Chapter 332. I’ll Give You A Chance (1)
Translator: Aura / Editor: SaWarren
After the death of the former queen, who exerted a strong influence in the country, the world returned to calm.
The weather became warmer, and the scent of cornflowers permeated every corner.
The clothes of the n.o.bles gradually became lighter and more colorful, like the flowers that bloomed in the gardens.
Heinley spent days learning from Kapmen how to help me feel the flow of mana. As I sat nearby reading children’s books, parenting related books, and sometimes played the piano. Lately, I also went to the bathroom more often.
My mother began serious discussions with my father about the possibility of extending their stay in the Western Empire. I also told my parents that Rashta had hired a mercenary to take their lives, but it only came down to one attempt thanks to Heinley. However, they laughed out loud that one mercenary would not be enough to take down the Troby Family.
In any case, these were generally quiet days, except for the occasional thoughts of Christa that popped into my head.
It was in the evening after a visit to the capital that Heinley spoke of the banquet.
“I think we should organize a banquet to celebrate the pregnancy. What do you think, My Queen?”
When I was falling asleep on the couch, I looked at him surprised by his unexpected question.
A banquet?
Naturally, it brought back memories of the banquet Sovieshu arranged for Rashta. And of the unpleasant feelings then.
I reflexively objected.
“Heinley, it won’t be long until your birthday party. It would not be good to organize a banquet now because it would place a burden on those who attend.”
Although it was an excuse, it was true.
In fact, when I was in the Eastern Empire, I didn’t celebrate my birthday because that day was close enough to New Year’s Celebrations.
But instead of giving up, Heinley ma.s.saged my shoulders and insisted,
“Then we’d better organize a simple banquet.”
“…”
“To also celebrate that trade with Rwibt is on the right track.”
Heinley seemed to really want to organize the banquet, so I reluctantly nodded. If he wanted to do it so much, I couldn’t refuse.
” Alright.”
Why was he so happy? Heinley opened his mouth wide in excitement and asked me quietly,
“My Queen. I’ll write the invitations.”
“That’s my role—”
“My Queen, you can’t spend too much time sitting at your desk. Now is the time of highest risk.”
“In the early stages a woman was more p.r.o.ne to miscarriage. Even for any small effort, my ladies-in-waiting would get nervous.”
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t sit down at my desk to write some invitations.
“Then let’s divide the work.”
Although I tried to make a deal, Heinley also immediately refused.
“No, I’ll do it alone.”
“?”
“My Queen, just relax. Listen to music and go to the theater.”
Well alright, I didn’t care if he did. However, why did he have such a happy expression that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut?
Seeing him like this, he was definitely up to something…
***
“That b.a.s.t.a.r.d…”
Sovieshu spat out loud expletives, crushed the invitation, in his hands, sent by the Emperor of the Western Empire himself, and threw it away.
The invitation, which had been balled up, bounced off the wall and rolled across the floor. Sovieshu closed his eyes, snorting heavily.
He was so angry that his vision blurred.
‘Did he want me to go congratulate his wife on her pregnancy? Did he really ask me if I could do that given the past relations.h.i.+p? Besides, did he dare ask me for advice as a father who had gone through his wife’s pregnancy and childbirth?’
“b.l.o.o.d.y lunatic.”
Heinley wrote an invitation as if he had been a lifelong friend of Sovieshu. However, Heinley was just making fun of him.
Sovieshu kicked the invitation that rolled on the floor while grinding his teeth.
Everyone knew what would happen if Sovieshu attended the event.
While attending a national wedding might be considered a state affair, it was quite unusual for an Emperor to attend a banquet in honor of the future child of other rulers.
‘Still, did Heinley want me to attend? Less than a year after the divorce? Who would see me attend the banquet and think, ‘The Eastern Empire and the Western Empire are on very good terms!’?’
No one. Everyone would scoff and point fingers behind his back. Thinking that Emperor Sovieshu still had feelings for his ex-wife.
What infuriated him the most was that it was true.
***
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Marquis Karl called out to him on the other side of the door.
“Come in. What is it?”
After entering the bedroom, Marquis Karl closed the door firmly and reported in a low voice.
“I heard that Rashta was crying in Duke Elgy’s arms.”
Sovieshu’s eyebrows rose.
“Now?”
“No, not now. I knew because the rumor spread. It must have been yesterday.”
Yesterday was the day that Sovieshu ordered Rashta’s first child to be brought in for comparison with the princess.
Sovieshu laughed out loud.
“If the rumor spread, it means everyone in the imperial palace is talking about it.”
Marquis Karl made an uncomfortable face. That seemed to be the case.
Rashta met Duke Elgy again despite the shameful rumor that was already circulating about them.
Besides, Sovieshu was beginning to fear that the infertility was him after he learned of Navier’s pregnancy.
The princess was identical to her older brother. She only resembled Sovieshu in the number of fingers and toes.
As unpleasant as it was to hear that Rashta had gone for comfort in Duke Elgy’s arms, what actually worried him was that the princess was not his child.
“You told me yesterday that Alan went to see Rashta right after he met with me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, what is it?”
‘If the father of Rashta’s first child was Alan… that would mean that Rashta burst into tears in her current lover’s arms because it brought back memories to see the father of her first child? Did she confess what was happening to Duke Elgy so that he would comfort her? Is it also possible that her current lover was the real father of the princess?’
Sovieshu forcefully shook off the growing anxiety that Rashta’s story produced.
‘No, the times do not fit. It is absurd. The same goes for the son of Viscount Roteschu. Due to the times it is impossible that he is the real father of the princess.’
However, distrust still pushed his head from side to side.
‘Is there any chance that there is a third man?’
He was belatedly annoyed that Rashta held a tea party with only n.o.blemen.
“I really don’t like any of this.”
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
“I never thought a year could be so long.”
“Do you want me to ask Rashta to watch her behavior?”
“Have you ever heard a goldfish talk?”
“The teacher who taught Rashta once said, ‘although her learning ability is slow, she’s not dumb’.”
“I know Rashta isn’t dumb, which makes me even angrier. It may seem like she doesn’t understand the implications of her behavior, but it’s just that she doesn’t really care.”
After these last words, Sovieshu ordered the marquis to leave. He then picked up the invitation that he had balled up.
He smoothed out the invitation, read it again with a frown, and crushed it.
It was very unpleasant. However…
‘I think I should send a gift. Navier might be overwhelmed if I sent a gift, but wouldn’t she be disappointed if I didn’t?’
Moreover, it was customary to send gifts between ruling families of the same continent for their first unborn child. Unless the relations.h.i.+p was particularly bad or on its way to being.
‘What gift should I send? What kind of gift should I send to Navier’s child?’
Sovieshu’s eyes suddenly fell on the altered painting.
His expression became distorted. A child born between him and Navier. The image of that child that had come to his mind hundreds of times since his youth, appeared once again before his eyes.
‘Navier’s child. The child that could… have been mine.’
He felt suffocated, as if his lungs were being pressed hard. Sovieshu forced himself to shake his head.
Whether a prince or a princess, one day he would see it. Just thinking about that moment already made him feel short of breath.
Sovieshu leaned his forehead against the painting and pressed his lips together.
‘I hope the child only looks like Emperor Heinley. I hope the child doesn’t look like Navier.’