Her Highness's Second Life

Chapter 4 - The Emperor's Duty

“You’re a bit overdressed for the restaurant, don’t you think?” Elene remarked as Raena emerged from her dressing room, her maids having helped her dress and arrange her hair.

“That’s because we’re not going there. We’re going to the Imperial Palace,” she replied distractedly, checking her reflection in the mirror. Luckily, she hadn’t started gaining weight from her pregnancy yet, but she felt bloated all the time. Still, that wasn’t excuse enough to roll around in bed all day. She needed to check on Arina and make sure she was alright. And she needed to give Yulien an earful, Emperor or not.

“I don’t think you should meddle in their business,” Elene said after a long pause. Raena frowned at her friend’s words. “They are not like you and your husband. The Empress might not care at all.”

“I’m not going to meddle in their business,” Raena mumbled, even as a pang of guilt pierced her chest. It wasn’t that she wanted to meddle or anything, but they had looked so happy and content when they visited the last time. It hadn’t even crossed her mind that Yulien was still sleeping with his concubines. As an Emperor, he couldn’t disband the harem like Kassian did because having those women as part of it brought him all kinds of support and benefits, but she thought it was just a formality. “I’m just going to check on my friend.”

“Right,” Elene snorted, looking away.

Raena resisted the urge to roll her eyes and headed toward the door. They were almost outside when she finally glanced over her shoulder at where Elene was silently walking behind her. They didn’t talk on the way to the Imperial Palace, and once the guards verified their identities and let them in, Raena tried to dispel the sour mood that had followed Elene’s remark.

An Imperial attendant was already waiting for them when the coachman helped her out of the carriage. Their escort bowed respectfully before guiding them to the Empress’s private garden. Raena knew she was breaking protocol by coming without invitation, but Arina had already told her to visit whenever she wanted, so she didn’t care about what the other nobles were going to say.

They found the Empress under a massive umbrella in the garden, surrounded by several servants and guards who watched her like hawks. Even with her huge belly preventing her from sitting normally, she still somehow kept her perfect posture—back straight and hands relaxed, her hair fixed up beautifully on the back of her head while her dress looked way too tight around her chest for her to be comfortable.

There was a gigantic pile of papers on the writing table next to her, held down by a heavy book so they wouldn’t scatter in the light breeze that came and went.

“Aunty!” Elian’s voice echoed through the garden, and Raena jumped, looking around. She had been so focused on Arina that she hadn’t seen the boy, but it only made sense that he was around. Arina somehow completed all her Empress duties while keeping a watchful eye on her son’s lessons and even playtime. Raena had thought at first that staying by his side all the time might make the boy too dependent and a little spoiled, but Arina rarely spoke to Elian or interfered in his lessons, and the two of them seemed to have a very healthy relationship.

Raena’s eyes stopped on the young crown prince as he ran barefooted to her, leaving behind his attendant standing by the edge of the pond. The boy’s pants were rolled up to his knees, and water glistened over his pale calves.

As he stopped in front of her, Elian glanced at his hands, then wiped them on his pants, reaching out for her. She offered him her hand curiously, and when he placed a soft kiss on her knuckles, she barely held back the urge to pinch his cheeks.

“Oh, my!” she chuckled instead when he released her hand and gave her a toothy grin. “Aren’t you turning more and more like your father?” Elian seemed to take that as a compliment because his eyes beamed with pride. “But aren’t you cold like that, Elian?”

“Of course not! I’m a man!” he declared, then ran back to the pond where he jumped into the water, sending splashes everywhere. He sunk his arms in, searching for something, and when he finally found it, he raised his hand victoriously.

Raena laughed. She hadn’t expected Arina to let him do things like that—things a young prince who one day would rule an empire was not supposed to do. But when she raised the subject, Arina had just told her she wanted Elian to have some semblance of childhood, while lessons that even adults had trouble with were drilled into his brain.

Once she felt the Empress’ eyes on her, Raena returned her attention to Arina. The Empress pushed herself to her feet before Raena could tell her not to get up, her hand instinctively going under her enormous belly.

“I’m glad to see you up and about again,” Arina said as she hugged her gently, kissing both her cheeks. “Just a few weeks ago, you couldn’t get out of bed before noon. Still having morning sickness?”

“Not anymore, thank gods,” Raena murmured, shuddering at the thought. “I’m fine now. I wish I could be as resilient as you. You could give birth any moment, yet you look like you can run a marathon.”

“Run a what?” Arina frowned and Raena waved her hand dismissively.

“Nothing, just ignore me. May I join you?”

“Please.”

The two of them sat around Arina’s table and she motioned to one of the attendants to take the papers away while another maid rushed to pour them tea. Once the girl retreated, Raena noticed Elene had stopped next to the servants, her hands crossed as she studied the beautiful garden with a blank expression.

“So, how have you been? It’s been a while since we last saw each other. I think it was Elora’s birthday a couple of months ago,” Raena said as she studied her friend’s face. She had been surprised when Arina and she clicked so quickly, but the young Empress was such a quick-witted and pragmatic person who was so easy to get along with. And while she did carry herself with an air of superiority befitting her station, she was never arrogant or rude, even to her servants.

