The Abandoned Empress

I headed with Carsein in the direction where they drove the horses.

Several people were gathered under the dark shade of a tree. I saw the emperor standing upright, surrounded by the royal knights escorting him, and a messenger, who knelt down, reporting to him.

‘What is he reporting?’

I listened attentively, but I couldn’t hear well.

I was biting my lip in frustration when a royal knight who recognized me stepped aside.

As I approached with an ominous foreboding, I heard the emperor shouting at the messenger.

“What did you just say? Say it again. ”

“I’m afraid to say this, but I got the message that a dark-haired woman suddenly appeared in the imperial garden. ”

Right at that moment, I was shocked.

‘What? A dark-haired woman appeared? Black hair … ‘

My heart was now beating like crazy, and I was gasping for breath. My knees were bent wobbly.

Dark hair? A woman who suddenly appeared in the Imperial Palace?

Is this that woman? The genuine child of God’s prophecy, Jiun? Did she come finally?

Why now, instead of one year later? I was confused and full of complicated thoughts. I spaced out. I moaned and fell into a pure white world where nothing could be seen or heard.

A world of pure white where I could neither think or feel.

How long have I been drifting in the pure white sea?

My empty vision slowly came back, and the ringing in my ears lessened gradually.

I closed and opened my blurry eyes.

The blurry world began to clearly come into my view little by little.

When I closed and opened my eyes wide for the last time, a young man with red hair was looking anxiously at me.

“… Ah.”

“… ”

“Tia?”

“… Sein.” I looked around.

I saw towering trees and a breeze was blowing over my ears. It was quiet everywhere.

Not only the emperor but also the messenger and the passers-by disappeared. Only I, Carsein and a couple of others were standing in the shade of the tree.

With his blue eyes full of doubts, he asked me with a smile, “What’s the matter with you? You suddenly stood aghast and…”

“Oh, no. nothing.”

“Hmm.”

Carsein leaned forward to meet my eyes and suddenly put both hands on my cheek.

His rough but warm palms felt like my father’s hands. Is it because they were both knights bearing swords that I felt like that?

“What’s wrong with you, Tia?”

“Huh? How do I look?”

“Are you really asking me now because you don’t know?”

With a frown, Carsein crooked his thumb and index fingers to pinch my cheeks.

‘What the heck is he doing now?’

Even before I asked him, my cheeks were already smarting from his pinching.

Only then did I stop feeling nauseated. I felt as if I got off the ship that was rocked by high waves and finally set foot on the ground.

When I came to my senses and looked ahead, Carsein, who was pinching my cheek, smiled at me. His blue eyes fully reflecting the blue autumn sky danced wiggled with a smile.

“Ouch. Don’t do that!”

“What did you say, little girl?”

“… Stop it.”

When I pulled at his big hand still pinching my cheek, he straightened up and patted my cheek with his index finger.

Narrowing my brows, I spoke with a grumpy voice, “Why are you teasing me like this?”

“My little girl, you look like that little cat in your house as you are so on edge today.”

When I stared at him sharply, knitting my brows, he smiled brightly and reached out to my chin.

‘Is he trying to tickle me?’

Suddenly, I recalled Luna because she meowed pleasantly when I tickled under her chin gently. Is he now treating me as a cat, not content with calling me a little girl?

‘Then, should I make a sound like Luna?’

When I recalled her meowing, I suddenly burst into laughter. Looking at me carefully, he stopped reaching out and said, “Hmm, I think you are okay now.”

“Huh?”

“Well, it looked like you would run away a little while ago.”

“… Really?”

“Yes, I’m serious. What happened to you? What’s wrong?”

I hesitated because I couldn’t reply properly. I could not tell him about my life before my return from the past, nor could I talk about Jiun. Noticing me hesitating to say something, he giggled at me and said, “As you are so worried like that, you will not grow any taller.”

“… ”

“Whew! When can I make you grow up and get married? I’ve got a lot on my mind because of you.”

“… What the heck are you talking about now, Sein?”

Pouting at him, I tried to walk out of the garden when a royal knight came up and greeted me politely.

“Glory to the Empire! Hello, Sir Monique. ”

“Loyalty to the Lion! Do you have anything to say to me?”

“The emperor is urgently looking for you.”

“His Majesty is looking for me? How come he didn’t tell his personal attendant…”

“I have no idea.”

‘Why is he looking for me? Was it because of what happened just a little while ago? ‘

Anyway, I felt I had to see the emperor, so I said goodbye to Carsein and walked with the knight.

“Come on in, Lady Monique.”

“I’m honored to see you, the Sun of the Empire!”

“I called you for a cup of tea.”

“It is my honour, Your Majesty.”

I thought he called me for that simple reason, but I silently held the teapot brought by the maid.

The silver kettle, which was carved with elaborate engravings of the roaring lion, the royal emblem, was very beautiful. The lion’s crest was also engraved on the silver teacup and silver spoon sets. Appreciating the elegant beauty of the imperial teacups, I took the rose hips out of the box and brewed it in a silver teacup.

“I’ve never seen that box before. Is it yours?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm.”

Why is he staring at it so carefully? It’s just an ordinary tea box. When I followed his gaze out of curiosity, I noticed the imperial seal stamped on the box.

‘Oh my god…’

Although I didn’t commit any sin, I felt guilty somehow. So, I said in an apologetic tone, “In fact, it was sent by the crown prince recently.”

“Oh, did he send it?” He said as if he couldn’t believe his ears.

With a smile, he said, with his gaze fixed on the box, “I thought it was surprising that my son prepared a tiara and left it with me recently. But I didn’t know that Rube gave you gifts like this.”

“… I’m sorry, Your Majesty. ”

“I didn’t mention it to blame you, Lady Monique. I just thought his behavior was a little strange. I was worried that he would not hit it off with you until a few years ago. Both of you have changed a lot since then. ”

My guesswork was right. It was not me alone who felt that the crown prince changed a lot.

But what’s the point of talking about his change now? Jiun has arrived.

I was so shocked that I only heard the messenger’s first word, but failed to hear what he reported to the emperor. So, I didn’t know the details of Jiun’s arrival.

Has he already met Jiun? Just like then when he first discovered her after she fell into the lake of the Imperial Palace.

“Monique.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“In fact, I called you because I had something to say secretly.”

“Please go ahead, Your Majesty.”

‘Has what I’ve been dreading finally come true?’

I pressed on my pounding heartbeat, swallowing in anxiety.

Only

After sending the royal knight and the maid out of the room, so they could not overhear, the emperor leaned forward and whispered, “In fact, my condition has gotten worse since the day before yesterday. I am easily tired and feel dizzy oftentimes. ”

“I will call the royal doctor right now.”

Although it was not what I expected, I was shocked to hear that.

I thought he got better after he went to the summer palace here. What happened?

He stopped me when I sprang to my feet and tried to call the doctor, and said, clicking his tongue, “Well, your actions now really resemble your father! If I wanted to call the doctor, I wouldn’t have to call you here, right?”

“But Your Majesty…”

“I don’t want to let others know. So, can you help me?”

“How can I… ”