Side Story 6. The Empress’s Duty

The person who greeted us was a middle-aged man. He had light brown hair and a mustache of the same color.

Ionia was also beside him, holding a file of documents in her hand, which suggested she was busy with work.

Here I am, playing around with Johann for ten days, is this really okay?

I felt a bit guilty. I said I would do my best to fulfill my duties as Empress, but from the start, I’ve been doing absolutely nothing, which pricks my conscience.

By the way, who was that middle-aged man again…

I silently groaned, trying to recall the portraits of the ministers I had memorized under Countess Adria’s strict teachings.

I’m sure I’ve seen him…

What was his name again…

“Congratulations on your imperial marriage.”

“Thank you, Duke Fonde.”

I remembered.

Having finally succeeded in matching the face with the name, I secretly let out a sigh of relief. I could feel Johann looking at me with somewhat approving eyes from beside me.

Ahem.

I’ll have you know I memorized over 500 names, okay?

But how regrettable it was that I couldn’t showcase the fruits of that effort because I couldn’t attend the banquet.

Well, there will be more banquets in the future, I suppose.

“Are you coming from the Finance Department meeting?”

Just then, Johann threw a question at Duke Fonde.

That’s right. Duke Fonde was the Minister of Finance, and under his direct command, the Imperial Palace was sending out mail to all imperial citizens telling them to pay their taxes on time.

As befitting a man who collected taxes meticulously, he had a thorough and stern impression.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Duke Fonde answered politely.

Then, Ionia adjusted her glasses with her index finger and added.

“There were no special agenda items, so don’t worry.”

Huh?

That’s a bit unexpected?

I thought Ionia would tell us to stop playing around and quickly return to work. But she’s saying there’s nothing to worry about…

Not understanding the situation, I looked carefully at Duke Fonde and Johann’s faces in turn.

I wondered if the Minister of Finance was really okay with the Emperor’s absence. Ah, by the way, Duke Fonde was one of the representative figures who was favorable towards an Empress of common birth.

It was surprising that a founding family of the Empire with a long history and tradition welcomed me with open arms, but…

“Ionia is correct. There is nothing for Your Majesty to be concerned about.”

Why are they really acting like this…

Saying it like that made it seem like there was something going on.

“I see. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“……”

At Johann’s response, I looked at him in disbelief.

Are you serious?

Don’t you see the dark circles under those two people’s eyes? Am I the only one who sees them? Really?

I was so dumbfounded that I sent Johann a look asking if this wasn’t too much. We’re neglecting our duties. We should go back to our positions now.

But Johann didn’t seem to agree with my thoughts.

Even though he clearly saw my look, he didn’t budge at all and instead sent me a languid and strangely mischievous gaze.

This man, really!

What are you doing in front of people!

“Now that Her Majesty the Empress understands the weight of her words, I can finally feel at ease.”

Ionia said something that was hard to distinguish whether it was sincere or sarcastic.

I said I would do my best to fulfill my duties as Empress. But I haven’t started anything yet.

But she says I understand the weight of my words?

Is she being sarcastic? Does it make sense to say you’re at ease with such a haggard face?

Having reached a conclusion, I immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do it properly from now on.”

“…Are you saying it wasn’t proper until now?”

Johann muttered beside me with a shocked face. His face was strangely flushed.

Why is he like that?

I felt like something was going strangely wrong. But I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

“Excellent.”

“……?”

I was dumbfounded at Ionia’s praise.

“It seems my efforts in leading the support for this imperial marriage were worthwhile.”

“……?”

At Duke Fonde’s words, who was smiling contentedly with a tired face, I was truly thrown into confusion.

However, I could somewhat guess from the following conversation. That the Empress’s duty they were talking about was different from what I was thinking.

“The future of the Empire is bright.”

“Marseus has a lot to do, so I’ll be going now. Take care, Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

All he’s done is roll around with me, so why… Wait.

Could it be?

Feeling a tingling sensation as if cold water was being poured from the top of my head, I froze in place. Ionia’s voice flowed into my ears.

“You must produce an heir. Definitely.”

I turned my head slowly, stiff as a stone, to look at Ionia. She was looking at me with a solemn face, clenching her fist as if to say ‘do well’.

So what…?

Whoosh!

Unlike my uncomprehending head, my cheeks burst into flames with heat.