At first, Raena couldn’t stop comparing her to Talia, the previous Empress, but then she realized that was not fair to Arina. She was everything an Empress should be—calm and smart, devoted and hardworking. And she even had a sense of humor to top it all off—that i***t Yulien couldn’t even realize he had won the lottery with her.

“I know why you are here,” Arina said, raising her hand and giving a small sign with her fingers. All of her attendants moved as one, stepping further away to give them some privacy. Few of them left to carry her work back to the palace, so it was just two maids and four guards that remained behind. Elian and his attendants had disappeared somewhere among the flower bushes, but seeing that Arina didn’t look worried, they were probably still nearby. “I’m fine, Raena, truly. I’m not hurt or angry. This is his duty as the Emperor.”

“His duty as the Emperor is to sleep with multiple women and get them pregnant?” Raena asked in a tone much sharper than she intended before cursing herself for sounding so childish. “I just don’t get it. I understand why the harem is needed, I do. But why does he have to sleep with his concubines? Is it because you’re so far along?”

Arina sighed, putting her cup down.

“Yulien has no choice but to visit some of them once in a while—especially the ones whose families are currently supporting his rule with their influence and wealth. Verena’s father, Duke Mesalla, holds influence almost as strong as my father’s, and his pockets are so deep that he could fund one of the administrative reforms Yulien is trying to pass in the northern regions all by himself. If he is properly motivated.” She eyed Raena over her cup, shrugging lightly. “Yulien had to pay special attention to her so that her father remained appeased. We cannot lose their support—or Yulien’s rule will be threatened. And now, with her getting pregnant, he has secured Duke Mesalla since if she gives birth to a healthy baby, her status would put her just below me.”

Raena sighed in annoyance. When Arina made it sound so reasonable and strategic, it was hard to stay angry. Still, she didn’t like it.

“I appreciate your concern, Raena.” Arina smiled, reaching over the table and placing her hand over Raena’s. “But I really am alright. It is forbidden for the concubines to use contraceptive teas and herbs, so we knew this was a possibility. As long as Elian’s position is not threatened and my authority is respected, I don’t care even if all concubines get pregnant. Yulien is a brand new ruler and his father left him with a lot to make up for. We don’t have a choice but to secure our support by any means necessary. Both of us.”

“Fine,” Raena sighed. “Just promise me ‌you won’t hold anything in. If there is anything I can help with, tell me.”

“Now that you mention it, there is something,” Arina said, her smile returning. Raena perked up, but the look in the Empress’ eyes made her uneasy. “I know you don’t like to attend social gatherings all that much, but I would like you to accompany me on this one. As the Empress, I’m supposed to organize a congratulatory party for Verena so we can all celebrate her pregnancy with His Majesty’s child. The Emperor and I will both attend, but there will be two parties—one for the women and one for the men—so he will take care of the other side. I can usually handle this much, but I will feel better if you’re by my side.”

“Of course, I’ll attend!” Raena nodded, then furrowed her eyebrows. “Wait, aren’t those mandatory for all nobility?”

“Yes, they are,” Arina laughed, slowly pushing herself to her feet. “But everyone knows that you and Kassian do whatever you want, mandatory or not.”

“Last time wasn’t my fault!” Raena shrugged. “Blame it on him.”

“Tell Kara to come too. I haven’t seen her face in a while,” Arina added. “Now I’ll have to take my leave since I have a few more urgent things to take care of. Don’t be a stranger, my dear.”

Raena nodded as she got up. Arina hadn’t made more than two steps when she suddenly stopped. Raena watched her curiously, wondering if Arina might have forgotten something when she noticed her swaying unsteadily. Raena took a step toward when the Empress’s feet buckled and she tilted to the side.

“Arina!” Raena screamed, rushing to catch her, but even before she took another step, she knew she would be too late. Elene Breezed past her, reaching the Empress just before she crashed heavily onto the ground. The maids gathered with panicked expressions while Elene carefully laid the Empress on her back and Raena kneeled on the ground next to them. “Arina! Arina, can you hear me? Arina!”

The Empress didn’t respond, her face pale and eyes firmly closed. Sighing in relief when she felt a strong pulse, Raena checked her mouth and ears as well. No blood or other strange substances were coming out of them, so it was likely not poison.

“One of my men is running to fetch the doctor,” a male voice spoke just as one of the guards kneeled beside Raena. She nodded absently, her heart stealing galloping in her chest as the panic slowly abated. “Please move aside, Your Highness. We’ll take her inside to be properly examined.”

Elene moved to help Raena up and they both watched as the guard lifted the Empress gently, the rest of them falling in formation around them. The maids were not too far behind, pale and terrified as they skidded after the men.

“That was close,” Elene murmured and when Raena looked at her, the other woman was still watching the group hurrying toward the castle.

“Yeah,” Raena agreed, straightening her skirts and taking a step toward the palace. “Let’s go. I’m not leaving her alone in this state.”