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Chapter 4
“Your Majesty, you are this unwell, so why…?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty. Please rest now.”
“No… I must go see His Majesty.”
“Your Majesty…”
Amanda staggered, supported by the maids.
“Careful!”
They quickly held her tightly.
The commotion drew attention. And since the person at the center was the Empress, even more people gathered.
Amanda glanced at Shan beside her.
‘Say it. Now.’
Seeing her sharp look, Shan sighed and spoke in a flat voice,
“We cannot allow this. We must call a carriage at once.”
“Yes, yes. Your Majesty, let’s take a carriage.”
“That would be better.”
“No.”
Amanda spoke softly.
“If I take a carriage, it will trouble many people. How will you follow me? The coachman and others will be inconvenienced.”
“Also, the sound of a carriage is loud. I do not wish to disturb His Majesty.”
“But… you are the Empress.”
“Yes, it’s fine if others are inconvenienced!”
“They are also His Majesty’s people. How can I make them uncomfortable?”
“Your Majesty…”
“I want to be that kind of Empress. One who stands beside His Majesty and helps the people.”
“Do not say it is okay to inconvenience others. I do not like that. I want to understand them and communicate with them.”
“Y-Yes…”
Everyone nearby looked at Amanda with deep emotion.
Some even wiped their tears.
‘Wow… that was amazing. That line could go into history books… Was I a great poet in my past life?’
Amanda felt proud.
Then she saw Shan holding her forehead.
‘Right… I’m supposed to be sick.’
Amanda suddenly lost strength.
“Ah…”
She staggered again, now holding her head as if in pain.
“My lady!”
The maids supported her with tearful voices.
At the Sun Palace, where the Emperor lived—
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!”
The knights saluted.
“Is His Majesty inside?”
“Yes.”
“Then inform him I have come.”
“Yes! Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived!”
Amanda breathed weakly.
“Haa… haa…”
‘I am now the weakest, most pitiful, most fragile woman in the world.’
Behind her, Shan adjusted her hair, secretly using saliva to make it stick to her face—like cold sweat.
Inside—
“Enter.”
The Emperor’s voice.
Amanda thanked the knights for their hard work.
Shan handed them small medicine pills.
The knights looked at Amanda with pity.
“She’s so kind…”
“Better than that concubine.”
“When will His Majesty finally see her?”
Shan secretly gave Amanda a thumbs-up.
Amanda smiled slightly.
The maids thought,
‘She must be happy to see the Emperor…’
‘Even though she is sick… how pitiful…’
“Her Majesty the Empress enters!”
The door opened.
Inside were luxurious furniture, four ministers—
And the Emperor, Cyrus Imperial.
Pale skin, golden hair, sapphire-like eyes, perfect features—
Anyone would be amazed by his beauty.
Amanda didn’t even look at him.
She scanned the room.
Four ministers.
Enough witnesses.
Shan slightly opened the door so voices could be heard outside.
“Why have you come here suddenly? If you had told me, I would have come to you.”
(Meaning: Why did you come here unnecessarily?)
Amanda bowed weakly.
“Greetings… Your Majesty…”
She staggered again.
“My lady!”
‘I’m sick now. If you send me away, you’re the bad one.’
“I heard you were ill. But you came here… You don’t seem that sick.”
‘…Never mind. He was always a bad bastard.’
Amanda ignored him and looked at the ministers.
Then—
She knelt.
“!”
“Your Majesty!”
“What is this?!”
“Please rise!”
Amanda looked up at Cyrus.
“What is this?”
“I heard Your Majesty wishes to replace all furniture in the Moonlight Palace.”
“So what?”
“That must not happen.”
“….”
“I know the empire is facing financial difficulty due to school construction.”
“And?”
“How can you spend money for my personal health?”
“….”
“Please use that money for building schools instead.”
Cyrus finally paid attention.
“You are mistaken.”
“…Yes?”
“You are the Empress—the mother of the empire. How can your health be called unimportant?”
“What mother spends on herself instead of her children? Even if I have no child, I consider the people my children.”
“….”
“The furniture is expensive. Even one bed could build five classrooms.”
“Please reconsider. I will take care of my own health.”
When she mentioned the bed, Cyrus stared at her.
Amanda barely held back a smile.
‘Yes, the bed. The one you want.’
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Cyrus sighed.
“Empress, rise.”
“But…”
“I understand. Rise.”
Amanda slowly stood up.
Cyrus smiled slightly.
“Since you like your current things so much, I will withdraw the order.”
“I am grateful.”
“That furniture must be comfortable.”
“Yes. Especially the bed. It is very comfortable… I should thank Lord Elgear someday…”
Snap.
The pen in Cyrus’s hand broke.
“Is that all?”
“Yes?”
“I am busy. You should leave.”
“Yes… of course…”
Amanda staggered again and left.
Outside—
The maids were crying.
“What’s wrong? Who hurt you?”
“No… nothing…”
“Why are you crying?”
Amanda hugged them one by one.
The maids cried even more.
“We will always serve you, Your Majesty!”
“We would give our lives!”
Amanda nodded gently and opened her arms.
They rushed into her embrace.
Behind them, Amanda gave Shan a thumbs-up.
Today was a successful day.
* * *
“Ah~ another rewarding day.”
“You did nothing.”
“What do you mean? I messed with that bastard Emperor perfectly.”
“…So the furniture thing…”
“Yeah. He just wanted to take my bed.”
“I don’t understand. He acts like he can’t live without the concubine, but still hasn’t forgotten Lord Elgear?”
“I don’t know what that bastard is thinking~”
Amanda hummed playfully and lay down on the bed—
The one given by the Emperor’s half-brother,
Lord Elgear.
