Everyone in the Great Hall was stunned by the Emperor's words.
The most stunned of all was I, the one directly involved.
"I haven't finished speaking. Everyone, please take your seats."
Roxana’s haughty expression was cracking.
She seemed to feel betrayed by the Emperor.
“That was! It was a whip I was swinging at a servant. Empress Zelda suddenly intervened and got whipped!”
Roxana defended herself with a flushed face.
I waited for Roxana to finish speaking and then quietly removed the robe draped over my shoulders.
Surprised gasps from the ministers and nobles could be heard from behind me.
The key ministers in the front all tilted their heads, wondering what was going on.
I slowly turned around and showed them my back.
The ministers’ surprised voices leaked out here and there.
“Your Highness, did you also receive any trace of such... threats from the former Empress?”
Roxana stammered, flustered at the High Priest’s question.
“No, it wasn’t like that, but I felt a threat to my life, so mentally, it was severe...”
The ministers’ murmuring grew louder.
“This is what a threat to life looks like,”
I said, looking directly at Roxana.
It was the first time I had spoken since entering the Great Hall.
“It was a whip swing in self-defense!”
Roxana shouted, her eyes wide.
“Does that look like a wound from a whip to you, Princess?”
Roxana fell silent, unable to respond to the Emperor’s cold tone.
Her eyes wandered here and there.
Roxana was afraid of the ministers’ agitation.
“Your Majesty, even though you are about to remarry, aren’t you still the Empress of the Lapion Empire on paper? How dare you whip someone like that? She is the Empress of the Lapion Empire, the greatest power in the Northern Continent. This is unacceptable behavior for a Princess of the Principality of Aklato.”
Prince Norton then stood up and objected.
“This is something that the imperial family of the Southern Continent will never tolerate.”
Prince Norton’s words caused a small stir among several ministers.
As they were from a continent so proud, many ministers subtly looked down on the island nation of Aklatto.
Some of the ministers nodded and made a gesture of agreement with Prince Norton’s words.
“I agree. Furthermore, unless we cut off all exchanges and trade with the Kingdom of Shattonil, rather than executing the former Empress, I believe we should use this incident as an opportunity to further pressure the Kingdom of Shattonil both politically and economically.”
The Emperor gave his ministers a moment to converse.
Time passed, but not a single minister dared to object.
“Your Majesty, no matter what, this goes against the original agreement.”
Everyone except Roxana.
“What?”
“The monastery promised to guarantee their safety in front of the Continent’s distinguished guests, while deposing Her Majesty, who was revealed to be the acting Empress, and promising me remarriage!”
Roxana poured out her words to the Emperor, then turned her head to glare at me.
“When did I ever say I would cancel the remarriage?”
He looked down at Roxana and spoke quietly, as if remonstrating.
“Yes? Then...”
Roxana’s tone softened again.
“The remarriage will proceed as planned.”
He declared to Roxana and the ministers.
This was what he meant.
The way to save me.
Dethrone me and demote me to a concubine.
In return, to appease the opposition of the ministers and the Principality of Aklatto, Roxana's remarriage would proceed.
I felt grateful, yet a pang of pain welled up in my chest.
I wasn't angry, but a heat surged within me for some reason.
The relief at having survived was fading. The pain in my back, which I hadn't been able to tell if it was a relaxation or a pain, began to return vividly.
Even more painful was the gloomy gaze he held upon me.
"After the remarriage ceremony, you will join the concubines-to-be of the Principality of Aklatto in their wedding ceremony."
What? Bringing in another concubine?
I tilted my head, but he rose and left the great hall.
Roxana followed him, and the hall fell into chaos once again.
I stared blankly at the spot where he had sat.
"I have orders to bring you back to the main palace."
Then, Raphael, accompanied by his knights, cautiously approached me and spoke.
Guided by the secretary, I headed to the back gate of the temple.
There, the party, Prince Norton, and Grand Duke Martins were already waiting for me in front of the carriage.
“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty, the Empress. I’m ashamed that things have come to this conclusion.”
Grand Duke Martins bowed his head.
“I’ll speak with the Grand Duke later.”
“Yes, I will visit you soon.”
Raphael spoke after Archduke Martins.
“Please understand, Your Majesty. His Majesty made the best choice for now.”
“I understand. But, do I have to stay at the main palace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress... no, Your Highness Zelda.”
