Side Story – The Emperor and the Empress (1)

“You didn’t always get along with your wife, either.”

Eli, too, was looking toward the lake, not at Shannua.

“That’s right.”

Eli briefly recalled a past in which he had gone through divorce and quickly erased it from his mind.

“How did things improve between you two?”

It was only when he asked that question that Shannua’s gaze shifted to Eli.

Eli, who had been silently looking towards him, put down his teacup and spoke.

“Do you have a desire to improve things?”

“…Don’t you think so?”

Eli shrugged as if he didn’t know.

“I’m only asking because you need to be prepared.”

Shannua leaned on his arm and interlocked his fingers, silently urging Eli to continue speaking. It was a gesture of listening.

“Things won’t improve if you’re still the same as before.”

“And?”

“You have to change your behavior that has created this situation.”

Eli looked at him as if asking if he could do that.

“You mean I should start by finding out what went wrong?”

There were too many.

Shannua, knowing he had made many mistakes in his relationship with Katrina, thought.

“It would be good to find and change them one by one.”

“Would it?”

He asked, trying to understand from someone who had been there and done that.

“If you can handle the time it takes to find the wrong one,”

Eli’s gaze shifted back to Ruby.

“I couldn’t wait for that time, so I just changed everything.”

Shannua smirked, glad it was Eli.

“So, did it work?”

“I don’t know; I just know it was better than finding it and changing it, but Ruby would have been very upset.”

“…….”

“She could have pushed it away, she could have disbelieved it, she could have hated it, and…”

Eli, who had been speaking smoothly, frowned slightly.

“And… she could run away.”

The sudden hesitation seemed to mean he didn’t want to think about it again.

‘Run away.’

Shannua mulled over Eli’s last words, and his brow creased in a natural frown.

That much should be prepared for.

All he’d heard of Eli through the knight he’d assigned to Sorvan was that the current Eli was doing things that the old Eli he knew wouldn’t do.

“…Try your best.”

Eli realized that Shannua somehow reminded him of his old self. For different reasons, of course.

What was certain was that there had been a change in his state of mind. It was evident from the number of times he had looked at the Empress during their whole conversation.

Unaware of Eli’s observation of him, Shannua looked out at the boat Katrina was on and noticed that she was smiling.

It was a rare, genuine smile, and even Shannua, who was momentarily surprised, naturally smiled.

“Your wife seems to be quite talented.”

He couldn’t tell what they were talking about, but Katrina was relaxed, enjoying her dessert and tea.

“Didn’t you notice how much she’s changed me?”

If it was a compliment from Ruby, Eli couldn’t refuse.

“You too…”

Shannua turned his head away, unable to contain himself at such brazenness.

“So, when do you plan to return to the palace?”

“I don’t have any plans right now. I won’t go back for a few years.”

Eli knew better than anyone that Shannua would not have come here for no reason.

Behind his visit to celebrate the wedding, he was trying to call him back to the palace.

But Eli had no intention of returning to the palace until after his child was born and had grown up.

Not setting a time frame was his own rationalization.

“I understand the arrangement, and in the meantime, I’ll make arrangements for you. Not as a title in name only, but as a hereditary earl.”

“…….”

“You won’t get a title unless you’ve done something worthy of the title. The earldom is a recognition of your service.”

Eli had only thought that a noble title was better than nothing for a child of either gender, regardless of the title, but Shannua seemed to see it differently.

Paying no heed to Eli’s unanswered question, Shannua kept his eyes on the lake.

Eli’s answer was the same one he had heard from the moment he and the Empress attended this wedding.

* * *

“It is an honor to have tea with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Me too.”

Emily agreed to Viscountess Rainier’s greeting, never expecting this day to come in her life.

“I’m just grateful to be here. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out, and it’s even better to be with good people.”

It might sound like a superficial courtesy, but Katrina meant it sincerely.

Lately, Katrina has been hosting fewer tea parties, perhaps because of the Emperor’s scandal.

