Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 35
[Thank you for servicing us, Empress. We will take our leave now.]
“They thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty, and bid you farewell.” The interpreter conveyed politely on behalf of the Abel Empire’s envoy.
Just as the Empress had welcomed the envoys with a grand ball, she made sure to send them off with as much pomp and circumstance as possible. She summoned all the palace attendants to create an atmosphere of formality. Of course, Leyesha was not present.
“Tell him I am pleased that he has enjoyed his stay.”
[Her Majesty says that she is glad you had a comfortable stay.]
[Hehehe.]
Upon hearing the interpreter’s words, the envoys chuckled amicably. However, the Empress knew all too well about the diplomats’ actions and words from the previous day’s reception, including the gossip about her origins—how they had taken an inebriated Leyesha by the hand and sat her down, treating her like a tavern wench.
Still, the Empress understood diplomacy enough to know not to overtly display her displeasure. The growing influence of the Abel Empire was becoming concerning. If they hadn’t been present, the negotiations would have been more challenging. The envoys would never bring up yesterday’s events first, and the Empress was determined to ignore it altogether.
‘Come to think of it, today is the day Lucian receives his mana treatment.’
Although Leyesha typically slept during this time of the day and wasn’t involved in much activity, today was quite significant for her. Lucian’s genetic disease required him to undergo periodic mana treatments once a month to prolong his life, and the pain of these procedures is unimaginable.
Due to the ‘Imprint of the Heart,’ Lucian’s life was almost as valuable as Teiles II’s, so the Empress was well aware of his treatment schedule. Occasionally, patients subjected to excruciating pain from mana treatment might demand euthanasia or even attempt suicide. But she would never allow that to happen.
To keep Lucian’s will to live intact, proper affection was essential. Even if it meant keeping Leyesha as a hostage, the brother and sister bond would have to be strengthened. The Empress had little emotional investment in her absence. Just that…
‘They say Lecan’s timely arrival saved her…’
A knight present at the ball had explained the situation to the Empress. The envoys’ harassment got worse until Leyesha retaliated by spilling her drink. As the enraged envoys raised their voices, causing a commotion, Lecan, appearing almost like a prince on a white horse, whisked her away.
“I chased after them, but at some point, they vanished from sight. I wonder if they had cast a barrier or some other thing.”
It was later reported that Leyesha was found asleep in a deserted hallway and carried by a knight to her quarters.
To the Empress, Leyesha was no ordinary maid. How could she be? She was instructed to observe etiquette, and appropriate personnel were assigned to monitor and protect her discreetly. Even if Lecan hadn’t shown up, had the situation gotten out of hand, the Empress would have had a knight planted to intercede between her and the envoys.
‘How odd.’
Lecan didn’t usually attend balls, but he had a reputation among the servants for occasionally assisting those in distress. Perhaps, as was his wont, he had stumbled upon Leyesha’s predicament and rescued her. Until the Empress went to the terrace to get some fresh air, Lecan remained by Leyesha’s side.
Even though they were in the same ballroom, they never made eye contact or spoke to each other. There didn’t seem to be as much between them as her son, Teiles II, had feared. It was just that Leyesha, even without a dress, was somehow more beautiful than some noble ladies, and it irked her for no reason.
It was a complex mix of emotions. As the drinks were poured, she kept offering more, a blend of her usual resentment and a strange sense of accomplishment. The Empress knew that Leyesha disliked alcohol and considered her own indulgence extravagant. However, she wanted Leyesha to reveal her true colors and draw her into her circle.
Elevating someone to the position of chief maid was a simple matter, hence the choice of a distant relative. Although they weren’t related by blood, the Empress had grown somewhat fond of her over the years. The Empress also envied her because she was the daughter of a prominent family, unlike her, who was still criticized for her low birth.
“You will continue to monitor Leyesha and report anything unusual to me immediately.”
“Understood.”
Although her spies and knights claimed that she hadn’t heard the conversation between Lecan and Leyesha due to the mana barrier, the Empress was troubled. The way the envoys had unnecessarily provided a pretext for the two to be involved didn’t sit well with her.
Despite her inner thoughts, the Empress spoke kindly. “Tell them that they’ll be warmly welcomed if they visit again.”
[She conveyed that you would be warmly welcomed upon your next visit.]
“…Thank you. Well then, goodbye.”
The Empress flashed a bright smile at the Abel Empire’s emissaries as they said their farewells with poor pronunciation. The shame they tried to impose on her was nothing compared to the humiliation she had endured in her youth. No matter what anyone said, she was now the reigning authority at the pinnacle of power—the most powerful woman in the land.
However, she needed to vent her frustration to someone, anyone. Now that she was an important person, she could do as she pleased. She laughed and laughed.