The title “Your Highness” felt more awkward than I expected.
But “Empress” wasn’t exactly more comfortable either.
“I think it will have to be that way until the remarriage.”
“Why?”
“That... ask His Majesty directly. I’m simply following orders.”
“Yes, of course.”
I boarded the carriage with the party.
“I will visit you at the main palace soon,”
Prince Norton said before closing the carriage door.
“Yes. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
The carriage headed back to the main palace.
I was alive.
And I was living in the palace again.
It was a good opportunity to retrieve the Sword of Incarnation and avenge Bonis.
If I thought about it that way, it was actually a good thing. After all, the position of Empress was never mine to begin with.
The problem was that Roxana was to become the new Empress of the Lapion Empire.
Dealing with her now in power would be no easy task.
As soon as we arrived at the main palace, the knights separated me and my companions, on some unknown order.
I was shown to a separate room where I would stay until the Emperor’s remarriage.
Why are we up here again?
The knight who guided me stopped in front of the room where he had taken me to receive treatment.
“You want me to stay here?”
“Yes,”
The knight said briefly and opened the door.
This was the same floor as the Emperor’s bedroom.
His bedroom was the end of the world, but it wouldn't have been pleasant if Roxana had found out we were staying on the same floor.
I paused as I entered the room, staring down the long hallway.
Fragments of memory flashed through my mind like shards of broken glass.
"Did I ever run here?"
No way.
How could I have run through the hallways of the main palace bedroom floor without going crazy?
Memories kept coming back, and I thought they were probably memories of my time with the Emperor.
I shook my head and turned back.
The palace doctor was waiting in the room.
"His Majesty has ordered it."
The most stunned of all was I, the one directly involved.
"I haven't finished speaking. Everyone, please take your seats."
The ministers sat back down to hear the rest of the Emperor.
"There was only testimony that the former Empress attempted to embezzle imperial funds, but our investigation revealed that she never actually carried them out. Furthermore, it's said that she attempted to extort a large sum from Prince Tesla, threatening to expose her status as the 'Acting Empress,' but that too is merely a one-sided claim by Prince Tesla, with no solid evidence."
The ministers began to whisper at the Emperor's words.
Their eyes seemed to suggest that even without evidence, the mere act of harboring such impure thoughts warranted the death penalty.
“She indeed trespassed into the Empress’s palace, but she heard that her servant was suffering, so she risked her life and entered the palace, and in the process, she was whipped by Princess Roxana.”
At his continued words, the ministers suddenly collectively cleared their throats and pretended not to hear.
“As Prince Norton said, even if Empress Zelda was a proxy Empress, she is still the official Empress on paper. If the fact that ‘the Princess of the Principality of Aklatto whipped the Empress of the Lapion Empire’ were to become known to other countries, wouldn’t that be a tarnish to the dignity of the Lapion Imperial Family?”
The ministers’ gazes shifted from me to Princess Roxana.
I thought he was covering up Sharon’s crimes while hiding the fact that Roxana had whipped her...?
"There was only testimony that the former Empress attempted to embezzle imperial funds, but our investigation revealed that she never actually carried them out. Furthermore, it's said that she attempted to extort a large sum from Prince Tesla, threatening to expose her status as the 'Acting Empress,' but that too is merely a one-sided claim by Prince Tesla, with no solid evidence."
The ministers began to whisper at the Emperor's words.
Their eyes seemed to suggest that even without evidence, the mere act of harboring such impure thoughts warranted the death penalty.
“She indeed trespassed into the Empress’s palace, but she heard that her servant was suffering, so she risked her life and entered the palace, and in the process, she was whipped by Princess Roxana.”
At his continued words, the ministers suddenly collectively cleared their throats and pretended not to hear.
“As Prince Norton said, even if Empress Zelda was a proxy Empress, she is still the official Empress on paper. If the fact that ‘the Princess of the Principality of Aklatto whipped the Empress of the Lapion Empire’ were to become known to other countries, wouldn’t that be a tarnish to the dignity of the Lapion Imperial Family?”
The ministers’ gazes shifted from me to Princess Roxana.
I thought he was covering up Sharon’s crimes while hiding the fact that Roxana had whipped her...?
Roxana’s haughty expression was cracking.
She seemed to feel betrayed by the Emperor.
“That was! It was a whip I was swinging at a servant. Empress Zelda suddenly intervened and got whipped!”
