Divine Empress (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fifteen

Raina's POV

“Many blessings, Grand Empress Dowager,” I greeted while curtsying to Grand Empress Dowager with a tight, warm smile. My mind was screaming bloody murder, wondering what was going to happen between her and I will be alone. I feel like I’m going to faint, whined in my head.

“You may raise,” she ordered, waving to a seat.

Nodded my head, “yes, Grand Empress Dowager.” I said as I rose onto my feet. You Rina was quick to my side and helped me to my seat. There was silence in the room, and my nerves were in high gear—should I say something? But I can’t even look at her, ah... why does she scare me? Oh, God, let me faint.

Once teas served, she finally spoke, “Lady Shen Ava and Emperor Kai Jai are no longer engaged, and Lady Shen Ava has left the palace.”

I already know, I said in my head, staring down at my teacup. Did she just call me to tell that?

“Do you know we set why her engagement to the Emperor?”

I froze, what should I say? —Oh, yes! Because her family is close to the Royals… I cleared my throat, gracefully lifted my head and looked up at her head. Shaking my head ‘no’, “no, I don’t know.” I said, making a ‘safe’ bet that she would believe me and continue to talk without asking me any more questions, then I could leave sooner than later.

“To strengthen the Wooha(h) and Shen family, especially during these times and when Lady Shen Ava become Empress and had an heir to throne, then everyone in the council would sigh in relief. But Mistress Han Maya's sudden pregnancy, it threw our plans out the window,” she turned her gaze and stared elsewhere. “Her abilities and work are outstanding compared to Lady Shen Ava. In fact, she reminds me of myself, but I was better and more humble than her.”

Lifting an eyebrow and looked at her from the corner of my ear, okay… Trying not say something, I quietly took a sip of my sweet tea and listened carefully to her. “But I do not want her anywhere near the throne, I don’t trust her… Luckily, we have you, if only you had done greatness for the Empire other than being known as the Divine Being and marrying the Cursed Emperor. You need to take your position seriously, take the exams, History and Law, or take the short course of Military. Also need to join political support within the council. Have an heir.”

“An heir!?” I muttered, but Grand Empress Dowager snapped her gaze my way. Pouting my lips and glanced down at my teacup, muttered under my breath, “this is excellent tea…” I cleared my throat then sipping the tea again.

“Rules in the palace are there to uphold Wooha(h) name, to become Empress Dowager, you need your child to step up to the throne. No child, no title. And if you don’t have a child in a few years’ time, then council members will make an appeal to remove your title as Empress and if you don’t get more involved in politics, then things will not be easy for you. Unless… Mistress Han Maya dies during childbirth, then you can adopt the child.”

“That’s hash…”

Narrowing her gaze down at me, “Royal blood and name must seat on the throne. Look at the previous rulers, Empress Zana Sang and Emperor Soshi Doo. They made it clear their attraction was only for same s*x, unlike others, attracted to both genders. The two Royals in their time wanted to keep their position, and they knew they needed an heir for a future ruling. Empress Zana Sang, blessed with twins and father was a close friend. Emperor Soshi Doo had a hard time at first but had a brilliant child.”

“There is reason harems are in royal norm, to ensure there are royal children. If there’s infertility, then a child from the Royal siblings adopted, takes back the Royal name and become an heir…” She continued, after taking a sip of her tea and placing it down onto the side table. It seemed this world was more opened minded, but hard to say unless I get to know more. “You need to know more about our Empire, read our history books to understand our world. And also…” She turned her gaze to me, “before the death of Emperor Kaisan, he and I made sure a decree that Emperor Kai Jai does not have a harem because of his curse.”

“Emperor Kai Jai!” Someone announced, glanced to the entrance while I stood up and showed curtsy, muttering my greetings. The Emperor walked in, he glanced at me then to Grand Empress Dowager and bowed, “many blessings, Grand Empress Dowager. Many blessings, Empress.” He greeted.

“You came in time,” Grand Empress Dowager said, gracefully stood up. “Dinner is ready,” and glanced over at me. “We are eating together,” she walked down from her platform and taking the led, passing by the Emperor who still bowing. “You may rise,” she murmured to him.

“Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager…” He murmured, turning his gaze back to me. I smiled warmly to him, remembering what happened earlier in the garden. He lifted his arm, offering his arm to me, “Empress…” He muttered. Quietly I nodded my head, taking his arm, as we both followed behind Grand Empress Dowager.

“We need to celebrate your union and future in the palace,” Grand Empress Dowager said, not glancing over her shoulders to look at us. “Pray to the gods and goddesses for help and guidance.”

Having dinner was not comfortable, tension and awkward thick in the air as we took a bite of our meal. I knew why I felt awkward and tense in the room; number one, I cannot gulp down my food and seat comfortable as standing across the room, watching was Court Lady Rin. She seriously scary. Then second, sitting in between a tense Emperor and unbothered Grand Empress Dowager. Watching the Emperor's rigid body acting well-manner and perfect before Grand Empress Dowager.

No one whispered a word, eating our meal and acting posh. Lady Shen Ava said Grand Empress Dowager blamed Emperor Kai Jai for killing his father, her son, the late-Emperor, Emperor Kaisan. All these revolve around this curse, the Emperor had, and if I’m going to keep my promise to Lady Shen Ava, I need to find out what was the curse and what happened in the palace.

After dinner, both the Emperor and I paid our respect to Grand Empress Dowager and left her palace. Quietly he and I walked side by side, releasing one long sigh of relief that I was holding throughout my visit in the Grand Empress Dowager, “that was a strain dinner.” I said. Hearing a humming response from the Emperor, I tilted my gaze to him, “are you okay?”

Suddenly, he stopped and stepping back, stared at me. Furrowing my brows in confusion, “huh… Did I say something wrong?” I asked.

“It’s my first time having someone asked me ‘are you okay?’ within the palace,” he said.

“Oh?” I whispered, “So… Are you okay?”

“I don’t know…” He sighed, turning his gaze away from me, and stared down the long walkway. “I haven’t really asked myself. It’s hard to answer… But I can say the Empire is alright.” He glanced over at me.

Had he been focusing on becoming a ruler to the Empire and forget about himself?

“How many hours do you spend each day on yourself?” Narrowing my gaze up at him, folding my arms across my chest.

“I wake up five in the morning, get ready and read over reports even over breakfast. Six go to the Mental Hall, write responds to reports, and memorials then hold meetings until lunch. Continue my work until dinner and read reports.”

Rolling my eyes, “there was no alone time with yourself.”

He shrugged, “five states in an Empire, I must make sure there is flow, understanding and protection in my Empire. That is being an Emperor… Being a Wooha(h), you should understand as you’re an Empress now.”

“Well, self-love is self-worth,” he lifted an eyebrow, uncertain, and an idea clicked in my head. I smiled and stepped forward, “okay… I’m Empress then let me help you, so you have some time to yourself. I mean, I am an assistant. Well… Was one but still has the skill. You know, be your PA.”

“PA?”

“Yeah! Personal Assistant, that’s what Empress do. Right?”

Shaking his head lightly, “as Empress, you’re my equal as we rule as one. An assistant here are those make copies of memorials, reports, take notes and write letters, then run around for their higher up.”

Oh… Yeah, I remembered my times in my workplaces, running around for my boss and do everything they needed. “Okay… But let’s just have this a starting round for me. It will give me a glance to the work that I’ll be handling soon. I think…”

“Okay…”

I smiled, “but don’t give me a lot of work. I need time for myself too.”