“Episode 13”
“The concubine issue, really. The Laphion Imperial Palace seems to have a new surprise every day. Was the concubine matter decided in advance before the royal wedding? Prince Tesler, that rotten bastard. But what if Prince Tesler didn’t know either? How would the situation unfold then? As I walked to the reception room for tea time with the consorts, I felt the weight of tension on my shoulders. This was an entirely unexpected scenario. I hadn’t even considered the issue of concubines… If Lionel had plans for concubines, shouldn’t he have warned me last night? There was plenty of time for him to discuss the concubine issue while we were in bed. Despite being an emperor who could do anything he wanted, to start bringing in concubines right after marriage. And not just one, but several? Even if the empress of a foreign country appeared lacking, this was too sudden and strange. But there was no doubt that the information Sharon had heard from the courtiers, who she usually got along with, wasn’t false. Yesterday evening, a courtier working in the temple’s substitute office heard directly that the substitutes and some nobles were discussing the timing of the emperor’s and concubines’ wedding. So it couldn’t be false information.
“Oh, then perhaps because of that…”
Was Duke Martins requesting an audience with Lionel and me at the same time? To discuss bringing in concubines? Did Duke Martins already know? No, that couldn’t be. If he had known in advance, he would have hinted at it when we met in the study yesterday. The Duke probably only learned of the news this morning. All rulers of every country have numerous concubines and officials. As a temporary empress, I have no grounds or qualifications to oppose this issue. However, it was certainly unusual to start bringing in concubines a few days after the wedding. Something felt off. I stopped for a moment on my way to the reception room and looked out the long arched window at the main palace building.
“Perhaps they’re not here to discuss…”
They’re probably just notifying us. Maybe Lionel only called Duke Martins to his office to deliver already decided matters? Complex emotions stirred in me. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was feeling deeply upset with Emperor Lionel. Maybe even beyond upset, maybe jealous… No, snap out of it. I consciously slowed my quickening steps and regulated my breathing. If the emperor decided this, then I must follow. Holding onto feelings of resentment will only breed hatred towards him, which is pointless. My duty from the start is to quietly divorce Princess Lysilia when she arrives at the imperial palace. Let’s not forget my duty.
“Your Majesty Empress? Here we are.”
Lost in thought, I turned my head at Sharon’s voice. Coming to my senses, I realized I had walked past the reception room door alone.
“Oh, right.”
I gracefully stepped back to stand in front of the reception room door. Sharon couldn’t stop me from stepping back, as she was too shocked. I hoped my hand offering the tea wouldn’t accidentally brush against someone’s dress. I prayed silently in my heart that I wouldn’t lower my gaze or bow down in front of them. That’s how I prayed in my heart.
“So they’re all here together? The candidates to become Your Majesty’s concubines.”
I asked Sharon while gazing at the ornate flower-patterned piece on the reception room door handle.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Sharon replied.
Sharon responded cautiously. At that moment, through the crack of the reception room door, the giggles of noble ladies echoed. They had heard the news that the emperor was bringing in concubines just days after the wedding. How amusing it must be. Exciting, even. Among them, there wouldn’t be a single lady hesitant to become the concubine of an empress treated as a vassal from the Shat’oni Kingdom. Surely, among them, there were those who had even eyed the position of empress. Despite being the empress’s palace, I seemed to be the only one tense in this place. I straightened my hunched shoulders. Imagining all the tension dissipating into the air with each breath I took, I regained my composure. Standing tall, I instructed Sharon, “Open the door.”
“Yes, Your Majesty Empress.”
Sharon entered the reception room ahead of me and called out to the noble ladies, “Her Majesty Empress is here!” As I stepped into the reception room, sunlight streamed in through the large windows, illuminating my face directly. The noisy chatter ceased, and all eyes turned towards me. Walking slowly towards where the noble ladies stood, I made eye contact with each of them. As expected, the ladies didn’t immediately avert their gaze. They stared back at me as if ready to confront me, only lowering their gaze reluctantly when I got closer. Their tiny faces all wore expressions of disapproval. Still, women don’t hit each other. I relaxed my clenched fist. No matter how they glared at me, they were in a position where they had to kneel and greet me right now. I stopped a distance of about five steps away from the noble ladies. Not too close, not too far. But the intensity of their stares was clear from this distance. If they thought I would smile first in a friendly manner, they were mistaken. I remained silent, matching their silence. Their eyebrows twitched slightly, as if to express their discomfort with the atmosphere. Then, gradually, their laughter subsided, and they began to exchange glances. Ah, they must have collectively agreed not to greet me until I showed a surprised expression and spoke first. If that was their childish game, I could easily play along. I kept my lips tightly sealed and my head held high, looking down with a blank expression. The noble ladies began to avoid my gaze, one by one, unlike before. Some still met my gaze unabashedly, with a smile playing on their lips. Ah, I see. There must be candidates for concubines among them.