Roxana defended herself with a flushed face.
I waited for Roxana to finish speaking and then quietly removed the robe draped over my shoulders.
Surprised gasps from the ministers and nobles could be heard from behind me.
The key ministers in the front all tilted their heads, wondering what was going on.
I slowly turned around and showed them my back.
The ministers’ surprised voices leaked out here and there.
“Your Highness, did you also receive any trace of such... threats from the former Empress?”
Roxana stammered, flustered at the High Priest’s question.
“No, it wasn’t like that, but I felt a threat to my life, so mentally, it was severe...”
The ministers’ murmuring grew louder.
“This is what a threat to life looks like,”
I said, looking directly at Roxana.
It was the first time I had spoken since entering the Great Hall.
“It was a whip swing in self-defense!”
Roxana shouted, her eyes wide.
“Does that look like a wound from a whip to you, Princess?”
Roxana fell silent, unable to respond to the Emperor’s cold tone.
Her eyes wandered here and there.
Roxana was afraid of the ministers’ agitation.
“Your Majesty, even though you are about to remarry, aren’t you still the Empress of the Lapion Empire on paper? How dare you whip someone like that? She is the Empress of the Lapion Empire, the greatest power in the Northern Continent. This is unacceptable behavior for a Princess of the Principality of Aklato.”
Prince Norton then stood up and objected.
“This is something that the imperial family of the Southern Continent will never tolerate.”
Prince Norton’s words caused a small stir among several ministers.
As they were from a continent so proud, many ministers subtly looked down on the island nation of Aklatto.
Some of the ministers nodded and made a gesture of agreement with Prince Norton’s words.
“I agree. Furthermore, unless we cut off all exchanges and trade with the Kingdom of Shattonil, rather than executing the former Empress, I believe we should use this incident as an opportunity to further pressure the Kingdom of Shattonil both politically and economically.”
The Emperor gave his ministers a moment to converse.
Time passed, but not a single minister dared to object.
“Your Majesty, no matter what, this goes against the original agreement.”
Everyone except Roxana.
“What?”
“The monastery promised to guarantee their safety in front of the Continent’s distinguished guests, while deposing Her Majesty, who was revealed to be the acting Empress, and promising me remarriage!”
Roxana poured out her words to the Emperor, then turned her head to glare at me.
“When did I ever say I would cancel the remarriage?”
He looked down at Roxana and spoke quietly, as if remonstrating.
“Yes? Then...”
Roxana’s tone softened again.
“The remarriage will proceed as planned.”
He declared to Roxana and the ministers.
This was what he meant.
The way to save me.
Dethrone me and demote me to a concubine.
In return, to appease the opposition of the ministers and the Principality of Aklatto, Roxana's remarriage would proceed.
I felt grateful, yet a pang of pain welled up in my chest.
I wasn't angry, but a heat surged within me for some reason.
The relief at having survived was fading. The pain in my back, which I hadn't been able to tell if it was a relaxation or a pain, began to return vividly.
Even more painful was the gloomy gaze he held upon me.
"After the remarriage ceremony, you will join the concubines-to-be of the Principality of Aklatto in their wedding ceremony."
What? Bringing in another concubine?
I tilted my head, but he rose and left the great hall.
Roxana followed him, and the hall fell into chaos once again.
I stared blankly at the spot where he had sat.
"I have orders to bring you back to the main palace."
Then, Raphael, accompanied by his knights, cautiously approached me and spoke.
***
Guided by the secretary, I headed to the back gate of the temple.
There, the party, Prince Norton, and Grand Duke Martins were already waiting for me in front of the carriage.
“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty, the Empress. I’m ashamed that things have come to this conclusion.”
Grand Duke Martins bowed his head.
“I’ll speak with the Grand Duke later.”
“Yes, I will visit you soon.”
Raphael spoke after Archduke Martins.
“Please understand, Your Majesty. His Majesty made the best choice for now.”
“I understand. But, do I have to stay at the main palace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress... no, Your Highness Zelda.”
The title “Your Highness” felt more awkward than I expected.
But “Empress” wasn’t exactly more comfortable either.
“I think it will have to be that way until the remarriage.”
“Why?”
“That... ask His Majesty directly. I’m simply following orders.”
“Yes, of course.”
I boarded the carriage with the party.
“I will visit you at the main palace soon,”
Prince Norton said before closing the carriage door.
