"Counterfeit promissory notes? My trade team's promissory notes can't be counterfeit."
"Innovations are not limited to trade teams. Criminals are also capable. Hasn't the world become a truly ugly and twisted place?"
After Danju left, the President of the Bear Corporation laughed bitterly, angry and skeptical.
'Counterfeit promissory notes? Are thieves innovating? Where did he get the incidents of counterfeit promissory notes?'
Promissory notes were the credibility of a trade team. The less the promissory notes could be counterfeited, the more reliable the trade team would be.
The Bear Corporation's promissory notes were the best, to the point that they were officially used by the Imperial Family of the Eastern Empire.
Recently, the Corporation's reputation was further elevated due to Empress Rashta's use of promissory notes issued by the Bear Corporation to distribute a huge social support donation.
For the president of the Bears Corporation, the possibility that the promissory notes could be counterfeited was totally unacceptable.
He was a very cautious man. Even the former empress, whom he had met on several occasions, had admired that he worked so hard to be in the position of the best trade team. He meticulously checked everything that worried him.
The President of the Bear Corporation could not dispel his anxiety and ordered his secretary late at night,
"Bring the books of accounts and promissory notes for the last year."
His secretary returned shortly after,
"Here you go."
"Pour me a cup of strong coffee."
After lighting his desk with an oil lamp and putting on his glasses, the president began to carefully examine the date of issue of the promissory notes, the authenticity of the returned promissory notes, the users of the promissory notes, and so on.
There was nothing wrong. From the promissory notes used by Countess Reygess to the recent use by Lord Vallois.
Even the largest promissory notes by Empress Rashta…
'Hmm?'
The president frowned and leaned a little closer over the account books. He rummaged thoroughly through all the account books, records, and his memories. It was strange. It was very strange. No promissory note had been issued to Empress Rashta in this past year.
It was impossible for one to have been issued more than a year ago. Back then, she had not even appeared in high society and lived as a mere 'commoner'.
Moreover, Empress Rashta used promissory notes from the Imperial Family.
'How strange…'
The president tapped impatiently on the armrests of his chair. Although these promissory notes had not been issued, there was a record of their use.
At the time, the person in charge seemed only to have checked the authenticity of the promissory notes. But that point aside, it was clear that something was amiss.
The president called the secretary again and ordered him,
"Bring detailed reports of promissory notes issued as well as returned promissory notes for this past year."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"I will have to go up to the top floor… so it will take me a little time, president. It's late, wouldn't it be better to check tomorrow? I will take it to your office early tomorrow."
"No, I need to check it now. I don't think I can sleep if I don't."
Because of the president's heavy voice, the secretary's face darkened as he wondered if something serious had happened.
The secretary appeared with a large box after about an hour.
The president immediately pulled out the reports of the promissory notes issued and confirmed his suspicions. Here there was no record of the issuance of these promissory notes either.
Then he pulled out the returned promissory notes after they had been used, and changed his reading glasses for special ones.
With these glasses he would be able to distinguish the promissory notes of Empress Rashta. The Bear Corporation put special marks on the promissory notes that were issued to the Emperor and Empress.
Just by observing the promissory notes that came out of the Imperial Family, one could know in advance where to invest, what would prosper, what would collapse, and so on… so it was a convenient method used by the Bear Corporation in secret.
"Sigh."
A heavy sigh came out of the president's mouth.
As he expected, the Bear Corporation had not issued any promissory notes to the Imperial Family in the last year.
So, there were two options.
The huge donation that made people praise Empress Rashta was actually money given by the Emperor or she had used promissory notes from the former Empress.
'In either case, it was disappointing.'
If it was the first, it was laughable that she had acted as a kind person taking advantage of the emperor, and if it was the second, it was a truly wicked act for her to use the former empress' money.
The president, who had hoped that Rashta was truly the light of the commoners, was very disappointed.
However, his disappointment was not the real problem.
