Chapter 390. I Will Not Sink Alone (1)

Translator: Aura / Editor: HB168

Sovieshu stood up with a sigh.

“I have never said that becoming Empress was your fault. I know it’s my fault. I’m the only one to blame that my marriage with Navier is over. I’m the only one to blame for believing in you.”

“…”

“You’ll be punished for all the crimes you’ve committed, Rashta. When will you acknowledge it?”

“What have I done?!”

“You really don’t know?”

“I don’t.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know. Where you’re going, you don’t need to have an answer.”

Sovieshu spoke coldly and walked towards the door.

Rashta, who was complaining indignantly, got out of bed frightened by Sovieshu’s words.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty. Wait a moment.”

She hurriedly ran over, knelt down and grabbed Sovieshu around the waist.

“I will not oppose my deposition. I will accept the divorce at once. But please let Glorym and I live quietly, somewhere secluded in the countryside. Please, I don’t want to go to trial. I’m afraid of the people.”

Sovieshu looked down. Her white hands trembled pitifully. However, he shook her off.

“It’s absurd to ask for a deal after all you’ve done, Rashta.”

She collapsed helplessly to the floor, screaming, her face completely red.

“I’m innocent! It’s unjust for me to be punished! It’s Your Majesty who should be punished for your crimes!”

“The High Court will list every one of your crimes.”

“I’ll reveal yours!”

“What?”

“Your Majesty deceived everyone because you always knew I was a runaway slave! I’ll tell all! Why not talk if I’m going to die anyway? I’ll tell it all!”

Rashta screamed at the top of her lungs, but Sovieshu didn’t even flinch.

“Tell it.”

“!”

“It doesn’t matter if you say so because there’s no proof. If people believe you, I will be seen as a foolish Emperor who was blinded by love. But that’s all. In time, it will be forgotten.”

“…”

“Instead, shouldn’t you think of your children?”

“What…?”

“Actually, your son will become a slave, regardless of what you reveal about me.”

Rashta was bewildered and asked, frightened,

“What do you mean? Why will Ahn become a slave? What did Ahn do?”

“The child will have to pay for his parents’ crimes.”

Rashta had no affection for Ahn. At least, that was what she used to think.

But now, despair filled her heart and she felt unbearable pain.

Although Rashta didn’t love Ahn as much as she loved Glorym, she didn’t want Ahn to suffer.

“I don’t know who you are! I don’t recognize you! You’re worse than Duke Elgy! You’re a damned bastard! How can you do this?!”

Sovieshu easily dodged Rashta, who rushed at him, her face distorted with pain and rage. He opened the door and walked out.

From behind the closed door, helpless screams, like those of a trapped animal, could be heard.

***

The day of Empress Rashta’s trial had finally arrived. The sky was a dull gray and people flocked to the High Court to witness the historic trial in an uneasy mood, their minds were in turmoil.

A woman of incomparable beauty who managed to captivate the Emperor and oust a worthy Empress. The Empress who tried to deceive the Emperor so that her daughter, born of her lover, would become a princess. The Empress who tried to kill an innocent woman for fear that the Emperor would fix his eyes on her. The Empress who gave up a port because of a handsome foreign Duke with whom she fell in love.The Empress who was caught trying to escape.

Although they were glad that Empress Rashta would finally be punished, this was the same Empress Rashta who was once praised and loved as the ‘hope of the commoners.’ For a brief time, she had been the light they longed for.

She turned out to be a false hope.

Count Pirnu, who hated Rashta, was also not very cheerful. However, it wasn’t because of Rashta’s downfall. It was because two Empresses had to leave the throne in a short time.

Given the current scenario, the next Empress would definitely not be a commoner.

The highest position that someone without Imperial blood could aspire to was that of Empress of the Eastern Empire. Just thinking about the number of noble families that would compete fiercely to elevate their daughters to that honorable position was already a headache.

Count Pirnu had a pen and paper to record the results of today’s trial. Of course, there are people in charge of that, but he intended to record today’s events in his own way.

“Count Pirnu.”

The Count’s busy hand stopped when Sovieshu spoke.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Where is Navier? Has she arrived?”

Count Pirnu didn’t have an answer. Fortunately, Marquis Karl, who had just entered, answered instead.

“Your Majesty. Empress Navier arrived at the Troby Mansion last night.”

“At the Troby Mansion?”

“The Duchess Troby, Empress Navier and Emperor Heinley arrived directly at the mansion.”

Sovieshu’s expression became anxious.

“Will she attend the trial?”

“Your Majesty, as I reported to you earlier, Empress Navier intends to observe discreetly, so it is best not to seek her out.”

“Does that mean I’ll see her among the general audience? Or will she sit among the nobility?”

“About that…”

Marquis Karl tried not to speak inappropriately. However, how long could he politely evade what Emperor Sovieshu actually wanted to know? Eventually, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Your Majesty. Empress Navier didn’t come here as representative of the Western Empire, but as Your Majesty’s ex-wife. Please refrain from asking about the details.”

Sovieshu’s expression stiffened.