Sovieshu stared at me for a moment, then let out a laugh.
"What do you mean? Will the Empress spread bad rumors about Rashta unless I change Viscount Langdel's punishment to exile?"
"No. I'm just trying to prepare a report. Oh, do you know there's a report?"
"Do you think I'll fall for that?"
"Fall for it or not, it doesn't matter. You will handle Viscount Langdel according to law, and I intend to deal with Miss Rashta according to the law."
"And how will you do that?"
"Miss Rashta spread false information to discredit Duchess Tuania, encouraged the Duke to divorce her, and undermined the duchess' reputation in society. She's aggressive enough to buy people. For this she must be locked up in jail and whipped."
"!"
"I'll do it."
Sovieshu's gaze could sting one's skin. He seemed to find my suggestion genuinely preposterous.
"No matter how much you hate Rashta, how can you defend someone that's tried to kill her?"
Sovieshu glared at me with a face like thunder.
"The same as you if you were defending someone whose honor was intentionally destroyed."
"Are those equivalent? What Rashta does is common in society."
"Then everyone will understand if this happens. It's common in society."
"For you to say this..."
Sovieshu turned away, breathing deeply. He cooled down a little, then turned sharply back towards me.
"Does the Empress have no compassion?"
"I do. That is why I'm trying to save Viscount Langdel."
"..."
"May I ask you a question?"
Sovieshu glowered at me instead of answering, and I raised my eyebrows questioningly.
"Does the Emperor have compassion only for Rashta?"
"What?"
"You always ask me, 'Don't you feel sorry for Miss Rashta?'"
It was meant to be a biting response, but Sovieshu did not immediately answer. It wasn't just compassion he had for her.
For a moment we stared at each other in silence. Sovieshu seemed to be in internal conflict with himself. He was mad at me, and he didn't want to have Rashta whipped, but he also didn't want to let go of Viscount Langdel...
"Very well."
After a long pause, Sovieshu finally surrendered. However, somehow I was not happy with my victory.
"There is a condition."
"Tell me."
"The report. Give it to me."
"I'll give it to you after Viscount Langdel leaves."
I replied with as much calm as possible. Sovieshu's jaw tightened, then he rang a bell on his desk. The door opened and a secretary came in.
"I will change the punishment on Viscount Langdel. He will be exiled, not executed."
Sovieshu raised his eyebrows at me expectantly. Instead of answering, I bowed courteously and left the office.
I had completed a lot of work, and it wasn't even evening yet. The sky was still bright and people were bustling about. The world was peaceful in the hours of a man's life being decided. During this time, everyone was busy talking about the emperor's first baby.
My heart filled with unexplainable emotions, and I stared towards the eastern palace. Somewhere in there lay Rashta. Although she had not yet awakened, her world had changed. A childless concubine could easily be abandoned by the emperor. However, a concubine with children had a connection left, even if the emperor's heart cools and she quits the concubine life.
"..."
I won the battle against Sovieshu and succeeded saving Viscount Langdel. Why didn't I feel relieved? I sighed and turned around.
"Queen?"
As soon as I turned around, I saw Queen was sitting on a rock, holding a proper letter envelope in his beak. A few people passed by, and he ducked behind the bushes. When they were gone, he emerged again, and I was so confused that I laughed. I approached him, and Queen placed the envelope in my hand and flew away.
'I was going to hug him.'
After pulling away my outstretched arms, I sat on a bench and opened the envelope. Unlike the previous short notes, it contained a proper letter this time.
-My elder brother's not feeling well. I worry.
-Do you remember the blue-haired knight? He's my knight, secretary and cousin, and he seems to want to be my enemy these days.
-How to get revenge on those who hurt you. 1. How about making a beautiful, well-known, respected man as your lover?
-How to get revenge on those who hurt you. 2. Ask Prince Heinley.
Perhaps because it was not a note, the content was longer than usual, although it was written in fragmented pieces. It was also unclear whether I should laugh or not. The story of revenge and the blue-haired knight were interesting, but his brother was sick...
Prince Heinley's older brother was the king of the Western Kingdom, and was apparently not feeling well. If he worsened, Prince Heinley may have to go back home and stand by as the successor.
The thought of Prince Heinley and Queen leaving made me feel sick. Although we had known each other only recently, I felt the most comfortable with them.
"Why the long face?"
A voice spoke from my side. Startled, I turned and saw Prince Heinley with a wicked smile on his face, and behind him was the blue-haired knight. The knight bowed when our eyes met, and Prince Heinley approached and offered me his arm.
"Do you mind if I walk with you for a while, Queen?"
I thought it would help me relax. I rose up from the bench and took his arm, feeling his muscles flex beneath my hand. My eyes unknowingly glanced downwards. All I saw was clothes. I've been escorted by others several times, but...Prince Heinley had amazing muscles. While he looked quite slender on the surface, but he was surprisingly solid underneath.
'You're crazy, Navier! How can you think that of a person escorting you?'
My face was flushed with shame, and Prince Heinley turned to me curiously.
"Are you hot, Queen?"
"What?"
"Your face is red."
"Ah yes...it's a little hot."
As soon as I finished speaking, there was a cold breeze and goose flesh popped on my skin. Prince Heinley's knight sneezed from behind us, and I bit my lip in embarrassment. My face was hot at the sound of Prince Heinley holding back his laughter.
