331
"That's right. He won't sit idly by while he thinks I'm to blame."
"Even the time we had a problem with the Eastern Empire, everyone wanted to back down, but in the end we received an apology from Grand Duke Lilteang because the old Duke didn't step back."
"Oh, I really liked the old Duke back then. Especially when he roared, 'Do you think because our country is small, our pride is small too..'?"
Heinley, who sighed and shook his head, soon smiled and spoke casually.
"Anyway, now that it's come to this, we have to take advantage of his fierce temperament that only looks ahead and pounces."
"What do you mean?"
"It is necessary to make him more enraged so that he becomes openly hostile towards me, to the point where his close aides think, 'Isn't it dangerous to be on his side?'"
Being part of the Western Empire was above being a close aide to old Duke Zemensia.
"Why not blame him for some crime?"
"We need to let everyone see him go mad with their own eyes. Best not to intervene directly, McKenna."
Heinley calmly handed Christa's will to McKenna.
"Old Duke Zemensia tried to disgrace me to isolate me among the nobles. So in turn I will make it look like he has gone mad to isolate him among the nobles. "
"I understand… but why are you giving me the will?"
"Send it to the old Duke. Offer him my sincere condolences."
I never thought Christa would commit suicide.
The unexpected news seemed to have shocked everyone. I sat on the couch in my room and looked at the flowerpot by the window. It was the flowerpot Christa had sent me.
I tried not to think about it too much, this kind of news is not good during pregnancy….
However, it kept coming to my mind.
While of course I didn't like Christa, I wasn't happy to hear that she had died. I would have preferred her to remain healthy in Compshire, filled with resentment.
I shook my head quickly to push thoughts of her away. Instead of staying seated, I walked around the room and out into the drawing room.
Fortunately, it worked. As I entered the drawing room, a new problem came to mind.
The problem was the cradle sent by the Ketron Family.
A cradle of the highest quality that placed me in a difficult position.
The cradle itself was magnificent, but since it was sent by Marquis Ketron, who had always been hostile, there were divided opinions on what to do.
In fact, the drawing room was filled with gifts for the baby that the nobles sent every day.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door of the drawing room and a knight informed me of the arrival of Grand Duke Kapmen.
Was it because of the mana lesson? Heinley had strangely interrupted us while teaching me.
"Your Majesty."
It seems that was not the case.
Upon entering, Grand Duke Kapmen seemed less calm than usual. His voice was also loud.
"What is it?"
"I have something to report about the trade teams."
This made me nervous. The time he came to see me like this was to tell me that a team had been detained in Whitemond.
I looked at him with concern. What happened this time?
However, what appeared on Grand Duke Kapmen's lips was a bright smile.
"I received a message from one of the test trade teams!"
"A message…"
"It turned out great! The trip went great!"
Rashta considered Viscount Roteschu and the Isqua Family to be leeches sucking her money.
The situation became even more complicated now that her real father joined them.
"He wants money again?"
"Yes, he is not in good health and needs money to cover medical expenses…"
Rashta wrapped both hands around her head.
The maid, whom Rashta sent to her real father to run errands, looked down as if she regretted her words.
However, the truth is that the maid was not at all regretful.
Rashta's real father had become greedier when it came to getting money out of her, but he was quite generous to the people around him.
This maid was among those people.
"He was in good health a few days ago! What kind of medical expenses does he have?!"
"I don't know. I'm just passing on his message."
Eventually, Rashta took out a few jewels from her jewelry box and handed them to the maid.
Once the maid left, Rashta collapsed on the bed and rolled back and forth. She believed that there was not a single person who loved her. Not a single person!
'No. I have Duke Elgy.'
Just then, Viscount Isqua and Viscountess Isqua came to visit her.
'Are they here to ask for more money?' Rashta was uneasy, but the couple didn't seem to be here today for money.
"Is it true that His Majesty doesn't want to let you see the princess?"
"You're the mother, how can he not let you see the baby?!"
"Wasn't Viscountess Verdi your lady-in-waiting? Why did that lady-in-waiting suddenly become the princess' nanny?"
Seeing the couple worried about her, Rashta burst into tears.
It's been a long time since anyone has comforted her, and when someone finally took her side, the tears overflowed as if a dam had collapsed.
After a long cry, Rashta sobbed and whispered,
"It's all because of the future concubine, Evely."
