Remaried Empress

The stronger the light, the more visible the shadows.

Duchess Tuania had reigned as a pillar of high society for twenty years, and as such had accumulated many enemies. However, with all her laurels and repute, even they couldn't speak ill of her. They remained quiet, but were always anxious to talk about her faults.

Rashta's comments in front of Duchess Tuania yesterday afternoon had given them the ammunition they needed. Those who secretly hated the duchess gathered in Rashta's reception room to laugh and gossip.

"Actually, Miss Rashta complained a little after hearing Duchess Tuania's words."

"To be honest, does she truly have only five lovers? How many men chase after her? Are they all unrequited loves?"

"The duchess does get around."

"The real Empress always sits quietly, while Duchess Tuania always carries her head as if she were the queen of society."

To them, Rashta was like a shieldwho could speak out plainly and badly against Duchess Tuania, but who would not be ignored by society. All they had to do was to air their catty remarks behind the shield that was Rashta.

"Rashta only said what she heard..."

"To be honest, the rumors have been around for a while. I couldn't speak about them because I didn't have the right words, and I was afraid of being caught by the duchess' followers."

"Aren't those followers strange too?"

The nobles whispered with Rashta in the middle, and it was not until three or four hours later that they stood up.

"How did Rashta do?"

As soon as they left, Rashta approached Duke Elgy, who had been watching the conversation from the sidelines. He smiled, lowering his eyes.

"Well done, Miss."

Rashta twisted her body back and forth at his compliment.

"It's alright?"

"Yes. Nice start."

"But...will people turn away from Duchess Tuania?"

"No, not too much at the moment."

"?"

"Right now, just this. Checking to see if there are any complaints. Stirring things up."

"Oh...then what should I do now?"

As Duke Elgy looked at Rashta's naive expression, he burst into laughter and rose from his chair.

"You can do it all by yourself from now on, right?"

"Rashta doesn't like this—"

"As I said, Miss."

He approached Rashta, then leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"You're cute, but I told you it's hard to deceive me in areas like this."

"Tch."

Rashta shot him a look of loathing, and Duke Elgy chuckled.

"I'm not insulting you, so don't be upset."

Rashta pouted and raised her eyebrows. Duke Elgy opened the door of the reception room and walked out into the hallway.

"Where are you going?"

Rashta ran to his side, and he turned and shook his head.

"I'm going out for a while. You don't have to come. I'm not going for a stroll."

"Where?"

"Just...wait."

*

*

About four to six times a year a massive public ball was held, an event where even commoners could attend. I was in the middle of a long conversation with the culture minister to decide on the date. He hurriedly excused himself to go the bathroom, and I stepped outside the office for a moment to relieve my fatigued eyes.

'I'll take a walk.'

I stared down the long corridor and began to walk slowly, hoping to relax. After only a few steps, however, I noticed Duke Elgy leaning on a pillar not far away. Why was he standing there? When I stopped and looked at him, he smiled and straightened himself to bow to me.

"I've been waiting here for three hours. You must be very busy."

His wavy, golden hair swayed with his bow. I became all the more curious—he waited three hours just to see me? I tried to remember if he had a prearranged meeting with me. If it was urgent, he should have sent someone to give a report...

"How can I help you?"

Duke Elgy smiled and murmured, "Ah. Straight to the main point."

"Very good. Quick. Do you happen to know I'm a friend of Heinley's?"

"I heard."

"You heard."

"..."

"You heard it."

What on earth did he come here to say? Duke Elgy mumbled 'heard' to himself and suddenly frowned and looked down at the floor. An awkward silence passed. He stood there for about three minutes before he spoke again.

"I've heard from Heinley a few times about you, Your Majesty. Did Heinley say anything about me?"

Not often, but once. And it wasn't flattering.

"I haven't heard much."

I answered him honestly, and he fixed me with his gaze as he took a couple steps closer.

"Did he say anything strange?"

"Strange...?"

"Anything unpleasant."

Heinley did, but I couldn't answer that. I shook my head and said no, while Duke Elgy sighed and placed his hand on his forehead.

"It's just the way he is. He always says bad things about me to someone he likes."

Prince Heinley?

"He's been telling people I'm a cursed doll or a living ghost story..."

"!"

"It's a lie, so there's no need for you to pay attention to it."

" ...I don't know why you're saying this to me, or your intentions."

"When I saw you yesterday, I didn't think you would socialize with people like Heinley."

"What kind of person is that?"

"The same kind as Heinley and me. Someone who's frivolous."

Yesterday I had only smiled and nodded my head, and barely opened my mouth to say hello. When the tea party was cut short, I left. He had barely seen me and decided what kind of person I was from that?

"But if there is a difference, Heinley is a man who wants someone to be his complete opposite, and as for me, I'm a frivolous man who wants to get along with frivolous people."

"Does that mean I'm not fit to be the prince's friend?"

"No, I'm here to give you some advice."

Advice?

"Heinley is a two-faced man, Your Majesty. He says one thing in front of you, and does something different from behind. He can both smile and hurt people."

"!"

"Don't trust the sweets he offers."

"Aren't you Prince Heinley's close friend?"

Why would Prince Heinley and Duke Elgy speak ill of each other? As soon as I spoke, Duke Elgy smiled nonchalantly.

"It was Heinley who called me here in the first place. Didn't he say that?"

He shook his head and continued.

"For a few years Heinley's been setting up—"

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the wall. I turned around, and saw Sovieshu staring at me and Duke Elgy.

"Another foreigner again."

Duke Elgy bowed at Sovieshu and left with an innocent smile.

As soon as Duke Elgy was gone, Sovieshu turned to face me.

