Chapter twenty-one

The next day Empress Cassiopeia found herself buried in papers.

The pounding headache that the sleepless night brought could not be soothed even with medical tea.

Lord Neus revised all her documents to make sure she made no mistakes. It was not his duty, but her education was lacking practice.

Three knocks on the door, a pause and a fourth knock. "Lord Chamberlain, please come in."

He entered with many documents. "Greetings to the glistening flower of this Empire, Empress Cassiopeia Dorothea Saol I. I have come to talk to You about some rising issues."

"Do tell me."

"Five noble houses and three commoners have asked for an appeal in their trial."

She nodded. The Lord Chamberlain was the head judge of the Empire, and he ruled over the five ministries: commerce, family, public disturbances, violent crimes and theft, public institutions.

Each ministry had three judges, of which one operated in the capital and two constantly traveled throughout the Empire to administer justice.

The first grade of appeal was the Lord Chamberlain, while the second grade of appeal was the Ruler, now Empress Cassiopeia.

Lord Chamberlain could not refuse an appeal, while the Ruler could deny a third trial. It would still displease public opinion if the Empress refused, especially if she refuted the nobles.

"So I need to oversee eight trials?"

"Precisely, although... Denegatio legis is not recommended, You could still apply it, at least for the commoners."

"It's quite alright, I don't mind it, although I'll have to postpone my work."

"Very well. Could You please indicate a date for each trial?" He placed the pile of paperwork on her desk.

She skimmed through the documents.

"Usually the Emperor never took less then a year to accept a trial, so Your Highness can-"

"I'll begin with the succession case of Lord Zephyr."

"Is it Lady Claudette's husband?" Asked Lord Neus.

Before his brother, the Lord Chamberlain, could reprimand him for interrupting the Empress, she replied.

"No. It's Lady Claudette's cousin on her father's side."

"How confusing."

"Wait until you discover that there are three Lord Zephyr." Replied Lord Chamberlain.

"Who's the third?"

"His twin, the one he is fighting against. He claims to be born first, yet he was not appointed as the successor in the will."

"Was he not supposed to become a priest?" Asked the Empress.

"He was. Now I suppose it was just a way to get him out of the family line." Replied Lord Chancellor.

She hummed. "Lord Neus, would you be as kind as to write a letter to Lady Claudette?"

The aide, who had mastered her handwriting, nodded.

"Dear Lady Claudette Zephyr... Meet me for tea... At five o'clock in the evening tomorrow. Warmest regards, Your dear friend."

He quickly wrote it all down, before placing it in the tray containing all the letters he wrote that day.

Someone knocked on the door. "Come in."

"Your Highness, Lord Wolfgang has come to visit You." Announced a guard.

"Let him in." She turned around to Lord Chamberlain. "The trial will be the first day of the next week. Communicate it to the parties." She then turned to Lord Neus. "Go send those envelopes and notify the maids of my private tea tomorrow. Go have lunch afterwards and do not come back before three o'clock. Enjoy your break, you have been working hard."

"Thank You, Your Highness."

The two men gave their final greetings and left the room.

"Welcome in. What can I do for you?"

"Greetings, Your Highness."

She smiled, waiting for him to continue.

"I have received Your gift-t, the brown poodle."

"I see. How do you like it?" It was frequent for nobles to own the finest types of dogs, after all.

"He is a great company, and the servants have warmed up to me, now that I have him. Thank You."

"That is good to hear." She refrained from making any remarks in the similarity between the boy and the dog.

"I was wondering if You would like to take a stroll with me and little Lucy." Lucy was the name of the dog, she discovered.

"I would love to."

After getting up from her seat, she asked a maid for her parasol.

...

Arm in arm, the two were peacefully strolling through the palace gardens, when a question popped up in the Empress' mind.

"How are the other concubinus?"

"In what way, Your Highness?" He adjusted the parasol he was using to shade her from sunlight.

"What's your opinion on them? How is living under the same roof as them?"

He chuckled, "we don't really have many occasions to meet. Not one of us dines in the dining room, and we all have our own chambers..."

She nodded.

"I met Lord Asher and Lord Dorkas in the palace library."

"What did you think of them?"

"I only saw Lord Dorkas passing by, so I could not judge his character."

"Mh-mh."

"I exchanged a couple of pleasant greetings with Lord Asher. We both reached for the same book. I almost could not believe the coincidence."

She chuckled, "like a romance."

"Y-Your Highness, p-please!"

She laughed at his flustered face.

"Anyhow... He seemed to be well versed in etiquette."

"What else?"

"Not much. The half elf has arrived only this morning, and the prince has not left his room as far as I know."

"I see. No one is bothering you, correct?"

"Why would anyone do so, Your Highness?"

Oh, so naive. "No reason." Her smile betrayed her worries. Him and Lord Asher seemed to her the easiest targets, and she feared someone hurting them to get to her.

"I would like to visit the capital without my aide, if possible." He asked her, out of the blue.

Lucy the poodle quietly barked at him, as to express Her Highness' quizzical look.

"I do not want to disturb him."

"It is not a disturbance to do his job."

"I see."

"If... You need to acquire something without him knowing, or if you want to meet someone, you can always find a way to abandon him."

"Your Highness, are You insinuating that I am involved in an affair?"

She raised her eyebrows, as to ask him "why not?".

"No, I am not."

"I'm sorry if I offended you."

"It is not me that You have offended, rather Yourself."

"How so?"

"I am Your husband, Your Highness."

"I have other husbands. I will not condemn you for having a lover."

"Your Highness, should I take it as a compliment that You believe my social skills to be so refined that I could convince a Lady to be my lover in less than a month?"

She chuckled, "you should work on self confidence."

"It is objective, Your Highness."

"Well, that plays in my favour then."

He blushed and covered his face with one hand.

"It is You, Your Highness, that has many lovers."

Her laughter was contagious, and he couldn't help but smile.

If only he knew that she was yet to give her first kiss.