The Abandoned Empress

“Well, I think I have to have a wedding ceremony quickly. I think I won’t feel nervous anymore when I stop them from tempting you even in your dream.”

“I see… Pardon?” My heart started pounding and my face blushed at his unexpected remarks.

‘What did he say? What ceremony does he want to have quickly?’

Of course, I knew as the emperor, he could not delay the wedding anymore, but I felt somewhat shy when I heard it from him directly.

When I turned my head slightly, he pulled me after laughing heartily.

“Thank you, Aristia, for telling me honestly.”

He spoke in a very serious voice this time. He raised his hand wrapped around my shoulder and swept my hair as if to comfort me.

“And… I’m sorry to have made you dream such a painful dream. If I had been kind to you early on, you would not have had such a dream.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“From now on, I’ll be a good man to you, so you can’t have such a nightmare again.”

I was deeply touched by his voice reflecting his sincerity. My heart began to pound again, though I barely calmed down a moment ago.

When I looked up at his navy blue eyes that were no longer cold and smiled, he kissed on my forehead softly, my hair that he held lightly and my lips.

How much time passed? When I was looking up at the sky that turned gray, leaning on his strong arms, I heard somebody’s footsteps approaching from a distance, breaking the silence of the dawn. The magical time that only the two of us shared disappeared in an instant. When I sighed with regret, he said to the messenger, gently patting my shoulder gently lightly, “What’s the matter?”

“Your Majesty, it’s time you returned to the palace. As it’s time for you to wake up, there will be a big fuss if they find your room vacant.”

“Got it. Let me get ready to go, so stay away from me for a moment.”

Ugh? Did he come here secretly? I see. That’s why he had only a few bodyguards with him.

As if he was pressed for time, the messenger who seemed to be a servant looked very nervous even after he was waiting for the emperor at a distance. I felt even more nervous, so I said, folding the handkerchief he laid on my seat, “I will wash it and return it to you.”

“Sure. Well, it’s better if you return something else to me instead.”

“Pardon? Something different? ”

While I was tilting my head, I opened my eyes wide when something suddenly came to my mind. Is he asking me for a handkerchief? A handkerchief meaning I want to be his lady?

When I uttered a little sigh, he adjusted his outfit with a smile, then reached out to put on the shawl around my shoulder and said, “You’ve been in the cold too long. Go inside quickly. I’m afraid you might be sick again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“… Don’t call me by that official title.”

“Pardon?”

“Rube… Won’t you call me Rube from now on? ”

My eyes were wide open. Did I hear wrong? What did he just say?

Apparently he asked me to call him Rube, but that’s his nickname. So, did he ask me to call him by his nickname?

Really? Is he serious?

My lips trembled. I have been longing to call him by that nickname so much, but I was never allowed. Only his family members or relatives, or his lover were allowed to call his nickname, so I always murmured it deep down, but never called it loudly. His full name was Rublise Kamalrudin Shana Castina. His nickname was Rube. He now asked me to call him Rube.

“Oh, maybe it’s too early for me to ask you to call me that. It’s cold, so you had better…”

“…Rube.”

He turned back in surprise when he was about to walk away. It wasn’t easy because I was choked up with emotions, but I ventured to pronounce his nickname by straining the tip of my tongue, looking up at his navy blue eyes.

“Good night… Rube.”

“…”

“Hurry up! The servant is waiting for you…Your Majesty.”

He walked up to me with strides and hugged me tight. When I looked up at him in surprise, he smiled and kissed on my forehead gently.

“Let me leave now. You don’t have to see me off, so just go home and warm yourself.”

“Yes, I will.”

“So see you later. Oh, and …”

“Pardon?”

“Thank you, Tia.”

Ugh? I stood blankly on the spot for a while, and opened my eyes when I realized something belatedly. But he turned away without even giving me a chance to say something. He was fading away through the morning air. Feeling thrilled just to look at him, I put my hand on my pounding heart and smiled.

***

“Hi, Lady Monique. Looking at your uniform, it looks like you were on duty today.”

I smiled slightly at the man who bowed to me politely. The middle-aged man, who was wearing the mark of the Lord Chamberlain, was one of those who had been serving the emperor since his crown prince days.

“Yes. Is His Excellency in now?”

“No, he is not.”

“Um… Isn’t it time he was in the office?”

“Well, he is taking a nap now. He worked all night long …”

“Did he? I see. ” I was a little puzzled, but I nodded lightly and turned.

How come he is taking a nap at this time? As far as I know, he is not the type of person who takes a nap during business hours even if he worked all through the night.

I got out of the Central Palace, feeling sorry I could not see him. When I was heading to the outer palace, greeting royal knights who bumped into me sometimes, I saw a familiar man walking toward me, with his red hair fluttering away in the wind. When I saw him, I suddenly recalled something I forgot.

What an idiot! How could I forget it no matter how busy I was?

“Hi, Lady Monique! It looks like you’re going back home after work.”

“Yes, you’re right. I’m leaving now as I worked in the morning. ”

“I see. Good job. Oh, can you tell your father that I want to see him this evening for a moment?”

“Sure, Duke Lars. I’m sorry to ask, but how is Carsein doing these days?”

“Well, he’s almost recovered, but he’s stuck in the house, never coming out of his room.”

Carsein shutting in at home?

At that moment, I felt very sorry because I just naively believed him when he said he was okay.

I was too indifferent to him when he was injured severely enough to lose his life. No matter how well he was treated, he could not be healing well. Besides, he was wounded while trying to save me.

“…I see. I’m sorry because he was…”

“No, you don’t have to feel sorry. Well, it was his fate because he chose the path of fencing.”

Duke Lars patted my shoulder, saying I didn’t have to worry. He gladly accepted my request to see him and left. I turned, after looking at his red hair fluttering like flames for a minute.

***

“Hello, Lady Monique. It’s been a while.”

“It’s been a long time, butler. I’ve come here to see Sir Carsein. Can you ask him?”

“Sure, please wait a moment.”

The butler of the Las family politely bowed, then returned shortly afterwards and escorted me into his room.

I took a deep breath, looking at the wooden door with elegant decoration.

Oh, this is not his parlour. I hear he has almost recovered. Is he still sick?

“Hey, long time, no see!”

With his chin on hand, the young man with red hair was sitting on a round table in a spacious room surrounded by creamy wallpaper.

“It’s been a while, Carsein…I’m sorry for coming late. Are you feeling okay? Are you still sick?” Only

I just asked hesitantly as I didn’t have the heart to approach him out of guilty conscience.

Was it because he didn’t like my hesitant attitude? Tilting his head to the side, he gestured toward me. Then he hit me on my forehead gently when I approached him.

“Hey, how come you have come only now when your master is sick in bed like this? Ugh?”

“…Sorry.”

“Hmm. It seems like you know what you did wrong, given your hesitant look. Well, good. As you know, I’m generous, so let me give you a pass. I think you must have been busy, too, as you were up and running only recently.”

I felt some pain on my forehead, but I was more relieved to see him vibrant. What a relief!

I was worried about the aftereffects of his wounds because I heard that he got stuck at home.