Chapter 129 - The Storm Shall Blow (2) (1/2)
Chapter 129 – The Storm Shall Blow (2)
Sovieshu left and took a stroll through the gardens on the way back to the eastern palace. When he returned to his bedroom, he called for Marquis Karl.
The marquis, who had been waiting for Sovieshu’s return, quickly arrived. He was tense, as he knew Rashta’s secret along with the Emperor.
“Welcome back, Your Majesty.”
“Any news on Koshar?”
“Lord Koshar quietly remained in the mansion.”
“…”
“The problem with Miss Rashta is…”
“I’m considering divorce.”
“You wish to end Miss Rashta’s concubine contract?”
“No. I mean with the Empress.”
Sovieshu’s words blindsided Marquis Karl. The marquis expected that Sovieshu would want to remove Rashta as concubine, or perhaps that he would take out his anger against Koshar. He had no clue why the Emperor’s ire was directed towards the Empress.
“Why the Empress so suddenly…?”
“The Empress cannot control that unruly Koshar.”
“Ah.”
“It is already the second time Koshar has caused an incident. It hasn’t even been that long after the poisoning incident.”
“Miss Rashta is…”
Sovieshu rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache.
“Although I am disappointed with Rashta, she is already pregnant with my baby. Attacking her would be like attacking my baby.”
“But Your Majesty, divorce…”
Marquis Karl looked devastated. Empress Navier did not have the image of a loving and benevolent monarch, but she was admired by the public for her sword-like practicality and regal bearing.
But divorce.
“It may not be my place to say this, but divorce is extreme, Your Majesty. Please reconsider.”
Marquis Karl spoke honestly at risk of the Emperor’s wrath.
“If Lord Koshar is the problem, then you only need punish him.”
The marquis was so concerned that he felt it was his duty to prevent divorce between the Emperor and Empress.
“Isn’t Koshar the queen’s brother and successor to the Troby family?”
“But it’s not fair to place Lord Koshar’s guilt on the Empress…it truly isn’t.”
Sovieshu breathed a sigh.
“If Koshar—the only successor to the Troby family—is punished, the position of the family will be shaken. The Empress will also be put in an embarrassing position.”
He sat in a chair and spoke in a somber voice.
“If the Empress is disgraced, no matter how hard she works, there will be people who will be spiteful towards her.”
Marquis Carl did not immediately understand Sovieshu’s words and blinked.
“Yes?”
Sovieshu said he was going to divorce the Empress. His line of thinking was incomprehensible to Marquis Karl.
“This is the only way to protect the Empress from the fallout. I have considered other ways, but this is the best path.”
“You want a divorce to protect Her Majesty?”
“I will punish that criminal Koshar without fail. But if I do nothing about the Empress while I punish him, her image will be harmed.”
“But think of it the other way. If I divorce the empress while punishing Koshar, everyone will think it’s too heavy a punishment. As you do now.”
“Is that so?”
“Even if she was divorced, she would not remarry by convention, and she will stay alone. Sympathy will go to the Empress.”
Sovieshu stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes.
“In the meantime, I will raise Rashta to the position of empress.”