A Second Divorce is Difficult - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Side Story 3 – The Emperor and the Empress (5)

Shannua had been visiting Katrina every day since the day he learned everything.

The nobles, who were clamoring for an heir, were delighted, but the reality was not what they expected.

All they could do was sleep in the same room as Shannua and make sure she couldn’t harm herself.

What he found was that Katrina’s symptoms were more severe than he thought.

Katrina was suffering in silence, unable to even vocalize her frustration out loud.

Yet her body was crying out in frustration, and tears were streaming down her face.

Katrina tried not to hurt herself, but when she couldn’t stand it, she struggled to get away from him.

“It’s going to be okay.”

Even in uncomfortable positions, when Katrina scratched herself with her nails, eventually, Shannua positioned himself in a way that Katrina could not harm herself.

After more than a month of this, her wounds began to heal.

“You don’t have to come every day anymore.”

“Yes. You’re much better now, too, so maybe we should schedule an official night union.”

If he visited her every day and didn’t hear news of an heir, the nobles would be sure to criticize Katrina.

“I suggest we refrain from seeing each other in the future.”

But apparently, she had other ideas.

“……What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard that the nobles are telling the Emperor to take a Royal Concubine, citing the fact that I haven’t conceived in years.”

Even the Marquis of Tules, Katrina’s family, had written to her about the matter.

“If it’s about that issue, you don’t have to worry.”

“No, I don’t. You should think about it, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“I have a lot of problems.”

The way she said it, Katrina herself was dumbfounded. Her tone was calm like she was stating a fact.

“You’re getting better.”

Katrina shook her head.

She knew her condition best.

She had more aches and pains than usual.

The doctor who examined her cautiously suggested that it might be something in her mind that was causing her to have these symptoms for no particular reason.

Even though she was taking her medication regularly, the physical symptoms were only temporary.

Katrina felt that her mental illness was beginning to eat away at her body.

“It would be better to have a new empress, Your Majesty. This is a sincere request from me as the Empress of the Luben Empire.”

“I told you I had no intention of doing so.”

“Your Majesty.”

“How many days has it been since you’ve gotten better? Won’t you even try?”

“……If my efforts fail, will you give up then?”

“We will try as much as we can.”

Without answering the question of giving up, Shannua grabbed Katrina’s hand and pulled her to him.

That was only a few months ago.

* * *

“The Empress is not feeling well, so we should have dinner by ourselves.”

Of the imperial couple, Shannua was the only one who came to dinner.

He came down for dinner a little later than he had promised, as he had made sure that Katrina was asleep after being examined.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress feeling very unwell?”

Hyde asked with concern.

“It seems she hasn’t quite recovered from her fever yet. Don’t worry, she’ll get better with rest. Lady Byton, is the food okay?”

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

“That’s good. It would have been rude to invite you and not serve proper food. Lord Rayon, how about you?”

Hyde gave a slight nod of his head to show his appreciation.

But his eating movements seemed slower as if lost in thought.

“Have you two had a chance to talk?”

“Oh, yes.”

Ganessa said, glancing toward Hyde.

“His Lordship explained to me about the coffee we had earlier.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He also told me about the kingdom of Deston.”

“I see.”

Shannua listened with pride.

“I was worried I had made you wait too long. By the way, aren’t you two close in terms of territory?”

The question was directed at both of them, but Hyde didn’t answer, chewing slowly on the contents of his mouth as he thought about it.

Finally, once again, it was Ganessa who answered first.

“Yes, I believe so, and I love the cheeses from the County of Rayon’s cheddar, which I often enjoy because of its proximity.”

Shannua nodded, smiling at Ganessa’s favorable response.

“It’s fate that we met like this, and it would be nice if we could keep in touch.”

“It would be my honor.”

“The County of Rayon has many villas; perhaps you could invite her to visit.”

Shannua smiled and looked at Hyde.

He looked at Shannua with an unreadable expression, then realized that Ganessa was waiting for his answer and answered.

“If Lady Byton agrees, I will look into it.”

Ganessa shyly nodded in agreement.

* * *

“I need to speak with you in private, Your Majesty.”

Normally, Shannua would have gone up to Katrina’s room right away, but he thought he should give the two of them a little more support over tea.

So that when Katrina woke up, she wouldn’t be able to do anything further.

That plan was interrupted by Hyde’s request.

He politely asked Ganessa if he could leave, and then asked Shannua to give him some time.

At his seemingly unyielding insistence, Ganessa said she was tired and would go upstairs first, and she headed for her room.

“Let’s go to the parlor.”

Shannua led the way, with Hyde following behind.

* * *

“What is it that you want to say?”

“Is the Empress very ill?”

At the mention of Katrina, the gentle smile that had been hovering at the corners of Shannua’s mouth began to fade.

“She is resting in her chambers due to exhaustion, but it is none of your concern, as the resident physician of this manor, a man of great ability, has been there.”

“How unwell is Her Majesty the Empress?”

One of Shannua’s eyebrows rose and fell at Hyde’s persistent question, despite his good explanation.

“I thought I just said she was fine.”

Shannua’s voice came out hard.

“I saw the physician unexpectedly. There were traces of treating wounds. If Her Majesty the Empress is truly resting due to accumulated fatigue, why would there be a need to treat wounds?”

Technically, he was treating Shannua’s arm, the wound covered by the garment that covered her arm, but he couldn’t say, nor did he feel the need to explain.

If they went up to rest and came back with wounds, it would be obvious to anyone that they were wounds inflicted by the Empress.

Instead of answering, Shannua asked.

“Lord Rayon, what is it that has you so worked up?”

“Do I need a reason to worry about my friend?”

“Yes, especially if they’re married and have husbands.”

A silly smile tugged at the corners of Shannua’s mouth and then faded.

Shannua’s cold gaze and Hyde’s determined gaze tangled in the air.

Hyde’s eyes were as cold as Shannua’s as if the human smile had been an illusion.

“One can’t help it if the husband is untrustworthy?”

“……ha…….”

“Even in the kingdom of Deston, news of the Luben Empire is known.”

Hyde said, though it would take some time, and then added.

“Do you know what news I have heard?”

They both knew that the ‘news’ that no one spoke of properly was the scandal of Arlen and Shannua.

“I told you, I’ve known Katrina longer than anyone else, except for the years I spent studying abroad. Katrina, where and how sick is she?”

Hyde was openly referring to Shannua and saying he didn’t trust him.

“I know. I understand that you don’t trust me, and that’s why you’re being so cocky with me.”

As for Shannua, he didn’t feel like arguing back, as it was a scandal of her own making.

“But even so, there’s a limit to how far I’ll tolerate it. Even if you don’t like me, Katrina is undeniably the Empress. Mentioning her name so casually and probing about the Empress like this, it’s all out of line.”

Shannua stepped closer to Hyde.

“I don’t have a big enough heart to allow that. I’ve only ever understood you because you were Katrina’s friend.”

Even though Hyde was unable to respond to a single word, he quietly expressed his emotional state by clenching his fists invisibly.

“You need to be more aware of your position. I’ll tell Katrina you’re not welcome here for a while.”

“…….”

“By the way, if you ever call the Empress by her first name again, it will cost you your life, because, as you know, I am not a very merciful person.”

With that, Shannua left the parlor.

The maid, who had just brought the tea for the Emperor and Lord Rayon, looked at Shannua with surprise before quickly bowing her head. He didn’t even glance at her before issuing his command.

“Tell Earl Rox to stop by here when he has time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With that, Shannua headed for the second floor.

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