The president went down to the drawing room and took the crumpled newspaper that was in front of the fireplace. He recalled that this newspaper had been read this morning by his daughter-in-law and she had said to him,
"Father, have you read this? Journalist Joanson must have had a huge fight with Empress Rashta. He has attacked her again. Didn't this journalist usually only write articles praising the Empress?"
At the time, he didn't pay much attention to her because he was playing with his grandchildren.
'Here it is.'
The president, who found the article written by Joanson, returned to his room with the newspaper in his hand and opened it under the lamplight.
After reading the article carefully with his glasses on, his concern took a clear form.
Journalist Joanson, who did not expect to write an article about nobility meetings, related that Empress Rashta only met with noblemen to hang out, and ended with this.
— Is it scary to look down from the top? Those who have climbed the ladder of status seem to have no intention of looking down.
'He previously wrote in an article that Empress Rashta framed her maids to replace them…'
Rashta, who had become empress amidst the cheers of commoners, in less than a year as empress had already starred in all sorts of scandals.
It seems that the journalist still knows nothing about the promissory notes… What if the promissory notes used by Empress Rashta were not the Emperor's, but really those of the former Empress? What if the former Empress asks for back the promissory notes she left behind, or if someone close to the former Empress realizes this?
Even if he kept his mouth shut, he didn't know which way the promissory note issue would blow up.
'It's worrisome.'
Empress Rashta had distributed a huge donation through the Bear Corporation, and both received high praise.
Now it was beneficial to the Bear Corporation, but if Empress Rashta fell, the Bear Corporation would suffer the same fate.
'I should take measures beforehand to disassociate us.'
The president began to think in a totally calculating manner.
297The next day, he headed early to the Bear Corporation headquarters to sweep the floor himself while he organized his complicated thoughts. He used to do this when his head started to ache from thinking so much.
An employee who knew the president's habit asked him in surprise when he saw him like this.
"President, is there something that worries you?"
"Hmm. It is a matter about Empress Rashta."
"Empress Rashta?"
Is there something related to the Empress that we should be worried about? The employee tilted his head thoughtfully. Suddenly, a memory came to his mind, "Ah."
"By any chance, is it related to what happened a while ago?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you know? When the president was away, Emperor's knights came to look for something related to that woman."
"That woman?"
"Yes. She was not the Empress back then."
The employee's words led the president to a clear conclusion.
Draw a line.
The president considered that it would be the most convenient.
Even if the emperor's knights had not come because of Empress Rashta, scandals had broken out one after another about the current empress who was less than a year old. That was certainly not a good sign.
When the president's face turned cold, the employee looked at him curiously,
"President…?"
"I must send someone to the imperial palace."
"What?"
"I need to find out something."
After these words, the president handed the broom to the employee. For his part, the young man was perplexed to suddenly receive it.
The president immediately went to his office and called his secretary.
The secretary entered with a haggard face because he hadn't slept well, but seeing the president's bright eyes, he patted his own face and asked,
"What do you want, President."
"Send someone to the imperial palace to report that our old promissory notes have been counterfeited."
"What?" The secretary was startled, "Isn't that a lie? Besides, how does it benefit us to say that our old promissory notes have been counterfeited?"
"Our old promissory notes are not in use, right?"
"That's true, but…"
"There is no problem because the Emperor does not have any old promissory notes, yet ask the Emperor for all the promissory notes to replace them with new ones just in case. It only takes a day, so he should not worry."
The secretary's expression turned puzzled. He had no idea why the president was acting so strangely.
Since a response had not yet been received from Whitemond, the incident was labeled 'important' and moved slightly off the priority list.
Pending a response, Heinley began to deal with what needed to be done right now.
To find out if other countries also felt threatened by the Western Empire, he sent a delegation with a handwritten letter personally to each country, and discussed with his trusted men the possibility of increasing the defense budget in preparation for future events.
These were delicate matters that needed to be handled with care.
Maybe that's why Heinley, who used to approach me at night with renewed energy,fell asleep today as soon as he lay down on the bed.
