Published at 10th of July 2019 11:45:06 AM
Chapter 20: 20
Chapter 20 – A False Rumor (1)
He invited the concubine for the New Year’s ball?
It wasn’t that concubines couldn’t attend the celebrations, but when they did, they were usually of noble status . It was for this reason that emperors would have a low status concubines fake marriage to another noble, raising that concubine’s status to countesses or marchionesses . However, Sovieshu would never take this “blindfold” approach with Rashta .
Rashta’s appearance caught me off guard . I turned my head sideways, but it seemed that I was the only was surprised . Sovieshu was smiling at Rashta and nodding his head . When I turned back towards Rashta again, she curtsied shyly and looked up at Sovieshu and mouthed “This is difficult . ”
Soon her gaze fell on me . When our eyes met, she smiled and mouthed out “Sister!” Then her eyes widened as she cutely she covered her mouth in apology .
“She’s so naive . ”
The expression on his face told me he found Rashta completely endearing .
I felt my heart twist . Despite the fact that I was his wife, I felt like a foreign object caught between the two .
The nobles who bowed to us were now looking alternately between Sovieshu and Rashta . Women covered their mouths with their fans, and men whispered to each other behind their gloves . Though they kept their voices low, it was like a roar when all joined in concert . Rashta looked around in surprise and stared up at Sovieshu with a frightened face . He sighed .
“Empress, can you go down alone?”
The two of us already walked in together side-by-side, and his obligations with me were over . We could go down the stairs separately, but I did not want to give the impression that we were together by force . I made myself speak .
“…We go down together . ”
Sovieshu turned slightly towards me in amazement, but I kept my voice steady .
“Many of the top foreign aristocrats are gathered here . They would think there is a rift between us if don’t go down together . ”
“A conflict between the Emperor and the Empress could be seen as an opportunity for our enemies and the neighboring countries . We don’t have to be a perfect couple, but we shouldn’t look at each other unfavorably . ”
Sovieshu’s expression twisted slightly .
“Ah, yes, I suppose so . ”
Rather than taking to heart what I said, he seemed to accept it as an excuse . He gave a regretful smile and reached out to me .
“Then let’s go down together . ”
As he escorted me down the stairs, he nodded towards the crowd and before stopping at a suitable area on the floor . He smiled and lowered his arm .
“Is this enough?”
“Yes . ”
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With his duty done, Sovieshu made towards Rashta without looking back . I stood alone and watched him . The foreign nobles surrounding Rashta welcomed the Emperor with a smile and stepped back to make room for him . Rashta quickly nestled herself by Sovieshu’s side . So that was what a loving partnership looked like…
I wrenched my gaze away . Instead of showing pain, I feigned a smile and greeted the Duchess Tuania nearby .
“You organized the New Year’s celebrations didn’t you, Your Majesty? This is wonderful . ”
Duchess Tuania approached me with a friendly demeanor, ignoring the topic of Sovieshu and Rashta . Before long, the other noblewomen and young ladies came to me as well, and we carried on in casual conversation .
“Oh, look over there . ”
“That’s Prince Heinley . ”
“Rumors say that he is a womanizer . He has such a beautiful face . ”
“I hear that he mixes with dangerous pirates . ”
Because the noblewomen avoided the topic of Rashta, the conversation turned to Prince Heinley instead .
“Since there are more rumors wherever he goes, he must be seeing someone now, right?”
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“What partner would deal with that fire of a person?”
“Prince Heinley is single…maybe there isn’t one . ”
“Well, he is the future king of the Western Kingdom, so it may be beneficial to marry a woman from our Eastern Empire . ”
“But he seems quiet for someone who has so many rumors about him…”
I listened to them talk about the mysterious prince, and took a glass of champagne from a passing servant . It had only a little alcohol, almost like water . I tipped the drink up to my lips, lifting my head . Through the glass I saw the distorted figure of a man . It was Prince Heinley, staring in my direction . I lowered my head and pulled the vessel away from my lips .
I thought it was by chance that he was looking at me, but when our eyes met he didn’t turn away his gaze . Instead, he lifted his own glass to toast me then took a drink . He tilted his head, revealing a smooth jawline . A foreign nobleman then caught his attention, and I quickly took my eyes off him .
It was then–
“Even the most aloof empress cannot help but look at that face . ”
There was a laughing voice from somewhere . My heart pounded, and I turned my head in the direction of the voice . The seats by the wall were occupied with many foreigners and natives . There were too many people for me to know who said it, but I immediately knew who it was . A group of people were holding on to their stomachs as they howled in laughter .
It was hard for me to hear, but the person with that voice said something again, and the laughter grew louder . Some of the giggling nobles glanced sideways at me and caught my gaze, and they quickly poked each other in the ribs to signal quiet . Their reaction convinced me of the certainty of my story . They thought I was deaf to what they were saying, but I was not far away .
“Your Majesty…did you really give her a gift?”
A lady had been lingering nearby, as if she had been waiting to ask me a question .
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“A gift?”
My voice came out sharp without me intending it . The lady blushed and apologized, but what I wanted was not an apology .
“I don’t understand what you mean, but I’m not angry . Tell me, what do you mean, a gift?”
I forced my voice to sound normal, and the lady opened her mouth apprehensively .
“The foreign guests don’t know the rumors about ‘that woman . ’ What they say is that she is the first concubine that the Emperor has accepted, and you had given her all kinds of gifts . ”
I already knew the first part . But how did I suddenly give her gifts?
“Then a foreigner asked me…”
“It’s alright . Tell me . ”
“A foreigner asked ‘that woman’ if she was alright with being in a love triangle involved with Your Majesty, and she said yes . She said that both the Emperor and Empress loved her greatly . ‘That woman’ said that immediately after she became a concubine, the Empress even sent her all kinds of precious gifts to welcome her…”
Communication with foreigners was recent . Moreover, most of the other ladies around looked surprised, as if the gossip was not a familiar topic that spread around society . In other words, the foreigners heard the rumors first and spread it to local aristocrats .
I felt dizzy and my knees were weak beneath me . People were laughing at me for sending gifts to my husband’s lover to gain his attention . The pride that I had mustered swiftly collapsed like a sand castle because of a single false rumor . No matter how much I tried to distance myself from Sovieshu and Rashta, I was buried .