The Abandoned Empress - Chapter 1.2

Chapter 1 - Part 2

"Waahh! Silver hair, to think this colour really existed! Hello? What's your name?"

The child of the divine, a mysterious girl whom God gave to the empire. Everyone loved her, as she laughed at me with a dull face. She was constantly praised for her innocent looks, for a smile that just looked like an idiot to me.

"To the emperor's moon, I, Aristia La Monique greets your majesty."

If things remained as what it was supposed to be, I would still possess the middle name: Castilla. However, Castilla is the middle name given to the empress or the potential empress.

When the emperor abandoned me for that mysterious girl, I gave up that middle name, as I was now deemed as unworthy to possess the honor of Castilla.

"Aristia? My name is Gina. Can I call you Tia?"

"... ... Your Majesty, that is an honor"

Tia? Does she know that for a noble, one's pet name can only be called when someone is very familiar with the other person?

It is a well-known fact that nicknames are composed of relationships, such as a very close friend or a lover.

"Well nice to meet you. Again, they call me Gina, let's get along in the future."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Even though Tia's face is so pretty, your speech is so stiff. Can you just relax?"

"Yes, I will obey you, Your Majesty."

"Obey? Ughh, this is not a historical drama. Don't do that, just call me comfortably. Please? It's because I feel uncomfortable when you're speaking to me this way."

It was essential to be formal between nobles, and in the imperial system, there was a rule stating to use formal language.

However, she was called the child of the divine, a mysterious girl who was loved by God, but even so, she was using common speech the commoners used and was considered to be very ignorant.

Is the law still in effect? Or is she just ignoring the law?

Let's not show any indecent behaviour, Aristia. It's a bad idea. She still doesn't know who I am.

"Tia, would you like to go outside with me?"

"Where?"

"Well, I'd like to go outside the palace, but I don't think the maids would let me go out alone. Let's just go out on a stroll together. Can you?"

"Maids?"

"Yes, the maids who take care of me. Do you know how scary these maids are? This is why I'm uncomfortable around people that are older than me."

As I mumbled this country's courtesy, suddenly Gina looked at me vacantly. It was very unpleasant, and more like offensive.   

Maids? Aren't they are the people that look after Gina? This explains why nowadays there have been rumors about the over-benevolent empress, I guess this is the reason why.

A sigh comes out of me. It is a virtue that as a superior, she should treat those under her gentle and warm. However, everything has a boundary before it is overdone.

It eventually becomes the fault of the those on the top when their subordinates become too indulgent because they were not strict enough. It is the duty of a maid to treat her lady property, so that she feels comfortable to a certain extent.

But no matter what, there is a certain boundary that needs to be established between the maids and the empress. It looks like the maids have to be disciplined again. Ugh, another thing I have to do.

"Isn't this place really pretty"

Compared to her slim body, the strength in her body was strong, due to finally gaining the permission to explore the emperor's garden due to her "depression from staying inside the palace".

This garden aroused the memories of my childhood, a particular time in the past where the first meeting took place between me and the future emperor. Afterwards, the heir would visit me multiple times in this luxurious garden.

--"Dear."

Suddenly, the gentle breeze swept through the lush flower field. I closed my eyes, and what came to me was his lovely familiar voice that moved me to tears.

I thought I would be happy, just by being in the same place as him. But, it looks like my greed was just getting stronger and stronger day by day. Ahh... I wish I could see the emperor today.

'Tia, are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. You can stop worrying about me, Your Majesty."

As Gina turned her head towards me, she sticked out her tongue. I guess I still can't control my emotions properly, as my emotions are still being revealed in front of other people.

"What made you cry? Was there a incident that had happened lately?"

"No, it was nothing. It was just that I was thinking of things I missed."

Gina's face suddenly became sorrowful, as her bright face was no longer to be seen.

"I miss you."

"... ..."

"Mom, dad, even Jisoo who doesn't even listen to me... , I want to see you guys again."

Of course, she would also has a family that she misses. Gina's still eighteen, so it's obvious as a normal girl she would miss her family like me. This led me to be grateful that at least my dad was still with me.

Suddenly separating from her family to become a empress regardless of her own will.

"Mom, dad... ..."

As I started to feel sorry for her, I began to open my mouth to start comforting her, but suddenly I heard a cold voice behind us.

"What's going on here?"

With his cold voice, the emperor was glaring at me with his cold eyes.

"I greet the empire's sun, the emperor."

"Gina. what happened? Who made you cry?"

"Lube."

Lubris Kamarundin Shana Castina. Lube. A faint laugh came out from me.

For sixteen years, I wasn't even allowed to call his name, while Gina called his nickname so easily.

"What did you do to Gina? What did you say to Gina, that has made her cry?"

"Emperor?"

It was unfair. I have nothing to do with this. I didn't do anything to her.

"No, Lube. Tia didn't do anything to me. I just cried because I missed my family."

"Oh, then is that so. Gina go ahead and rest for a little bit. I'll go visit you later."

The scene where the emperor gazed at her with warm eyes with a tender voice, just broke my heart. I have never received that kind of treatment before.

He was so affectionate to Gina, that it left me crying inside my heart. He was still looking at Gina's disappearing figure.

I felt sick under his cold gaze, as I bowed my head silently.

"I'm warning you."

"Emperor?"

"Gina's a pure person, unlike you. You are not worthy of interacting with someone like her."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Every word that was directed to me was harsh as sharpened knives.

"Did you think the title as Empress belonged to you? It never belonged to you from the start, you were just the backup in case Gina didn't appear."

"... ..."

"I'm only going to let go of this situation this time. But, if this happens one more time, you will not get off as easily as this time."

"Yes Your Majesty, I will keep this in mind."

I suddenly grabbed my chest as my body stumbled down to the ground. What did I do to Gina? I didn't do anything to her. I just can't understand this situation.

"Your Majesty, here you are."

"What happened?"

"I was looking for you because there was this urgent work that suddenly came before us regarding  the matters of the bishop."

"Ok, I understand. Go back to the office."

I looked at the documents correlating to the temple.

These documents required urgent funding due to the massive spendings by the temple lately. *Sigh* The inner palace in the office of Finance would simply not function without me at this rate. Yes, this is the value of my existence. That's why I have chosen to stay in the imperial palace.

I sighed as I got started on my work.