As I watched him sleep, I gently placed my hand on his body. When I began to caress his flawless, smooth skin, Heinley scowled.
Even exhausted he looked handsome.
I crept up to his face after a moment's hesitation. I rested my head on one hand, and with the other I played with his face.
Lovely, he is lovely. So lovely that he's dangerous.
Heinley's eyelids twitched as I gently blew out his eyelashes. He frowned again and buried his face in the pillow.
How lovely!
I put my hand in his hair and stroked it. It felt pleasant to touch it with my fingers. I froze for a moment as I kissed his forehead repeatedly because I thought I might have woken him up.
I checked his breathing and, fortunately, he was still sleeping peacefully. I was relieved, so I played with his cheeks and eyes again.
I felt confused looking at him.
Do I love him? Am I about to love him? I love him, but I don't want to acknowledge it?
Although I had feelings for Sovieshu, I only realized it just before the divorce. I was too slow in that regard.
I never thought I was slow before, but now I realize how slow I am.
How could Heinley confess and swear love to me without fear or doubt?
Wasn't he afraid that I would leave him? How could I be so sure that he loved me?
As I played with his hair as usual, I felt a strange itch on my fingertips.
I stroked his hair a little faster to dispel the itch, but still the sensation did not go away.
What's the matter? It wasn't just an itch because it hurt. It felt worse than an insect bite.
The moment I finally tried to remove my hand from his hair, Heinley suddenly opened his eyes and turned his body to the side in fright.
A thud was heard as he fell out of bed.
"Heinley?"
Why did he act like that? I was shocked. When I put my hands on the bed to get up, I lost strength in my arms and fell face down.
What the hell…?
Weak on the bed, I opened and closed my mouth. I was so bewildered I couldn't even speak.
Just then, I could see why Heinley suddenly turned away. Blue ice, almost white, appeared where Heinley had been sleeping.
"Heinley?"
Nervous, I called him back as I slowly got out of bed. What was going on? Naturally I got scared because I couldn't understand the situation.
Did someone break into our bedroom? Some unseen enemy froze only Heinley's side?
"Here I am, Queen."
Heinley responded as he stood up in front of me.
I was even more surprised to see him. His hair was covered in white ice as if he had rolled across a field of snow.
*Tap, tap.*
Heinley, who shook the ice out of his hair, looked at the side where he had been sleeping and at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking about.
"It looks like your body is slowly beginning to change."
"My body?"
"Like I told you, the mana could circulate through your body with the help of this bed… and me."
Heinley grabbed my hand, with which I had stroked his hair, and lifted it carefully.
"You mean that ice was made by me?"
"Probably."
As Heinley touched my hand very carefully, I examined my hand as well.
The itch from a moment ago had disappeared, and instead my fingertips were quite cool. Apart from that, there was nothing strange. I didn't have ice on my hand, nor was it particularly cold.
"Can you do it again?"
Heinley asked, looking at my hand uncomfortably.
Shook my head. I was just playing with Heinley's body while he slept. I wasn't thinking about doing anything, I didn't want to attack him. Even now, I didn't know what happened, so doing it again…
"Are you sure I did it?"
When I asked again, he immediately replied, "Yes."
"Heinley, didn't you do it?"
"No. Absolutely not."
Heinley spoke firmly and slowly released my hand. Then he smirked and murmured,
"Now it really is your nickname."
"My nickname?"
"The Ice Empress."
"…."
"It could also have been the Iron Empress. I'm glad it wasn't."
Heinley spoke in a joking tone, laughing as he shook out his hair, which still had traces of ice in it.
"It's a little scary to have your hair covered in iron…"
I was so excited that I couldn't sleep a wink.
Did I use magic? Really? Really?
It was so amazing that I felt strange.
I never wanted to be a mage. Now that I could become a mage, I was too excited.
Even with breakfast in front of me, I wasn't provoked to eat.
"If you can't use it normally, it hasn't fully manifested yet. Right now mana must be looking for the most suitable ability for you."
