Am I the only one who had a faint smile on my lips when I said those words?Sovieshu looked down at me with a half-relieved, half-regretful expression. Was it a charade, or was it sincere?

  Until now, I had been a good colleague and a perfect empress. We had never fought — that is, until he brought her along. He cast me aside for his lover, but until the last moment he’ll want to be a good man and a good emperor.

  Then there was my family and the great church which had approved of our marriage, who insisted that I not step down from the position of empress. He would certainly dislike the idea of going through a tedious divorce trial against both groups.

  He was that sort of man, and that sort of emperor.

  “Your Majesty! This can’t be!”


  Marquis Farang cried out and tried to run towards me, but he was caught by the Emperor’s guards and barred from taking a step further…


  Marquis Farang and Countess Eliza, Sir Artina, my defenders. I am thankful to all of you.

  I cast them a grateful glance then turned to the High Priest.

  “Empress Navier. Do you really agree to this divorce document without any objection?”


  The High Priest had a slightly angry voice. He wanted me to fight and challenge the reason for divorce.

  While the odds of winning the trial were none, it would cause a scandal for the Emperor and his concubine as the people heard the news. That was what the High Priest, my family and my friends wanted.

  I shook my head. A divorce trial may hurt Sovieshu’s reputation, but my name may be scarred as well. It’s not that I had a moral problem, but I was going to remarry the king of another country. Complicating the political situation would only make that more difficult.

  “I accept the divorce.”


  The minister closed his eyes gravely as murmuring broke out into the room.

  “And ask for permission to remarry.”


  The moment I finished speaking, the mood changed completely. The air stilled into a shocked silence and the High Priest’s eyes flew open. Everyone glanced at each other, unsure of what they heard.

  Sovieshu looked at me confusedly, a frown furrowing his brow. The High Priest was in a daze.

  “Empress Navier…remarry?”


  Instead of answering, I stretched out my hand and pointed to one place. As if on cue, a man wearing an embroidered veil that obscured his face burst into pleasant laughter.

  “Do I come up now?”


  The silence was broken by the murmuring of the crowd again. The man walked through the court and stood next to me. When he took off the veil, Sovieshu leapt to his feet.

  “Navier! That man–”


  “Is the one I will marry.”


  The High Priest’s eyes looked hollow. I smiled and turned the man beside me. He looked at me as if to say, “You expected this reaction, didn’t you?”


  Somehow I had a pleasant feeling. Even though it wasn’t revenge I desired.

  In the midst of this all, Heinley and I were the only ones that looked happy. The buzzing of the crowd only grew at the surprise appearance of the King of the West. Sovieshu’s jaw dropped open, and Rashta let out a cry.

  “It can’t be!”


  She looked no less stunned. For some reason, she was looking between Heinley and Duke Elgy, but not Sovieshu. Duke Elgy was acting surprised as well, even though he knew Heinley was here.

  The High Priest cleared his throat several times, still looking astonished. After a moment, he spoke to me again.

  “Empress Navier, is this true? Prince—no, King Heinley, do you truly mean this?”


  Heinley replied before I had a chance to.

  “Yes, I wish to have Navier the Emp-…Navier, to be my queen.

  Sovieshu scoffed.

  “What are you doing in another country?”


  Heinley kept his tone level as he turned to Sovieshu.

  “Proposing.”


  It was a clear attempt to provoke Sovieshu, and the High Priest frowned at Heinley in warning.

  “King Heinley ”


  Heinley quickly made himself look pure and pitiful, and he pleaded to the High Priest.

  “Your Grace. I will come back in an official capacity later, but if I miss this opportunity now, then it will be too late. This is sudden, I know, but please consider it and grant your approval.”


  I held my breath as I waited for the High Priest’s decision. I expected him to grant permission, but the situation around me felt so fragile. Sovieshu cut in with a dangerously low voice.

  “High Priest. It is clearly illegal for King Heinley to attend this court without permission.”


  The High Priest looked at me in silence, and I stared straight back at him. He seemed to ask, Was this your idea? I couldn’t know for sure if he was saying that, but I nodded.

  At that moment, my heart seemed to stop. Would the High Priest say no? The old man’s mouth opened to speak, and I swallowed dryly. I felt Heinley touch my palm, and I gripped his hand as if I were clinging for dear life. The High Priest’s gaze fell on our intertwined fingers, and it appeared then that he made his decision.

  “I approve the remarriage of Navier to King Heinley.”


  His voice seemed to pierce my chest. Similarly, Heinley exhaled as if he had been holding his breath. He, too, was worried that the High Priest would not give us his approval.

  Heinley turned to face me, and he gave me a smile that was as bright as sunshine. He had no hesitation in displaying his feelings in front of everyone. I awkwardly tilted my mouth upwards, when I caught sight of Sovieshu. He looked like he had been struck in the back of the head. His mouth opened to say something, but then the High Priest raised his hand to address the whole room.

  “The divorce court is over.”


  After he declared the meeting closed, he looked at me and Heinley and told us to approach. It was only a few steps, but we walked side-by-side together. This was just like the first time when I exchanged wedding vows, with the High Priest there, the platform…but this time, the man beside me was different. I wondered if the High Priest was thinking the same thing.

  He gave us a rueful smile and recited a phrase congratulating us as a newly married couple. However, it wasn’t with the same joy as the first time he said those words to me. Although he allowed this marriage, he seemed confused and displeased about the unexpected outcome.

  “Your Grace. Thank you.”


  Heinley smiled and bowed upon receiving his blessing.

  “I will hold a proper ceremony later and invite you.”


  “…I have already given my approval, so there is no need. I am busy, so don’t call me a second time.”


  The High Priest spoke in a curt tone, and then turned to me with a complicated expression.

  “Empress Navier. No, Queen Navier. I approved this request because I believed in you since your childhood. This will not be an easy road.”


  “Thank you, High Priest.”


  He looked back at Heinley again and offered his final words of advice.

  “Host a grand wedding and invite many people. When you leave, go out proudly.”


  “Thank you. I will certainly invite you to the wedding.”


  “I’m busy.”


  The High Priest repeated his excuse, and then glanced behind him. Sovieshu was standing there, looking like a volcano ready to explode at any moment. Rashta was still staring between Duke Elgy and Heinley, her usual smile was completely wiped from her face. Sovieshu’s face and fists were red with anger. Our eyes met.

  “…”


  “…”


  We stared at each other without a word. I couldn’t think of anything to say. It was too noisy here. Although I stood at the center of the incident, I felt as calm as if I were in the eye of a hurricane.

  Meanwhile, Sovieshu’s dark, coal eyes glittered in fury. As soon as the High Priest wiped the sweat off his brow and stepped aside, Sovieshu approached me slowly.