"You must be healthy, Queen. You won't catch a cold."
"...A little."
I awkwardly clutched his arm, and Prince Heinley gave a faint laugh. I squeezed my skirt tightly and held up my chin before steering the conversation in a different direction.
"Your letter needs some exercise. You must be worried."
"Puhu—"
"!"
I really just wanted to pass out for the next five hours. My head was scrambled about the contents of the letter. But the words already left my mouth, and Prince Heinley was desperately biting his lips to hold back the laughter.
"Yes. I had a lot of trouble choosing strong stationery. I had to make sure it wasn't torn in Queen's beak."
Although he tried to remain calm, his straight face collapsed at his joke. I scowled, and Prince Heinley tried to wave his hand apologetically. But he was still busy laughing.
"Sor—haha—sorry."
"I said it wrong."
"I know. You wanted to ask me if I exercised a lot, didn't you, Queen?"
"No, I was going to ask about your brother's health."
"Well, my brother doesn't exercise much."
Really...this prince? I stopped because I didn't like playing games.
I made my expression cold, Prince Heinley immediately sobered.
"My brother said he was feeling worse than before. He's not in danger yet, but he has always been weak."
"Thank goodness" would be a bad response. Just because his brother wasn't in danger yet, didn't mean he wouldn't be in danger later on. I had an anxious expression on my face, and Prince Heinley smiled as if to lighten the atmosphere.
"Have you thought about my suggestion?"
"Which one?"
"How to get revenge, one and two."
He cleared his throat loudly.
"I recommend number one."
"You mean have a beautiful, respectable man as my lover?"
"If you don't want a fake lover..."
The prince's voice trailed off as he looked at me, and I suddenly wondered if the fake lover referred to himself. I knew he didn't like Sovieshu. However, he had been teasing me earlier so I paid him in kind.
"Are you referring to Grand Duke Kapmen?"
"No!"
"Not Grand Duke Kapmen."
"No."
"But are there any other beautiful, respectable and great men?"
"..."
Heinley pouted his lips earnestly, and I leaned in close to his face as if to inspect how handsome he was. I burst out laughing, and I grinned at him to see if he understood my joke.
"Are you joking?"
"I'm serious."
"!"
So that was why Prince Heinley teased me earlier. It is quite fun to see his reaction.
"You're right."
"I am?"
"I don't want to look like I'm having an affair I someone don't want."
"...Was that part of a joke?"
"Why?"
His face turned sullen. I felt bad for teasing him, but he looked quite cute rather than pitiful. I walked side-by-side with him, forcing myself to hold back my laughter.
After that, we walked wordlessly all the way to the Crystal House. I don't know why Prince Heinley didn't say anything, but I couldn't find time to talk because I was looking around. The sky was especially beautiful today. It became awash with red as the sun went down, and Crystal House glistened like a giant ruby.
I watched the scene for a moment. I've seen it several times before, but my mind was blank and I couldn't think of anything to say.
"If I go to the Western Kingdom..."
Prince Heinley's cautious voice broke the silence. I turned my head and saw him looking at me. Perhaps it was because the sky was dimming, but his violet eyes looked darker than usual.
"Western Kingdom...?"
"Will you miss me?"
The sound of bird cries echoed from afar, and I stared at him as I processed his question. Return to the Western Kingdom?
That's right. Prince Heinley was the successor and he would eventually have to go back to his country, taking Queen with him.
"..."
It was as if I stopped hearing. Was I too used to them? I already felt a sense of loss with the knowledge that my friends would go to a faraway place. Why was this? Come to think of it, I never truly parted with friends and family before. While I hadn't seen my family much since I married, they were never far away.
"...I will miss you."
I managed to keep my composure, and as I listened to my voice it sounded like a courteous remark.
"Sincerely."
Prince Heinley gave a sad smile.
"I'm not leaving right now."
I didn't know how to reply. I turned my head back to the ruby-like roof. When I glanced sideways, I saw Prince Heinley taking out a watch and checking the time.
"It's late."
He offered me his arm again to escort me back to the western palace.
*
*
*
Sovieshu stared intently at the report sitting on the desk in front of him. Marquis Karl, his chief secretary, stood by his side and looked at him in concern.
"Your Majesty, are you considering what to do with Miss Rashta?"
"What can I do? Do you want me to punish a pregnant woman?"
But the Emperor had been thinking for two hours already...
Marquis Carl carefully offered his opinion.
"While it's an unexpected matter, Your Majesty, a low-rank concubine wishing to live in high society must be able to defend herself to some degree."
"Defend..."
"I heard that the Duchess and Ms. Rashta confronted each other at the tea party. Wouldn't that be something worthy of punishment?"
"...Well."
Sovieshu frowned in thought.
"If you're worried about what will happen in the future, why don't you tell me what you're thinking?"
"Marquis Karl."
"Yes, Your Majesty. "
"This is my business, not yours."
"I'm sorry."
Sovieshu sighed and handed the report to Marquis Karl.
"Should I destroy the report?"
It was clear that that was what Sovieshu would ask of him.
However, after thinking for another moment, Sovieshu gave an unexpected answer.
"...I'll keep it."