“Yes. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
The carriage headed back to the main palace.
***
I was alive.
And I was living in the palace again.
It was a good opportunity to retrieve the Sword of Incarnation and avenge Bonis.
If I thought about it that way, it was actually a good thing. After all, the position of Empress was never mine to begin with.
The problem was that Roxana was to become the new Empress of the Lapion Empire.
Dealing with her now in power would be no easy task.
As soon as we arrived at the main palace, the knights separated me and my companions, on some unknown order.
I was shown to a separate room where I would stay until the Emperor’s remarriage.
Why are we up here again?
The knight who guided me stopped in front of the room where he had taken me to receive treatment.
“You want me to stay here?”
“Yes,”
The knight said briefly and opened the door.
This was the same floor as the Emperor’s bedroom.
His bedroom was the end of the world, but it wouldn't have been pleasant if Roxana had found out we were staying on the same floor.
I paused as I entered the room, staring down the long hallway.
Fragments of memory flashed through my mind like shards of broken glass.
"Did I ever run here?"
No way.
How could I have run through the hallways of the main palace bedroom floor without going crazy?
Memories kept coming back, and I thought they were probably memories of my time with the Emperor.
I shook my head and turned back.
The palace doctor was waiting in the room.
"His Majesty has ordered it."
The palace doctor had taken over the treatment for my back, replacing the magician.
The palace doctor had said he'd already prepared a remedy for me.
When the treatment was over and the magician left, all the tension seemed to melt away.
For a moment, the relief of having survived sent a surge of energy through me.
I leaned against the door and then collapsed to the floor.
A cold wind blew in from somewhere.
It wasn't cold, but I curled up with my legs up and my arms around them.
It was the depths of winter right now.
How long had I been standing at the door like this?
Knock, knock.
There was a knock.
I had been waiting for that sound.
I knew he was coming.
I knew it, but I was afraid he wouldn't come.
I jumped up and opened the door.
He looked a little surprised, as if he hadn't realized it would open so quickly.
"Can I come in?"
I stepped aside, and he came in.
"Treatment."
"The palace doctor just came and went..."
I let out a word, then added the honorific a beat later.
He wasn't Nelly, come to your senses.
"The Master said the wound was deep, but fortunately, it wasn't severe enough to leave a scar."
"Even if it was, no one would see it... What, what?"
I muttered softly, as if to myself, lowering my gaze to the marble floor.
"Why is there no one to see it?"
He asked, lifting my chin with his hand.
His eyes were deep.
I avoided his gaze, moving my chin to the side.
Then, with a bitter expression, he lowered his hand, which had been suspended in midair.
“You must have a lot to say to me, don’t you?”
He asked, moving to the sofa and sitting down.
“How did I avoid the death penalty? Thank you for sparing my life, Your Majesty.”
The palace doctor had said he'd already prepared a remedy for me.
When the treatment was over and the magician left, all the tension seemed to melt away.
For a moment, the relief of having survived sent a surge of energy through me.
I leaned against the door and then collapsed to the floor.
A cold wind blew in from somewhere.
It wasn't cold, but I curled up with my legs up and my arms around them.
It was the depths of winter right now.
How long had I been standing at the door like this?
Knock, knock.
There was a knock.
I had been waiting for that sound.
I knew he was coming.
I knew it, but I was afraid he wouldn't come.
I jumped up and opened the door.
He looked a little surprised, as if he hadn't realized it would open so quickly.
"Can I come in?"
I stepped aside, and he came in.
"Treatment."
"The palace doctor just came and went..."
I let out a word, then added the honorific a beat later.
He wasn't Nelly, come to your senses.
"The Master said the wound was deep, but fortunately, it wasn't severe enough to leave a scar."
"Even if it was, no one would see it... What, what?"
I muttered softly, as if to myself, lowering my gaze to the marble floor.
"Why is there no one to see it?"
He asked, lifting my chin with his hand.
His eyes were deep.
I avoided his gaze, moving my chin to the side.
Then, with a bitter expression, he lowered his hand, which had been suspended in midair.
“You must have a lot to say to me, don’t you?”
He asked, moving to the sofa and sitting down.
“How did I avoid the death penalty? Thank you for sparing my life, Your Majesty.”
“...It feels awkward to hear honorifics from you.”
“I imagine it’s not as difficult for the ears to hear as the mouth to speak.”