"The most suitable ability… Does that mean that the most suitable ability for me is ice? Am I a cold person?"
298When I asked uneasily, Heinley bit his lip hard and looked at me with shaky eyes as if trying to contain the laughter about to burst out.
Did I say something funny?
As I stared at him puzzled, Heinley barely managed to swallow his laughter and explained,
"Your ability would not be ice because My Queen is a cold person. Besides, it's still too early to say it's ice."
"But your hair and the side of your bed is frozen…"
"Although you're right about that, you can't tell if it's ice, snow, or water, until it fully manifests."
"Ahh…"
I was still in a daze. It was the first time I had felt this way since I became the Empress of the Eastern Empire and assumed the responsibilities accordingly.
I felt as if I was entering uncharted territory that I knew almost nothing about. Somehow I got goose bumps.
As I tried to control my heartbeat, Heinley suddenly murmured in an anxious voice.
"I wish I could guide you and help you better, but it's difficult to explain because it manifested in me as a child."
"Is that necessary?"
"No, but it's good to have the help of an expert to hone the ability. Even if it's only for a short time."
Come to think of it, Heinley stayed at the magical academy for a while even though he wasn't a regular student. So, he went to get help.
"I think it would be best if I went to the magical academy…"
Perhaps because the academy was located in the Eastern Empire, Heinley's expression turned dark.
After the tense moment, Heinley suddenly asked with a frown,
"By the way, My Queen. Haven't you eaten too little lately?"
The secretary, whom Sovieshu sent to find out about Evely's necklace, returned a few days later and reported with a stiff expression.
"The dean says a sponsor sent that necklace to Evely. But he refused to reveal the identity of that sponsor."
He seemed to have used strong words to try to open the dean's mouth. The displeasure that was clearly evident in the secretary's expression gave an idea of the situation at the time.
"He's good at keeping his mouth shut."
Sovieshu waved the pen in his hand and smirked. The more difficult it was to obtain information, the more valuable it was.
Sovieshu intended to open the dean's mouth even if he had to wrench his jaw.
"I'll have to personally go to Wirwol."
Although Wirwol was said to operate as an autonomous region, it was still territory of the Eastern Empire.
He thought to remind the dean that the Eastern Empire did not oppress Wirwol out of consideration, not because it did not have the power to do so.
After the secretary left, Sovieshu called Marquis Karl to check his schedule. He had so much work that he had almost no days off. Now he was busier because he was also in charge of Navier's work.
"Is it possible to rearrange my schedule? I need to go Wirwol."
"There are several items on the schedule that cannot be postponed. I think this item can be changed."
While they were in full discussion, another secretary, Count Pirnu, entered and reported.
"Your Majesty, a member of the Bear Corporation is here."
"If it is not urgent, tell him to come later."
"I don't know if it can be said to be urgent… he made a strange request."
"A strange request?"
"He says there was a situation where someone tried to counterfeit the old promissory notes issued by the Bear Corporation."
"The promissory notes?"
Sovieshu frowned. Marquis Karl was also startled and turned to look at Count Pirnu.
The Bear Corporation's promissory notes had been used by the Imperial Family for generations. The fact that someone tried to counterfeit the promissory notes was a very serious problem.
"Fortunately, that situation didn't escalate because they were old promissory notes."
"I understand."
"In order to prevent similar incidents, the Bear Corporation is going to replace the higher amount of promissory notes with other promissory notes made with a new method. The promissory notes used by Your Majesty are of a higher amount so they can be replaced, if you decide to do so it will not take more than one day."
Since the promissory notes were not to be used immediately, Sovieshu agreed without hesitation,
"All right."
The Bear Corporation member was escorted by Imperial Guard Knights to the headquarters.
The Imperial Guard Knights made sure the man entered the Bear Corporation headquarters and met with the president before leaving.
"Here you go, President."
"Good job."
The president took the envelope with the promissory notes, and put it on the desk, opened a drawer, took out the special glasses to distinguish the Imperial Family promissory notes and put them on.
