The Tearless Concubine

Princess Consort

THIRD PERSON POV

"How dare that b***h sat on the emperor's throne! Why is Alfonso doing all this?! Am I dead in his eyes?! I should be the one who sat on that throne!" Empress Vesta threw another set of china in front of her servants.

It's been days since the empress had one of her fits, and now that the news of concubine Rochelle sitting on the emperor's throne spread like wildfire, the empress just couldn't control her desire to end that concubine's life.

"The empress dowager favors Rochelle, and most of the delegates know her as the emperor's concubine who rules by his side while I'm just a pretty doll who holds the empress title. I need to think of a way to dispose of Rochelle and the princes. She holds too much power, and if I can't provide the throne with a male heir, one of the twin princes will be the crown prince when they reach of age!" Vesta pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Your majesty, it's nearly impossible to eradicate the concubine. The former emperor and empress love her dearly, and the imperial prince and princess also pledged to protect the concubine before. But of course, every perfection has its flaw. I'm sure the Rochella Palace has servants who think ill of its master. Why don't we bribe the servant and ordered him or her to poison the concubine's food and drinks." Vesta turned to her advisor with a nonchalant expression.

"We tried that before. The servants rather die than betray their master. Rochelle has always been kind to her servants. That is why her servants tend to sacrifice themselves for their masters. Anyway, I heard that Rochelle has a new personal maid. Perhaps that soul is willing to work for us." The empress's advisors looked at each other.

"That's another dead end, your majesty. From what this servant had investigated, the new personal maid, Gloria- will never betray her master as well. Even though she was sold to the palace by her father by a marquee, that woman is loyal." Vesta once again heaves a deep sigh.

"Someone, please summon the imperial and noble consort to my palace. I have some matters to discuss." The servant bowed and went away.

"Your majesty! My empress!" Vesta was not happy when a noble suddenly entered her palace without her permission.

"Who permitted this dog to enter my palace? You've tarnished my name, and now you're begging for more? I was informed of your deed in court. I warned you not to provoke Rochelle in front of the emperor! But you did it anyway! Duke- no. Baron Ranker, how do you plead guilty?" The empress didn't give the baron any chance of retort.

"This servant was wrong. Although I was stripped off my title, as the empress, her majesty has the power to give my title back to me." The baron kowtow.

"Your deed was witnessed by many, and you want me to use my position to help you? We may be cousins, but I am still the empress who wants to live harmonious with my husband, the emperor! Servant! Take him away!" The guards dragged the baron away from the empress palace.

"Asked the young servant to spread more rumors about Rochelle to the people of this country. Let them know that the 'evil' concubine cause a noble his title. Besides, it's almost the festival season again. And I heard that the emperor begged Rochelle to help organising the assembly this year. Bribe the servant who is in charge of the assembly. I don't care if the assembly will cause a war between our country and others. I would like to see how Rochelle bounce back from such humiliation." The advisor nodded before bowing at the empress.

"What is all this? We were told to get here as soon as we can, but we were greeted by a noble who was being dragged away from your palace guards instead. What happened, your highness?" The imperial consort greeted the empress with a smile.

"Imperial consort- sister. I'm glad to see you up and well. How is your body? I heard you were sick for the last few weeks." The imperial consort fan herself with the hand fan she held before covering her mouth.

"I am still weak from the cold. But I am better now. Do you need me, your majesty?" The imperial consort pretended to cough to show that she is still ill from the attempted assassination by the empress.

Even though the imperial physician can't find the cause of the poison in the imperial consort blood, the consort knows that it was all schemed by the empress.

"Sister, are you sure you're fine? You look pale. Even the heavy make up can't conceal how groggy you look." The noble consort made her appearance with a smile before bowing to the empress.

The imperial consort nodded her head when she saw the noble consort as a sign of acknowledgment of each other's presence.

"The reason why I summoned two of my sisters today is to inform some terrible news that happened today in court. Our little sister, Rochelle, was led by the emperor to sit on the throne. As someone who stands above a mere concubine, we should do something to remind that sister of ours about her status." The imperial and noble consort looked at the empress with worried looks.

But the looks they share came as soon as they go. There is a secret which both the imperial and noble consort promised to keep until their death, and that is their decision to side with the concubine instead of their empress.

"I see. That is bad news. It will trouble us if the concubine manage to gather enough support from the nobles." The imperial consort voice out.

"Any ideas, sister?" Both the empress and the imperial consort turned to the noble consort, who is also the daughter of a prime minister.

"In my opinion, having her sit on the throne doesn't mean anything. The emperor knows what he's doing hence the reason why concubine Rochelle became the concubine and not one of the consorts. But, if her majesty is worried about her title, we need to keep our eyes open for the princess consort. We shouldn't focus on the concubine alone. After all, the emperor married the princess for its alliance with that barbaric country. And the rumours that's circulating in the palace is that the emperor is fond of the princess." The empress pinched the bridge of her nose.

"How can I let the princess consort slipped my mind! I was too engrossed in making sure Rochelle doesn't rise to power than I forgot all about that princess." The noble consort hid her small smile behind her hand fan.

"I manage to buy you some time, Rochelle. Don't waste it!" The noble consort said mentally.

***

"Gloria! Gloria!" The maid was cleaning the hallway when she heard a little boy calling for her from behind.

