty?"

"It was quite enjoyable."

"Thank goodness. I was worried because it was such a short schedule."

"What happened here while I was gone?"

My muscles slackened in the warm water and I began to feel drowsy. Countess Eliza poured water over my shoulders as I tried to chase away sleep, but my eyelids felt heavy.

"Oh...don't even ask. It was very noisy."

"Noisy?"

"Duchess Tuania and a young noblewoman fought. There was even hair-pulling involved."

Any thought of sleep shattered as I turned around in amazement. I was wide awake. Who fought with who? Hair-pulling?

"Duchess Tuania?"

"Duke Elgy rented an entire opera house and held a surprise party. Almost every important socialite went."

"Was Duchess Tuania invited? "

"Yes. But during the party, I saw the Duchess Tuania and Duke Elgy talking with each other on the balcony."

I remembered their previous conflict at Duchess Tuania's tea party. Did Duke Elgy apologize to her?

"They were the most popular man and woman, and everyone was wondering what they were talking about. The first person who left the balcony was Duke Elgy."

"Was Miss Rashta around?"

Laura cut into the conversation.

"Rashta was invited, but she was talking to Grand Duke Lilteang at the time."

Most of my ladies-in-waiting seemed to have been there. Countess Eliza sighed heavily and continued.

"Then, someone asked Duke Elgy how attractive he thought Duchess Tuania was."

"Did he say anything negative?"

"I heard him say he could see why so many men fell in love with the duchess."

"?"

"I don't know what happened afterwards. Later, there was a commotion when Duchess Tuania had slapped Duke Elgy on the cheek. In front of so many people, too."

Laura was pacing as if she was impatient to speak, and eagerly jumped in again.

"It was a frenzy from there! Duchess Tuania slapped Duke Elgy's cheek like this. Pak! Then Duke's Elgy face twisted back. Suddenly, a woman ran over and pulled Duchess Tuania's hair from behind!"

What on earth...? I looked up at Laura and she quickly explained.

"She was one of Duke Elgy's former lovers. She was chasing him after their separation."

"She was ordered to leave the capital yesterday."

"Does anyone know why the Duchess Tuania hit Duke Elgy?"

"No."

So no one knew why, but that would mean only more people would talk about it.

"Don't worry too much, Your Majesty. Over two dozen of these incidents happen a year, right?"

"Everyone will gossip then move on to the next thing."

"Yes..."

I stirred my hands in the slightly cooled water. I checked the time, then got up twenty minutes later and pulled on a bathrobe.

Incidents like Duchess Tuania's and Duke Elgy's happened frequently in high society, and only the characters involved changed. As Empress, I could not step beyond the line of governmental authority, and I had no choice but to let the incident go. In any case, I would hurt the duchess' pride if I mentioned it.

As I went out in my bathrobe, a lady-in-waiting brought me an iced tea.

"Thank you."

I nodded as I accepted the cup, and glanced at the window habitually. To my surprise, I saw a familiar silhouette through the darkness.

"Queen?"

The cup fell from my hand, and I quickly ran over to the window to open it. The bird hauled himself inside, exhausted.

"Queen, are you alright?"

He looked tired, as if he had traveled farther than usual. Did Prince Heinley take Queen to Wirwol? But if he did, he would've put the bird in his cage and brought him in his carriage...

Taking caring of Queen was my first priority, however, and I took him in my arms and sat on my bed.

"Drink this, Queen."

Laura had brought cold water in a bowl, and Queen gulped it down greedily. As soon as he was refreshed, he flew up and circled the room three times.

"Are you alright now?"

– Gu!

Gladdened by his response, I stood up and approached him. I wanted to hug him for a long time and kiss his cute forehead. However, Queen, who usually stood as still a doll, dodged my touch.

"Queen?"

He landed onto the table and peered at me strangely, as if he were worrying about something.

Queen? Is everything alright?"

I looked at him in concern. Queen tilted his head from side to side, gave what seemed to be a sigh, and came right near me. Then, he took my sleeve in his beak and tried to fly up.

"Queen?"

For some reason, he wanted me to lift my hand. I obliged, but he kept trying to go upwards to the ceiling.

I tried to pull away my arm, but he kept flapping his wings until he finally fell back onto the ground in exhaustion. Never had I heard a bird pant so loudly, nor seen one sit with its legs stretched out in front of it. Were all the birds like this? He looked the image of a tired man. I reached out carefully to touch his head, and Queen closed his eyes and weakly rubbed his head against my palm.

"Queen, what's wrong?"

– Gu...

"Ah! Queen, are you..."

– !

"Are you trying to take me somewhere?"

– ...

I supposed so.

"Where do you want me to go? I'll catch up if you fly ahead."

I picked up the fallen bird and asked if I could kiss his forehead, but he did not reply. Instead, he checked his wings, like a man looking at his hands, then sighed and flew out the window.

'What was he doing? Was he really trying to take me to Prince Heinley?'

It was about two hours after I arrived to the central palace for work. My eyes were throbbing, and I went outside to take a break. When I stepped out, I saw Rashta crouching down at the grass and staring at the ground. Perhaps she had heard the door open, and she looked around and said "Ah" as soon as she saw me. She approached and gave me a bow.

"Well...Your Majesty. If you don't mind, could you spare a few minutes?"

"Go ahead."

"I..."

Rashta looked around. As I was right outside my office, there were guards around the building, as well as Sir Artina standing right behind me. Rashta seemed to want to talk alone, but the knight made no move to leave. I gave him a meaningful glance, and he took a few steps backwards. However, when Rashta spoke, it was in a hushed whisper.

"Your Majesty, I hear that concubines receive an allowance..."

"That's correct."

"How much is it?"

"About thirty thousand krangs a year."

Rashta's eyes widened. It was more money than she expected.