I couldn’t believe it. Is this normal? Is it normal to discuss the imperial family’s bedroom matters so openly like this!

“Then I must go, there’s another meeting.”

Ionia gave a small bow, and added, looking at Johann.

“By the way, the heir talk was completely left out of the meeting.”

“That’s the most welcome news I’ve heard.”

Johann was calm. Duke Fonde beside him also had an indifferent face.

Am I the only one embarrassed right now?

Is it normal for the nobles to be this focused on Johann and my bedroom activities?!

It seemed to be normal, somehow.

Looking at the reactions of the three, it felt like I was the one overreacting.

“I, I heard from Countess Adria that the Empress has a lot of work to do.”

Taking care of the Imperial Palace’s household was no ordinary task. I also had to listen to the voices of the imperial citizens along with the Emperor.

But why are these people only talking about what happens on the bed?

“Of course that’s true, but compared to producing an heir for the Empire, all those tasks are pushed down in priority.”

Ionia resolved my doubts with a voice sharp as a knife.

However, it seemed like Ionia’s lifespan would shorten while taking care of this priority. I asked, half out of concern.

“You look overwhelmed trying to handle everything alone…”

“It’s fine.”

“But if His Majesty and I help with the work…”

“I said it’s fine.”

Ionia was like a stubborn squash. She opened her mouth with an even stronger tone, as if to say her words were sincere, and pushed Johann and me away.

“I’ve endured in this state for over half a year.”

It was as if she was saying, ‘So please shut up and go to the bedroom.’

* * *

I’ll be honest.

For ten days after getting married, I was so immersed in the world of Johann that I lost track of time. He was a man I already knew, but at the same time, he was a man I didn’t know at all.

Johann taught me his intimate secrets one by one, and also learned about me one by one. I discovered aspects of myself I didn’t even know, one by one, together with him.

That alone was overwhelming.

So I didn’t know.

That others were watching our history with such interest.

“So you’re saying you promised Ionia to produce an heir within a year?”

I asked, dumbfounded.

How could you make such an animalistic promise…

“Sera.”

I’m not sure what my expression looked like, but Johann grabbed my wrist with an anxious face. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, and I was standing between his legs.

In the past, I would have thought this distance was too close, but compared to the last ten days, we were very far apart right now.

“I hope you’re not misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding? It’s just too strange. I know an heir is important for the Empire, but demanding one within a year is too strange!”

“That’s because I’m old…”

“Johann, you’re not old at all!”

“I wish everyone thought like you, but the ministers’ eyes are not like that.”

“So…”

Are you saying all those passionate moments happened because we were pushed? I was in a daze, unable to come to my senses for a series of time, but was I the only one who enjoyed it? Are you saying Johann was coolly trying to keep his promise with Ionia the whole time?

I was confused.

At the same time, I felt upset.

Of course, I know that when people do something, they don’t move for just one reason. Johann likes me, so he must have wanted me. I wasn’t denying that sincerity.

But I felt hurt that during those times I thought were filled solely with our existence for each other, a part of Johann’s mind was occupied with his responsibility as Emperor. It felt like a cold calculation was underlying our relationship.

Unable to continue speaking, I lowered my head for a moment.

“I desperately needed Ionia’s support.”

Johann intertwined his fingers with mine one by one, holding my hand tightly. It felt as desperate as his words.

I looked at him with wavering eyes. Johann was looking up at me with pleading eyes.

“I would have promised anything if it meant I could marry you.”

“……”

“I didn’t have the luxury to be picky.”

“Really…”

When you say it like that, how can my heart not melt?

Feeling a lump in my throat, I bit my lower lip. Noticing that my gaze had softened, relief washed over Johann’s tense face.

“I’m sorry for making the promise in secret.”

“Fool.”

“Forgive me. I’ll talk to Ionia again.”

He meant he would do anything, whether extending the period or removing it altogether.

Seeing the man acting as if he was standing at a crossroads of fate depending on the words that would come out of my mouth, I melted completely like sugar dissolved in water. How could I melt so easily when my heart had been frozen solid just moments ago?

I must really like Johann a lot.

“It’s okay. At this rate, it seems like it’ll happen within a year anyway.”

Johann’s eyes widened.

Pretending not to notice that, I pulled him tightly into my arms.