"Evely? Why that girl?"
"What did she do to you?"
"She didn't do anything directly. But if it weren't for that girl, His Majesty would have no reason to suddenly turn away from Rashta."
"That's true. A person in love becomes blind."
Rashta wept even harder in the Viscountess' arms, and looked up slightly to examine their expressions.
Viscount and Viscountess Verdi talked about how ordinary Evely was. Far from considering that she might be their real daughter, they had faces of anger and rejection.
'That's a relief.'
Rashta felt better. There didn't seem to be an instinctive attraction to her through blood ties or anything like that.
But she couldn't take it lightly.
Just as Viscount Roteschu had discovered about Evely, so could they.
Although they were now intoxicated by the glory of being 'the Empress' parents,' fully immersed in high society, one never knows how long it will last.
"I don't like that girl to stay in the imperial palace."
That said, Rashta took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes.
They hated Evely so much that they wouldn't suddenly go for a paternity test.
However, she preferred to send Evely away as a precaution. Send her to a place where neither of them could find her.
The scenario would not be good if she took the initiative to throw Evely out. Even more so if the situation went awry and it was discovered that Evely was their real daughter.
So it was necessary for Viscount and Viscountess Isqua to throw Evely out on their own, in a fit of 'extreme love'.
"Don't worry, Rashta. It seems the girl is not a competent mage. Needless to say, you are the most beautiful. Sooner or later, His Majesty will lose interest in that mage."
"That's right, he's just a little curious because she's a mage."
After they left, Rashta let out a deep sigh, went back to bed and lay on her stomach.
Once calm, she remembered that there was another urgent matter to attend to besides Evely's.
Rashta opened the calendar to see how much time was left of the one-year deadline Sovieshu had promised her.
Yes, a deadline. She was a temporary Empress. In the time she had left, she had to win back Sovieshu's heart and get her baby back.
Otherwise, she would never see her daughter again.
"Arian!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Borrow a baby."
"What?"
"Yes, a baby. Borrow a baby the same size as Rashta's daughter. I'll give you the money, just ask to borrow it for six hours a day."
"It's because of the princess, you can say that the princess needs a friend her age."
Arian was confused, but nodded and walked away.
Rashta then exhaled heavily.
'I just have to practice holding a baby. Then I'll be able to hold Glorym in my arms without dropping her. A teddy bear is not like a baby.'
Rashta patted her own cheeks and shook her shoulders.
'No matter how difficult a situation is, Rashta always pulls through. This time, Rashta has to pull through too.'
She had to find a way to deal with Evely, get her daughter back, win back Sovieshu's heart, handle her real father, and take care of the journalist.
The journalist was getting so much attention that it was hard to deal with him right now, but there had to be a way. That was for sure.
Just then…
"Your Majesty."
Arian, who had gone out, came back in and reported.
"A young man named Alan wants to see Your Majesty."
"Who?!"
"Alan Rimwell."
Rashta jumped to her feet and almost screamed, 'Has he gone mad?' However, Arian's next words drowned out the scream.
"He brings a child."
"A child?"
"Yes."
At first, she was so stunned that she couldn't speak.
She had a strong urge to order her to get him out immediately. But Rashta soon changed her mind. On second thought, it might be a good thing. She needed a baby to practice on. Wasn't this the child that caused her trauma?
Her first child looked a lot like the princess, so wouldn't it be better to practice with this child?
"Okay. Let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Moments later, Alan appeared with a small child in his arms, whose face was practically hidden by blankets and a big hat.
Rashta closed the door to the drawing room after ordering no one to enter, and looked disdainfully at Alan.
She let him in because she thought he would be useful because he came with the little child, but she couldn't stand it when she saw him.
"How shameless. Why did you come here?"
"Rashta…"
"Is Rashta a friend of yours? Call me Your Majesty."
"I had some business to attend to at the Imperial Palace, so I decided to take the opportunity to stop by so you could see your son…"
"What business?"
"Nothing important…"
Alan spoke hesitantly. Rashta then looked disdainfully back at his apparently innocent expression and held out her hands.
"Give him to me."
"Hmm… it's okay."
Alan nervously removed his hat and handed his son to Rashta.
Rashta held the baby with both hands and looked at his face. Even though she knew it, she felt strange to see a face so similar to the princess'. But because of the age difference, her first child had more defined features.
