Divine Empress (COMPLETED)

Chapter Sixteen

Raina's POV

My hand could not stop shaking, slowly lowering the tip of brush to write on the paper. At the end, the word was wiggly and cracked, leaning down and narrowing my gaze at my word. When I arrived in this world, one nothing I shrugged off was the language, I understood everyone with few confusing words thrown my way here and there, and right back. When I get a written item, I would scan over what they wrote and would still understand at the end.

“Why did I agree to this?” I groaned and threw the brush on the paper. Last night, I offered my help to the Emperor, he accepted it, and this morning I received some books of reports. When I inspected, time to write—I realised their words written are different and direction of reading and writing.

“Give it time, Divine Empress,” You Rina said, removing the brush from the paper and placing it onto the tray. “At least there’s rush for these copies.” She smiled, removed the messed the paper and replaced a fresh paper. “Remember… Don’t move your wrist as you write and read from right to left.”

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window, seeing my servants going about their normal duties, “I can’t believe the load of work. But I am surprised to see how opened minded everyone is.” Turning my gaze to You Rin and asked, “how is that?”

“In Dejection era, things were different. Women stayed home to look after the children, as the men brought in the food and protection. Within time, birth-rate decreased, and war sparked when sickness spread. The people begged the gods, goddesses and divines, but months passed, and population continued to decease. Situations worsen and people mind set changes, and men and women began tasked to be a part in war. Men who cannot fight, stay home to look after the children. This changes everything, men and women worked hand in hand, people’s s****l orientation became a norm until… Gai Bele, goddess of Earth stepped up and fertility returned into the Earth.”

She smiled, a palace maiden walked in with a tray of tea and snacks as You Rina helped her, she continued, “since then we believed we are equal and embraced who are, and what are. It’s hard to believe a time where gender decides a person’s role in society and one’s s****l orientation was judged. Madness…” She muttered the last word, rolling her eyes as she poured a cup of tea for me.

Nervously laughed, “yeah… ‘Madness’.” I awkwardly cleared my throat and took the teacup, comparing my world and this world, they understood people’s worth before reaching a technologic development and did not yet have people fight for what was right. Taking a sip then glanced up her, “when did this happen?”

“Huh… It’s hard to say… Because it happened when the five states were in five kingdoms, also considering different dynasties—so, it’s hard to point out the time,” she chuckled. “I’m not good with history, maybe that’s why I failed my exams twice. Maybe you should start reading.”

“Maybe you should start reading…” I nod my head, mocking You Rina. Left and right, everyone wants to take everything serious even though I am planning to leave the world and be back to my earth. My gaze met her narrowed gaze, I flashed a smile to her under the rim of my teacup, “you sound a mom… How old are you?” I asked, rolling my eyes and took a sip.

You Rina crossed her arms across her chest and leaned back, “I’m sixteen.”

“What!?” I coughed, placing my teacup down on the table. Leaning forward, “you’re sixteen-years-old!?” She giggled, nodding her head ‘yes’. “how long have been working in the palace?”

“Eleven years…”

“So… You were working in the palace when you were five?”

There was silence between us, hearing her take a deep breath and picks the ruined papers, “Divine Empress, you need to practice your writing.”

Avoiding the topic, thinking to myself. Watching her act like she never heard my question and trying to clean up the room. Leaning forward and smiled, “tell me how the five kingdoms became five states of one Empire?”

She glanced over at me and smiled nervously, “Maka, Shen, O, Wo, and Ha(h) are our current states, Maka was Kong Phynya kingdom ruled by Royal family Pow-too, Shen was Li(e)qu Patae(h) kingdom ruled by Royal family Omensphyaeya, O coming from the Royal family name was Have Tearli(e)nha kingdom, Wo coming from the Royal family name was Carrphila Hudd kingdom, and Ha(h) coming from the Royal family was Ledoma Lunnya.”

“Battles were common between the kingdoms, Royal Wo and Royal O were in the centre of it all. So, they decided to unit their kingdom and fight their enemy—the royals married created a new Royal name, Woo, and new dynasty, Ashhya(h) Dynasty. Sooner after, out of fear, the Royal Ha(h) extended peace then marrying into the Woo family.”

“Let me guess… Uniting the kingdoms and a new Royal family name created,” I grinned, and she tipped her nose, ‘right’.

“Wooha(h) family name, beginning of Hudd Ashhya Dynasty, which still present. However, Kong Phynya Kingdom and Li(e)qu Patae(h) Kingdom saw this as threat and did not see peace with this growing empire. Years later, war happened between two sides of the Empire. However, after ten years of war, Kong Phynya and Li(e)qu Patae(h) kingdoms fell and becoming part of the Empire. HuddOmen Empire is our current Empire, a wealthy Empire to the world.”

“Wait… Why isn’t Pow-too and Omensphyaeya Royal family name added to create a new family name and dynasty?”

“There was no marriage exchange between the two kingdoms and empire, the Empire had to fight for the kingdoms than marriage exchange.”

Wow, this world was complex, “is there any more Kingdoms or Empires? If there is… Please tell me, we’re at least in peace…”

You Rina chuckled, “North-east from the Imperial Empire, is the Gaia Kingdom and it has been straining relation with our Empire. North-west is the Arriors Empire… Between our Empire and that Empire, we are trying to keep peace, after several conflicts here and there. Then South-west Joseon kingdom, and it’s quiet now. Down south across the sea is another country, we have bust trade with.”

This world was enormous, there was more out there, and I was in a palace, an Empress who can decide the fate of this Empire. Wait… Did she say we were wealthy? Snapping my gaze up at You Rina, “did you say we were wealthy? I mean, yeah… We are royals and wealth are well known. But…” I leaned more forward, waving my hand, calling You Rina forward. She stepped closer, I whispered, “how wealthy are we?”

“Really… Wealth such that there’s business outside our country.”

“You know mean, old and new money?”

“Huh… I guess, yes,” she shrugged her shoulders.

Grinning devilishly, I leaned back against my seat and nodding my head, wondering what could I do before leave? “What should I do while Empress?” I asked out loud, rubbing my chin, thinking about the possibilities I had.

“Maybe, getting Gaia Kingdom from the mad King… It’s rumoured he made a decree that he will not have an heir to the kingdom,” You Rina joked.

“The mad King?” I furrowed my brows.

She nodded her head, “we have known the Boo Royals bloodline had madness and King Daehyun has it, and so, now everyone wants to know who will have the kingdom.”

Rolling my eyes, “let me guess, the council wants it.”

“Yes… But no luck and rumours are….” You Rina glanced around and hurried close. “… The councils are waiting for his death and will take the kingdom by force,” she whispered.

“You mean…” I whispered back, furrowing my brows in worry. “Start war?” She slowly nodded her head, and I gasped softly, leaning back. War? Seriously thinking about war!?