Indeed, they were all Imperial Family promissory notes.
Next, he took out the account book of promissory notes issued and the detailed usage report to check the number and amount of each one.
He did this quickly and carefully. As this was an important matter the president checked it about four times, and sighed, taking off his glasses.
'What Empress Rashta used were promissory notes from Empress Navier!'
It was not possible to distinguish between the Empress's promissory notes and the Emperor's promissory notes. However, Emperor Sovieshu's promissory notes perfectly matched the issue date, and the total amount.
In other words, there was no way they were from Empress Rashta.
In this case, there was only one answer. Empress Rashta used the former empress's money as if it were her own.
'Empress Rashta is truly wicked.'
The president clicked his tongue.
Being the president of a large corporation for many years, he had also become a calculating person. In many cases he put profit before justice. However, he never used any money other than his own.
Besides, it was about Empress Navier. Didn't she get divorced because of Empress Rashta? How she could dare to use Empress Navier's money… she even took advantage of that money to elevate her reputation and get people's praise.
There were many worse emperors and empresses in the world. Many were killing tens of thousands of people or ruining their country by charging more taxes than necessary. Perhaps Empress Rashta was less reprehensible than them.
But she was certainly despicable.
299The President of the Bear Corporation had eaten on several occasions with Empress Navier. Honestly, she was a cold empress. During each meal, he was terrified to think whether the person in front of him was a book of etiquette or even alive.
But he did not hate Empress Navier. Although the Empress did not show him a friendly smile, neither did she betray him with a mask of kindness, let alone change her word after turning around.
Navier was not a warm person, but she was trustworthy and loyal.
Although she did not embrace the poor with a kind and compassionate heart, she certainly cared for them better than chatty people.
When Rashta became empress, the president spent several anxious days with mixed feelings.
It was painful to see how the innocent Empress Navier was displaced as if she had done bad things. At the same time, he was glad that the new empress was of commoner origin and had a kind heart. When she donated a huge sum of money, he marveled that she was truly a good person.
In the end, he simply decided to adapt to the new times. Focusing on further expanding and strengthening his trade team.
But he discovered the dark hidden truth with his own hands. The president closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair as a feeling of emptiness and desolation quickly came over him.
"It can't be…"
Closing his eyes, he muttered with a sense of dejection, tears inexplicably appeared at the corners of his eyes.
Empress Rashta declared that she would donate a large sum of money to numerous institutions in the midst of her wedding, to which Empress Navier had also been invited.
He heard those who praised Rashta mutter that Empress Navier was shameless.
The President agreed to a certain extent. How could she attend her ex-husband's wedding to her new husband?
Of course, it was a state affair, but she could have pretended to be ill and sent a delegation on their behalf.
'As was to be expected of a remarried empress, she must be a little shameless.' He thought at the time as he looked at the cold Empress Navier.
But it had been a misconception. A prejudice.
The President regretted it as he imagined how Empress Navier must have felt when Empress Rashta had distributed her money and received the praise of the people.
It was unfair. She must have felt upset and sad. Even the coldest people had feelings. She must have been speechless.
He remembered the cheers of the commoners toward Empress Rashta at the wedding parade and the near deathly silence as Empress Navier passed them in the carriage.
"It can't be…"
The president groaned inexplicably. He felt sorry for how unfair and how painful it must have been. He got that way even though he didn't particularly like Empress Navier.
The president, who had been sobbing for about 15 minutes, came to himself belatedly when he heard knocking at the door.
"President?"
The secretary, who came in with a stack of documents, approached the president in surprise when he saw his red eyes.
"Are you all right?"
Waving his hand to indicate that he was fine, the president ordered in a cold voice,
"Forget it, forget it. Find a journalist named Joanson and bring him here."
The journalist wondered why the President of the Bear Corporation would call him. Normally, this would not have been the case.
"Thank you for coming."
The president pointed to the chair across the desk. Joanson looked doubtfully between the president and the chair before taking a seat.
"You sent for me?"