"What's his name?"
"Ahn. His name is Ahn."
"It's in very poor taste."
Rashta, who spoke coldly, turned her attention back to the little child's face.
For some reason, she felt a little tingle in her heart. Cold sweat ran down her back and her arms were tense.
Alan looked stunned at her touched expression and opened his mouth.
"I actually came to tell you something, Rashta."
"I told you not to address me that way."
"Rashta. Ahn is also your child."
"To you, I am 'Your Majesty'."
"Ahn is the first child of the Empress. The first child of the Empress of the Eastern Empire."
Rashta, who frowned at Alan's lack of etiquette, suddenly recomposed her expression as she had a bad feeling.
"How could he be my child? He's yours."
"Ahn is also your child. Rashta, my Ahn is also the empress' child, isn't it too pitiful that he lives like a bastard child?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Doesn't he at least deserve to be treated like a quasi-prince?"
Rashta looked at Alan with wide eyes.
Alan smiled broadly with an expectant, hopeful look, as if he were in a dream.
"In the past… you used to be a slave with no chance to help your child, but not anymore. So there's no need to hide it, right? It would be wretched if Ahn had to live like a bastard while his younger sister lived like a princess."
Rashta's eyes tinged with fear.
332
After the death of the former queen, who exerted a strong influence in the country, the world returned to calm.
The weather became warmer, and the scent of cornflowers permeated every corner.
The clothes of the nobles gradually became lighter and more colorful, like the flowers that bloomed in the gardens.
Heinley spent days learning from Kapmen how to help me feel the flow of mana. As I sat nearby reading children's books, parenting related books, and sometimes played the piano. Lately, I also went to the bathroom more often.
My mother began serious discussions with my father about the possibility of extending their stay in the Western Empire. I also told my parents that Rashta had hired a mercenary to take their lives, but it only came down to one attempt thanks to Heinley. However, they laughed out loud that one mercenary would not be enough to take down the Troby Family.
In any case, these were generally quiet days, except for the occasional thoughts of Christa that popped into my head.
It was in the evening after a visit to the capital that Heinley spoke of the banquet.
"I think we should organize a banquet to celebrate the pregnancy. What do you think, My Queen?"
When I was falling asleep on the couch, I looked at him surprised by his unexpected question.
A banquet?
Naturally, it brought back memories of the banquet Sovieshu arranged for Rashta. And of the unpleasant feelings then.
I reflexively objected.
"Heinley, it won't be long until your birthday party. It would not be good to organize a banquet now because it would place a burden on those who attend."
Although it was an excuse, it was true.
In fact, when I was in the Eastern Empire, I didn't celebrate my birthday because that day was close enough to New Year's Celebrations.
But instead of giving up, Heinley massaged my shoulders and insisted,
"Then we'd better organize a simple banquet."
"…"
"To also celebrate that trade with Rwibt is on the right track."
Heinley seemed to really want to organize the banquet, so I reluctantly nodded. If he wanted to do it so much, I couldn't refuse.
" Alright."
Why was he so happy? Heinley opened his mouth wide in excitement and asked me quietly,
"My Queen. I'll write the invitations."
"That's my role—"
"My Queen, you can't spend too much time sitting at your desk. Now is the time of highest risk."
"In the early stages a woman was more prone to miscarriage. Even for any small effort, my ladies-in-waiting would get nervous."
But that didn't mean I couldn't sit down at my desk to write some invitations.
"Then let's divide the work."
Although I tried to make a deal, Heinley also immediately refused.
"No, I'll do it alone."
"?"
"My Queen, just relax. Listen to music and go to the theater."
Well alright, I didn't care if he did. However, why did he have such a happy expression that he couldn't keep his mouth shut?
Seeing him like this, he was definitely up to something…
"That bastard…"
Sovieshu spat out loud expletives, crushed the invitation, in his hands, sent by the Emperor of the Western Empire himself, and threw it away.
The invitation, which had been balled up, bounced off the wall and rolled across the floor. Sovieshu closed his eyes, snorting heavily.
He was so angry that his vision blurred.
'Did he want me to go congratulate his wife on her pregnancy? Did he really ask me if I could do that given the past relationship? Besides, did he dare ask me for advice as a father who had gone through his wife's pregnancy and childbirth?'
"Bloody lunatic."
