REBOOT SIENNA

Chapter 1: Live To Sienna

“Does His Majesty not consider this child his son!”

Unable to contain her anger, the empress threw a teacup at the marble floor. The teacup collided with it, shattering into pieces. With only that, her unquelling anger wasn’t yet satisfied. She immediately kicked a large ornamental vase, knocking it over. A broken piece rebounded off the floor, scratching the cleaning maid’s cheek. However, Empress Sienna could not afford the leisure of caring about the maid’s wound.

She felt as though the vase was herself. The shattered pieces were the same as her heart, which was bursting with emotional torture.

“I-I can stand him neglecting me. But he cannot do that to Joseph!”

Sienna covered her face hesitantly, sitting down in place. The maiden, Hain, tried to soothe her by cradling her on her shoulders, but it was useless.

Sienna recalled a story told to her by an ignorant woman. The imperial court ladies had been calling her “The Powerless Empress by Title.” Sienna had just smiled a sad smile at those words that described her position exactly. Nevertheless, she desperately wanted her child, Joseph, to not be called ‘The Only by Title’ like herself….

“Joseph, like me, is going to die hoping fruitlessly for Carl’s love.”

At Sienna’s words, Hain patted her on the shoulder.

“What are you talking about, Your Majesty? No matter what anyone says, the Crown Prince is first in the royal line!”

“I’m the first empress and, yet, I’m turning a blind eye to Joseph being treated the same as me… He didn’t even give Joseph a name.”

Hain was about to disagree by saying that it will not be the same for him, but a servant outside informed Her Majesty that the emperor’s stepmother, Queen Arya, had come.

Hain lifted Sienna’s body while Siena struggled to put on a calm expression. If there was anything she’d learned from her years of imperial experience, it was that she shouldn’t easily reveal her feelings.

“Bring her in,” she said in a calm tone.

The door opened, and Arya entered. Her black hair, shining like the night, was rolled up nicely. Though she was a mother, her beauty didn’t lose to Sienna’s. Rather, the elegance and richness of her years overwhelmed Sienna. She looked at the pieces of glass lying on the floor once and said hello.

“I must have come for nothing.”

Sienna blushed at her words. She tried not to reveal her feelings on her face, but failed to do so because of the evidence lying on the floor.

“I’m sorry. I’m afraid the new maid isn’t used to the job…”

The maid, Hain, stepped forward, making excuses for Sienna. Arya looked at Sienna without replying to the maid’s words, “My master should be teaching me a lesson by whipping this servant who has committed a great humiliation towards you, but Empress Sienna seems to have a big heart.”

The queen had once wielded her whip in front of Sienna, stating that she would teach her how to deal with her servants. Sienna didn’t agree with Arya’s disciplinary acts, so instead, she said wearily since she could not afford to argue with her, “I’m still getting the hang of dealing with the people under me. Hain, prepare some tea for the queen, well-dried Milton if possible.”

Afraid of getting whipped like before, Hain prepared the tea and brought it out in a hurry.

Sienna picked up the well-dried Milton flowers with tongs and put them in Arya’s teacup and then hers. She then carefully proceeded to pour an appropriate amount of hot water into the teacup. When the dried petals hit the hot water, they found their own shape, emitting reddish yellow colours.