Chapter 165 - I Ask Approval For Remarriage (2) (1/2)

Am I the only one who had a faint smile on my lips when I said those words?Sovieshu looked down at me with a half-relieved, half-regretful expression. Was it a charade, or was it sincere?Until now, I had been a good colleague and a perfect empress. We had never fought — that is, until he brought her along. He cast me aside for his lover, but until the last moment he’ll want to be a good man and a good emperor.

Then there was my family and the great church which had approved of our marriage, who insisted that I not step down from the position of empress. He would certainly dislike the idea of going through a tedious divorce trial against both groups.

He was that sort of man, and that sort of emperor.

“Your Majesty! This can’t be!”

Marquis Farang cried out and tried to run towards me, but he was caught by the Emperor’s guards and barred from taking a step further…

Marquis Farang and Countess Eliza, Sir Artina, my defenders. I am thankful to all of you.

I cast them a grateful glance then turned to the High Priest.

“Empress Navier. Do you really agree to this divorce document without any objection?”

The High Priest had a slightly angry voice. He wanted me to fight and challenge the reason for divorce.

While the odds of winning the trial were none, it would cause a scandal for the Emperor and his concubine as the people heard the news. That was what the High Priest, my family and my friends wanted.

I shook my head. A divorce trial may hurt Sovieshu’s reputation, but my name may be scarred as well. It’s not that I had a moral problem, but I was going to remarry the king of another country. Complicating the political situation would only make that more difficult.

“I accept the divorce.”

The minister closed his eyes gravely as murmuring broke out into the room.

“And ask for permission to remarry.”

The moment I finished speaking, the mood changed completely. The air stilled into a shocked silence and the High Priest’s eyes flew open. Everyone glanced at each other, unsure of what they heard.

Sovieshu looked at me confusedly, a frown furrowing his brow. The High Priest was in a daze.

“Empress Navier…remarry?”

Instead of answering, I stretched out my hand and pointed to one place. As if on cue, a man wearing an embroidered veil that obscured his face burst into pleasant laughter.

“Do I come up now?”

The silence was broken by the murmuring of the crowd again. The man walked through the court and stood next to me. When he took off the veil, Sovieshu leapt to his feet.

“Navier! That man–”

“Is the one I will marry.”

The High Priest’s eyes looked hollow. I smiled and turned the man beside me. He looked at me as if to say, “You expected this reaction, didn’t you?”

Somehow I had a pleasant feeling. Even though it wasn’t revenge I desired.

In the midst of this all, Heinley and I were the only ones that looked happy. The buzzing of the crowd only grew at the surprise appearance of the King of the West. Sovieshu’s jaw dropped open, and Rashta let out a cry.

“It can’t be!”

She looked no less stunned. For some reason, she was looking between Heinley and Duke Elgy, but not Sovieshu. Duke Elgy was acting surprised as well, even though he knew Heinley was here.

The High Priest cleared his throat several times, still looking astonished. After a moment, he spoke to me again.

“Empress Navier, is this true? Prince—no, King Heinley, do you truly mean this?”

Heinley replied before I had a chance to.

“Yes, I wish to have Navier the Emp-…Navier, to be my queen.

Sovieshu scoffed.

“What are you doing in another country?”