"Your highnesses! How many times do I have to tell you to never run in the hallway!" Prince Nazareth, Solomon, and princess Florence immediately stopped running towards the maid. Gloria shakes her head when she saw the princes and princess servants came running as well. Gloria glared at the servants, which bow their heads as a sign of apology.

"Her highness is not in a good mood today. Please do not make a sound in front of the study." Gloria smiled.

"Will do. But Gloria, are you free? There's a woman out there who wanted to see mother. But the servants told her that mother doesn't want to see anyone. That is why we're here. That woman is kind and beautiful. Not as beautiful as mother, but she is one of the emperor father's beauty." Gloria's eyes widen as prince Nazareth explained the reason they're running to the south wing.

"A woman wanting an audience with her highness? I wasn't informed about this beforehand, and there is nothing in the milady's schedule today. Perhaps this woman simply came here and expected the concubine to meet her?" Gloria asked the servants who are serving the princes.

"As someone who served her highness personally, we thought you might know a way to drive the woman away. We wanted to find Elias, but he's not in the palace at the moment." The princes' servant explained.

"Who is this woman?" Gloria asked.

"It's the emperor's princess consort from the Northern Kingdom. She is the daughter of a king that was presented as a tribute for our alliance with that country." Gloria's eyes widen.

"The princess consort?! But, isn't the princess consort is somewhat important? Should I inform her highness?" Gloria turned to the study, contemplating whether she needs to inform her master.

Gloria was surprised to see the concubine walked out from the study with troubling looks.

"Lead her to the garden. Besides, I need a break." The princes and princess bow upon meeting the concubine.

While the servants leave to entertain the guests, Rochelle kneels and opens her arms before hugging her children.

"How is everything? Florence?" Rochelle smiled at her children.

"I'm okay. Father emperor said I could stay with Naz and Mon as long as I can." Rochelle kissed the princess on the cheek before standing on her feet.

"And he is right. You may stay here as long as you want. You have me if you ever need someone. Okay?" Princess Florence nodded.

"So, any of you wish to join me for tea with the princess consort?" The princes and the princess take a few steps back and bow.

"No, thank you!" The princes and princesses said at the same time before excusing themselves. Rochelle shakes her head before going to the garden to greet her uninvited guest.

Rochelle understands why the children doesn't want to meet the princess consort. Compare to the empress, the princes and princess think that the princess consort has an unspeakable aura around her, which resonate power of a true queen.

"This concubine greet the princess consort." Rochelle bow upon meeting her guest. The princess consort smiled.

"What's with all this respect you giving me? I am nothing but a dispose princess of my country. I am bored. Are you busy today?" Rochelle smiled.

"This concubine is indeed busy. But since I haven't had a wink of sleep since yesterday, I'm thinking of entertaining the princess consort." The princess consort smirk.

"Why don't we make fun of Vesta? I heard she's been planning something to make you lose face. Why don't we get her back?" Rochelle shakes her head no with a small hint of a smile.

"This concubine don't dare to stir any kind of conflict with the empress." The princess consort seems disappointed.

"Rochelle, don't you want to do something to clear your name among the people of Hizar? I'm sure you are aware of the rumors spread by the empress and her lackeys." Rochelle takes a sip of her tea before shrugging her shoulder.

"So? It doesn't matter. They can call me the devil for all I care. As long as I know I am not the person they thought I am, I'm happy. Besides, I am just a lowly concubine." Rochelle humbly said. The princess consort sighed before her attention was gained by a scene of a pregnant woman walking around the flower garden with several maids.

"Is that the new concubine? What is her name?" The princess consort asked.

"Concubine Bella. The emperor told me to keep an eye on her while she is pregnant. It's dangerous for her to be alone since the empress is currently trying to get herself pregnant again." The princess consort chuckled.

"Even after she made the imperial consort lost the baby she was carrying by occasionally feeding her with poison, that vile woman still doesn't know what karma is? How did Alfonso fall in love with a monster like that?" Rochelle shrugged her shoulder.

"Anyway, enough talk about Vesta and her useless plans to eradicate me. Since you're here, this concubine wishes for the princess consort to remember her promise of returning this lowly concubine favors." The princess consort raised an eyebrow.

"This concubine knows that the princess consort is well-versed when it comes to planning an official assembly." The princess consort smiled.

"I can't say I do not. What kind of help do you need?" Rochelle smiled.

"This concubine has a wild idea of how to attract more attention to the monarch. It would be boring to let our royal guests attend the same assembly every year. So this concubine thought that the princess consort could entertain the guests with her melodious voice and dancing skill of the Northern." The princess consort raised an eyebrow.

"You want me to sing and dance for the guests? Me? A princess?" Rochelle nodded.

"Have you lost your mind?" The princess consort questions the concubine's sanity.

"That is a good idea. I've seen you dance and sing before. I think it will show them that this emperor has a wide range of power under his wings. Don't you think so, my dear princess consort?" Both Rochelle and the princess consort were surprised to hear the emperor's voice.

"Why are you here again?" Rochelle question.

"Eh! I thought we promise to visit a duke's mansion today. Don't you remember that you took Duke Ranker's title away and reduce him to a mere baron? Did you forgot?" Rochelle pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I have a guest now." The emperor smiled.

"The princess consort can join us. The more, the merrier." Rochelle turned to the princess consort, who nods.

"Sure. I'm bored, anyway."

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