For some reason, my tone as I answered him was not particularly polite.
“Just call me Linel. I asked Raphael, and he said you used my name in informal settings, too...”
“Did I?”
“So you did.”
“Now that you’re a concubine, I’ll call you by your name only when we’re alone. ”
Nelly was easy, but calling him Linel felt like a barrier.
“Are you angry?”
His voice was low.
Me?
My life was spared, so why would I be angry?
“No, Linel?”
Contrary to my words, my voice was a little harsh, even to my ears.
“That was the only way to save you. No matter how much I thought about it, the only way to save you and keep you by my side was to make you a concubine.”
“I know.”
It was true.
“I wish you could just be as comfortable as before when we’re alone together?”
“I knew you were His Majesty the Emperor, but you’re not being rude.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“...Being ‘comfortable’ with me means being rude. I’m sorry.”
This time, I bowed my head deeply in apology, and he gave a short laugh.
Suddenly, the words I’d been thinking inside blurted out.
“Are you really going to have a remarriage?”
Oh, I wasn’t going to ask that question...
I see. The reason for my curt tone was his remarriage.
“It will be. Otherwise, you’ll be in trouble.”
I nodded obediently.
“So that’s what you meant when you said a lot would change.”
“The location has changed. Nothing has changed.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Come see me if you’re curious. We still have a lot to talk about. Do you know where my bedroom is?”
Linel sat up on the sofa.
“It doesn’t matter where or what time it is,”
He said as he opened the door.
“Come to me if you need me. Anytime.”
Actually, now...
Now, I need you!
I cried out to myself.
In the end, I couldn’t catch him.
After that day, I didn’t see Linel.
We didn’t look for each other.
The next time I saw him was three days later, at the rewedding ceremony.
What kind of rewedding was this so soon!
If I had known the rewedding would be this quick, I might have gone to see him before.
The date of the rewedding ceremony was announced the day before.
Not only the existing concubines, but also I and the prospective concubines from the Duchy of Aklatto were obligated to attend the rewedding ceremony.
This must have been Roxana’s will, not the Emperor’s.
Inside the grand hall where the rewedding ceremony was being held, I greeted the concubines I hadn’t seen in a month, except for Rosie.
The concubines-to-be from the Principality of Aklatto knew who I was, but they only glanced at me from afar and didn't offer a proper greeting.
Rosie and Melanie grumbled about the impertinence of the concubines-to-be, but I paid them no mind.
Perhaps because all the preparations had already been made, the remarriage proceeded swiftly.
My attention was completely focused on Linel's expression, almost to the point of eye strain.
He didn't frown, but his blue eyes were dark and sunken.
His complexion had darkened dramatically the moment they exchanged their vows before the High Priest.
Roxana's face, on the other hand, was radiant.
Her flowing red hair, as if flowing blood, matched her white wedding dress better than I'd expected.
The only thing that didn't suit Roxana was the man beside her, Linel.
Even from afar, Roxana's air of pride was palpable. She walked out of the Great Hall, arm in arm with Linel, glancing around.
Then, when our eyes met, one corner of her mouth slyly lifted.
She had been looking for me.
She must have wanted to see my expression as I watched her and Linel's remarriage.
I deliberately smiled brightly and clapped enthusiastically.
I was probably the most enthusiastic of all the concubines.
Linel glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he left with Roxana.
His normally expressionless face was crumpled.
The two left the Grand Palace building where the remarriage was being held, boarded a carriage together, and headed straight to the Empress's Palace.
They would have dinner together, share a glass of wine, and then spend their first night together.
Ah, their first night together...
I felt a surge of heat rising inside me.
"Your Majesty, please come to my quarters. I have tea I'd like to serve you."
Rosie said, still calling me Empress.
She tried to comfort my complicated feelings.
"Yes, I'd like to hear about your life. And your plans for the future."
Melanie linked arms with me and spoke combatively.
“What are your plans for the future?”
“There has to be a plan! So, are you just going to sit back and watch this unfold?”
The situation Melanie was referring to seemed to be the arrival of a new Empress.
No...
Melanie’s words made me realize something.
As I listened to the fading sound of the carriage, I remembered what Linel had said a few days ago:
“Come to me if you need me. Anytime, anywhere.”
I couldn’t stop the remarriage, but maybe I could stop the wedding night.
“There’s a plan...”
And tonight, that is.
