Remaried Empress

Viscount Langdel was a young man besotted with Duchess Tuania. When he was selected as the duchess' dance partner at the New Year's ball, he beamed as if he had the world in his hands. That same young man stabbed Rashta...

"He must have thought it was Miss Rashta who started the rumor about the Duchess Tuania."

The lady-in waiting who delivered the news looked surprised.

"How do you know?"

"Tell me the details."

"Everything started out fine at first. It was Rashta who let him in her room. I don't know why."

Rashta must have allowed him in because she knew he was a lovesick young man. She had watched the men who gathered around the duchess at the New Year's celebrations.

"I don't know if I can say this, but..."

The maid started muttering in an apologetic way, but then she waved her hands as if to ignore it and started talking again.

"Duke Elgy came in and kicked down the door, saying he smelled blood, and fortunately he hit—no, he stopped Viscount Langdel. The viscount was seized on the spot."

"Duke Elgy? He's returned?"

"Yes, but that's not the important part, Your Majesty. When Viscount Langdel was caught, he kept shouting that Rashta that ruined Duchess Tuania..."

The lady-in-waiting glanced at me.

"That's why I was surprised when you mentioned Duchess Tuania all of a sudden, Your Majesty. Is there really something there?"

Although we both approached this from different situations, we coincidentally came around to the same subject.

"How is Miss Rashta doing?"

*

*

*

"How is she?"

The doctor felt for Rashta's pulse. Her face was pale and sweaty as she gave a low moan, but no answer was forthcoming from the palace doctor.

"How is she?"

Sovieshu repeated himself, looking at the bandages wrapped around Rashta's abdomen. She looked in a terrible state. The doctor sighed and stared at Sovieshu as if to urge him to be quiet.

"Just tell me!"

Sovieshu voice raised to a yell, and the doctor closed his eyes.

"Your Majesty, please be quiet for a moment. I can't concentrate."

Sovieshu retreated and paced the room with his arms folded, anxiety eating away at him. He felt like he was going crazy. The doctor had already said the injury was not life-threatening after his first examination, so why was he doing this now?

After a few paces he came face-to-face Duke Elgy, who had been standing nearby. The duke greeted him with a light smile, and Sovieshu clapped him on the shoulder.

"Thank you. You saved Rashta."

He was so worried earlier that he forgot about the duke's existence.

"It was just luck."

"Yes..."

Sovieshu nodded and began to pace again, oblivious when Duke Elgy kept watching him carefully.

"..."

Duke Elgy tilted his head. He had saved Rashta, but Sovieshu made no mention of the fact that another man came to his concubine's room late in the evening. Duke Elgy was amazed to see the emperor deal with it so coolly.

'Is he surprised or—'

His thought was interrupted by the palace doctor's voice.

"What is this? How strange!"

Duke Elgy turned his gaze from Sovieshu towards the doctor, who had let go of Rashta's wrist and was feeling her stomach instead.

"Can you press the injury like that?"

Sovieshu snapped at the doctor, but he just smiled.

"Not this part. And I'm not pressing hard, Your Majesty."

Sovieshu was about to give him another warning, when the doctor gave a whoop and turned to Sovieshu.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations? Congratulations on what?"

"There is a baby in Miss Rashta's stomach!"

The other men in the room froze.

"Baby...?"

Sovieshu looked at Rashta's stomach in surprise. It looked flat to him.

"Baby?"

"I believe Miss Rashta became pregnant after the time you rescued her from the woods, Your Majesty."

A stunned silence filled the room. Sovieshu covered his mouth with his hand.

"Baby..."

*

*

*

As I readied myself for work, I stared into the mirror while Countess Eliza trimmed my hair with a serious face. She noticed me looking at her and gave an awkward smile, but her expression remained stiff.

"Is everything alright, Countess Eliza?"

She answered with a sigh.

"In truth...There are many things worry about."

I couldn't help but agree. There had been an influx of incidents all at once—Duchess Tuania was in the process of divorce, while Viscount Langdel stabbed Rashta for revenge...

Laura was plucking at the plume on my hat when she spoke.

"What will happen to Viscount Langdel?"