"R-really?"

I nodded, and she covered her mouth with both hands. However, her expression looked gloomy when she spoke again.

"When can I get it?"

"Early next month. Why? Do you need the money now?"

I knew that Sovieshu was providing for her at the moment, but I asked her anyway. Rashta shook her head and put her hands together. Her words seem stuck in her throat, but after a few false starts she was able to force her words out.

"Well...Your Majesty. Is all the money you give to Rashta on record?"

"I keep the books."

It would remain not only on the bookkeeping records, but in historical ones as well, where future generations could read it. I did not bother to mention this however. Rashta hesitated again before speaking.

"Then...Your Majesty. Yesterday, the Emperor said that Rashta's money would be managed by Baron Lant..."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, well. I mean—some of that money...can you give it to Rashta separately?"

"Separately?"

Was she afraid of Baron Lant keeping an eye on her expenses?

"Even if Baron Lant is in charge of the money, it's still yours. If you're concerned it will be joined with Sovieshu's, there's no need to worry."

"No, it's not that...but if you give me fifteen thousand out of the thirty thousand krangs—or even ten thousand—and don't write it down...is it possible? I hear there is a lot of double bookkeeping..."

Was she trying to create a slush fund? It wasn't a good thing, but it wasn't impossible. It sounded like she was only trying to divide up what she had. But it wasn't my business.

"You should receive permission from the Emperor first."

"I heard the Empress takes care of the money..."

"But the Emperor manages everything about you. Ask him yourself about this."

Rashta's eyes turned away in embarrassment. She muttered to herself, and left.

*

*

*

"Why the troubled face?"

When Duke Elgy spotted Rashta's expression when he walked into the room, he burst out laughing.

Rashta's cheeks were swollen and red, and she hugged her pillow more tightly. Her expression didn't brighten the way it usually did when she saw Duke Elgy.

Sensing that something must have happened, Duke Elgy took a nearby chair and stared at Rashta. With the sight of her silver hair trailing in delicate strands down the pillow, she was truly was a beauty irresistible to an emperor—even when she was pouting.

"The Empress is so cold."

"Cold? Did you fight?"

"Can I fight in my situation?"

"The Empress not the type to come forward and start a quarrel."

"You know the Empress?"

"I'm a good judge of people's personalities. Not in detail, but a good estimation."

"So the Duke says the Empress has a good personality who doesn't start a quarrel?"

"I wouldn't say she has a good personality...more cold, as you said. How should I put it? She acts like an empress, she thinks like an empress, and she speaks like an empress."

Duke Elgy nodded as he recalled the woman he had only encountered twice. Navier was the perfect stereotype of an empress. According to his sources, she had shadowed the former empress at an early age and took her lessons from her. Navier was likely cast in that same mold.

"What you think is goodness is in reality her drawing a line between herself and others."

"You know that from only seeing her briefly?"

"It wasn't brief. I was watching her at the tea party. But what's really going on, Miss?"

"..."

Rashta hesitated and she looked into Duke Elgy's eyes. The duke chuckled softly with one hand resting on his back.

"You don't have to talk if you don't want to."

Rashta paused, but she knew that he was the person she trusted the most in this world. He helped her in her most difficult time and protected her from the nobles' gossip. In the end, Rashta decided to confess.

"I asked her if she could give me some money without recording it in the books."

Duke Elgy let out a laugh.

"What? Why?"

"I need money..."

"Is there something you want? Tell the Emperor. He would do anything for you."

"I can't."

"Then?"

"I don't know, but I'm upset. The Emperor ordered Baron Lant to manage the money, and I can't use it."

Why couldn't she use money that someone else was managing? Duke Elgy noticed that Rashta was not saying anything. Instead of asking about it, however, he made his own suggestion instead.

"If you need the money, shall I lend it to you?"

"My Lord?"

"I am quite wealthy."

He added in a mischievous "Well?"

"But..."

"I will write the loan and the exact amount. Why don't we do that?"

"Even if you loan the money now, I have to tell Baron Lant when I pay you back later. It still the same. It would be suspicious if he knew I borrowed money!"

"Baron Lant won't manage it forever. After a few years, you will do it yourself, right?"

"That's true, but..."

Sovieshu had suggested that he would allow her to govern her allowance after she learned about financial management. If she studied hard and hid the fact that she was paying off Viscount Roteschu, Baron Lant's supervision could be removed after a year or two.

"Why don't we write down the loan? I won't ask for the money back for five years."

"Well..."

"Instead."

"?"

"There is a condition."

"Paying interest?"

Duke Elgy chuckled and waved his hand.

"What is interest between friends? You only need to pay the loan amount."

Rashta knew how some people ended up as slaves when they failed to pay off their debts or went bankrupt. She had heard how dangerous it was to borrow money at high interest, and was relieved that Duke Elgy did not ask for it.

"Then what is the condition?"

"Can you tell me why you need money?"

"...What?"

"I'll have to stop you if I think you're being scammed."

"Scammed?"

"I don't think there's a good reason if you're spending money without informing the Emperor. If it turns out you're investing in a scam, you should stop."

He seemed like he was joking, but there was genuine concern in his voice. Rashta stared at Duke Elgy for a moment. She wondered if he would help her if he knew the whole truth, but it was not necessary to take the risk if the situation was stable.

But Rashta needed someone who could help her immediately. Someone who knew her situation and would not laugh or point fingers at her, but treat her with compassion. Right now, the only person that fit that criteria was Duke Elgy. Although the Emperor accepted her even when he knew she was a fugitive slave, her relationship with him was different than with Duke Elgy's. With the Emperor, it was love, and with the duke, it was friendship. Love could cause disappointment and rejection. Friendship was sympathetic, complimentary, supportive...

Rashta swallowed nervously.

"Actually..."