The Abandoned Empress

“May glory to the empire last forever!”

“Hoorah!”

“Long live the emperor!”

“Glory to the empire!”

Loud shouting broke out among the crowds who packed the plaza in front of the temple, resonating through the huge space.

When the emperor waved his hand after delivering a congratulatory message, the priests waiting on the lower stage climbed onto the pre-installed platform. The two High Priests, the top priests, as well as the baby High Priest wrapped in a blanket headed to the platform.

Wow!

The crowds once again shouted at the appearance of the High Priests and the top priests who they could see only once in a lifetime. I heard many people reciting the prayers, calling Vita here and there.

“May the blessings of life be bestowed on you! May our Lord Vita’s grace be bestowed on everyone gathered here!” said High Priest Quartus, raising his right hand lightly. As he had to appear at an official event, he removed his hair coloring so his hair was its original gray.

“May Vita’s blessings be bestowed on the glorious Castina Empire! ”

When Quartus stepped back after delivering a short congratulatory message, High Priest Secundus stepped forward, dragging his long white hair and announced, “Father of life, my lord Vitasi, may your blessings be bestowed on your people on this happy and blessed day…”

While he was reciting the prayer with his mystical voice, I silently watched the back of the emperor who stood two steps behind the High Priest. As usual, dressed in a bright white robe and a blue cloak embroidered with the royal crest, he was standing upright, staring into the square. Although I was not sure if he was still upset about what happened at the theater, I found his motionless posture very stiff.

I suddenly recalled him telling me so the other day. At that time, I was watching him fading away coldly, though he was standing within my reach.

When I remembered the time when I cried, disheartened by his cold-heartedness, I felt heartbroken. The moment I slowly lifted my hand and placed it on my throbbing heart, I saw Jiun approaching him and whispering into his ears. He turned to her with a smile and nodding at her, while looking forward silently.

After smiling brightly at him, she turned, then slipped from the balcony with a sarcastic smile at me.

‘Where is she going?’

I was a little puzzled, but I thought it would not be a big deal, so I turned my eyes toward the square again.

But while the senior priests including the top priests were piously chanting and delivering congratulatory messages after their prayers were over, Jiun didn’t come back. She didn’t appear again even after all the people other than the High Priests left the platform after all the events of the ceremony were over.

Thinking to myself, ‘Where did you go?’, I unwittingly looked down the platform and found the flowers decorating the platform withering.

With a frown, I looked at the withering flowers, which Jiun was supposed to take care of but apparently neglected.

Wait a minute. I had an ominous feeling that something was going wrong. I saw this kind of scene somewhere in the past. Where did I see it?

When I was struggling to recall it, I heard somebody shouting, which pulled me to reality.

While trying to manage my frowning expression, I looked down the platform, where the two high priests were conducting a ceremony of massive blessings to the people, the highlight of today’s event.

“Praise the beauty offered by the Father of life. May our lord Vita bless all of you gathered here.”

“Praise the grace of Vita, the Lord of life. Let the blessings of the Father be bestowed on all the people gathered here. ”

A mysterious voice echoed through the square, white light emanated from the bodies of the two high priests.

People shouted in amazement everywhere. The remarkable scenes created by their massive divine power, marked by the pink petals scattered and spreading their fragrance.

Because of that, I didn’t know when Jiun came back, who opened her mouth, holding her hands piously, “Let us praise the grace of Vita, the Father of life. I, Graspe de Jena, the child of God’s prophecy with the blessings of Vita, would like to convey God’s love to all who are here.”

As soon as she said that, a bright white light radiated around her, and the flowers on the platform, which were withering a little while ago, began to bloom freshly as if they came back to life. Silence fell on the square.

‘Is this what you had in mind?’

A bitter smile came to my lips.

When I visited the temple one day, I saw roses withering in the morning, then blooming in the evening. Even though I felt strange about it, I just gave it a pass, thinking a certain High Priest had done it.

‘I knew you would play a hidden card against me, but I didn’t know you would turn to this kind of mean thing, Jiun.’

“Wow, she is a scared woman!”

“Yes, a scared woman has appeared!”

People began to whisper here and there, while the woman with dark hair was standing before them. The emperor was watching her silently.

“Wow! Long live the emperor! Long live the sacred woman!”

“Glory to the Empire!”

I was completely taken in by Jiun’s trick today.

Thanks to her trick, Jiun would certainly be remembered as the sacred woman of the empire in the minds of the people. Can the pro-emperor faction keep her at bay properly when she has the support of the people, in addition to her image as the child of God’s prophecy? Besides, it was unclear whether Grace, regarded as the best shot, could be the emperor’s concubine.

Suddenly, I recalled one day in the past when he walked along the road with flowers with Jiun instead of me, placing the empress’s crown on Jiun’s head with a warm smile .

“Ah…”

Why am I so confused? I threw away that position because I hated it. It was me who said confidently that everything would be forgotten as time went by.

I was heart-stricken, though. I moaned silently, trying to put up with so much heartache that I never expected before.

“That’s great. Very good job, director of the palace affairs office!””

“I’m flattered, Lady Monique.”

“Please keep up with the good work like you have done so far. I appreciate your work all the time.”

I smiled gently at the director of the palace affairs office and looked around. I danced with the emperor first, exchanged greetings with the foreign dignitaries. Now, I was supposed to carry out my role as the emperor’s fiancee faithfully.

When I checked every corner of the banquet hall, I saw a black-haired woman standing alone in the corner. Knitting my brows, I walked over to her. I didn’t want her to be left out with the presence of foreigh dignitaries at the banquet hall.

“It’s been a long time, Beatrice. How have you been?”

“Ah… Hello, Aristia. ”

I clicked my tongue at her hesitant reply. I knew nobody would dare approach her at the risk of being out of favor with Duchess Lars when Duchess Veritas and Ilya were absent, but I felt they were so mean to her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t contact you often. I tried to go to see your baby, but I couldn’t take time out.”

“That’s fine, my lady. You’re welcome to my place anytime, but you don’t have to feel pressured. I know you are always busy with lots of things.”

Only

“How kind of you. In fact, I thought a lot about you while preparing for this banquet. I was reminded of what Frincia, Grace, you and I used to hang out in the past. If I need your help, can I ask for your help?”

“Sure. I also enjoyed myself very much back then. ”

While I was smiling at Beatrice, I tilted my head because she looked pale. Is she sick? Or does she feel uncomfortable about being around the foreign dignitaries?

“By the way, Beatrice, you look very pale. Are you sick?”

“Oh, no. I feel a little dizzy, but I’m alright.”

“Well, I think you had better take a break–”

When I told her cautiously, somebody called me suddenly, “It’s been a long time, Lady Monique.”

Duchess Lars in a cream-colored dress was staring at me with cold, sunken eyes.