"I think it's clear by now. A man from the Western Kingdom, another from Rwibt, and another from Blue Bohean. You clearly have a preference for foreigners, don't you?"

His mad speculation returned. I had been hoping that everything would stay quiet.

Sovieshu frowned and pointed at the duke's retreating back.

"You don't have much experience with other men besides myself. Just because he speaks with a silver tongue it doesn't mean he's a good man."

On the contrary, Duke Elgy was a man of blunt speech, but instead of correcting Sovieshu I looked at him dumbfoundedly.

"Then what kind of man is a good man?"

"..."

If he had a conscience, he would not say himself.

But Sovieshu had no conscience.

"Me?"

Really?

I lifted my eyebrow at him, and his expression turned disgruntled as he sighed.

"Anyway, I want you to be careful in your behavior."

"And I—"

"?"

"I will look for a handsome, youthful Eastern Kingdom man."

He stared at me silently, then mumbled "Yes" and left.

I sighed. I couldn't fathom what was in Sovieshu's head. It didn't matter to him that he brought Rashta, but he didn't want to hear that the Imperial couple had other lovers?

"Your Majesty. Were you looking for me?"

As I pressed my hand against my temple, the minister hurried over from the bathroom.

"I'm sorry. My digestive system has been working up lately."

"It's fine."

We went back into the office, but I found it difficult to concentrate, and I eventually cut the meeting short.

"We'll talk again tomorrow. Let's go get some rest today."

"Oh, very good."

"I can't concentrate very well either, so don't worry about it."

After the minister left, I sat with my arms crossed and stared at the stack of documents on the table. Sovieshu was being Sovieshu...

But what did the Duke Elgy mean? What had Prince Heinley been setting up for years? It couldn't be a building. A plan? The word "plan" would make sense.

"..."

I would have to ask Prince Heinley. He had called Duke Elgy here, and yet both of them were trading disparaging remarks about the other.

...It was strange.

*

*

*

"Your Majesty, does this feel good?"

"..."

"Your Majesty. Is this good?"

"..."

"Your Majesty?"

Rashta stopped kneading Sovieshu's shoulder when he failed to answer her repeated questions. She leaned her head over his shoulder, and Sovieshu, startled, turned his head sideways, causing their lips to almost brush against each other's. Rashta smiled, lightly kissed his cheek, and hugged him.

"What are you thinking about that you won't listen to Rashta?"

Her voice was charming, but it contained a pout.

"Oh...I'm sorry."

"If it's about national matters, Rashta can't help much."

After apologizing, she shrugged her shoulders and then sat down at the table across from him. Sovieshu shook his head.

"It's not about national matters."

"What is it?"

Rashta spoke in half absent-minded voice. Sovieshu usually didn't share his day's work with Rashta. He told her whenever he felt like it, which wasn't often, so she asked him without thinking. However, he pitched his own question.

"Come to think of it, Rashta. Duke Elgy gets along with you, doesn't he?"

Duke Elgy? Why did Sovieshu bring him up all of a sudden? Rashta replied, puzzled.

"He's close to Rashta. What is it?"

His next question was even more surprising.

"Is Duke Elgy close to the Empress?"

Rashta winced slightly.

"Why are you asking?"

"I saw the pair of them having friendly conversation this afternoon."

Sovieshu gave a low exhale.

"Earlier..."

Rashta told him that Duke Elgy had left for a while, and that she hadn't seen him for for hours.

"He didn't say where he went. So he must have gone to the Empress."

Rashta remembered Duke Elgy's confident and playful proposal to tempt her.

'Is he really trying to seduce the Empress for me?'

Rashta silently pursed her lips.

'Not, not for me...'

He must have done it for himself. She was somewhat offended, and Sovieshu noticed and called out to her in a strange voice.

"Rashta?"

Rashta hurriedly smiled.

"No, the Empress doesn't get along with the Duke Elgy."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Duke Elgy is a friend of Rashta's."

At her quick reply, Sovieshu smiled at her adoringly.

"What?"

"You truly are gentle and kind."

"?"

"Are you defending the Empress just because I might misunderstand her?"

" Oh...you noticed?"

Rashta covered her face with her hands, and Sovieshu nodded and hummed.

"You're not wearing the ring I gave to you, are you?"

"Ring..."

Rashta lowered her hands. Despite her pretty face, her hands were ugly and coarse due to the hardships in her childhood. When Sovieshu had seen the roughness in her hands, his eyes trembled.

Sovieshu leaned over to take Rashta's fingers.

"A silver ring with a red jewel in it. Do you remember?"

"Oh? Yes."

"The red jewel is known as the 'Red Flame Star'."

"?!"

Rashta recalled the three rings that Sovieshu had given her. One of them must have been a silver ring with a red jewel. She thought it was the cheapest because it was the smallest, but it must have quite a reputation to have its own name.

"Don't you like it?"

Rashta's expression twisted as she realized she gave the precious ring to the person she hated the most.

"I'm not trying to pressure you if you don't like it. But there's a spell on the jewel. The effect isn't obvious if you put it on for a short time, but wear it for longer and eventually it will remove the scars."

The ring was magical! Rashta dropped her head onto the table with a thump.

"Rashta?"

"Ooooh...what a waste."

Sovieshu stared at her, and she groaned into the wood.

"I found a poor maid and gave it to her. I didn't know it was that kind of ring..."

After staring at her in short surprise, Sovieshu burst into laughter.

"What? Haha!"

Rashta wanted to cry.

"Your Majesty, is there another ring with that same effect?"

"There is but..."

"If Rashta asks you for another one...is that alright?"

"Well, if you want a similar one, then very well."

Could she have it now? When Rashta stared at him with enormous eyes, and Sovieshu smiled awkwardly.

"The Empress has one."