Chapter 251. Coldness (2)
Translator: Aura / Editor: SaWarren
“Duke!”
When Rashta entered the room she called Duke Elgy in tears. The Duke was perplexed by Rashta’s pitiful voice.
“Rashta? What’s wrong?”
Rashta stomped onto the floor angrily and quickly sat down in a chair at the table.
Although Duke Elgy was still perplexed, he brought Rashta’s usual favorite snacks.
Rashta waited for Duke Elgy to sit next to her and then started talking about what had happened in the audience chamber.
“Rashta once severely punished a maid for trying to harm Rashta.”
Duke Elgy raised his eyebrows, as if this was the first time he had heard it.
“Really?”
“Rashta had no choice. If you forgive someone like that you never know what that person might do in the future.”
“Of course.”
“But Rashta did not know that her brother was a journalist, moreover, the commoners’ journalist who interviewed Rashta.”
“Ah…”
Duke Elgy sighed lightly. That attitude made Rashta even more frightened and saddened.
“So, that journalist came to the audience chamber and asked to find his missing sister. What should Rashta do?”
“Where is his sister?”
“Imprisoned…”
“Why didn’t you tell him that she was imprisoned for committing a crime?”
“He wouldn’t believe she was imprisoned for a crime. Even if she admitted guilt, he would hate Rashta…”
“Then His Majesty will take care of it.”
Rashta shook her head quickly.
“His Majesty is angry with Rashta for punishing her. His Majesty actually secretly liked that maid because she was very pretty.”
Duke Elgy raised his eyebrows again.
“Besides, that maid also admired His Majesty.”
Rashta spoke helplessly, but quickly added.
“However, that was not why Rashta punished the maid.”
“Of course.”
Rashta looked at Duke Elgy with teary eyes.
“His Majesty will not help Rashta. He just left in anger without saying a word. I don’t know what to do, I’m scared.”
Duke Elgy smiled gently and spoke in a soothing voice.
“Rashta is the Empress, if things went very wrong, the imperial family’s dignity would also be affected. Besides, you have his child in your womb, no doubt in the end he will intervene to deal with this matter. You can rest assured.”
His voice didn’t waver in the slightest despite being soft, giving Rashta a sense of assurance.
Rashta felt relieved and covered her belly with her hands, then looked at Duke Elgy with tear-filled eyes.
“It would have been very difficult for Rashta without the Duke.”
“I am glad to be of help to Rashta.”
Duke Elgy answered as if it were natural.
His answer sounded so trustworthy Rashta’s eyes reddened again. Duke Elgy’s attitude was completely different from Sovieshu’s cold reaction.
Duke Elgy looked at Rashta’s trembling back and gently extended his arm around her shoulders.
Rashta was surprised for a moment, but soon took refuge in Duke Elgy’s arms without saying anything.
Like a poor deer, she buried her face in Duke Elgy’s chest.
The corners of Duke Elgy’s eyes curved slightly.
* * *
Since I did not yet have my own office, I took the ten account books from the state archive and stacked them on the desk in my room for review.
I thought it would be best to compare the ledgers while I organized the salaries and duties of the employees.
But before I could finish all this, McKenna brought me other documents.
“Since the Western Kingdom has become an Empire, it is necessary to be in accordance with that status. Fortunately, Your Majesty, the Empress, knows more about it than anyone else. It really is a relief!”
The documents contained a series of tasks to be reorganized, jobs that would disappear, jobs that would emerge, jobs that would be merged or separated, and so on.
But it was all superficially addressed and McKenna wanted me to change it to make it implementable.
It wasn’t difficult, but it did require a lot of work.
When I stared at him in a daze, McKenna coughed and averted his gaze.
But judging from the slightly raised corners of his mouth, it was evident that he was glad to have less work to do.
In the end, it turned out to be a very busy day doing three things at the same time.
Also, since my parents were still in the Western Empire, I tried to eat with them at least once a day, so I had even less time.
Rose and Mastas were surprised when they first saw me working with three pens and six notebooks lined up, but Laura said with obvious glee.
“That woman has no match as The Empress.”
Countess Jubel also burst out laughing as if pleased,
“That is true. His Majesty Sovieshu will have a hard time.”
But in the middle of work, there was a knock at the door.
The person who entered was one of Heinley’s secretaries.
“What’s wrong?”
When I asked curiously, he said with a forced expression that barely concealed his joy.
“The Emperor has asked me to take Your Majesty to a place he wants to show the Empress.”
A place Heinley wants to show me?
As soon as I heard his words, I imagined what place he meant.
My office!
When I showed Heinley the to-do list, he smiled and said he would have it ready as soon as possible.
Judging by the way he called me, the office must be finished.
“let’s go!”
The place Heinley’s secretary took me was to Heinley’s own office.
Does he want me to stop by his office first?
But that was not the case.
Unexpectedly, the door across from Heinley’s office opened and Heinley stepped out.
As soon as our eyes met, he smiled and said, “It’s this way.”
When I entered, I found a wonderful office with entire walls covered with bookshelves and a large desk placed by the window.
In addition, there was a small reception area attached to the office.
The office was decorated and painted in a harmonious combination of green and gold.
“Oh…”
“Do you like it?”
“Very much, I like it very much!”
As I nodded in sincere admiration, Heinley said with a happy smile.
“Since I thought it best for you to personally choose your aides, I only chose the candidates. I think you will like them because they are all talented, hardworking, and loyal people, My Queen. If not, I can choose them again.”
As I opened and closed my hands with joy, a large hand overlapped one of mine. Looking up at him, Heinley naturally intertwined his fingers with mine while pretending to be focused on something else.
***
We sat across from each other on the windowsill, chatting with laughter for a while.
As time passed, the topic of conversation shifted to Christa.
Heinley’s expression became rigid as we began to talk about Christa, but he soon spoke to me awkwardly about Christa’s unusual behavior at the wedding reception.
Then he stared at me and said he didn’t know how to deal with it.
He wanted to send Christa to Compshire, but was in a difficult position because of his brother’s last will that many people knew about.
I was also confused.
Instead of directly saying, ‘I think my sister-in-law likes me,’ Heinley just told me about Christa’s behavior.
But even with that, it wasn’t hard to tell who occupied Christa’s heart right now.
And strangely, after hearing those words, the excitement of seeing the office suddenly faded.
Was Christa in love with Heinley…?