"You don't look so good."
"I have been very busy."
"Have you been busy gathering information to write articles against Empress Rashta?"
Joanson's hand stopped as he calmly opened his notebook. However, he soon looked up fiercely.
"So it turns out that the president is a fervent supporter of Empress Rashta? I had heard that you two had a very good relationship."
The president knew he had found the right person when he saw that expression. But for some reason, Joanson was very upset right now.
"Be more rational."
At the president's stern voice, Joanson cocked his head in bewilderment. The strength with which he held the pen in his hand was also noticeable.
"I don't need a foolish journalist who can't recognize whether a person is an enemy or an ally. Get out."
The president spoke coldly and rang the small bell on his desk.
As soon as the secretary entered, the president said, "Show the guest out." Then, as if he was not at all interested in Joanson, the president turned his chair to one side and pulled out a newspaper.
The secretary tugged on Joanson's arm.
"Please leave now."
Why the hell did he call for me then? Joanson found the president's actions absurd. What does he care if I write bad articles about Empress Rashta?
Joanson snorted and followed the secretary to the door. But after three steps, he returned, sat down in the chair and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think clearly."
Only now did he understand the strange nuance in the president's words.
Couldn't I recognize whether a person was an enemy or an ally? Normally an enemy would not say this. Instead, a person who wanted to be an ally would say it.
His rationality, which had been buried in all sorts of negative and intense emotions after his younger sister's disappearance, slowly returned. It did so at just the right time.
"I'm not that foolish."
The president let out a laugh and turned the chair back to the front. The secretary left, closing the door discreetly.
Joanson opened his notebook again, placed it on his lap and looked at the president with burning eyes.
The president first tested him with the articles he wrote against Empress Rashta, and then hinted that he was not an enemy. It was clear that what the president wanted to tell him was related to Empress Rashta.
"Empress Rashta caused a stir in the middle of her wedding by declaring that she herself would donate twenty million krangs in promissory notes. Do you remember?"
As he expected, Empress Rashta's name came out of the president's mouth.
The corners of Joanson's mouth curled up.
"How could I not remember? I praised her for a week for that. It was the only good thing she did."
"Hmm… do you know whose the promissory notes are?"
'Why is he asking that question?'
For a moment, Joanson's expression was a little hesitant.
"Are not the promissory notes from Empress Rashta?"
When the president nodded, his expression turned cold.
"So the Emperor was trying to raise his wife's prestige."
"Unfortunately, the Emperor has not made use of his promissory notes."
"…"
Joanson, who blinked in bewilderment, stood up terrified after belatedly understanding his words. The chair fell to the floor with a crash.
"No way…!"
"The promissory notes are from the Empress Navier."
"What… what the hell are you saying?!"
Joanson's hands trembled as he listened to the president tell what he himself had found out. Joanson was stunned to learn that Rashta had taken advantage of those promissory notes in front of Empress Navier in the middle of her wedding.
Empress Navier, born into a good family, ate well, lived well and reached the pinnacle of power. She only lacked the love of her husband. At first, Joanson found it absurd that people who had to think about how to make ends meet would worry about Empress Navier.
Concubine Rashta, who had gone through all sorts of hardships to get to that position, was more pitiful than Empress Navier.
Even after she became a concubine, the nobles mocked her and the Empress treated her coldly, but did people still pity Empress Navier? He considered it truly absurd.
Although she later suffered a bit from the divorce, Empress Navier eventually remarried the king of a neighboring country. Joanson came to think that she had been born with some natural blessing to be able to lead such a quiet life.
But was the money that Empress Rashta donated from Empress Navier? Did she even do it in front of Empress Navier and was praised by those present?
Joanson was speechless. The world he until now thought he knew seemed to have been turned upside down.
Just as he was surprised that Empress Rashta, the light and hope of the commoners, was linked to his sister's disappearance, he was also surprised that Empress Navier, a cold-hearted noblewoman , held back as she watched Empress Rashta's strange behavior.
"This… this is really…"
The president ordered him firmly.