“I present Her Majesty Empress!”
Amidst the silence, the noble lady closest to me couldn’t withstand the pressure and greeted me first. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“So gracious of the esteemed ladies of the Laphion Empire to allow me to see their faces up close… Is it truly an honor for me? From which family are you?”
I scanned the noble ladies and then turned my gaze back to the lady who greeted me first, asking again.
“I am Elly Josephine of the House of Count Josephine….”
Starting with Elly, the ladies beside her continued to introduce themselves one by one. Some stepped forward and half-knelt in a show of respect. I deliberately repeated each name and family, as if memorizing them one by one. Most of the noble ladies changed their attitude towards me, nodding politely with lowered heads. I made eye contact with the four ladies who had invaded my bedroom yesterday as my maids. Among them, the most confident lady stepped forward boldly.
“I am Melanie of the House of Duke Hertzs.”
“Ah, Lady Melanie.”
She was dismissed as my maid and seemed to have become a concubine candidate right away? Melanie had a more confident attitude than yesterday. As I received the greetings of the ladies, my eyes met with the last lady in line. The gaze of that lady towards me was much colder than the others. She didn’t even bend her knees but just slightly lowered her head as she greeted me.
“I am Catherine of the House of Marquis Calios. It’s truly an honor to meet you, Your Majesty Empress.”
Her voice carried an underlying hostility towards me. Catherine seemed to want to assert her superiority over me through her expression and tone, rather than acknowledging me as the empress.
“I’m not sure if I’ve met Catherine’s expectations. Shall we all sit down and have a chat?”
At my response, a faint arrogant smile crossed Catherine’s face. It was a smile that made me want to slap her on the back of the head, so irritating it was. As I seated myself first, the noble ladies followed suit, one by one.
“My apologies, Your Majesty Empress. Have you heard the news that one of us will become Your Majesty’s concubine?”
Catherine asked, waving a fan decorated with gold.
“…I have heard.”
I replied in as composed a tone as possible.
“You must be quite upset, aren’t you? It seems Your Majesty Empress is also quite hasty. To bring in concubines so soon after welcoming the empress… ”
As Melanie pretended to console me, her eyes were smiling. I didn’t respond to her false comfort and simply raised and lowered the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, Catherine. I thought you were naturally proud and haughty, but this incident surprised me even more.”
This time, Melanie subtly addressed Catherine.
“What do you mean by that?”
Catherine glanced at Melanie with a disdainful look, as if looking down on her subordinate.
“While it’s not something to discuss in front of Her Majesty Empress, but…”
Even though Melanie signaled with her eyes if she could speak, Catherine sensed my attention and didn’t actively interrupt. If it were something embarrassing if I knew, she wouldn’t have avoided eye contact with me, right? The noble ladies began to alternate their curious gazes between Melanie, Catherine, and me.
“Please, continue, Lady Melanie.”
Curiosity arose in me as to what Melanie was so excited to say, even resorting to theatrics.
“Since Lady Catherine, known for her strong pride and character, accepted this matter, does it mean she still has many… Ah, Lady Catherine here is originally…”
Melanie inflated everyone’s curiosity but stopped right before the crucial moment. I turned my gaze to Catherine. She already knew what Melanie was about to bring up. However, rather than actively stopping Melanie, who was eager to reveal something, Catherine didn’t show much discomfort. If it were a secret she really didn’t want to reveal, she would have found a way to silence Melanie, even if it meant twisting her words. Catherine seemed more embarrassed than anxious about revealing the secret. As I continued to watch Catherine, she raised her voice towards Melanie.
“Lady Melanie, it’s not appropriate to speak like this in front of Her Majesty Empress!”
Isn’t raising your voice in front of me also inappropriate? Without realizing it, my hand gripping the teacup tightened, and the tea inside sloshed.
“I’m fine, so please continue.”
I shrugged my shoulders and casually spoke to Melanie. Whether it looked casual or not, Melanie nodded.
“Yes, Your Majesty Empress and Lady Catherine were….”
Melanie leaned forward, observing Catherine’s complexion, as she continued speaking.
“They were engaged.”
A short sigh escaped between my lips, just as I was about to take a sip of tea.
“Ah!”
I was startled by the hot tea and even more shocked by the unexpected revelation.
