Chapter 13
The one who appeared out of nowhere was none other than Rashid.
Unlike usual, Rashid was looking at Azelina with a gentle smile, a soft twinkle in his eyes.
It seemed he was mindful that not only Azelina but other young ladies were gathered in the same place.
Even knowing this, the sight still felt slightly unfamiliar, and Azelina hesitated.
Clayta, along with the startled Azelina, seemed equally taken aback, and the sly smile that had been on Clayta’s face had disappeared without her noticing.
Of course, the others were just as surprised.
“May glory shine upon the Igretan Empire. Your Majesty, I am honored to see you.”
Clayta and the other young ladies standing beside Azelina finally put on polite expressions and bowed their heads.
Only Azelina remained, staring blankly at Rashid.
After receiving the ladies’ greetings, Rashid slowly approached with a deliberate, unhurried step.
“I had come to speak briefly with Marquis Evangelich, but I did not expect to meet the Empress and the young ladies here.”
Rashid said with a smile.
‘What do you mean “didn’t expect”? You must have known that I had stepped out of the palace for tea at the Marquis Evangelich’s residence.’
Azelina had known Rashid for a long time. She was quite familiar with his personality and habits.
Though Rashid could be unbearably cold and unpleasant when dealing with her, with others he displayed the kind and gentle demeanor befitting an emperor.
To everyone but Azelina, Rashid was humble, kind, and considerate.
Glancing over the drenched Azelina, Rashid continued.
“It would probably be best if the Empress returned at this point.”
He then took Azelina’s wet hand.
Azelina tried to pull her hand away, but the gazes of the others prevented her from doing so.
Rashid gave a slight bow to the ladies who were standing stiffly and then led Azelina away.
Azelina quietly stared at her hand, feeling the warmth of Rashid’s hand layered over hers.
In the past, she had wished that Rashid would miraculously appear to save her whenever she was openly humiliated by others.
And yet… even though that was what she had wanted…
When they left the Marquis Evangelich’s residence, a large carriage adorned with the Igretan Empire’s crest had been waiting.
Although the carriage door opened, Rashid didn’t enter immediately and gave a subtle nod. It seemed he was signaling Azelina to get in first.
Until now, Azelina had never once ridden in a carriage with Rashid.
They had rarely gone out together, and Rashid always instructed her to take a separate carriage.
‘…Who would have imagined we’d ride together in the same carriage?’
Shrugging her shoulders, Azelina got into the carriage. Only then did Rashid follow her inside.
There was a brief silence.
Azelina lifted her head and glanced at Rashid.
“Why were you standing there like an idiot with your dress all wet?”
Rashid asked, looking utterly perplexed. Azelina answered calmly.
“…I slipped.”
“Can the Empress not even walk properly?”
“Someone tripped me.”
At Azelina’s calm reply, Rashid merely moved his lips.
He wanted to say something.
He wanted to tell her that he knew very well that the others had laughed when they saw the Empress fall, though he didn’t know exactly why she had fallen there.
Still, he refrained from speaking, because he felt uneasy thinking even slightly about the selfish and unpleasant Empress.
Instead, Rashid said something else.
“It seems Lady Belicive was playing a prank… Does it feel unfair?”
“….”
“If you were the type to feel wronged by something like this, you shouldn’t have sought the position of Empress in the first place.”
That statement was wrong.
Azelina didn’t feel wronged or angry as she once might have. She knew well that this was entirely her own doing and something she deserved to endure.
Still, she had no capacity left to handle Rashid’s kindness, which had come at this moment. A kindness she had once longed for so desperately.
Azelina realized that this strange kindness—Rashid holding her wet hand—was nothing more than a meticulously staged decoration in front of countless eyes.
In truth, she might have anticipated being abandoned by Rashid even before receiving a single letter.
At some point, all the warmth in the Emperor’s actions had disappeared. No matter how he looked at her, spoke in his sweet voice, or smiled as before, it no longer concealed the absence of genuine warmth.
It was drizzling inside the palace as well.