"Write an article about this. We don't know what reprisals the imperial family might take, so don't assert it completely, just enough to cast doubt."
Joanson was caught up in his emotions, but the president was a completely calculating man.
The president ordered him firmly.
It was not because of his emotions that he called Joanson and gave him this order.
He had lost confidence in Empress Rashta and had decided to disassociate himself from her because he had a bad feeling about her future.
"Be sure to make it clear that the Bear Corporation and Empress Rashta have nothing to do with each other. I mean to draw a line."
Sitting limply in her armchair, her maids brushed her hair and washed her face with a soft cloth.
As they continued to fix her hair, Rashta took a newspaper from another maid to read.
The maid's expression was very strange, but Rashta didn't think much of it. She just thought there would be some interesting news.
After a while, Rashta's hands trembled as she read the newspaper. The trembling gradually spread throughout her body.
"Your Majesty?"
The maid looked at the empress in surprise as she combed her hair. Rashta's face was as white as snow.
"Your Majesty!"
"My belly… my belly…"
The newspaper Rashta had held in her hands spread as it fell to the floor.
The maid's gaze shifted to the article that raised suspicions about the empress' promissory notes. Her eyes widened for a moment, but as Rashta's body swayed, the maid took her eyes off the newspaper and held her.
Rashta began to scream in pain as her entire face was drenched in cold sweat. Suddenly, she collapsed completely.
"The doctor, the palace doctor! Bring the palace doctor!
"Your Majesty, the Empress is going into premature labor!"
300Moments before, Sovieshu had asked his secretary to bring Rashta to his room. But Rashta had refused again and Sovieshu muttered coldly.
"Always using the baby as a shield."
Although he honestly didn't expect her to come, it surprised him that she always made the same excuse.
The secretary looked Sovieshu in the face.
"If you ask a little stronger…"
"Forget it. I don't want her to say again that her belly hurts or some such excuse."
After Sovieshu shook his hand, he grabbed a box from a small table, opened it and approached the birdcage.
The blue bird stopped scratching and rushed in front of Sovieshu, opening its beak immediately.
Sovieshu examined the playful bird as he poured some of the food from the box into the feeder.
It was still a little thin, but now it had nice plumage.
Sovieshu smiled bitterly as he watched the bird eat from the feeder impatiently.
This bird, which he had tried to give to Navier but had been sent back, now became his little peace.
And he was disappointed to conclude that it was Rashta who plucked the feathers of this lovely bird.
How could she do that to such a weak and delicate bird?
"After…"
"I am listening, Your Majesty."
"After the baby is born, I will assign a nanny to take care of it."
"What?"
"I will need someone to take care of the baby when I can't."
"Hmm…"
"I'll have to start reading parenting books."
"…"
"Babies are small and weak."
The secretary was silent as he could not understand Sovieshu's thoughts.
Won't Rashta take care of the baby when His Majesty is busy? Does that mean that the nanny will take care of the baby when His Majesty can't and the rest of the time he will do it on his own? Does His Majesty want to take over his child's upbringing entirely?
Several questions were about to come out of his mouth, but he managed to remain silent.
The secretary was puzzled.
The imperial family, like the nobility, was not primarily responsible for child rearing. The responsibility usually fell to the nanny.
In any case, Sovieshu would not change his mind because of his secretary's opinion.
"What about the slave certificate? Haven't found it yet?"
"My apologies. It would be easy to find if I could count on the help of many people, but that is not possible, so progress is not as fast as might be expected, Your Majesty."
"You must get it as soon as possible. As soon as possible."
Once the secretary left, Sovieshu stuck his fingers through the birdcage and stroked the bird for a moment before sitting down on his bed.
With his forehead resting on his clasped hands, he closed his eyes and suppressed his anxiety.
He had saved Rivetti because he knew of the crimes Rashta had committed, but also to keep Viscount Roteschu's mouth shut.
Besides, he had several plans in case the slave certificate came to light, but it would be best to find it and destroy it.
