The Remarried Empress

Chapter 3: Compared with Whom?

Lady Laura, along with the rest of my ladies-in-waiting, sank into a deep curtsy before Sovieshu. Rather than responding, he glared at Laura, his expression terrifying enough to turn a person to stone.

Then he rounded on me.

I'd never been so grateful for Lady Artina's presence. I had a feeling, based on the way Sovieshu's gaze darted to the vice commander, that she was the only reason Sovieshu didn't explode on me then and there.

My heart sank. I'd never fought with my husband. Quarreled, disagreed, had arguments, certainly. But we never fought.

I held Sovieshu's gaze as steadily as I dared. Since we had been together in the Central Palace just recently, our usual formal greeting could be omitted.

Without a word, Sovieshu turned back to Laura, then finally to Rashta.

"Oh, dear," he whispered.

Tears welled up in Rashta's big, dark eyes. It made her seem even more like a poor defenseless creature caught in a trap.

"Don't cry."

Despite Sovieshu's cooing, tears began to roll down the girl's cheeks.

"Didn't I just tell you to stop crying?" His voice went cold, which did not help at all. The girl's tears rolled faster.

All the while, she stared at me, as though my husband's behavior were my fault.

I was accustomed to Sovieshu's aloof demeanor. It gave him a certain reputation in high society. But this girl clearly wasn't used to his manners.

For a moment, it gave me hope. Perhaps Countess Eliza was right. Their courtship would be short after all.

Then, to my surprise, Sovieshu pulled a gold-embroidered handkerchief from his breast pocket and handed it to the girl.

The girl carried on sobbing, crinkling the handkerchief.

Finally, Sovieshu sighed and took it back. I stared as he wiped the tears from her face himself. "You are quite a nuisance," he said, in the gentlest, sweetest tone I'd ever heard him use.

Hearing him speak to her like that broke my heart all over again. He never looked at me that way. He never touched me so tenderly.

It is natural to feel this way, I reminded myself. It must be.

Reciting those words over and over, I turned to my ladies-in-waiting and gestured for them to follow me.

"Excuse me, Emperor. We shall take our leave, as my feet ache," I said. I might not be able to stop the Emperor from taking a mistress, but I had the freedom to avoid such an uncomfortable sight.

Visibly relieved, my ladies-in-waiting trailed after me. But I'd only gone a few steps when—

"Wait. Stop, Empress."

I froze in place. First Rashta, now Sovieshu. Must everyone keep me here? When I shot my husband a sour look, Sovieshu simply pointed at Laura.

"Leave her with me, Empress."

I crossed my arms. "What is this about?"

"I said to leave her, Empress."

"Only if you tell me why. Emperor."

Laura's face went ghastly pale.

I too felt a chill run through me. He couldn't possibly scold her for what she said to Rashta. Lady Laura was the esteemed daughter of a noble family, not to mention my lady-in-waiting.

It didn't matter if the emperor liked Rashta. Officially, the girl was not his mistress. Nor did she belong to one of the lesser noble families. She might even be a runaway slave, and lying about it.