9. I Will Not Become the Wicked Consort

“I greet Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager.”

After completing her greeting, Larael unconsciously tensed up, perhaps recalling the intimidation she always felt whenever she entered the Empress Dowager’s palace. Even after finishing her greeting, she couldn’t easily move and simply stared blankly at the Empress Dowager’s face.

“Sit there!!!”

The Empress Dowager pointed roughly to the seat across from her and spoke harshly. Snapping out of her daze, Larael sat where she was directed, and the Empress Dowager’s maids set a teacup in front of her.

“It’s a rare tea. It suits anyone’s taste, but not everyone gets to try it.”

“Thank you.”

The Empress Dowager slowly looked Larael over. She was noticeably different from before.

When Herwen first brought Larael to her, the girl had been so nervous she trembled in her presence. She had tried to hide her unease with forced smiles, which had seemed almost pitiful. But now, the Larael sitting before her seemed like an entirely different person.

“I heard you said you wouldn’t become the Empress Consort?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The Empress Dowager burst into laughter. Larael simply watched her silently. The Empress Dowager laughed so hard she wiped tears from her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Well then, let’s hear your reason.”

“I only wished to relieve His Majesty of what seemed to be a burden of responsibility.”

“Are you perhaps thinking of returning to Herwen?”

Although Larael’s face remained expressionless, her eyes began to tremble slightly. To hide her unease, she lowered her gaze.

“His Grace the Grand Duke did come to see me and even said he would become my lover, but I sent him away. You don’t need to worry about that. I don’t want to be a burden to either of them.”

“What? What?? A… lover?”

The Empress Dowager stuttered, her face pale. She grabbed the glass of water on the table and drank it down in large gulps. Her chest heaved visibly as she tried to calm herself. After taking a deep breath, she spoke again.

“You slept with the Emperor, so the blood of the imperial family may already be growing inside you. Refusing to become the consort is an act of treason. And what about the insult to the imperial family? If word spreads throughout the Empire that the Emperor slept with his brother’s fiancée only for her to reject the position of consort, what do you think will happen?”

“I…”

“You must think you’re very clever for refusing the position of Empress Consort. Who do you think you’re considering in your actions? Nothing you’ve done shows consideration for anyone.”

Larael felt as if she had been struck on the head by the Empress Dowager’s words. Once again, she found herself acting selfishly. By claiming she didn’t want to harm Edward, she had ultimately only protected herself.

She thought that if she stayed away from the Emperor, who was at the center of it all, he would be freed from the consequences of her actions. She would drag Herwen down herself.

“I will take all the blame. I’ll say I’m the wicked woman who manipulated both of them.”

“Why would you go that far?”

The Empress Dowager frowned as she asked.

“Do you think that will restore the dignity of the Emperor, which has already hit rock bottom? That responsible Emperor put the issue of your appointment as Empress Consort to the noble council multiple times despite opposition, and he finally pushed it through. But you overturned it all with a single sly word. Who will stand by an Emperor who’s become a laughingstock now?”

The Empress Dowager pointed at Larael’s stomach with her finger.

“And are you certain there isn’t a royal heir growing inside you?”

“…”

She was certain. But she couldn’t say it out loud.

“Matters within the imperial family aren’t decided with a single word. They’re tangled with complex interests. Consider this a learning opportunity. Stop talking nonsense and return to your estate to prepare to become the Empress Consort. Since there’s no Empress, I’ll send appropriate gifts. I’ll inform you of the date for your entry into the palace.”

Larael couldn’t say anything. The words she had repeated to herself countless times about becoming stronger were useless. She remained powerless, incompetent, and foolish. She was starting to feel angry at herself. She couldn’t bear how pathetic she was.

“Your Majesty, but I’ve already expressed my decision to His Majesty the Emperor…”

“The appointment of the Empress Consort has only been postponed.”

Larael bit her lip. The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes at Larael with a cold gaze, then widened them as if she were suddenly filled with warmth. Smiling kindly, she moved to sit beside Larael and grabbed her hand. She began stroking it gently.

“Lady Hedway. Though you didn’t enter the imperial family with pride or a warm welcome, you’re now part of it, aren’t you?”

Larael stared blankly at the Empress Dowager’s cold hands as they stroked hers. She painfully realized how unprepared and inadequate she was.

There was no way out of this situation. Until the Empress Dowager heard the answer she wanted, she wouldn’t let Larael leave.

Larael let out a hollow laugh. Her emotions surged suddenly and fiercely.

“Well then, let’s have some tea and go meet His Majesty the Emperor together. Melissa!!!”

At her call, a sharp-featured maid approached the Empress Dowager.

“Send word to His Majesty the Emperor that I will be visiting with Lady Hedway shortly. Ask him to make time for us.”

The Empress Dowager stared intently at Larael as she gave the order and gestured for Melissa to come closer. She whispered something quietly into Melissa’s ear. Melissa nodded in response and left the reception room. Whatever she had whispered, it was undoubtedly a message for Herwen.

Larael felt suffocated.

She had no choice but to admit that she had made an emotional and hasty decision. Despite her flawed and contextless reasoning, she had consoled herself that it was the best decision while hiding behind a glass wall of self-protection. How many days had she agonized over something that was so easily overturned?

She had been so confident after convincing her parents and the Emperor. Could she even face Herwen in this state? In the end, everything was going according to Herwen’s plan.

“How does the tea taste?”

The Empress Dowager asked as she watched Larael drink the tea, lost in thought.

“It’s fine.”

Larael answered mechanically. Her response didn’t matter. Whatever she said, the Empress Dowager was bound to follow it with a disparaging remark.

“I see. Have you ever tasted such a rare tea before? I’ll teach you about it in time.”

The Empress Dowager commented, recalling how the Hedway family wasn’t particularly wealthy. There was no way Larael had ever encountered such a fine tea.

“That explains such a lackluster response. You don’t even know how precious this tea is.”

“Do you need anything or have any jewelry you’d like?”

“No, I don’t.”

Larael answered firmly.

The Empress Dowager continued asking unnecessary questions, and Larael endured the tedious exchange. Eventually, a knock on the door interrupted them. Melissa entered to deliver a message to the Empress Dowager.

“His Majesty has canceled his prior engagement with Marquis Notello and is available to meet you now.”

“Good. Tell him we’ll come right away.”

The Empress Dowager stood and looked at Larael. Thinking about meeting Edward made Larael sigh, her heart pounding heavily. She bit her lip and rose to follow the Empress Dowager.

—

Edward, seated in the reception room, watched as the Empress Dowager entered, followed by Larael.

He had thought he would never see her again after their last meeting, but he hadn’t imagined she would reappear so soon. The Empress Dowager held her head high like a victorious general, looking at the Emperor.

“What brings you here?”

“Please proceed with the appointment of the Empress Consort.”

“What?”

Edward looked at Larael, standing beside the Empress Dowager, in shock. Larael avoided his gaze and lowered her head.