As Sovieshu lay in bed for a while, pressing his temples with his fingers, he heard an unexpected voice,
"Your Majesty, the Empress is going into premature labor!"
Sovieshu jumped up. Premature labor?
When he opened the door and stepped out into the drawing room, he saw that his assistant had an expression that made it difficult to tell whether he was happy or concerned.
However, Sovieshu belatedly understood the situation.
"Premature labor!"
At that instant, Sovieshu hurried out and ran straight to the West Palace.
After two deliveries, Rashta realized that the pain was the same no matter where she gave birth.
Rashta cried out and writhed with her hands on her belly from the pain, while she felt her insides shudder.
The pain, which seemed to never end, slowly lessened after a few hours. Rashta eventually began to gasp with her whole body drenched in sweat.
'It must be a boy.'
Rashta thought as she lay limply on the bed.
'It has to be a boy.'
When she had a special relationship with Sovieshu, she didn't care if it was a boy or a girl, but now the situation had changed.
It had to be a boy. There would be no second chance.
Beside Rashta, Viscountess Verdi exclaimed with joy,
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's a really beautiful baby!"
Rashta didn't have the strength to answer, so she just turned her head to the Viscountess's side. She blinked several times, trying to clear her blurred vision.
Viscountess Verdi held the baby wrapped in a soft cloth.
The baby's cries spread throughout the room.
Meanwhile, the maids brought a basin of warm water and a couple of small towels to clean Rashta's body.
"And the baby?"
Rashta asked Viscountess Verdi in a weak voice.
"Is it a boy?"
Rashta clearly saw how Viscountess Verdi's smile turned rigid in an instant.
"So it's a girl," Rashta muttered in a daze, "A girl."
Her vision blurred again. Rashta closed her eyes tightly and bit her lips in an attempt to hold back tears.
'This can't be. It had to be a boy.'
A deep sense of despair slowly rose within her as if she was sinking into a slimy swamp.
Rashta clutched her head with both hands as tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Uh…"
For both the baby's sake and her own sake, it definitely had to be a boy.
But it turned out to be a girl.
Rashta shuddered with vague anxiety.
The labor pains subsided, but now her heart ached.
"Your Majesty. Look at the baby."
Viscountess Verdi tried to hand her the baby, but Rashta shook her head and waved her hand.
"Later."
Now she was so disappointed that she didn't want to look at the baby.
"I'll hold her later."
When the baby began to cry again, Viscountess Verdi rocked her in her arms to try to calm her.
At that moment, a maid ran up and asked Rashta.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor asked me to ask if he may come in."
"Has the Emperor come?"
"The Emperor has been waiting at the door for hours."
Rashta rubbed her eyes, stretched her arms and said to Viscountess Verdi,
"Give me the baby."
In Rashta's arms, the baby calmed down in an instant.
"Tell His Majesty to come in."
The baby waved her tiny hands as if she could recognize her mother.
A deep love for the baby and intense disappointment. These two contrary feelings made Rashta cry again.
"Rashta?"
Sovieshu uttered Rashta's name in surprise as he entered the room.
Rashta struggled to suppress her tears and smiled at Sovieshu.
"Your Majesty, she is a truly beautiful baby."
Sovieshu quickly approached the baby and held her in his arms.
"Beautiful… a beautiful girl." Rashta repeated.
Sovieshu's face lit up when he saw the baby, but Rashta didn't notice because she was wiping her tears.
Sovieshu held the baby carefully in his arms, a little nervous not knowing where he should put his hands.
Perhaps the baby was too small because she was premature.
However, Sovieshu looked at the baby's wrinkled skin lovingly.
He too could not contain himself and tears came to his eyes.
To protect this baby, he divorced the woman he loved most.
For the sake of this baby.
"Your Majesty, you must hold her this way."
Viscountess Verdi showed him how to do it.
"Is that all right?"
"Yes."
Sovieshu properly held the baby in his arms, and carefully caressed her red, wrinkled skin with his large hands.