The Abandoned Empress

Why has my fate been so messed up? I didn’t ask for much. I just didn’t want to live a miserable life like before.

I knew that because of my changes, others have also changed a bit. For example, my father began to express affectionate feelings, though he was still blunt. The crown prince was not as cold-hearted as before. Allendis and Carsein became my close friends, though they were total strangers to me in the past. I didn’t know the names of my family knights before I came back from the past, but I was very familiar with them now.

However, I never thought that such minor changes kept adding up to change the fate of others so much. I just thought I alone changed and acted a bit differently from the past, but the fate of people around me were influenced. How can I compensate these people who have had their future taken away because of me? What should I say to Allendis whose fate has been twisted by me?

I was freaking out when I thought about all this. I felt so stuffy as if something was stuck in my chest.

“…Ahhhh! ”

“… ”

“Lady Monique, stay alert!”

When somebody violently shook my shoulders, the darkness that surrounded me was pushed out. Sir Lars was shaking me with a stiff expression.

In the end, I breathed out while blinking slowly. Only then did Sir Lars lift his hand from my shoulder and said, “Forgive me for my rudeness.”

“No, Sir Lars. I am grateful for shaking me. I’m sorry for making you worried about me.”

“Are you alright? Your face looks pale.”

“Oh, I’m okay. You don’t have to worry. ”

“… I see.”

Although he seemed not to believe what I said, he didn’t ask me further and handed me a letter as if he thought of it only now, saying he was handed it on his way back. I quickly glanced at the envelope to check if it was sent by Allendis, but the writing on the light pink envelope was someone else’s.

‘It was sent by Princess Lisa.’

I opened the seal and looked at the finely folded invitation. I was reading it while heading to the 1st Knights’ building. Suddenly, a black shadow hung over my head.

“What invitation? Who sent it this time?”

“Hi, Carsein.”

In the formal uniform, he was wearing a white shirt. His clavicle was seen through the open collar as the top button was loose.

‘Why is he dressed like that?’

His outfit was really unacceptable. I could understand it’s dirty, but he would get a good scolding if he were caught by somebody.

“Oh, it’s so hot.”

Carsein, who had been taking his sweaty hair off his neck, nervously shook his head from side to side. His red hair that fell down to his shoulders was scattered like flames, and there were the beads of sweat on his forehead.

‘He looks like Luna.’

I giggled in spite of myself. The way he shook off his wet hair reminded me of Luna, the baby cat who shook off droplets while trembling after I bathed her.

“What the heck? Why are you laughing like that? ”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Hmm. Are you sure? By the way, aren’t you hot? Why are you wearing your uniform so tight?”

“I am hot, but this is the way we wear our uniforms, you know. If you are found in such a sloppy state by Sir Lars, you will be punished much more than a salary cut.”

“Well, I don’t need money, so it’s okay. If he suspends my duty, I like it better. As it’s so hot, I don’t have to work outside, right? In that case, I can relax at home. Sometimes, I can come over here and disturb you. How about that?”

“… ”

“Why? Were you so impressed by my terrific idea?”

“… Well, I was speechless by that.”

I folded the invitation finely and put it in the envelope with a smile. Carsein asked me, tilting his head, “Well? What is it about? Are you attending? ”

“Huh. you know Sir Feden, right? His wife sent an invitation to me.”

“Oh, really. That’s good. I haven’t even been able to say hello to him these days. Let’s go there together.”

“Ugh? Carsein, are you familiar with Sir Feden enough to exchange visits?”

He looked at me curiously at my casual asking.

Princess Lisa, Sir Feden, and Carsein: what do they have in common? I saw Princess Lisa at the National Founding Day festival, but as Carsein was not interested in social circles, I thought he was not on close terms with Sir Feden.

“Well. I was curious about the fencing style of the Lisa kingdom. Besides, Sir Feden was assigned to the 2nd Knights Division, so it’s a bit awkward for me to spar with him in the Imperial Palace. I visited his house.”

“… Got it.”

“Well, don’t you think you want to check out all the famous fencing styles? Someday, I would like to watch Earl League, Earl Dias and Marquis Enesil’s swordsmanship. Marquis Ensil’s fencing style is similar to our family’s, so I am very curious.”

I smiled unconsciously, watching him babbling in excitement. His visit to Sir Feden out of curiosity about his fencing style really befitted him.

Wait a minute.

“By the way, why didn’t you mention my family’s fencing style?”

“Ugh? Don’t you remember? I agreed to learn your family fencing style later. After I have taught you first, I’ll learn it in earnest. ”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.”

“Oh my, I think you need more practice. If I want to absorb your family’s fencing style as soon as possible, I think I have to train you much harder. Let’s go. It’s time to practice. ”

“…Why are you suddenly mentioning practice?”

“Why? Follow me right now. ”

“Ah, okay.”

I sighed and walked after him, who was full of zeal to teach me. Somehow, I had cold sweat on my back.

“Lady Monique, thanks for coming.”

“Hello, Baroness. It’s been a while.”

“You bet. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. Hi Sir Carsein? ”

“I’m sorry to visit you suddenly.”

Princess Lisa, who turned up her red hair finely, greeted us, with her blue eyes sparkling.

Standing next to her, Sir Feden with brown hair bowed bluntly.

With unbelievable eyes, I shook my head from side to side, looking at Carsein asking him for a duel even before I took a seat.

‘Dang it! How can he ask him for a duel as soon as he sees Sir Feden?’

Sir Feden was the bodyguard of Princess Lisa who came to the empire recently as one of the crown prince’s bribe candidates. He has become a knight of the empire since then.

The crown prince, who was given the full authority to conduct diplomatic negotiations with the kingdom of Lisa during the winter, succeeded in acquiring some of the kingdom of Lisa facing the empire by taking advantage of the fact that Princess Lisa was pregnant.

In such a situation it was almost certain that Sir Feden would lose his life if he was sent back to the kingdom, so the emperor presided over the couple’s marriage ceremony and gave Sir Feden the title of baron. Then, at the knights’ inauguration ceremony this year, Sir Feden was appointed as a knight and assigned to the 2nd Knights.

At first, there were some who felt jealous towards him because he was from a foreign kingdom and his noble title was hereditary, but as he proved his excellent fencing skills, their jealousy and opposition went away quickly. In terms of military power, the Lisa kingdom was the best out of several kingdoms. In such a situation the fact that he was chosen as Princess Lisa’s personal bodyguard meant that he was very competent in fencing.

As soon as they asked for our understanding, the two quickly disappeared.

Only

While looking at them blankly for a moment, I sat down as Princess Lisa suggested.

“How are you doing in the empire, Madame?”

“I’m doing fine thanks to your consideration, Lady Monique. I don’t know how to show my gratitude. ”

“Oh I’m flattered. If you have any inconvenience, please feel free to tell me. I will help you as best I can.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Looking at the princess replying coyly, I was curious about something I wanted to ask all along.

‘How did they have come to love each other?’

I wanted to ask her about their story, but as I was not close enough to her, I felt it was rude to ask her about it. So, I held back the urge to ask that question until now. But I was so curious. How can this shy and coy couple have a baby even before marriage?