She didn’t want to listen to people gossiping about her behind her back, so she gradually put them off, but when the issue of succession and the imperial family came up, she stopped hosting them altogether.

She felt as if she were surrounded by people who were trying to tarnish her security and reputation.

In comparison, the people gathered here now were a breeze for Katrina.

“It’s a good thing the weather is favorable for a day with Her Majesty.”

Ruby spoke in a relaxed voice over the calm water.

“You’re welcome to come aboard anytime while you’re here; just ask. My mother and the Marchioness too.”

“Thank you.”

Katrina replied, looking around at the scenery, not at her interlocutor. Soon, she closed her eyes.

The cool air felt better. The palace had gardens, of course, but unlike the palace, she didn’t feel as claustrophobic.

She opened her eyes again, suddenly realizing that it wasn’t polite, and a small part of her worried that she might be looked at strangely.

Then, suddenly, she remembered that it wasn’t polite to ignore her company. There was also a slight worry that she might appear odd if she did. In the palace, there were many who exaggeratedly commented on Katrina’s every move, as if her slightest deviation from the norm was a problem.

“It’s delicious any time of day.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. The head chef was already a famous dessert chef. The dessert scene in the capital stirred up when he came here.”

“I see. I can see why, given his skill.”

Katrina, on the other hand, could only see Viscountess Rainier, Emily, who were all busy talking about the desserts, and Ruby, who was looking on in amusement.

“I assume your father is having dessert, too?”

“Of course.”

Ruby replied, trying not to worry.

Viscount Rainier and Leton would be having their own tea, separate from Shannua and Eli and the four ladies on the boat, who had something intimate to discuss.

Then Ruby spotted the Empress looking at them out of the corner of her eye and asked.

“Would you like some, Your Majesty? I know you had plenty at the reception yesterday, but this is a different dessert. I’m sure this will be delicious.”

“It is indeed delicious, Your Majesty.”

Viscountess Rainier, who had been admiring the dessert, also took a bite.

Katrina couldn’t help but smile at how unremarkable the scene was.

With Countess Rox, who rarely went out in society and had no intention of being seen, Marchioness Emily Grit, and Viscountess Rainier, whom Katrina had never seen before and had no interest in society, it was no wonder they were not interested in her. Then it occurred to her that she could make herself at home here for a few days.

Katrina, who was feeling a little better at the thought, took the dessert and took a bite.

“It’s delicious.”

“It is, isn’t it? I don’t think I’ve met anyone who doesn’t like it yet.”

There was a hint of pride in Ruby’s voice—a hint of pride in her chef.

“Is it because I ate while looking at the beautiful scenery? It tastes better.”

The smile on Katrina’s face was relaxed, and Ruby felt a little relieved, glad she’d taken the boat.

* * *

“I guess we should get inside.”

Eli, who had been watching the boat the whole time, noticed Ruby starting to wrap the blanket around her and stood up.

Just then, Damon approached.

“Perfect timing. It’s getting cold. How about moving to a different location?”

“Yes. And My Lord, a guest has arrived.”

“Do I have an appointment today?”

‘I don’t think so.’

Eli thought to himself.

“Not for you, My Lord but for His Majesty.”

At that, Shannua’s head snapped toward Damon.

His expression seemed to say, “Me?”

“Lord Rayon has requested to see Her Majesty.”

Damon’s gaze shifted to Katrina on the ship.

“If Her Majesty agrees to meet him, I’ll guide him to the reception room. If not, there’s nothing we can do but send him away.”

Before Shannua could reply, Eli spoke up.

“Oh, and on the way, ask for a blanket and a towel soaked in warm water.”

Damon nodded his understanding and left.

Eli noticed Shannua looking at him with an expression that seemed to have much to say.

“Lord Rayon said he was here to see the Empress, so I thought it should be up to Her Majesty to decide.”

“…Who said what?”

“That’s it.”

Having been informed of the situation, Eli walked over to the ship as it began to move toward the dock. Not forgetting to grab a blanket on the way.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories