The Emperor's Unfavored Empress

Chapter 14 Cassiopeia: I will not leave him.

Lin is right. Going to the Bureau of Justice is strictly prohibited. "Your Highness," we both turned around when Hera called us. Lin and I stared at each other, and Lin immediately shrugged. "Come on, this is the way," Hera said, gesturing with her hand. She then led us to the back, where there was a narrow path.

"What is this?" I asked, looking around cautiously.

"Don't you want to go to the Bureau of Justice?" she asked urgently, urging me to make the decision. "Here is the secret way," she added with a knowing smile. I stopped walking and then pulled her towards me.

"How did you know about this road?" I asked.

"And you listened to our conversation with the Princess earlier?!" Lin exclaimed.

Hera sighed deeply before responding, "I got the information from the other maidservant.” She paused and flashed Lin a smile. “It looks like plenty of good-looking men here, Lin!" Hera continued. "Looks like I have a type," she added nervously. "Hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with the princess earlier," she stammered apologetically.

"Oh, I see. Come on, let's go," I said, and then we entered the narrow road. We ended up at the back of the Bureau.

"What are we aiming for here, Your Highness?" Hera asked.

"I need to get the results of the investigation of the case of the late Emperor," I answered.

"What are you going to do after this?"

"I don't know, I'll think of something while we're at it." As we passed through the Bureau's courtyard, which was now deserted, we saw people sitting outside, talking and laughing. I see people from everywhere coming to the coronation ceremony so we had to take a tiny road. I saw a parade of cavalry passing through the front courtyard, so I hurriedly grabbed Lin and Hera to hide.

"Do you know, Your Highness, that some documents were burned earlier?" Hera asked. My mind immediately traveled to many possibilities. Perhaps the documents that were the evidence had already been burned.

"I have to get inside the building," I whispered.

Hera nodded in agreement and then instructed, "I will talk with the guard to give you your time.” When the guard turned his back to her, we hurriedly scurried inside, making a great effort not to be seen.

While Hera conversed with the guard, none noticed that we were sneaking in quickly. I frantically checked each row of shelves one by one until I eventually arrived at the large closets.

“Have you found anything, Lin?” I asked.

"Nothing, your highness."

We were unable to locate the document we needed, so we decided to make sure that no stone was left unturned and ran a thorough search on the other side of the room. Fortunately, we managed to find the documents about the deceased Emperor's case. After having located it, we quickly leave the Bureau.

When we returned to the manor, I immediately opened the documents. It said that the emperor had died of poison, and the result shocked me. As I was reading, Lin suddenly burst into the room with a look of surprise on her face. Her widened eyes seemed to be telling me something, so I hastily tucked the file away among my clothes and dashed for the door.

The Empress suddenly appeared before me and I could not help but wonder why her imperial majesty had taken the time to visit me. "Your imperial majesty, what brings you here?" I asked nervously, hoping that whatever it was that had brought her here would be something good. The Empress cast her gaze around the room, taking in every detail with a meticulous eye. As she walked around the room, her footsteps echoing off the walls, she commented, "This is a very old manor indeed - centuries of history must have been held within these walls." The Empress wore a long, ethereal ceremonial dress exquisitely made with shimmering golden fabric and intricate designs. Her hair was artfully piled in golden loops on top of her head and carefully held there by two delicate golden hairpins. She looked radiant and regal as she moved gracefully through the place.

"I was doubtful that this place would be of any use after such a long time," she said, referring to the place I live, "it had been more than 20 years since someone last stayed here," she added. I started to wonder who first lived here before me. I couldn't quite comprehend what she meant and why she was saying it, so I asked my question again.

"You honor me with your presence, your imperial majesty, but may I humbly ask what brings you here? Is there anything I can do to serve you?" My words were spoken with the utmost respect. Lin cautiously offered the Empress a drink, which she politely declined before turning to me and inviting me for a walk outside. "Let's stroll outside," she said, calm yet firm, "where we can chat undisturbed and have some privacy."

The Empress paused at a window that overlooked the beautiful garden and slowly turned back towards us. He then took me to the garden, where he asked me, "How are you doing here in the palace, Cassiopeia?" I could sense her intense gaze upon me as I anxiously began to answer her questions, my heart pounding and my palms becoming sweaty with a feeling of dread and apprehension.

"Very well, your imperial majesty," I replied.

"Really?" she answered in a slightly incredulous and measured tone. "Cassiopeia, don't you want to return to your kingdom and family?" She suddenly asked me a question, stopping me in my tracks.

"You're imperial majesty, I am married to the fourth prince—" she cut me off. He faced me and then held me by the shoulder.

"Yes. But he doesn't care about you. I can take back the order of the former Emperor.” I frowned at what she pointed out, but I couldn't answer her. "I am asking you now, will you return to Cassiana, Cassiopeia?" she asked.

But I was determined to remain within the empire. "No, thank you for your kind offer, but I cannot, in good conscience, abandon my duty as a wife," I earnestly said.

"Well, you are a very strange girl," she said with an inquisitive expression as she released me from her grip. I knew that I could not return to Cassiana anymore, as I had committed to my husband, Magnus, and I felt a sense of obligation to stay by his side and the empire.