The faces of the ladies-in-waiting beside me immediately stiffened. Finally, Mastas couldnât take it anymore, but when she was about to say something, a voice mixed with laughter was heard.
âYou say that like an experienced person?â
It was my brother.
Even before she turned around, Rashta flinched as she recognized his voice.
However, she was quick to look at my brother with an innocent expression.
âWhat do you mean?â
Fortunately, I was in front of Rashta, so I could see the change in her expression.
More importantly⊠will my brother be alright? Will he lose his patience here?
I was a little worried, but fortunately, my brother answered Rashta with a smile.
âIt doesnât mean much. I only ask because Your Majesty of the Eastern Empire speaks as if youâve already had a baby.â
âI donât understand your meaning.â
âIt has no deeper meaning.â
My brother, who mentioned it again, added in a joking tone.
âI am not trying to imply that Your Majesty the Empress of the Eastern Empire has a hidden child.â
Although he said it jokingly, it was true.
Probably because of this Rashtaâs face became noticeably rigid.
Rashta moved her lips as if she wanted to ask if it was a threat.
But she couldnât simply ask, âAre you blackmailing me?â
In that case, she would be acknowledging it as a weakness.
In the end, Rashta was finally forced to smile and say in the same playful manner.
âYouâre a little bit rude.â
âMe?â
âYour words have thorns in them.â
âMy words. So whatâs in the words of a person who thoughtlessly calls someone elseâs sister infertile? Knives? Daggers?â
â!â
âOh, come to think of it, I left that there.â
âNeither knives or daggersâŠ. Besides, Rashta doesnât know what you mean.â
This was the way Rashta originally spoke⊠Although on the surface she was smiling, in reality she was very nervous. Fortunately for Rashta no one seemed to notice that detail.
âNo, itâs not something Your Majesty knew about. I had it in my possession.â
âHuh?â
âAn important document with the Empressâs name on it.â
I donât think heâs suddenly talking about a document with my name. The document my brother is talking about must have Rashtaâs name on it.
What kind of document did my brother lose?
Also puzzled, Rashta asked,
âA document?â
âI accidentally left it at the palace. Ah, of course, at the Palace of the Eastern Empire. I remembered it now that I saw Your Majesty the Empress.â
Rashta didnât seem to understand yet. Although she seemed reluctant, she couldnât answer immediately.
âYou should look for it carefully. It seemed like an important document.â
My brother smiled and looked at me, but went elsewhere.
Ah!
The document my brother was talking about now, could it be Rashtaâs slave trade certificate?
* * *
Meanwhile, Heinley walked alongside Grand Duke Kapmen.
The atmosphere between the two was strange.
Heinley was annoyed and uncomfortable, while Kapmen had mixed feelings, thinking about what he would do.
âShould I really go this far? Sheâll be sad if I do, did I still have to move on?â
With every step he took, Kapmenâs mind flipped back and forth like a coin.
[What did he call me for? Itâs a nuisance. I need to hurry back to be next to My Queen].
However, he became even more determined as he heard Heinleyâs thoughts.
The next thing that came to Heinleyâs mind were the memories of the wedding night, which ended up completely overwhelming his reason.
Kapmenâs eyes were completely red once he stopped.
âWhat do you want to talk about?â
When Heinley saw Kapmen stop, he asked with a smile.
He still considered this a nuisance, but he had no intention of being like Sovieshu, who got carried away by his emotions and threw out Grand Duke Kapmen.
âI know you were busy, I apologize for calling you out to speak alone.â
Kapmen spoke calmly, concealing his true intentions, then raised two of the champagne glasses that a servant had on a tray.
After the servant nodded and left, Kapmen extended one of the glasses to Heinley.
âThatâs all right. I was just a little busy.â
Heinley accepted the glass Kapmen offered him.
âMore importantly, what can I do for you?â
âAh, Iâd like to talk about the trade.â
âAbout the trade?â
Heinley nodded, raising the champagne glass to his lips.
âThatâs right. Once the wedding celebrations are over, Her Majesty Empress Navier will begin to fulfill her role as Empress. I hope that trade with Rwibt will be a priority.â
Kapmen unconsciously stared at him. His blatant stare shook Heinleyâs senses.
âWhy is he staring at me like that?â Feeling uncomfortable, Heinley lowered the champagne glass again.
I looked at him very intently.
Kapmen belatedly realized his mistake and smiled, pretending to be unconcerned, but Heinley cleverly extended his champagne glass to Kapmen and said,
âHow about exchanging drinks?â
Kapmen smiled as if puzzled.
âYou have strange tastes.â
âWeâll be intertwined in many ways in the future.â
Despite his remark, Heinley continued to offer him his champagne glass.
Kapmen exchanged his glass with Heinley without much trouble. He then drank the champagne immediately.
Seeing this, Heinley smiled awkwardly and wondered, âAm I overreacting?â
Hearing Heinleyâs thoughts, Kapmen looked down and smiled internally.
He had poured the potion into both glasses just in case. So the result would be the same even if the glasses were exchanged.
Unknowingly, Heinley drank the champagne relieved. At that moment, Kapmen hurried off somewhere else, keeping his gaze downward.
âKapmen? Grand Duke?â
Heinley called Grand Duke Kapmen in confusion, but he didnât stop.
âWhat a strange man.â Heinley clicked his tongue as he shook his head.
âUm⊠Your Majesty?â
Christa then approached cautiously, calling Heinley.
âSister-in-law?â
âWhy did Christa come here all of a sudden?â
Heinley looked at Christa in surprise, and his heart pounded as soon as their eyes met.
Heinley swallowed hard.
He was suddenly drawn to Christa, as if he couldnât get her out of his mind.
Heinley couldnât help but place his hand on his chest.
âWhat on earth is going on?â
Christa also swallowed dryly at seeing him like this.
Before, when she drank coffee with Grand Duke Kapmen, he said something very strange to her.
He told her that if she loved and wanted to get close to Heinley, go when and where he directed her. It was at this time, in this place.
Of course, she did not believe his words. However, it was extremely close to the banquet hall, so she came all this way just out of curiosity.
But Heinley was looking at her⊠with a shocked expression.
Also, as if he wanted to deny something, he shook his head and bit his lips.
âYour Majesty? Are you alright? Your face is red.â
Christa reached out her hand carefully, watching his expression.
Heinley took a step back, but his face was still red.
âYour Majesty?â
Christa called out to Heinley in a voice half-expectant and half-worried.
Heinley pressed his flushed face with his palms and gritted his teeth.
âIt was Grand Duke Kapmen. He gave me something strange!â
He was acting weird and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
Heinley managed to open his mouth, he intended to tell her sheâd better leave.
âSister-in-law.â
But the voice that came out was sweet, too.
Heinley felt desperate as he noticed that his own voice was out of his control. Meanwhile, Christa was thrilled to hear that voice.
Also, those eyes. Those moist eyes longing for affection.
She had dreamed of this moment for over a decade. Now she would take proper care of him.
When Christa noticed the cold sweat on Heinleyâs forehead, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket.
She knew Grand Duke Kapmen had done something. But whatever it was, none of that mattered to her now.
This moment was like a dream to her.
âYour Majesty. Youâre sweating.â
Christa raised her trembling hand and placed the handkerchief on Heinleyâs forehead.
âIâll wipe your sweat.â
Heinley couldnât move, feeling as if he was in a state of sleep paralysis.
His body was out of his control.
And this scene was seen by the ladies of the Western Empire, who came out of the banquet hall to get some fresh air.
The ladies looked at each other, and quickly left the area.