The Abandoned Empress

Although some opposed, most of the pro-emperor faction were satisfied with the emperor’s action because they succeeded in securing the position of the crown prince’s wife for me.

Even the noble faction members seemed to be satisfied. Because they initially aimed to pull strings by sending one of their daughters to the crown prince, they seemed to have been satisfied with getting some results.

‘Oh, no!’ I looked at my father, while trying to pull myself together with all my might. I felt so nervous as he was lost in deep thought, raising his eyebrows.

‘You said you would help me, Daddy? Please help me! Please!’

I looked around eagerly, but no one could help me. All were blinded by their own interests.

I was getting more and more nervous because the situation was all the same as that in the past except that my title was changed from the crown prince’s concubine to his wife, while Jiun was demoted to the status of his concubine. I’ve been really trying hard to get out of this for the past five years, but I was terrified to find that nothing changed.

Although I was physically weak, I ran and ran in the training field to enhance my stamina. I practiced fencing very hard in the sweltering weather. I bent over backwards to master war tactics and strategy while learning the way of my family affairs. I finally joined the knights division and hopped around in social circles to assert my own voice. All of these efforts came to naught the moment the emperor announced his own proposal.

I made a hollow smile.

If I was destined to end up like this, why did I work so hard to achieve my goal for the past five years? It was only recently that I got so excited because I was formally recognized for my outstanding performance at the regular training contest and I was given the right to represent my family.

I was deeply despaired that I could be so easily tied up by the fate I tried to avoid so much, while it was so difficult for me to be the successor of my family. I found myself totally spaced out when I saw my father who was lost in thought showing no sign of opposing.

I felt dizzy now. A humming sound rang out in my ear.

Just as I was dragged into the bottomless darkness, an icy voice rang out in the conference hall.

“I don’t like it.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the head table. The crown prince, who remained expressionless all along, was looking at the participants with a determined look.

“What did you just say, crown prince?”

“I said that I couldn’t agree with your decision, Your Majesty.”

Although he replied to the emperor, his eyes were fixed on the nobles in the conference hall.

He raised an objection at the moment when everybody except for me and Jiun felt that the emperor made a satisfying conclusion.

They all looked puzzled.

“Why?” asked the emperor, who was looking at him silently.

Instead of answering, the young man turned to me. At that moment, my eyes met his blue eyes. But even before I closed and opened my eyes, he turned to Duke Jena and asked, “I would like to ask you a question before replying to the emperor, Duke Jena.”

“Please ask me.”

“Is it true that in return for me having your daughter as my concubine, you want me to accept her as my wife first ahead of Lady Monique, the same way you planned for the foreign princesses last time?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Now that you are also involved in handling the affairs of state, don’t you think you need a wife who can assist you?”

“I see,” said the young man coldly. “Your Majesty, I don’t think it’s appropriate to decide the issue of my wife right now.”

“Why?”

“You said a moment ago that, compared to Lady Monique whose qualifications were verified during your longtime observation, you were not sure whether the duke’s daughter could perform her duty as my wife properly.”

“Yes, I did. That’s why I asked you to have Lady Monique as your wife, while having the duke’s daughter as your concubine.”

He nodded at his response, but continued, “But Lady Monique is still a minor, so even if I decide to have her as my wife, the position of my wife will remain empty until she comes of age.”

“I think so.”

“That’s the problem, Your Majesty. In that case, regardless of whether I have the duke’s daughter as my wife or concubine, she has to perform her duty when her qualifications have not been verified. Do you agree?”

The emperor said, with his mouth turned up a bit, “Well, I have to disagree, but go ahead.”

“So, I would like to suggest that we postpone the decision until Lady Monique comes of age. In the meantime, I think we will have about one year to fully evaluate the abilities of Duke Jena’s daughter.”

“Hmm.”

The emperor, who was looking at him in a pleasant mood until a moment ago, turned to Duke Jena with a cold look.

“I didn’t expect the crown prince would put forward such a condition instead of expressing gratitude for sending your daughter to him…”

“… ”

“Anyway, the crown prince has a point. I think it would be good to postpone this decision for a year. What do you think? ”

The two factions briefly had a discussion among themselves. The noble faction who had little to lose easily agreed. As Jiun was pushed out for reasons of her lack of qualifications, they thought they could promote her again as the crown prince’s wife, not concubine, by training her hard for one year.

On the other hand, there were more opposing views within the pro-emperor faction members. In the end, their pros and cons were wrapped up only when Duke Verita said it would be better to nip the danger of Jiun getting pregnant first in the bud when she became his concubine.

“I agree.”

“I agree.”

“Good. Then, let’s end the conference now. Thanks for your nice job, everybody.”

The three-day conference ended, with me granted one year of a grace period.

The emperor and the crown prince left, and the nobles, too, began to get out one by one.

But I just sat blankly. I was overwhelmed by a deep emptiness. I felt so empty and frustrated at the fact that my efforts for the past five years almost came to naught, and that the same thing would be repeated one year later. I felt so hurt by the fact that I was born to the Monique family that had to be loyal to the imperial family. If not, I would have rebelled.

“Tia, let’s go back.”

“… ”

I barely stood up, straining my wobbly legs.

Even though the meeting didn’t go along as he intended, my father looked calm.

I suddenly became puzzled about his attitude. I felt strange about his calmness and long meditation a moment ago. Does he have a secret plan in mind?

However, now that the pro-emperor faction failed to make Jiun the crown prince’s puppet concubine, they had no other option but to promote me as his wife.My father probably had no particular alternative, either.

I let out a deep sigh. I know my father couldn’t help it, and I know I shouldn’t do this, but I kept feeling resentful about my father who couldn’t help me at all. I was so helpless and frustrated.

When I was about to leave the conference hall with my father, Duke Lars, who was waiting for us at the door, said, “Kairan, can you see me for a moment? Lady Monique, I’m sorry, but could you please excuse us?”

As he looked so serious, I nodded silently and left. I saw the duke talking with my father and Marquis Enesil at a distance.

‘Are they talking about what happened at the conference?’

I thought their conversation would end quickly, but it took much longer than I thought.

The atmosphere also looked serious.

Duke Lars was saying something with a serious expression, while Marquis Enesil was making an awkward smile, and my father looked calm. Only

‘Why is the atmosphere so serious out there?’

When I was looking at them with a puzzled expression, an attendant came to them and said something. Soon my father and Duke Lars were seen following him. Left alone. Marquis Ensil was approaching me.

“Hi Lady Monique!”

“Yes, Marquis Ensesil.”

“They went to see the emperor at his request. Your father asked me to escort you back home. So, I’ll take you home. ”

The golden-haired young man politely reached out.

I put my hand on his and bowed slightly and said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”