Heinley wrote an invitation as if he had been a lifelong friend of Sovieshu. However, Heinley was just making fun of him.
Sovieshu kicked the invitation that rolled on the floor while grinding his teeth.
Everyone knew what would happen if Sovieshu attended the event.
While attending a national wedding might be considered a state affair, it was quite unusual for an Emperor to attend a banquet in honor of the future child of other rulers.
'Still, did Heinley want me to attend? Less than a year after the divorce? Who would see me attend the banquet and think, 'The Eastern Empire and the Western Empire are on very good terms!'?'
No one. Everyone would scoff and point fingers behind his back. Thinking that Emperor Sovieshu still had feelings for his ex-wife.
What infuriated him the most was that it was true.
"Your Majesty."
At that moment, Marquis Karl called out to him on the other side of the door.
"Come in. What is it?"
After entering the bedroom, Marquis Karl closed the door firmly and reported in a low voice.
"I heard that Rashta was crying in Duke Elgy's arms."
Sovieshu's eyebrows rose.
"Now?"
"No, not now. I knew because the rumor spread. It must have been yesterday."
Yesterday was the day that Sovieshu ordered Rashta's first child to be brought in for comparison with the princess.
Sovieshu laughed out loud.
"If the rumor spread, it means everyone in the imperial palace is talking about it."
Marquis Karl made an uncomfortable face. That seemed to be the case.
Rashta met Duke Elgy again despite the shameful rumor that was already circulating about them.
Besides, Sovieshu was beginning to fear that the infertility was him after he learned of Navier's pregnancy.
The princess was identical to her older brother. She only resembled Sovieshu in the number of fingers and toes.
As unpleasant as it was to hear that Rashta had gone for comfort in Duke Elgy's arms, what actually worried him was that the princess was not his child.
"You told me yesterday that Alan went to see Rashta right after he met with me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"…"
"Your Majesty, what is it?"
'If the father of Rashta's first child was Alan… that would mean that Rashta burst into tears in her current lover's arms because it brought back memories to see the father of her first child? Did she confess what was happening to Duke Elgy so that he would comfort her? Is it also possible that her current lover was the real father of the princess?'
Sovieshu forcefully shook off the growing anxiety that Rashta's story produced.
'No, the times do not fit. It is absurd. The same goes for the son of Viscount Roteschu. Due to the times it is impossible that he is the real father of the princess.'
However, distrust still pushed his head from side to side.
'Is there any chance that there is a third man?'
He was belatedly annoyed that Rashta held a tea party with only noblemen.
"I really don't like any of this."
"Your Majesty, are you all right?"
"I never thought a year could be so long."
"Do you want me to ask Rashta to watch her behavior?"
"Have you ever heard a goldfish talk?"
"The teacher who taught Rashta once said, 'although her learning ability is slow, she's not dumb'."
"I know Rashta isn't dumb, which makes me even angrier. It may seem like she doesn't understand the implications of her behavior, but it's just that she doesn't really care."
After these last words, Sovieshu ordered the marquis to leave. He then picked up the invitation that he had balled up.
He smoothed out the invitation, read it again with a frown, and crushed it.
It was very unpleasant. However…
'I think I should send a gift. Navier might be overwhelmed if I sent a gift, but wouldn't she be disappointed if I didn't?'
Moreover, it was customary to send gifts between ruling families of the same continent for their first unborn child. Unless the relationship was particularly bad or on its way to being.
'What gift should I send? What kind of gift should I send to Navier's child?'
Sovieshu's eyes suddenly fell on the altered painting.
His expression became distorted. A child born between him and Navier. The image of that child that had come to his mind hundreds of times since his youth, appeared once again before his eyes.
'Navier's child. The child that could… have been mine.'
He felt suffocated, as if his lungs were being pressed hard. Sovieshu forced himself to shake his head.
Whether a prince or a princess, one day he would see it. Just thinking about that moment already made him feel short of breath.
Sovieshu leaned his forehead against the painting and pressed his lips together.
'I hope the child only looks like Emperor Heinley. I hope the child doesn't look like Navier.'
333
Heinley finally learned the method to sense the flow of mana from Grand Duke Kapmen.
The last few days had been so boring that I was eager to learn it. Although I had not revealed my impatience, I wanted Heinley to teach me how to control mana as soon as possible.
