Chapter 167 – Sovieshu’s Shock (2)
News of the Imperial Family swept the country like wildfire. People were in awe over this national scandal, and talk of ‘What Would You Do In The Imperial Family’ soon became a fad.
Naturally, every magazine covered the story with glee. However, most of them had a degree of error or falsehood. The most credible magazine by far was Lorudin, an official publication that had exclusive access to the palace. When Lorudin reported news of the empress’ divorce and remarriage, everyone was shocked. The story was so outrageous that no one believed it until it came from them.
Remarriage Of A Deposed Empress! the headline blared.
Although remarriage was not prohibited, no divorced empress in history had ever done so. Regardless of who the former empress was, the emperor still had a visible position, and there was no reason to further complicate politics. While she could take younger lovers, she never remarried. The social circles were a small world, and many people’s eyes followed the former empress’ lives after divorce. Claiming the highest seat for a woman in the empire and then reappearing in the lower ranks was also a sore point of pride for a former empress.
But not for Empress Navier. Not the empress famous for her cool demeanor and sharp intelligence. She not only remarried, but she remarried the King of the West! Everyone was stunned by this unprecedented move.
“Good for her. Rather than living in this country as a deposed empress, she might as well go to the Western Kingdom and become queen.”
“Yes, she can live freely there, but people’s eyes will follow her for the rest of her life. Do you think that it’s that easy?”
“If the Emperor lives with his concubine, why can’t the Empress remarry?”
“But it’s a matter of courtesy. How can you remarry in a matter of seconds?”
“Alright. Then what does she become? Other countries will look down on us.”
“If the Empress of the Great Eastern Empire becomes a Queen of the Western Kingdom, then it is a betrayal to our country.”
After the surprise wore off, people’s opinions soon became divided. Some were in favor of Navier’s remarriage, and others declared she was crazy. Others sympathized with her, but said it was not good for the country. Considering the power the former empress held, some wanted to prevent the remarriage and suggested they hold on to her carriage so she couldn’t leave.
Around lunch the next day, Navier had a bitter smile on her face when she heard the reactions.
***
“It’s a story that can have many opinions.”
My face was calm. I was already prepared for this.
“I am only an empress to them.”
It wasn’t something I could control. For the people, I was a part of the nation and the national ident.i.ty. They would be more generous if I were merely a friend or family member that found new life after a divorce, but to see their empress leave and go to another country was humiliating for them.
Marquis Farang looked into my eyes and smiled brightly.
“No, but you are meticulous. How could you use me as an errand boy and not say a word?”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing to be sorry about.”
Marquis Farang lifted his little finger.
“Please remember that Marquis Farang made a great contribution to your remarriage.”
I smiled at his good humor. The estate manager, who had been busy scribbling a list for half an hour, set down his pen and raised his upper body. He was the steward of the Troby family’s wealth, and he compiled a list of my personal property.
“Is it done?”
The estate manager rubbed his neck and gave a small chuckle.
“It is done. Don’t worry, My Lady. I’ll take care of everything, down to the last hairbrush.”
“Thank you.”
Marquis Farang turned his eyes towards me.
“Are you going to bring everything of yours from the empress’ palace?”
He also seemed to be asking whether that included money and jewelry, and I nodded my head.
“I think so.”
It may be cheap, however…I knew exactly who was going to reside in that palace after me, and I didn’t want to leave any of my things behind. After all, once you became empress, you can decorate the place as you liked, and throw away any old items.
I didn’t like the idea of Rashta tossing my old things, so I decided to bring them myself. Estate managers were usually inclined to click their tongue and say that n.o.bles spent too lavishly, but this one seemed pleased with my decision.
As he hummed and checked over the list again, I looked towards the arch doorway. There, Heinley was standing with my parents, hard at work trying to gain their favor. It was not easy to remain sullen for long in Heinley’s presence.
‘…That’s cute.’
Last night, Heinley suggested to my parents that they should move to the Western Kingdom, but they declined. They couldn’t stop me or my elder brother from going there, but they were high-ranking n.o.bles here in the Eastern Empire…
Perhaps Heinley was still trying to convince them. Suddenly, Heinley turned to me with a smile, and he and my parents walked in my direction. The estate manager said, “It’s awkward to be this close to the king,” and stood up and went upstairs.
My mother came up to me and spoke right away.
“Navier. What are you going to do now? How long will you stay here?”
Ah, perhaps that was what the three of them were talking about. I answered quickly.
“I can leave anytime, even now. I’ve made arrangements.”
It wasn’t official, but it wasn’t good for King Heinley to stay here too long.
Unexpectedly, however, Heinley made the opposite suggestion.
“I have a carriage ready…why not stay for another fifteen days and then leave?”
I looked at him in concern, and he spoke with a s.h.i.+ne in his eyes.
“I’ll have time to win points with Queen’s parents.”
My parents, who were more accustomed to Sovieshu, found Heinley’s speech awkward, and they glanced at each other. Marquis Farang was the only one who seemed to find the situation amusing, but my father shot him a glare, and the Marquis suddenly raised his hand.
“Oh, I just remembered something.”
He ran towards the front door and opened it, but he suddenly froze. I looked at him questioningly and approached. I saw that his expression was like stone as he stared through the open door. When I turned my gaze to see what he was looking at, I saw a strange scene before me.
A line of guards surrounded the front gate like a wall