A Second Divorce is Difficult - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Side Story 3 – The Emperor and the Empress (11)

It was late at night when Shannua returned from his work with Arlen.

“Did everything go well?”

Eli had been at Ruby’s bedside as she slept, and when he heard of Shannua’s return, he sought him out.

“Yes.”

After a quick change of clothes, Shannua arrived in the parlor ahead of Eli and sat down across from him.

Eli noticed a blue gem-encrusted bracelet on his wrist through his lightened attire.

“You found that bracelet.”

“Oh, I just went to retrieve it.”

So Shannua had known from the start that he could retrieve it, which meant giving it to Arlen was a message.

Understanding that Eli nodded casually and said,

“You must be tired after all that traveling, so I’ll leave you to get some rest.”

“What?”

Shannua had the presence of mind to explain, to the point where he would understand if Eli asked, but Eli stood up without hesitation.

It was a quick change of stance that baffled Shannua.

“I don’t think I need to hear it.”

“…….”

“I think the less I know about the intricacies of His Majesty’s affairs, the better. I have a family of my own now. If you’ve resolved it, then that’s fine.”

Instead of asking more questions, Eli stood up and left the parlor.

“Ha, well…….”

Shannua watched him quickly disappear and gave him a dumbfounded laugh.

* * *

Thinking of Katrina, who was probably already asleep since it was late at night, Shannua entered the room, trying not to make too much noise.

Katrina’s voice greeted him.

“You’re back.”

“I thought you were sleeping. Did I wake you?”

“I couldn’t get back to sleep.”

“Did you get sick again while I was gone?”

At Katrina’s words, Shannua leaned closer, examining her body.

“It wasn’t serious.”

“What’s this?”

Shannua asked, his brow furrowed as he noticed the scar.

Katrina avoided answering.

Then, without further question, he looked at the newly scarred area of her chest with a frown.

She studied him for a moment, then blurted out.

“Have you met her?”

Shannua’s gaze slowly shifted to Katrina.

Katrina asked again.

“I’m asking if you’ve met Arlen.”

“Yes. I have.”

Katrina swallowed the lump that rose in her throat at Shannua’s answer.

“……You did.”

She gave a small nod of understanding instead of speaking up.

There was so much she wanted to say—to ask what Shannua and Arlen had talked about in their meeting, to ask why he’d given her the bracelet he’d never forgotten to wear. But at the same time, she didn’t want to hear anything.

So Katrina decided not to ask any more questions.

“I went to retrieve my belongings.”

But then Shannua’s muffled voice came out.

When he caught Katrina’s averted gaze, he showed her his wrist. On his wrist was the bracelet he’d given to Arlen.

“The bracelet…….”

“Arlen tried to sell it after escaping from the convent, so I went to retrieve it. It was the last punishment for a repentant sinner.”

Katrina was surprised that Shannua had found the bracelet and that he referred to Arlen as a sinner.

“Now that she’s escaped from the convent, she won’t even receive minimal protection. She’ll wander the streets, struggle with hunger, be taken advantage of by people, and eventually be abandoned. It’ll be a miserable life where she can’t even look after her own safety.”

“…….”

“Does that answer your question?”

“…Are you okay, Your Majesty?”

Shannua scowled, not liking the tone of the question.

“To me, she was just a sinner who needed punishment.”

“Ah… I didn’t mean to suggest that Your Majesty was unfair.”

Misinterpreting his expression, Katrina thought he might be dwelling on the past, so she quickly clarified her words.

“I understand. Anyone would have thought the same way.”

Shannua’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

He thought perhaps even Arlen might have felt that way.

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

Today’s Shannua seemed different as if he would answer everything if asked, unlike usual.

“Why did you give her the bracelet?”

So Katrina, uncharacteristically, asked more questions.

“I was curious about what she would do about it, and I thought it would be good if she did something. That way, she can pay a definite price.”

“Because she attacked Earl Rox?”

“If that were the only reason, I wouldn’t have gone that far.”

Katrina looked at him with a questioning expression

“She threatened you.”

Katrina blinks at the unexpected answer.

‘Did she?’

Katrina tried to remember, but nothing came to mind.

“You don’t have to try to remember.”

Shannua thought it was a good thing Katrina didn’t remember.