Once I learned to control mana, I would show my parents what I could do, so I told them in advance, "There's a surprise I'll show you soon."
However, Heinley shook his head when I asked him to hurry up and help me control mana.
"Not now, My Queen."
"Why?"
"I just learned it. It's dangerous."
"Wouldn't it be more dangerous if you forgot it over time?"
"First I have to test if I can do it right."
'What kind of test? How was he supposed to test it?'
I frowned and looked at Heinley with a face like, 'Are you serious?'
However, Heinley remained adamant,
"It's useless for you to look at me in such a lovely way."
I let out a sigh. He would never give in on an issue that could put my life at risk.
"How do you plan to test it?"
Finally, when I asked a little uneasily, Heinley responded with a meaningful smile.
"I have a test subject."
"A test subject?"
"Yes, so please be a little patient, My Queen. After I test it, I'll help you control mana."
"Okay…"
"Are you upset, My Queen?"
"No."
"I think you're upset…"
"Not really."
"My Queen…"
"What do you want?"
Heinley, who looked at me stunned for a moment, shook his head with a sad face.
"Well. If My Queen says no, it's no. I was worried because you answered me with a few words, but I'll trust My Queen."
"Your Majesty? Who did you fight with?"
Heinley lifted his downcast gaze at the sound of McKenna's cheery voice.
"What happened? Why are your eyes puffy?"
McKenna took a step back, amazed at his depressed expression.
"Nothing. Where is Marquis Ketron? Has he not arrived yet?"
"It's almost time for him to arrive…"
Just as he answered, an attendant entered to announce that Marquis Ketron had arrived.
McKenna hurried to sit down and straightened his back proudly.
"Let him in."
Heinley spoke in a firm voice. Then he watched Marquis Ketron enter with his arms folded on the desk.
There was no force in the Marquis's steps as he entered. The corners of his mouth drooped, and his arrogant eyes wavered.
Normally he looked like a seahorse, but today he looked like a half-dried seaweed.
His pale, dark complexion hinted that the rumors of his recent family troubles were true.
'Maybe it's also because of his cousin Christa's death,' McKenna thought to himself.
However, Heinley's expression did not change as he watched the powerless Marquis Ketron.
He did not have a face of happiness, nor of compassion.
Heinley remained in a crossed arm posture, and once Marquis Ketron came within five paces of his desk, he asked in a deep voice,
"What is old Duke Zemensia's weakness?"
Marquis Ketron looked at Heinley very surprised.
After the news that Christa had committed suicide everyone was in shock. The old Duke went to visit Marquis Ketron today and told him that Heinley was surely involved in this, so he asked Marquis Ketron for his help in making a plan because no doubt the Emperor intended to eliminate everyone who had any connection with Christa.
A couple of hours later, he received the imperial order to go to the palace.
Now, Marquis Ketron's mind was a mess.
His cousin's suicide, his uncle's request, the series of private meetings with the Emperor, the conflict with his wife, the cold stares of his children…
Everything was a mess. He was afraid, but the confusion was greater.
'Now he asks me about my uncle's weaknesses?'
"Why do you ask me that sudden question…?"
"Don't you understand, Marquis?"
"!"
"I'm giving you a chance to change sides."
Marquis Ketron's eyes fluttered intensely.
"You mean…"
"Sell your uncle."
Marquis Ketron's eyes fluttered even worse.
"Your Majesty, what are you saying?"
"What's wrong with that? Old Duke Zemensia sold his daughter to cover up his own crimes."
Heinley continued to corner him, not giving him time to think calmly.
"It's not as difficult a decision as the old Duke's. If you tell me your uncle's weaknesses, I'll forget all you've done."
"But…"
"I don't know why you hesitate so much. It's easy. Look at it this way. Do you think the old Duke who sold his daughter to save his life would not sell his nephew?"
After thinking about it briefly, Marquis Ketron opened his mouth.
"His weakness is his two grandchildren."
A smile came across Heinley's face.
"I see. He loves them so much that he didn't mind sacrificing his daughter."
Marquis Ketron's heartbeat quickened. Is it true? Is it true what he is saying? Did the old Duke really abandon Christa? Or is he trying to separate me from the old Duke?
It was hard to imagine that the old Duke would have abandoned Christa for his own sake, but it would be different if it were for the sake of his son and grandchildren.
