The Abandoned Empress

I watched the Imperial Palace gradually fading away from the half-draped curtain of my wagon. As it was the day of the official ball, a yellow glow was coming out of the central palace and the surrounding was lit up with a lot of lights. It was so beautiful that I got carried away with it for a long time.

A light that illuminated the darkness with a beautiful and mysterious look.

As the wheels of the wagons rolled on, the yellow lights gradually faded away. I felt like I got a heavy load off my chest.

I suddenly sighed when I thought I could breathe easily as I was being sucked into the darkness out of that bright place.

I stretched my arms towards the Imperial Palace. The central palace, which I seemed to touch with my fingertips, became a small dot and grew smaller until it was invisible. It looked as if it was a place that shouldn’t be within my reach.

After giving the palace another glance, I turned my head again after looking around the bright and bright palace. The curtain that had been drawn halfway was pulled down completely. Feeling relieved at the vanished light, I buried myself deeply in the chair.

It was a long day.

The summer heat, drought, and subsequent floods passed quickly, and it was already the ninth month of the year. Because it was still very hot outside, everybody on the training field was getting exhausted gradually.

I headed to the training field, raising my body upright, which was limp from the heat.

“Hi, little girl!”

“Hi, Sein.”

“It looks like you feel under the weather these days. Your face also looks pale. Are you sick?”

“Not really. Maybe because it’s too hot.”

“You’re right. This year we seem to have an unusually long heat. What are you going to do? Personal practice or sparring with me?”

“Let’s spar. As it feels so stuffy, I would like to run at full speed.”

Nodding, Carsein, took the sword and headed to the empty space of the training field.

As soon as the sparring began, his eyes changed quickly. I heard that he was learning the fencing style of my family from my father, so he didn’t give me any chance to attack him. Unlike the fencing style of the Lars family, which struck a balance between defensive and offensive skills, the Monique fencing style focused on the offensive skills.

His eyes sparkled when he hit my sword with his strength. He thrashed his sword when I hesitated because of the instant numbness in my sword hand.

‘Well, you’re now using the skills that you learned from my father.’

Although I didn’t master the skills because of my physical condition, I understood the fencing style of my family itself much better than him.

I focused on defense with minimal movement to save my physical energy. I thought I could attack him when he was pulling back the sword for the next move.

Did my waiting pay off? He seemed to be trying to withdraw his sword.

‘This is the moment!’

The moment I tried to attack with a satisfied smile, I felt breathless all at once.

What the heck?

While I was hesitating to catch my breath, he was already in attacking mode.

‘Oh my! I missed the golden chance. ‘

Although I shot for the next chance, clicking my tongue, it was too late.

I felt a sharp pain in my arm as I blocked the strong push of his sword.

The sword fell from my trembling hand.

I tilted my head. Was I short of breath like this? These days I’ve had less basic fitness training than usual because it’s so hot. Was it because of my lack of training?

I felt uncomfortable. Obviously, I focused on defending myself to reduce my physical energy.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Ah…Yes.”

“Hmm, the fencing style of the Monique family is definitely different. It seems more suitable for me than that of our family. ”

“Really? Good for you. I envy you. I would like to learn, but can’t.”

“Well, as it requires lots of physical energy, it’s hard for you. Nonetheless, you’ve improved a lot, my little girl. I think you can be a full-fledged knight in a few years.”

“I don’t think so. Thanks for saying that, anyway.”

I thanked him for picking up my sword that fell on the ground and shook off my idle thoughts.

I felt I needed to increase training time again tomorrow.

After training all morning, I came back to my office when I felt the sun was too hot.

Looking at the pile of documents stacked on the desk, I sighed.

‘Too much work to do…’

I was snowed under with work and hadn’t made any tangible progress in fencing, which was really frustrating.

As I wanted to take a break, I called a maid to bring me some hot water and took out teacup from the cupboard.

Was it meant to show his indirect support of my decision or was it because he recalled my hard work at the summer palace? The day after the ball to celebrate Lady Jena’s adoption as Duke Jena’s foster daughter, the emperor offered me teacups with a variety of tea, saying it was a gift for me. It was the same set of silverware exclusive for the imperial family, which I once used with the emperor at the summer palace.

I took a silver mug and spinned it once. It was a gorgeous mug with the corner plated with gold and the crest of a roaring lion engraved on the handle and body.

‘I think I have to bring it to my house anyway.’

As I received it from the emperor, I felt I had better keep it at home rather than use it carelessly. Moreover, if I was caught using the teacup reserved for the imperial family, the noble faction would clearly try to find fault with it.

I put the mug back into the cupboard and took out the usual mug I used to use. While I was looking at the tea box I received from the emperor, thinking about which tea to drink, I heard someone knocking on the door.

Knock, knock.

Who is it? There is no one to visit me at this time.

“Yes, come on in.”

“It’s been a long time, Lady Monique.”

The person who appeared after opening the door was someone that I never expected.

It was a noble woman with her dark blue hair turned up high, wearing a bright creamy dress.

As soon as I met her cool blue eyes, I sprang to my feet and greeted Duchess Lars.

“Hi, Duchess, what business has brought you here…?”

“I stopped by for a moment because I had something to tell you. I was on my way back after going to the palace to consult with the emperor about something. Can you take some time for me?”

“Of course.”

I called a maid to bring some cookies or pies and brewed lavender out of the finest tea the emperor gave me. After sipping tea, enjoying the distinctive subtle scent of the tea, she said,

“Oh, this is lavender.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Hmm, it’s a little different from what I usually drink… ”

I sipped mine as she was tilting her head a bit.

‘I don’t know. What does she mean by a different taste?’

Does she mean the tea reminds her of old memories because it’s reserved for the imperial family? Maybe that’s what she means. As she was a princess before she got married, she must have enjoyed the tea as a child before she left the imperial family.

When I was lost in thought, her eyes looking at me sparkled coldly.

“You know, Lady Monique.”

“Pardon?”

“I would like to let you know first that I don’t like you that much.”

Only

“… ”

“But as the situation is different now, let me help you. So, do it without letting me down.”

‘What the heck is she talking about?”

When I looked at her curiously, she put down the mug and said, “In fact, I’m not as physically strong as I was these days.”

“Ah… I hope you can recover soon. ”

“Thank you. Just in time, the emperor said he needed a test to verify the two candidates for the crown prince’s bride candidate, so I asked him a favor. As for the National Founding Day festival… ”

I sighed. They are at it again? They already make it a rule to test me and Jiun at the monthly cabinet meeting. And now they are trying to verify our abilities at the upcoming festival.

“This festival will be held for three days. I will only be in charge of one day, and the other two days you and Lady Jena will take turns to host it. You should beat her by all means. I won’t sit idle if you lose to that vulgar girl without any legitimate family pedigree.”