Rashta returned to her room and slammed the door. She threw herself on the bed as soon as she entered, squeezing a pillow.
Her head felt warm and her surroundings cold. Rashta snorted as she punched the pillow.
âHeâs a very bad person. Really bad! How could Grand Duke Kapmenâs attitude today be so different from yesterday?â
Yesterday he was definitely in love with her, but today he has been just as cold as before.
âItâs only been one day!â
Not even a full day as only about ten hours had passed.
âThe deposed empress must have done something again!â
Rashta was sure of it! As Grand Duke Kapmen showed interest in her, Navier hurriedly approached him in the morning to seduce him. She had done this with Sovieshu, and now with Grand Duke Kapmen as well.
âShe pretends to be a very dignified woman, but in reality thatâs the last thing she is.â
Rashta grunted angrily at the thought.
She believed that Navier seduced Prince Heinley in the Eastern Empire, and that here she seduced Sovieshu again. And now she was after Grand Duke Kapmen too!
âShe hated that the Grand Duke fell in love with me.â
Rashta snorted.
There were people like that. People who always wanted to be the center of attention. In Rashtaâs eyes, the deposed empress was one of those people.
However, Rashta soon shook her head.
âRight now I donât have to worry about that.â
She was delighted that a handsome man like Grand Duke Kapmen was after her, but that was all it was.
âDid I no longer need to use him to arouse Sovieshuâs jealousy?â
Rashta got out of bed, setting the pillow aside.
âYes. What is more important now is what the deposed empressâs brother said.â
Rashta bit her nails, frowning.
âWhat is the document with my name on it?â
A document that could be used as blackmailâŠ
The answer was not long in coming to her mind.
âThe slave trade certificate!â
***
Rashta had finished her pondering, but before she could visit SovieshuâŠ
Sovieshu came forward, calling her first.
âYour Majesty, the Emperor wishes to see you.â
Rashta got up from the couch with a smile as she knew this would happen.
âI imagine heâs calling me because heâs jealous.â
She tried to stay calm, but in the end she couldnât keep it together.
âWait a minute.â
That said, Rashta looked in the mirror and straightened her clothes.
âLetâs go.â
âYes.â
Once she reached Sovieshuâs room, the knight opened the door for her. As she entered, Rashta organized her thoughts to speak to Sovieshu.
âFirst Iâll need to calm my jealous husband⊠then Iâll let him know how Koshar treated me. Sovieshu will be so angry that he will then deal with Navierâs brother.â
However, the first thing Rashta heard from Sovieshu was an order, not something of jealousy.
âYou are the empress, watch your actions.â
Rashta was momentarily taken aback at the harsh words that she had not expected.
She racked her brain, thinking over Sovieshuâs words. As a result, she came to the conclusion that it was another form of jealousy. The empressâs dignity was just an excuse, he didnât want her to see other men.
Rashta laughed inwardly, and replied sweetly,
âOf course, Your Majesty.â
However, Sovieshuâs expression became stiffer at her beaming smile.
âThis is no joke, Rashta.â
âHuh?â
âDue to the experience gap I donât expect you to measure up to Navier, but at the very least, shouldnât you make sure the deficiencies are not noticed?â
âWhat deficiencies?â
Rashta asked, feeling her pride wounded.
Sovieshuâs words were too offensive to be said out of jealousy.
âYou came to another countryâs national wedding as a distinguished guest, did you have to talk like that?â
âWhat did Rashta say?â
âYou mentioned that Navier is infertile in front of everyone.â
âWhat I said is true.â
âThat shouldnât be said to a newlywed couple, whether itâs true or not. Besides, it could have escalated into a diplomatic conflict.â
Navier, who loved the Eastern Empire, would not allow this incident to go that far. Sovieshu was convinced of that by her nature. Although this incident would still be a disgrace to the Eastern Empire.
Rashtaâs eyes widened. The image of Sovieshu looking for Navier came back to her mind.
She felt a dizzying pain, as if a thin knife had pierced her heart.
Finally Rashta asked on the verge of tears.
âYour Majesty⊠donât you care one bit what she said against me?â
If he knew about this, she assumed he also found out what happened before and after.
How could he say this? It must be the work of the deposed empress and her brother!
âThe deposed empress said that I should call Your Majestyâs next concubine sister. And her brother threatened me!â
âThreatened you?â
Sovieshu asked, frowning.
âHow did he threaten you?â
âHeâŠâ
Rashta was about to tell him everything as it was, but ended up shutting her mouth.
Kosharâs threat could be divided into two. The first was that he knew about her hidden child. The second was that the slave trade certificate was in the Eastern Empire Palace.
Both were hard to tell. Especially the one about her child!
Rashta was unaware that Sovieshu knew about her first child, so she chose to speak only about the slave trade certificate.
âThe deposed empressâs brother spoke about a document from Rashtaâs past.â
âFrom your past?â
ââŠâ
âDoes he still have it?!â
Sovieshu asked in surprise this time. For the sake of the baby to be born, the matter of Rashtaâs past had to be dealt with carefully.
The disappearance of the slave trade certificate that had been in Viscount Roteschuâs hands had bothered him all this timeâŠ
He was surprised when Rashta mentioned it.
âI donât know. He only mentioned that it was in the imperial palace.â
Rashta replied, while Sovieshu was puzzled by her words.
âIn the Imperial Palace?â
âYes.â
Sovieshu muttered.
âI looked for it there, but I couldnât find it.â
At this point, Rashta realized that the slave trade certificate on which her name appeared had come from the hands of Viscount Roteschu himself.
Kosharâs threat was not simply empty words, but that document was actually laying around somewhere.
âIs it true that the certificate was lost?â
Rashta asked, her face turning pale.
âRashtaâs slave trade certificate is lost?â
ââŠâ
âTell me Your Majesty, it is also Rashtaâs business.â
When Rashta grabbed him by the arm and pleaded, Sovieshu had no choice but to tell her.
âItâs true that Koshar took the certificate from Viscount Roteschu himself. But then the certificate disappeared.â
âIs it not in the house? In the house of the deposed empress?!â
âI looked around every corner, but I couldnât find it. Iâve already looked everywhere.â
Rashta covered her face with both hands.
How could this happen? Is it possible that some passerby found the certificate?
The imperial palace was large, many people lived and passed by. Even some parts of the palace were open to any visitor.
However, the certificate disappeared thereâŠ
âWhy? Why didnât you ever tell Rashta about it?!â
Unable to stand the stress, Rashta clutched her dress and screamed.