He adored his two grandchildren very much. Even at the state council before Christa left for Compshire, the old Duke didn't open his mouth.
Still, what on earth had happened to make him abandon Christa again? From the time Christa left for Compshire until now, the old Duke had been silent. This was strange.
Heinley stared at a puzzled Marquis Ketron, and eventually opened his mouth.
"Thank you for telling me his weakness. But that was too easy to erase your crimes, don't you think?"
Marquis Ketron looked at Heinley in surprise. This was something even McKenna didn't know, so he was surprised as well.
"What else do you want…"
"Your body."
McKenna dropped the papers he held in his hands instantly, while Marquis Ketron took a step back.
"What?!"
334
Come to think of it, I think I treated Heinley more coldly than I should have during the day.
Lately, not only had I increased the number of times I went to the bathroom, but I had also increased the number of times I became angry in an instant, unable to control it.
Thinking about this made me feel suddenly guilty, I considered that I had been cruel and heartless to treat a lovely eagle like Heinley so coldly.
"Countess Jubel."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Did you ever fight with Count Jubel?"
"Ugh, more than a few times. I can't stand to see his face. I'm sure it's mutual."
"How did you used to fight?"
"We used to insult each other."
"Oh…"
"Did you fight with the Emperor?"
"No, we didn't have a fight. His Majesty didn't get upset with me. I was the one who treated him coldly."
Countess Jubel laughed and handed me the cup of tea she had brought.
"Pregnancy can cause a lot of emotional ups and downs."
I hope Heinley thinks the same so he doesn't feel hurt.
However, I'll apologize to him at dinner time. I shouldn't have treated him coldly, since he did it to take care of me.
"Um, Your Majesty?"
"Tell me, Miss Mastas."
"Your Majesty usually seems cold, so I don't think you should worry about that."
What?
At that moment, Rose tapped Mastas on the back with the chessboard she brought,
"Ouch! What did you hit me with on the back? Why do you hit me all the time?"
When Mastas complained, Rose glared at her and waved her hands.
I was able to interpret it as, 'there was no need to say that.'
… I always seem cold.
I smiled awkwardly and drank the tea Countess Jubel gave me.
Heinley will be here soon. It's better not to worry too much. I just have to express myself properly while looking him in the eye.
However, it was McKenna who appeared ten minutes later with a serious expression.
I was surprised because McKenna rarely came to see me. He even asked my ladies-in-waiting to step out for a moment.
Did something really happen?
Once we were alone, McKenna quickly approached me, put his hand around his mouth and said,
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. What I will tell you now must be kept absolutely secret. Can you promise me that?"
Although I nodded, I looked at him with a puzzled expression. Then McKenna quietly confessed,
"His Majesty Heinley made a strange request to Marquis Ketron."
"A strange request?"
"Heinley told him he wanted his body!"
McKenna shook his head wildly and continued,
"At first I couldn't understand what he meant. After that, His Majesty Heinley told me to leave the office because it was hard to concentrate."
Looking at me with quizzical eyes, McKenna asked,
"Your Majesty, do you know what it means?"
Heinley wanted Marquis Ketron's body. Besides, he had to concentrate.
Earlier, he had told me that he needed someone to test his mana control.
Ah, I think I know.
Marquis Ketron was a mage. He intended to use his body to practice what he had learned from Grand Duke Kapmen.
I nodded at McKenna's question. Then he pounded his chest with his fist and said,
"My goodness! I'm definitely on the Empress' side on this. You believe me, right?"
"On my side?"
"Absolutely!"
"Thank you."
Although I didn't understand why he seemed so anxious, I thanked him for being on my side.
Come to think of it, McKenna has helped me a lot since he was just a blue bird to me. Even if he just wanted to help Heinley, he was also helping me.
"I appreciate you telling me about it. Now I can happily wait for Heinley."
"What?!"
However, McKenna was startled at my words and took a step back.
"Happily?"
He had an expression of disbelief.
Could it be that McKenna didn't agree with Heinley using someone else as a test subject? Is that why he seemed uneasy?
Well, I didn't think much of it because it was Marquis Ketron, but it was terrible that Heinley would experiment on someone else for my sake.
"I'm sorry, McKenna. But you shouldn't be so surprised. His Majesty does this for me."
"He does this for the Empress?"
"Oh, you didn't know?"
"It's not normal to know!"