“Your Majesty, please don’t go out for the next few days. You might catch a cold if you do…”
Iana received the towel Mable had been holding and carefully dried Azelina’s hair, speaking with anxious insistence.
“I’m really fine.”
Azelina replied lightly, smiling as if it were nothing.
“No. Even this morning, you said you were fine, and yet look what happened.”
Iana spoke firmly.
However, Azelina didn’t respond to Iana’s words. She only gave a faint smile, and Iana shook her head in dismay.
“Why are you worrying about me so much?”
“W-Well, it’s because it concerns His Majesty, whom we serve…!”
When Azelina asked, Mable, standing beside her, responded with a tone that said, Why are you asking such things?
Azelina sighed lightly at Mable.
Every time she heard remarks like that, her heart felt heavy. Memories of her past misdeeds toward the maids resurfaced, and a crushing sense of guilt weighed down her entire body.
“By the way, Your Majesty. Who exactly are you planning to give that handkerchief to? Lately, you’ve been holding it all day long.”
When Iana asked, Azelina, focused on her embroidery, answered.
“It’s a gift for Ferris.”
Azelina clearly remembered that Ferris had previously requested just one handkerchief as a gift.
Ferris was the only one who had diligently listened to Azelina’s complaints and soothed her frustrations.
As a token of her gratitude, she thought it would be nice to give him a handkerchief she embroidered herself.
‘Though it might take a while since I’m not very skilled.’
Azelina smiled lightly and returned to her embroidery, but Iana gasped in shock.
“For the Marquis? Why… why…?”
“Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“W-Well, unless it’s for a close young lady or a family member, naturally you should give it to His Majesty…!”
Iana clutched her fists tightly and stomped her feet.
Yet Azelina couldn’t understand why the word naturally was attached to the title “His Majesty.”
Would Rashid truly be pleased if she personally gave him the handkerchief she had embroidered?
Azelina thought for a moment. Naturally, she quickly concluded that he wouldn’t be.
“If I give it as a gift, will His Majesty like it?”
“…I’m not sure if he’ll like it. Still, you are the Emperor’s Empress, so you should think of him first.”
Iana continued to try persuading Azelina, but she remained determined to give the handkerchief to Ferris.
Iana had hoped that Azelina would rest at Selina Palace for even a few days, but feeling stifled, Azelina went out alone to the garden at Rezley Palace.
‘…I hope this doesn’t mean I’ll run into His Majesty again.’
The gardens at Rezley Palace were beautiful—something Azelina hadn’t noticed before, too fixated on seeking Rashid’s affection.
While strolling through the garden, a familiar figure approached from a distance.
“…Hello, Princess Melisina.”
Why were the people she wanted to avoid always nearby? Azelina silently lamented.
“Ah, Empress, Your Majesty. We meet again.”
In hindsight, though Azelina had never spoken with Princess Melisina at length, they had crossed paths at the palace more than once or twice.
Remembering this, Azelina said coldly:
“Seeing you so often, I assumed you were busy with diplomatic matters, but apparently not.”
Melisina hesitated at the openly hostile remark.
She quickly forced a casual smile but could not hide her tension.
“I… just meant that our times for enjoying a walk happen to coincide, Your Majesty.”
Melisina finished speaking and bowed. She then turned to leave with Chief Maid Lia.
It could have seemed trivial.
In the vast palace, they crossed paths frequently. To others, it might have been nothing more than a minor annoyance.
But not to Azelina. She still recalled Melisina’s face watching her as if judging her life, appearing unbidden in her mind.
Clenching her fists repeatedly to divert her attention, she tried to focus elsewhere.
“…Hmm.”
Iana’s worry was not unfounded.
Suddenly, Azelina felt her whole body heat up. Her heart raced, and she struggled to breathe.
Sensing the seriousness, she turned toward the exit of the garden—and there, in the distance, she saw Rashid.
“…Your Majesty?”
She shouldn’t have done it, but before she realized, Azelina had opened her mouth and called out to him.
