The Abandoned Empress

Chapter 15

"People who don't know you well will say that you are very rational and cold-hearted, but she doesn't look so in my eyes. She is a very warm person. She puts the importance of the people's lives before her safety, but this makes her unable to give a cold-hearted judgement."

In the past, everyone around me saw me as a very cold and rational person. In their eyes, I was a very strict master to my subordinates, I was a cold-hearted daughter to my father, and I kept up a calm attitude even when I had the status of empress taken from me by Jieun.

The crown prince hated me so much for that. He looked down at me with contempt, calling me a doll-like woman. But now, the emperor said I was a warm person. I've never heard anybody calling me a warm person. I somewhat felt strange about it.

"The emperor must always keep cold-hearted. And above all, he must love himself. Of course, that doesn't mean you should turn a blind ear to the impoverished lives of the people. But you should not choose to sacrifice yourself for some other valuable things."

"... "

"The emperor must lead all the people in this empire. Of course, the absence or change of the emperor does not make the empire disappear, but the empire will be very confused unless there is a normal succession change. If that happens, it's the people who will end up suffering the most. Therefore, the emperor needs to take care of himself more. "

The emperor, who sipped a cup of tea that had already cooled, continued, "What do you think you should do in the same situation as before? If I were you, I would immediately pretend I didn't know. Of course, I wouldn't think you really don't know anything. But there is no direct evidence that you are the direct threat, nobody can harm you."

"..."

"As you know, it takes a long time to implement a policy. If I were you, I would pretend I didn't know, but I would have informed the duke behind my back that there was a sign of famine.

There are lots of ways to do so."

"Ah."

"If you had done so, you could have achieved your goal while ensuring your own safety. Don't you think so?"

"That's right," I replied with a sigh. I never thought there was such a method.

"So, you are not cut out to be the emperor, but an ideal empress. I'm impressed with your warm considerations for the people, your smart brain and warm character. Aren't those the perfect as your qualifications for the next empress? That's why I think it's too regrettable."

"Why?" Veritas cut in carefully.

"You know already. I've done a bad job raising my son."

"What are you talking about, Your Majesty?"

"Well, my son thinks he should be the best in every field as he was elevated as the only successor to my throne. Just because he is in the top position, it doesn't mean he has to be the best in every field. But he doesn't know that. How stupid! If he meets this lady here, how will he react?" He said with a deep sigh.

He continued, "She was raised as his partner, and she has been given a name by God on an equal footing. Besides, she is smart and intelligent. Everyone regards her as the ideal empress. If she is admired so much, how will my arrogant son react? I'm just worried."

"Oh my... "

"So, every time I heard you praising the lady here, I was worried whether she could have a good chemistry with my son. I was even more troubled because I heard she received God's prophecy. And now that I've met her directly, I think my worry was not groundless. Obviously, she is an ideal empress, but she is too much for my son. Besides, if he finds out her middle name means the succession right to the throne... "