"I see. In fact, I don't know much either. Still, His Majesty is right to ask for Marquis Ketron's body for me."
"It was the same earlier with Grand Duke Kapmen…. Your Majesty, I don't understand what's going on?"
"Nothing special. I just want to learn something new, McKenna."
McKenna startled again and stepped back.
"Are you all right?"
When I stood up bewildered, McKenna hurried to the door and asked from there.
"Your Majesty, do you also want me to be part of your 'new knowledge'?"
"I'd like to. If you can help—"
Before I could finish my words, McKenna bowed his head hastily, and rushed out saying that he needed to go to the bathroom urgently.
As I stared blankly at the swinging of the door, Laura walked in and asked,
"What happened to McKenna? His face was pale."
"I don't know."
I shook my head.
It was just like the time he mentioned about the jam. What was he thinking?
"By the way, Your Majesty. I ran into Lady Nian today when I went downtown! She was fighting with Viscount Langdel!"
"Really?"
"Yes. I didn't believe it either because I thought they would never fight. I don't know why they fought."
Come to think of it, wasn't Viscount Langdel concerned that Marquis Liberty was courting Nian?
I hope it's not related to that.
"Your Majesty, do you have any ideas?"
"No."
"Didn't you have an 'it can't be' face a moment ago?"
"No."
As I moved from one side of the drawing room to the other to avoid Laura's bright eyes, fortunately Heinley then appeared.
"My Queen? Are you playing tag?"
I had to apologize to Heinley, so I rushed him into the shared bedroom and closed the door.
Although Heinley was puzzled, he didn't object. However, perhaps because he remembered what had happened earlier today, he kept his eyes fixed on my expression.
"I'm sorry about what happened during the day."
Then Heinley and I apologized almost at the same time.
"You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who has to apologize for childishly losing my temper."
"My Queen, that I acted with your welfare in mind is no reason for you to put up with what you don't like."
"Heinley, this time it was definitely my fault."
"No, I should have expressed myself better. Besides, you spoke calmly even though you were angry. You didn't lose your temper."
We quickly let our feelings flow to the point that our worries faded away. In the end, we smiled at each other.
It was all thanks to Heinley. Although if I were to say this, he would say that it was thanks to me…
"Well, My Queen. I think I can safely help you feel the flow of mana now."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'm sure. I checked several times. I've improved a lot."
He is not going to tell me that he has experimented with Marquis Ketron?
I don't know if I should say it. If I do, wouldn't McKenna get in trouble?
As I hesitated, he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.
"I'll start with this."
"Is kissing also part of the procedure?"
"It is."
"Is it absolutely necessary?"
"It's helpful to do it."
"Who told you that?"
"I myself."
He is as sly as a fox. As he chuckled, he kissed the back of my hand again and asked,
"Don't you like it?"
To be honest, it felt good.
"I can't stop you if it's helpful, so it's fine if you do it."
335
Leaning against a tree trunk, Rashta recalled the conversation she had with Marquis Karl an hour ago.
"You must be more careful with your actions, Your Majesty."
"What did Rashta do? Currently everyone picks on me, so I can't do anything."
"Didn't you go to see Duke Elgy?"
"Yes. I met with him. Duke Elgy is the only one who cares for Rashta and isn't swayed by rumors. Rashta can't even see a friend?"
"Your Majesty. In today's newspapers, even in the commoners' newspaper, there was an article in which it is stated that the Empress and Duke Elgy have frequent meetings alone."
"Marquis Karl, Rashta also read it. The journalist who wrote that article is Joanson. He always speaks ill of Rashta!"
"People don't think the same."
"His Majesty does not comfort Rashta. Can't Rashta seek comfort from someone else?"
"Not in your position."
"You lie. The Empress of the Eastern Empire can even have lovers. It's unbelievable that Rashta can't meet a friend in such a country. It makes no sense."
"Your Majesty is in a different situation than other empresses. After the Emperor forcibly divorced Navier, whom everyone trusted, Your Majesty Rashta ascended to the position of Empress. The marriage came about because of the fairytale love story between Your Majesty Rashta and His Majesty Sovieshu."
Rashta clenched her fist and banged her head against the tree.
'What am I supposed to do? Sovieshu was the one who brought another concubine, Sovieshu was the one who took me away from my daughter, and Sovieshu was the one who treated me coldly!'