“I will seek revenge, I will kill her! No matter what it takes, I will kill her! That’s my place!”

He’d have to keep those outrageous, offensive words to himself.

“Was that why you gave her the bracelet?”

“Even an attempted imperial assassination is a crime. Besides, it’s obvious that rushing against someone like Eli, who’s clearly unbeatable, will lead to further trouble.”

Even with that explanation, Katrina looked at him, unconvinced.

“Her previous offenses are not small, and her attempt to commit another crime without showing any sign of remorse is grounds for severe punishment.”

She nodded, a little more convinced now.

“Ask another question.”

“I have no more questions now.”

“Well… can you sleep comfortably tonight?”

“What?”

“You’ve been making that curious expression every time, but you never asked.”

Shannua spoke as if he knew her as if he knew that if her questions wouldn’t be answered, she would have suffered alone, hugging her tight chest the whole time.He didn’t know that from the beginning.

He just realized it at some point, noticing how he paid attention to Katrina and often glanced at her. Even when she became curious, she hesitated and eventually withdrew without asking anything.

“I’m sorry for everything.”

“…….”

“I’m the reason you don’t ask me questions; I’m the reason you hide things; I’m the reason you’re hurting.”

And with that, Shannua lowered his gaze back down to her scar.

Katrina thought the wrinkles in his brow were almost as if he were grieving the wound.

“Arlen was punished because of her own fault, but it was because of me that you ended up like this.”

That’s what Shannua realized as he had a conversation with Arlen.

‘If she took Arlen’s sin upon herself, then who bore mine? ‘

He thought about it throughout the journey back.

And it wasn’t until he arrived here that he found the answer. From that moment on, it was all his fault that Katrina had stopped throwing tea parties and that she hadn’t been able to tell him she was sick.

“So from now on, if you have any questions, please ask me. Stop putting your body through so much. I’ll tell you everything.”

“Did …. anything happen?”

Even if she said she was okay, her true feelings…

Katrina’s thoughts and worries were interrupted by Shannua’s next words.

“If I don’t look okay right now, it’s because the Empress was sick all by herself while I was gone.”

“…….”

“So if I look strange, it’s because you’re the one who needs to get well.”

Then he looked at her as if he were asking for an answer with his eyes.

Katrina stared at him blankly, then asked.

“I think you’re worried…….”

“What?”

“It sounds like you’re worried about me.”

Shannua tried to make sense of what he had just heard.

“If I’m not worried, then what else?”

“I know you’re worried.”

Katrina quickly corrected herself.

But she didn’t seem to realize that her correction was even stranger.

“But?”

“It’s just that your concern seems to be directed at me.”

“What…… do you mean?”

His expression grew even more puzzled as she explained.

“I knew that you were taking care of me for the succession. But today, Your Majesty seemed unusually affectionate towards me, it’s just weird that you said something so strange.”

“……me?”

He hadn’t realized she’d thought he was only looking out for her for the sake of the succession.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t mean to misunderstand or expect anything.”

Katrina didn’t care about his reaction, but she did care that her words sounded like she was expecting something from him.

“I have not forgotten the relationship between His Majesty and myself.”

“You mean the…… relationship for the succession?”

Shannua muttered as if he had just realized it.

Katrina nodded slowly. It was so ingrained in her mind that she had to remind herself not to forget.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Shannua nodded his head, feeling somewhat bewildered.

Although he knew this fact already, he couldn’t find a precise reason why this realization was shocking.

“And I haven’t forgotten about the matter with the Royal Concubine.”

Katrina spoke without paying much attention to his reaction.

“I’m just glad that His Majesty cares about me and has tried to honor me.”

“…….”

“The days have passed by quickly, so His Majesty will have to get ready to take in a consort, and I’ll help you with that.”

Until now, Katrina’s feelings about bearing the burden of empresshood were mostly emotional. But at this moment, they were not.

This time, she felt she could sincerely do her best.

The fact that she’d been so frustrated and sick to her stomach a moment ago and then disappeared like a lie when she realized the Emperor was worried about her, spoke volumes.

It’s funny how that one little fact—that he put her before Arlen and cared for her—was all it took.

But unlike Katrina, Shannua couldn’t say anything.

His mind was just in turmoil.

* * *

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