For some reason, my tone as I answered him was not particularly polite.
“Just call me Linel. I asked Raphael, and he said you used my name in informal settings, too...”
“Did I?”
“So you did.”
“Now that you’re a concubine, I’ll call you by your name only when we’re alone. ”
Nelly was easy, but calling him Linel felt like a barrier.
“Are you angry?”
His voice was low.
Me?
My life was spared, so why would I be angry?
“No, Linel?”
Contrary to my words, my voice was a little harsh, even to my ears.
“That was the only way to save you. No matter how much I thought about it, the only way to save you and keep you by my side was to make you a concubine.”
“I know.”
It was true.
“I wish you could just be as comfortable as before when we’re alone together?”
“I knew you were His Majesty the Emperor, but you’re not being rude.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“...Being ‘comfortable’ with me means being rude. I’m sorry.”
This time, I bowed my head deeply in apology, and he gave a short laugh.
Suddenly, the words I’d been thinking inside blurted out.
“Are you really going to have a remarriage?”
Oh, I wasn’t going to ask that question...
I see. The reason for my curt tone was his remarriage.
“It will be. Otherwise, you’ll be in trouble.”
I nodded obediently.
“So that’s what you meant when you said a lot would change.”
“The location has changed. Nothing has changed.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Come see me if you’re curious. We still have a lot to talk about. Do you know where my bedroom is?”
Linel sat up on the sofa.
“It doesn’t matter where or what time it is,”
He said as he opened the door.
“Come to me if you need me. Anytime.”
Actually, now...
Now, I need you!
I cried out to myself.
In the end, I couldn’t catch him.
***
After that day, I didn’t see Linel.
We didn’t look for each other.
The next time I saw him was three days later, at the rewedding ceremony.
What kind of rewedding was this so soon!
If I had known the rewedding would be this quick, I might have gone to see him before.
The date of the rewedding ceremony was announced the day before.
Not only the existing concubines, but also I and the prospective concubines from the Duchy of Aklatto were obligated to attend the rewedding ceremony.
This must have been Roxana’s will, not the Emperor’s.
Inside the grand hall where the rewedding ceremony was being held, I greeted the concubines I hadn’t seen in a month, except for Rosie.
The concubines-to-be from the Principality of Aklatto knew who I was, but they only glanced at me from afar and didn't offer a proper greeting.
Rosie and Melanie grumbled about the impertinence of the concubines-to-be, but I paid them no mind.
Perhaps because all the preparations had already been made, the remarriage proceeded swiftly.
My attention was completely focused on Linel's expression, almost to the point of eye strain.
He didn't frown, but his blue eyes were dark and sunken.
His complexion had darkened dramatically the moment they exchanged their vows before the High Priest.
Roxana's face, on the other hand, was radiant.
Her flowing red hair, as if flowing blood, matched her white wedding dress better than I'd expected.
The only thing that didn't suit Roxana was the man beside her, Linel.
Even from afar, Roxana's air of pride was palpable. She walked out of the Great Hall, arm in arm with Linel, glancing around.
Then, when our eyes met, one corner of her mouth slyly lifted.
She had been looking for me.
She must have wanted to see my expression as I watched her and Linel's remarriage.
I deliberately smiled brightly and clapped enthusiastically.
I was probably the most enthusiastic of all the concubines.
Linel glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he left with Roxana.
His normally expressionless face was crumpled.
***
The two left the Grand Palace building where the remarriage was being held, boarded a carriage together, and headed straight to the Empress's Palace.
They would have dinner together, share a glass of wine, and then spend their first night together.
Ah, their first night together...
I felt a surge of heat rising inside me.
"Your Majesty, please come to my quarters. I have tea I'd like to serve you."
Rosie said, still calling me Empress.
She tried to comfort my complicated feelings.
"Yes, I'd like to hear about your life. And your plans for the future."
Melanie linked arms with me and spoke combatively.
“What are your plans for the future?”
“There has to be a plan! So, are you just going to sit back and watch this unfold?”
The situation Melanie was referring to seemed to be the arrival of a new Empress.
No...
Melanie’s words made me realize something.
As I listened to the fading sound of the carriage, I remembered what Linel had said a few days ago:
“Come to me if you need me. Anytime, anywhere.”
I couldn’t stop the remarriage, but maybe I could stop the wedding night.
“There’s a plan...”
And tonight, that is.
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