She sounded worried, as the viscount was a moderate acquaintance of hers. Stabbing an emperor's concubine was a definite crime, and the viscount was currently being held in jail.

"Don't worry. I'll find out more."

"I can't believe Viscount Langdel did that. It's impossible to believe."

A lady-in-waiting opened her mouth to console Laura, but before she could, another lady-in-waiting came in the room.

"Your Majesty. The Emperor is here."

"At this time?"

It was still early in the morning. Sovieshu was here in person instead of a messenger? I looked in puzzlement at the lady-in-waiting.

"Let him in."

Despite my vexation, I didn't have any choice, and the lady-in-waiting gave a noise of affirmation and hurried out. I turned away from the mirror and looked in the direction of the door, and a few moments later, Sovieshu entered my room. I wondered what words of comfort I should offer him. To my surprise, however, he did not look distraught. Instead of anger or sadness, somewhere on his face was a subtle joy.

"Your Majesty?"

Was Rashta's injury less severe than expected? Yet that was still no reason to be happy about it.

"Is Miss Rashta all right?"

The reply he gave left me stunned.

"Rashta is pregnant."

For a moment, I couldn't process what I had heard. Who was pregnant? Rashta?

"...I can't offer my congratulations."

The honest words involuntary left my mouth. Sovieshu looked at me with a critical eye, but it was true. I couldn't celebrate this with him.

"It may not be recognized as a part of the imperial family, but it's still my first child."

"I know."

My heart thumped in my chest, but his face seemed strangely chilled. Perhaps my face was equally cold too.

"You don't have to give your congratulations. Starting from next month, however, I hope will you increase the allowance as much as any other concubine that has children."

"Of course."

I would have done that anyway.

"Rashta is not awake yet, but her injuries are not life-threatening."

I didn't respond to this information Sovieshu gave me, keeping my eyes fastened on a couch instead. I counted the flowers and leaves on the pattern. Sovieshu sighed heavily, and did not look back when he left the room. Even after he was gone, I simply stood frozen.

I must have remained there for a while, when I noticed a figure sitting on the window sill. Queen was perched there with his beak open. The window hadn't been shut, so he must have sat on the window sill and waited for me to notice him. Did he come in during the conversation?

Either way, I was fortunate. As I approached, Queen flew into my arms, and I squeezed his body tight and buried my face in between his feathers. Queen wrapped me with his large wings as best he could. I could hear his small heart beating loudly.

"Thank you...it's so much better to have someone hold you."

It was a hug better than a thousand words.

The news spread in a matter of hours. Everyone stole surreptitious glances at me at the central palace, and hurriedly quieted themselves when I passed by. As soon as it was time for dinner, I sent the workers back. Despite my success in keeping my composure calm all day, my facial muscles were fatigued.

What should I do when Rashta's baby was born? I remembered how the previous empress treated the emperor's illegitimate children. She had treated most of them fairly enough, but she was cold to the children of the concubines she particularly disliked.

"..."

It wasn't going to be easy. People were sympathetic to young children, and both Rashta and Sovieshu were so beautiful that their baby would surely be as lovely as a fairy. If I were cold to such a precious child, who was also the Emperor's first baby, my reputation would be ruined. Everyone would stare at me and whisper, 'What is wrong with her?' Furthermore, if I didn't want that child to get any foolish ideas, I had to give birth to my own legitimate child before the age gap became too great.

As soon as I entered my room, I fell into an armchair and took a deep breath. It was as if the surrounding air was trying to crush me.

"Your Majesty."

My hand was resting on my temple as I lifted my head and saw Countess Eliza near me.

"What is it?"

"Prince Heinley is here. He seemed to be in a hurry to see you..."

"Prince Heinley?"

I sat up from the chair. Why was he here?

Since becoming a secret friend, Prince Heinley hadn't come to visit me outright, choosing only to exchange the customary greetings and pleasantries when we met outside. I had also visited him only once when I was worried about Queen. If he had come in person, it must be urgent.

"Bring him in."

Concerned, I quickly went out to the drawing room. There was no need for me to change clothes as I hadn't undressed from my formal ones yet. The same time I entered the drawing room, Prince Heinley walked in.

