Published at 30th of June 2019 09:12:34 PM
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 – Compare With Whom? (1)
The Emperor witnessed Laura insulting the woman he was in love with . It was quite a scene .
Laura and other ladies-in-waiting quickly lifted their skirts to bow to him, but he gave them a hellish glare . I had already seen Sovieshu a few times earlier in the palace, and I stared at him quietly instead of greeting him again . Sovieshu looked at Laura then turned to Rashta .
“Goodness . ”
Sovieshu sighed . Rashta’s eyes were wet, probably out of surprise, and the wide look she gave him made her look like a poor frightened animal .
“Don’t cry . ”
Despite his attempt to soothe her, tears began to drip down her face .
“I said don’t cry . ”
Despite the unsympathetic tone in his voice, Rashta did not stop . She seemed unafraid of his infamous cold attitude . I kept staring at her . When Rashta continued to cry, to my surprise, Sovieshu pulled out a gold embroidered handkerchief and held it out to her . Her tears didn’t cease even when offered the handkerchief, and he sighed and wiped her face himself .
“You’re a handful . ”
There was a note of worry in his tone, and the corner of my heart throbbed again . No, it was natural…it was natural . I reminded myself of Countess Eliza’s words, and turned around and instructed my ladies-in-waiting to follow .
“Let’s go . My legs ache . ”
Advertisement
I wouldn’t be able to stop Sovieshu from having a concubine, but I was free to avert my eyes from it . The ladies quickly followed after me .
“Wait . Stop . ”
Sovieshu called out to me before we had even taken a few steps . First Rashta, and now him? Sovieshu glared at Laura and pointed to her .
Advertisement
“Leave that lady-in-waiting behind, Empress . ”
“What for?”
“Leave her . ”
“She is my lady-in-waiting . You need to tell me first . ”
Laura’s complexion turned pale . I also felt an ominous wind blowing through my thoughts .
Surely he wouldn’t punish Laura for what she said to Rashta, would he? While Laura’s behavior was not exactly exemplary, she was still a lady-in-waiting of the Empress . Rashta, on the other hand, was not yet a concubine, nor was she even lower nobility . She was even likely a runaway slave . For Sovieshu to punish Laura would publicly disgrace her in society .
As well as myself, the Empress .
I stared at him, and he turned his gaze back to Laura .
Sponsored Content
Advertisement
“She is a lady-in-waiting of the Empress, but she is also my subject . How dare she speak like that . ”
“Then I will scold her . ”
“You think a scolding will fix someone who calls another person filthy? Surely not . ”
Sovieshu barked an order to a nearby guard, pointing his chin towards Laura .
“Lock her up for three days and give her only water and hard bread . ”
Laura’s face whitened, and the other ladies let out a small scream of distress .
“That is too far, Your Majesty . ”
Advertisement
I stepped forward, but Sovieshu directed his icy glare towards me .
“She called a woman in a wheelchair who can’t even properly walk filthy . Don’t you think that is too far?”
Sponsored Content
“Well, you only watched . You probably thought that was not too far . ”
“My ladies-in-waiting only stopped her because she pulled my dress . ”
The look on Sovieshu’s face only turned darker .
“You were walking away from her . ”
“Your Majesty . ”
“And what is wrong with holding a dress? Is the Empress’ dress more noble than a human hand?”
“Then I will have your servant pull at the hem of your cloak . Even if your cloak is not as noble as a human hand, is that still acceptable?”
Sovieshu raised his eyebrows and smirked .
“Your words are meaningless . Do you really think it is the same situation?”
“Is it different?”
“It is . ”
“Then what is the difference?”
Sponsored Content
“Rashta is not a servant . ”
I wanted to ask him if I should change my example, and what he would do if a concubine pulled on the hem of his clothes .
“Lock up the Empress’ lady-in-waiting for five days . ”
Before I could say anything else, Sovieshu increased Laura’s punishment . The more I opposed him, the more he severe he became .
I saw Rashta sitting behind Sovieshu with her eyes wide open, staring at him as if he was some sort of hero . The words I wanted to say threatened to leap from my mouth, but even the empress could not overturn the emperor’s orders . I could call a trial to challenge Laura’s punishment, but by the time the trial would be opened she would already be released .
“I accept the punishment, Your Majesty . ”
As I was agonizing about losing to Sovieshu, Laura quickly stepped forward . My face turned red with shame and anger .
“Go . ”
Rather than asking why the girl was near the main palace, Sovieshu complimented me for working hard all day .
Sovieshu and I weren’t passionate lovers, but we were good friends . Now we were neither . I gritted my teeth and turned away . Now I understood why my mother advised me not to get involved with the concubines .