Page 366 of Remarried Empress

“Your Majesty, Duke Liberty is here to see you.”

“Why does he want to see me?”

When I asked, bewildered, Countess Jubel shook her head.

I heard recently that Duke Liberty had surrendered, like Marquis Ketron. But unlike the Marquis, who had hung upside down like a bat, Duke Liberty only bowed slightly so as not to lose his dignity completely.

I also didn’t expect anyone other than Heinley to come to see me all of a sudden. Since becoming pregnant, I did no more work than necessary, and I had to put it off whenever I felt a little tired or unwell.

Due to all that, his visit was most unexpected. There was no reason for Duke Liberty to visit me, personal or work-related.

However, thinking about it carefully... Although Duke Liberty had been a close aide to Christa, they didn’t share blood ties, and he never directly confronted me or Heinley. He maintained a position such that he could back down at any time.

So, did he come because he wanted to take my side? Did it also have to do with William?

[TL/N: William is the youngest son of Duke Liberty. He was adopted by Mullaney’s father. ]

“Let him in.”

Rather than treat him coldly, I greeted him with a polite smile. Although we had differences, there was no need to be open enemies.

After exchanging pleasantries, he began to talk like any other nobleman as we discussed High Society, the Western Empire, and Whitemond.

Suddenly, Duke Liberty stared at me in silence for a moment, and carefully broached the subject he had come for.

“Your Majesty, I don’t know how you will take what I am about to tell you...”

“All right. Say it.”

“Did you have a bad relationship with Rashta in the Eastern Empire?”

What? Why is he talking about Rashta now? I didn’t think he really wanted to know about how we got along.

Although it was suspicious, I tried to maintain a calm expression. He sighed, took out an envelope, and handed it to me.

“Your Majesty, take a look at this.”

I accepted the envelope, opened it, and took out the letter,

“... My infertility was the reason for the divorce?”

The content of the letter was unpleasant.

Judging by the content and wording, it seemed that Rashta had written the letter... I forced myself to smile.

Even now that we were far away, she would not leave me alone. I didn’t know why she was trying to attack me by sending such a letter to a nobleman from my country who happened to oppose me in principle.

Isn’t she Empress of the Eastern Empire? Did she think that she should be the only Empress in the world? Or is her happiness based on seeing others unhappy?

As I looked at the letter, Duke Liberty said, cautiously,

“I don’t know for certain why the Empress of the Eastern Empire sent me this letter, but I can guess.”

Although I could also guess why, I asked,

“Really?”

“She thought that she could distance the nobles from Your Majesty with this letter.”

“You think so?”

“Isn’t that the only possibility? Why else would she send me a letter like this out of the blue?”

Duke Liberty sighed and shook his head as if Rashta was a terrible person.

His attitude amused me. The letter could become a weakness for Rashta if it became known that she wrote it. She wouldn’t send it to Duke Liberty out of the blue like he claimed. She must have realized that he disliked me.

However, Duke Liberty must have come here even though he knew I would think that.

“I see.”

The fact that Duke Liberty handed me this letter from Rashta was a sign that he would lower his tail.

It was quite clever. Since I was pregnant, the letter wouldn’t be useful anyway. He seemed to want to gain my trust by offering me a useless weapon.

Although there was some hostility, as long as he did his part, it would be possible to forget the differences of the past. Rather than remain adamant, I smiled and drank the tea.

Duke Liberty smiled awkwardly and drank his tea as if he had realized my intentions.

“Such a letter is a clear offense to the Western Empire. I don’t know how she could write this.”

“Yes. I can’t believe that Empress Rashta won’t leave you alone now that you are here. Your Majesty must have had a hard time in the Eastern Empire.”

We had a nice conversation for a while. But suddenly, Duke Liberty asked, worriedly,

“Since Your Majesty is from the Eastern Empire, you must know Lady Nian well, right?”

It was an unexpected question. Why does he mention Nian?

When I looked at him puzzled, he coughed and covered his mouth with his fist.

“Actually, Your Majesty. Umm... I’m embarrassed to say this, but... if I don’t, I think there will be misunderstandings.”

Misunderstandings? What is he going to say?

“If my son is still pursuing Lady Nian, can you tell her to coldly reject him?”

***

“Duke Liberty said that?”

That night, in our shared bedroom, I told Heinley about the conversation with Duke Liberty. Heinley tilted his head as if confused by my words.

“What do you think it means?”

“Well, it could mean literally what he said, or maybe not...”

“You’re not sure?”

“... No.”

It was no wonder Duke Liberty’s son had fallen in love with Nian, or that Duke Liberty was worried.

Nian was unmarried, but she had a love affair with Viscount Langdel, the Commander of the 5th Division of the feared Supranational Knights.

Duke Liberty wouldn’t want to get in trouble with Viscount Langdel or with me, so this must be a headache for him.

However, Heinley was right.

“I’ll have to ask Nian first.”

“Are you going to ask her?”

“There’s something that makes me a little uneasy.”

Viscount Langdel himself had told me about the situation with Marquis Liberty already.

Whether it had been calculated by Duke Liberty, or whether Marquis Liberty had really fallen in love with Nian, this matter needed to be cleared up. Nian would know if Marquis Liberty was approaching her with evil intentions, or if he was truly blinded by love.

“My Queen.”

“What is it?”

“What will you do with the letter? The letter sent by that woman.”

“I’ll send it back.”

“Isn’t it a secret letter?”

“Just because it’s a secret letter doesn’t mean it’s necessary to send it back secretly, right?”

Rashta used to be in an inferior position, but she had power when she wrote and sent the letter. As it was sent to attack the Empress of the Western Empire, there was no need to hide it anymore.

I was going to make a formal complaint.

“That’s right.”

Heinley immediately agreed. His face was full of happiness, pleased with my answer.

Why did he like it so much?

I was curious, but I soon found out by myself.

Heinley also held a grudge against Rashta. First, she had ordered a maid to pose as Heinley’s letter friend, then she herself posed as his friend, and in the end, she branded Heinley a liar when he revealed the truth.

As I thought about it, I remembered how supportive Heinley had been to me ever since then, so I laid my head on his chest and fell asleep.

***