Rashta believed that she had done nothing wrong. If he had not brought another concubine, if he had not taken her away from her daughter, and if he had not treated her coldly, there would be no whispers.
'My friendship with Duke Elgy remained the same as before. Isn't it strange that false rumors were spread as soon as I lost Sovieshu's favor?'
So for her it was Emperor Sovieshu's fault.
Rashta also didn't like the commoner's newspaper that Marquis Karl mentioned.
'Joanson… I must find a way to deal with that journalist…'
Joanson, who wrote bad articles about her, also posed a problem for her.
That journalist talked about the secret meetings between Rashta and Duke Elgy, pretending to be on her side and stated that he could not believe it. He then wrote an article about the princess.
On the surface, he showered praise on the princess, but the problem was the first sentence of the article.
— The Princess was born prematurely, but she is a healthy baby girl.
After reading the article about the empress' secret meetings, the fact that the princess had been born prematurely would raise suspicions.
It was clear that Joanson had truly dark intentions.
'It's exhausting.'
The more she tried to come to her senses, the worse the situation got, and the stronger the pressure in her chest became.
Rashta pounded her fist against her chest.
Her fake parents, her real father, and Viscount Roteschu, often took money from her. Viscountess Verdi, who was her closest aide, had betrayed her. She could not see the princess' face, and the demented Alan asked her to make his son a quasi-prince.
This was stressful enough. However, it didn't even end there.
A journalist named Joanson used to write malicious articles about her as revenge for the disappearance of his younger sister, Sovieshu treated her coldly since he fell in love with another woman, and it was very likely that the wicked woman who took her husband from her was the real daughter of her fake parents.
They approached her from all directions, reaching out their hands to squeeze her neck.
Just then, she overheard a group of nobles chatting as they took a stroll.
Rashta hurriedly hid. She had no reason to hide, but did so reflexively now after she would receive only criticism from people.
However, these nobles unexpectedly spoke favorably of Rashta.
"… At that point I told her to get the hell out of here. That girl named Evely made a furious look and insulted us. She said that if our lost daughter, who grew up as an orphan, met people like us, she must have suffered a lot…"
"Oh my! How could she say such ugly words to parents who have lost a daughter?!"
"Then I told her she was a harlot, that my daughter would never get involved with a married man. This made her very upset."
"She seems nice at first glance. But that girl is too arrogant."
"She's not polite. She has no etiquette. She doesn't even know her position."
"Commoners become haughty after they gain power. That's why commoners shouldn't become mages."
"Not really. Let's all look at Rashta. She was so pure and kind even when she didn't know her parents were nobles."
"Well, that's true. Back then, Her Majesty really did look like a bright wildflower."
Rashta smiled sadly.
'The Viscount and Viscountess Isqua have made other nobles speak well of me.'
Although they also took money from her, they were the only ones who gave it back.
The couple, who finished their speech about how pure and kind Rashta was, now insisted that Sovieshu should take better care of Rashta.
Rashta listened to the conversation happily as she was hidden in the bushes.
Sleep began to overtake her as the praise she had not heard in quite some time went on.
But she was completely awakened by the name that came up soon after.
"Are you going to the banquet to celebrate Navier's pregnancy?"
Puzzled, Rashta's eyes went wide.
'Pregnant? Who's pregnant?'
"I don't know yet. I might make a little trip because I had a good relationship with Navier."
"There was a rumor that the reason the Emperor divorced Navier was probably because of her infertility. In the end it was just a false rumor."
"There are many false rumors. Wasn't Emperor Heinley said to be a famous playboy? If it were true, would he be so attentive to Navier?"
Rashta swallowed hard.
Her heart raced in a different sense than before. Her whole body began to itch as an unpleasant feeling came over her.
'Navier? Wasn't she infertile?'
After learning that Sovieshu suspected Navier's infertility, Rashta fully believed it. She was convinced that Navier was infertile.
'How could she be pregnant? Besides, did she have a good relationship with Emperor Heinley? This… this is absurd. It makes no sense.'
Inside her clenched fist, fingernails dug into her flesh. The tip of her nose burned with resentment.
"Why am I suffering so much? Did she dump everything bad in her life on me and leave to make a happy home?'
Rashta couldn't even see her daughter's face, while Navier was happily pregnant.
'Actually, Rashta was the woman Prince Heinley fell in love with first.'