"Empress Navier, do you accept this divorce?" High Priest Vimirey, the chief religious official of the continent of Wol, asked with a hint of sadness in his voice. He gave Navier a look that conveyed he was begging her to refuse the divorce.
Navier, who had been staring at the door intently, quickly turned her attention back to the High Priest and let out a soft sigh.
Though she wanted to refuse this divorce, she knew there was no point; the divorce proceedings would drag on for years, but the emperor always won in the end. Moreover, she couldn't stand being Sovieshu's wife or his Empress any longer, especially after he had slandered her good name by accusing her of adultery with King Heinrey.
He had made her be disgraced in the eyes of her people.
She felt shame and anger burn in her heart, but did not let it show in her voice or on her face when she answered the High Priest. "Yes, I accept this divorce."
He was taken a bit aback by this and could not hide the surprised look on his face, but he quickly regained his composure. "Then I hereby declare you both divorced. You are both single and free to remarry whomever you wish," he said in his official voice.
Though he acted professional and calm, his eyes betrayed his true feelings; he felt very remorseful about this divorce since he thought Navier and Sovieshu were the perfect couple. It was truly tragic to him that their marriage would end so soon after he had married them; he was certain their love and friendship would last forever.
Navier's former husband reacted the exact opposite of both Navier and the High Priest. Sovieshu, who thus far had held Rashta in his arms like a lifeline while waiting for Navier's and the priest's responses, let out a sigh of relief at the final verdict. He then kissed Rashta passionately, happy as can be now that he could marry his mistress now. To add to his happiness, their daughter, Glorym, was born a mere two weeks before. After their wedding, she would be named Sovieshu's legitimate heir.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make!" Sovieshu stated in a very authoritative voice. "I will be marrying Lady Rashta very soon. She will be your new empress," he finished quickly. He grinned, finally getting the two things he wanted all along: an heir and a wife who loved him.
Unfortunately, his happiness was very short-lived once he noticed Navier's stoic expression. He had wanted her to be angry or jealous, but as always, she acted like a perfect empress with a perfect poker face.
Rashta also turned to look at Navier, changing rapidly from the happy bride-to-be to the part of a fearful little girl. "Rashta is sorry that you and His Majesty got divorced and for marrying him so soon. Rashta hopes you can move on and live a happy life without any hatred toward her."
Navier only chuckled softly at her last comment. "There is no need to worry about me, Rashta. As I stated many times before, I do not particularly care for you."
She then took a step forward and placed a gentle hand on Rashta's shoulder, causing the silver-haired girl to flinch. "But even so, I forgive you because I understand why you did what you did. You led a terrible life before as a slave, and when the golden opportunity arose to escape to a better one, you took it. You even fought to hold on to it, which I find admirable. Though you likely knew Sovieshu was married when you met him, I do not believe you had any ill intent to destroy our marriage or harm me, only to improve your life. Well, at least at first you did not. I'm sure Sovieshu put the idea of being the empress in your head and then you sought to tear me down."
She then turned her gaze over to Sovieshu. "You, on the other hand, I cannot forgive. We had years of history growing up together and 3 years of marriage, yet you decided to throw it all away for a woman you just met?"
The emperor decided to spare himself any further embarrassment by avoiding answering her question. "Navier, I must express my sincerest regrets for how this divorce trial unfolded. I'm sure you're angry at Rashta after I announced our engagement-"
"-I am not angry at her as much as I am angry with you!" She interrupted in a snide tone.
She couldn't believe the audacity of this sorry excuse of a man, announcing his impending marriage right after his divorce! Of course, she was thinking about doing the same thing with King Heinrey, but he didn't know that.
"How so?!" Sovieshu was genuinely baffled at her declaration. After all, they were childhood best friends and had even been husband and wife; wouldn't it be easier for her to not hate him?
Navier, however, felt anger build up in her chest. She just barely managed to hold it back before responding. "Because, Sovieshu," she practically hissed as she took a step forward. "Rashta was not the one who promised me to stay by my side forever on our wedding day. Rashta was not the one who betrayed that very promise by seeking a divorce and ruining my reputation. And lastly, Rashta was not the one who made my life a living hell for the past year by constantly yelling at me, refusing to listen to me, and falsely accusing me of things I did not do."
She managed to keep her composure and not raise her voice throughout her little rant, only furrowing her eyebrows slightly and clenching her jaw. All in all, no one could tell how angry she was inside. In fact, she looked more annoyed than angry, almost as if someone brought her the wrong dessert.
They didn't know that she wanted to tear the both of them apart.
Navier took a deep breath and then put on a fake smile before saying, "Despite everything you did to me, you needn't worry about me destroying your marriage. I'm sure you two will do a fantastic job of that all on your own. It will save me all the wasted effort."
Sovieshu and Rashta were left speechless, their mouths agape in shock. Neither was expecting her to be so verbally cunning, and in the end, neither could think of a clever response to Navier's witty comeback.
She walked with her head held high toward the door as the room descended into chaos.
"Your majesty, we cannot allow this to pass!" She heard one noble shout.
Another noble agreed, saying, "Empress Navier was the one who kept this country running while you stood idly by with your mistress. Without her, this country will fall into ruin!"
She paid no attention to such discourse since it was not her duty to placate the nobles any longer; she instead opted to walk toward her old room-the Empress' chambers. She was allowed to be Empress for one more day since the papers had yet to be finalized. Tomorrow, she would need to move out and the room would then be Rashta's.
The very thought of it made her sick to her stomach.
Once Navier arrived, her maids tried to console her; however, she sent them away. She needed time alone to just process everything that happened.
After they closed her door, she immediately jumped onto her bed and buried her face into her pillow. She had let out all the anger she had in that courtroom by giving her ex-husband a piece of her mind, and now all that was left was an aching sadness in her heart.
Tears began to pool in her emerald-green eyes as she realized all she had lost that day. Her title as Empress, her home, her country, her husband, her friends, and her future dreams and plans… but most importantly, any chance of marrying King Heinrey and being happy.
That was all she wanted since she was a child. Happiness.
Throughout the whole trial, Navier had stolen numerous glances at the door as she waited for Heinrey to appear at any moment; unfortunately, he never did. Why did Heinrey never arrive at the divorce trial?
Only silence answered her question and her soft crying soon broke into hysteric sobs. She believed she was doomed to live in misery forever.
I will never be able to marry Heinrey now… The High Priest is leaving and Sovieshu will never agree!
Just as she finished that thought, her former husband came bursting into her room without so much as a knock.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, she thought to herself bitterly.