Chapter 105: Chapter 13. Bad news

In the evening, after another eventful day at the Imperial Palace, the Empress of the Empire of Rouvens finally had the opportunity to relax. Recently, because of all these unfortunate incidents that have befallen her, the woman’s headaches have resumed with renewed vigor. Because of this, she even had to take sleeping pills regularly to get some sleep.

Apart from the fact that the Empress still had to deal with most of the state affairs due to the emperor’s poor condition, the troubles that arose due to her stepdaughter were also added to this. The Empress’s people were still searching for the duke’s runaway daughter and her brother. But despite the fact that several days have passed, no good news has appeared during this time.

This circumstance unconsciously continued to make the woman more and more nervous. With all this shadow of threat hanging over the imperial family because of Kaena de Ronan, the Empress definitely couldn’t feel at ease without having some kind of trump card up her sleeve.

In other words, the Empress had to get her hands on this girl before the Crown Princess could get her hands on her. Although the mother of the empire’s people actually had no idea why her crazy stepdaughter was so interested in this woman, but in any case, under the current circumstances, Camille de Walt remained the only vulnerable spot that the Empress was going to press if necessary.

«Why haven’t these stupid idiots found her yet...?!» the Empress continued to sigh angrily. She couldn’t believe that it was really so difficult for the best mercenary organization in this empire to capture just one useless girl and her equally useless brother...

The Empress massaged her temples as her head began to ache again due to all these thoughts. A little earlier, the woman had told the servants to leave her, as she wanted to be alone.

However, there was no opportunity for Valencia Gross de Ronan to rest that evening.

Indeed, at this time, when the woman had already managed to add a few transparent drops to her glass in order to go to bed afterward, her evening rest was suddenly disturbed. Without knocking or any warning, a maidservant suddenly burst into her chambers.

«Your Majesty, please...» Out of breath, the maid continued excitedly: «You must proceed to the Emperor’s chambers as soon as possible!»

— what? — Valencia frowned.

She didn’t even have time to think about scolding the servant for her indecent behavior, as the remark of this very servant blocked all her further thoughts.

«His Majesty...?»

The woman was somewhat puzzled by what could be so urgent in the emperor’s palace at such a late hour. Nevertheless, after taking a deep breath in a matter of seconds, the maid continued:

«His Majesty... he... he...» in the end, the girl stammered and could not finish her sentence.

However, the Empress had already risen from her seat. Her expression turned cold.

— I’m going there right now.

Although Valencia wasn’t sure exactly what had happened yet, she guessed it wasn’t something good. And soon the woman’s guess was confirmed. When Valencia entered the emperor’s chambers, the first thing she found were the servants who were kneeling with pale faces. They became even more nervous as soon as they saw the Empress.

— Your Majesty!

— Sir Asheth? What happened? — the Empress did not expect to see an imperial physician in her husband’s chambers at such a time.

A noble-looking man with a gray beard bowed his head in front of her and said in a mournful voice:

— Your Majesty, I’m very sorry. But the emperor’s condition has noticeably worsened this evening...

— .....

The Empress silently proceeded to the emperor’s bedside, where he lay with his eyes closed. Despite the fact that the ruler of the empire had already been bedridden for some time, it seemed to the woman that the emperor really looked paler than usual right now. She wasn’t even sure if she could hear him breathing.

— His Majesty’s strength is running out, — the doctor continued to speak, quietly coming closer, — Despite the fact that His Majesty heroically fought against the disease all this time, but I’m afraid that due to the violation of his mental state, all the symptoms that had been bothering him before have worsened significantly.

— Sir Asheth... What are you trying to say with this? — The Empress asked the doctor in a cracked voice. She turned to him with an icy expression on her face.

Facing her gaze, the healer swallowed and lowered his head.

«I...I’m really worried that His Majesty won’t be able to survive tonight,» the imperial physician finally dared to open his mouth and utter these words.

For a short moment after that, there was silence in the emperor’s chambers.

— I understand you, Sir Ashet, — the woman said coldly. — Please do your best to take care of my spouse.

— Y-yes, of course, Your Majesty!

When the physician bowed to her with alacrity, the Empress left the emperor’s chambers. At this time, as she continued walking down the corridor, one of the close maids caught up with the Empress and complained with concern:

— Your Majesty, I’m so sorry! It’s terrible that such bad news has befallen us today...

«.....»

The woman did not answer, but only sighed softly.

In fact, given the emperor’s recent condition, which had continued to be so for quite some time, the news that the emperor’s condition had deteriorated again should not have come as a surprise. Especially after the recent antics of his eldest daughter, the emperor, whose condition had finally begun to improve, was bedridden again. In other words, the chance that the emperor could ever fully recover was really low.

All the servants and close ministers in the imperial palace could already guess that the «sunrise» of the new Empire’s Sun was just around the corner.

And yet... All this time, the Empress really harbored the hope that her husband would be able to hold on at least until that damned girl was finished. Then, when their daughter, the second princess, finally takes the place that belonged to her by right, and then the future of the empire and the imperial family will definitely remain in safe hands.

«But why... Why has his condition worsened so much right now?!»

Even though the Empress remained cold on the outside, she was filled with anger on the inside. No matter how you look at it, but now that the imperial family was in such a precarious position, the death of the emperor would definitely only add fuel to the fire. If it doesn’t burn everything down.

Continuing to feel nervous about this, the Empress bit her nail.

«Where is Jerica right now?» she asked immediately.

The servant hesitated.

«I heard that Her second Highness went on a mission with a detachment of the imperial army this morning,» she said uncertainly, «so she’s still not in the palace right now.

After listening to the maid’s reply, the Empress only sighed heavily.

«Your Majesty, should I send for the second princess to bring her back to the palace?» she asked.

«Of course,» said the Empress, «don’t you see the state His Majesty is in? I can’t allow my daughter to not even be able to see her father off properly. Do it as soon as possible.

«Y-yes, Your Majesty!»

The maid bowed to her with alacrity and immediately hurried away to carry out the task assigned to her.

At this time, left alone in the dim corridor, the woman clenched her fists tighter. Her mind was in complete chaos right now. The Empress’s own thoughts continued to torment her, and they were not related at all to the current state of her husband. In fact, at the moment, Valencia Gross de Ronan was thinking about something else entirely.

«Kaena... How soon will that bastard show up to get her hands on the throne?!»

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read