"Would you like tea, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, thank you, Countess."

As soon as Countess Eliza closed the door behind her, Prince Heinley walked up to me and held up his arms in the air.

"I've been wanting to console you. Can I give you a hug, as a friend?"

I stared at him, and Prince Heinley looked at me encouragingly.

"Friends hug each other for comfort."

Oh...that was what he was here for. He came running here to cheer me up. A sense of relief flooded body.

"Alright."

As soon as I stepped towards him, he hugged me tightly.

I couldn't help but notice the firmness and broadness of his shoulders. I leaned my forehead in, inhaling a familiar scent. It was always the scent of Queen. Did Queen smell like the prince or did the prince smell like Queen?

Although Queen's hug was comforting, Prince Heinley's body was much larger. I felt safe as I was engulfed in his arms. Everything is fine, his body seemed to say, and between the familiar scent and unfamiliar arms, the turmoil in my mind settled. Even the sound of his heartbeat granted me a sense of security. It was healthy and loud and fast.

"I really..."

"?"

"I really must be a rotten jerk, Queen."

"What are you talking about?"

"I came here to comfort you because I was afraid you were upset. But I was having bad thoughts in the meantime."

"Bad thoughts?"

What was he talking about? I pulled away my forehead in confusion and stepped back, while Prince Heinley lowered his arms. His face was red as he slightly backed away.

"Was I too close to you?"

I looked at him worriedly, and he gave a tentative "Huh?" His ears turned red and he waved his hands.

"I wasn't having bad thoughts about that, Queen. Absolutely not. I'm not the kind of person who gets excited like this."

"..."

Excited...?

I stared at him.

"I'm going crazy."

Prince Heinley covered his eyes with both his hands as if he wanted the ground to swallow him.

"You didn't even ask me in the first place. I dug myself into this, didn't I?"

"...A little."

At the sound of his distress, my mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"Well, I'm smiling in the middle of this. Human emotions are complicated."

"Well, I'm glad that my embarrassment made you smile."

The prince sighed and then gave a chuckle. Just then, Countess Eliza came in with the tea. She set the tray down on the table, then hurried out to leave the pair of use alone again.

I held up a teacup for him, and he carefully accepted it. I could feel his hand trembling as our fingers brushed against each other. His gaze was cast downwards when I looked up at him, but he slowly lifted his eyes, revealing purple irises from underneath his soft gold eyelashes. It was captivating.

"If Prince Heinley was a woman..."

"Hm?"

"The Emperor would fall in love with you. Your eyes are gorgeous."

"What a peculiar way to give a compliment."

He stared at me for a moment then burst into laughter, then brought his cup to his lips.

"If I were a woman, I would become the Queen's lady-in-waiting."

"My lady-in-waiting?"

"We can stay together all day."

"Do you wish to be my lady-in-waiting?"

"Not that. Focus on the part after that, Queen."

There was laughter again. After hearing the news about the baby, I was happy to find relief with Prince Heinley, though I knew it was a temporary prescription and I would feel nauseous again after he left. As I was about to bring up the topic about the bird Queen, Countess Eliza knocked on the door again.

"Your Majesty, Duchess Tuania is here."

Duchess Tuania?

"Bring her in."

What was she doing here at this time? I had a good relationship with the duchess, but there was no occasion for noblewomen to visit me in the evening without an invitation, not unless they were my ladies-in-waiting. I was just as surprised as I knew she was loaded down with her problems. Was there something she needed me to do for her?

When Duchess Tuania came in, her eyes were wet.

"I'll take my leave, Queen."

Prince Heinley sensibly realized it was not a conversation he should be involved in, so he gave a nod to the duchess and left. I took the duchess' hand and led her to sit on the couch.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?"

Duchess Tuania's back was straight and her posture was graceful, but she looked more worn than usual. As soon as she sat on the couch, she took both my hands in hers. I waited for her to speak instead of prodding her, and finally the duchess managed to choke out the words caught in her mouth.

"Your Majesty, I am so ashamed to ask you this, but...please save Viscount Langdel."