The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 16

I should be out looking!
But I'm not.
I'm sitting here in my office and I'm waiting for something, for anything.
I haven't changed out of my wedding ceremony attire yet, and that's the clothes that I pace in, behind my desk.
After I returned to the throne dais, I realized Renata had left. I immediately sent my royal guard to find her, and they were currently searching the whole premises.
"Nothing to report yet, sir." Captain Davey reported to me.
I sighed and leaned over my desk.
"Could she be outside?"
Davey glanced through the window behind me and shuddered.
"With all due respect sir, anyone who is out there is crazy." He stated sharply.
I stared at him.
"Have you even looked in the garden?"
My answer was the pale look on Captain Davey's face.
"Go!" I roared at him and he sprinted out the door.
I slumped into my chair and rubbed my forehead.
Why would she leave the ceremony?
Could it have to do with...
Him?
I shook my head. I only made Lord Grlosbeak make up that lie so Renata would focus more on me and forget about the Northern Ambassador.
Yes, I was selfish.
Yes, I was evil.
But, I had grown up knowing that I would have to fight for what I wanted.
And I wanted her.
Wilcress burst into my office that moment.
"Sir!" He cried.
"She's in the garden!"
I leapt from my chair and lead the way out to the doors where most of the palace staff seemed to have gathered, peering out into the raging storm sympathetically, hoping to catch a glimpse of my wife.
My people watch me nervously as I push past them and run out into the storm.
Immediately, the rain drenches me and soaks me to my bones. Its chilling, and awful to think of how cold it is if Renata had been out here for longer.
I have to find her.
As I push through bushes and sprint by drowned flowers, I try to think of where she could be.
Then it hits me.
The tree.
I change course quickly and race to the big oak tree that towers above everything else, and, as I reach the edge of the clearing, I see her.
My wife is sitting in a small pool of water, her dress grey from water, her makeup washed away, her hair flattened and a dazed look on her face.
"Renata!" I bellow as I drop to my knees beside her.
Lightning flashes behind me as I grip Renata, and wrap my white ceremony jacket around her pale, clammy shoulders.
"Empress, what are you doing?" I yell over the roar of rain.
But she just looks at me blankly.
I scream internally and scoop her up off the wet ground.
Her dress weighs her down as she stares at her hands.
I look around as thunder rumbles at me, laughing at my chaos.
Then, without another glance, I run back to the door, my newlywed wife, limp in my arms.
...
As I sit on the chair, I rub my arms.
What could've caused her to act so rashly?
Did...
Did he tell her?
He must have.
I bury my face in my hands and rub my forehead. Being emperor is chaotic.
I hear the door creak open and the royal doctor step out.
"Your Majesty."
As I look up at him, he wrings his hands and looks nervous.
Why?
"Her Majesty was awfully cold and in shock."
"Why?" I snap at him, unintentionally. "Why is she in shock?"
The old doctor looks at me blankly.
"I'm not sure. But she needs bedrest, fluids and lots of warmth."
As I sigh and thank him, I hear him mumble under his breath as he passes me.
"And love."
My jaw clenches as I stride into Renata's bedchambers. Theyre dark and the rumblung clouds are in a distance out her open balcony windows.
I go to shut them, when I hear her cough.
"Leave them."
My heart leaps and I drop to my knees by her bedside and put a hand on her cold cheek.
"Darling, what were you doing out there?" I whisper. Renata coughs again.
"I...He...."
She erupts into a coughing fit and I wait patiently as she settles back down.
"He said he loves me."
My blood goes as cold as my wife.
That arrogant, selfish, immbecile.
"And he left you out there?"
She turns away from me.
Thats all I need to know.
I get up quickly and kiss her forehead.
"Sleep, my love." I breath as I stride towards the doors.
Fury compels me as I storm down the palace halls, heading to the guest palace where out lovely Northern Ambassador is staying.
I wait for no man to open doors, for no servant to get out of my way as I reach Lord Grlosbeak's quarters. Open goes the door as I raise a foot and kick it open with a bang.
Fedyor Grlosbeak jumps up from his desk and bows.
"Your Majesty, I wasnt expectin-"
I cut him off with a blow to his face. The pale man staggers and slumps down to my feet, feeling his jaw and blood dripping from his mouth. I wait for his attention and he looks up bewildered.
"You couldn't handle a simple task, could you? You had to complicate everything."
Grlosbeak's expression darkens as he gets up.
"I needed her to know."
I laugh and walk a few paces to the window.
"And now shes sickly and cold in her bedchambers!" I cry as I whirl around. "Did you need that too?"
I've hit a nerve.
Grlosbeak seems to sag.
"Sickly?"
I nod. "Sickly. When you left her outside, in shock, she stayed there."
The Nothern Ambassador thinks for a moment. "But there was a storm..." He mutters.
"Yes, there was a storm! And she sat in it for two hours! Because of you!"
The man before me has nothing left. Just hearing about Renata's weakly state has seem to take something away from him.
"Do you want to know what I think?" I growl, marching over to a sword rack on the wall and grabbing one to inspect it.
"I don't think we should stage your death."
I whirl the sword and point it at the Northern Ambassadors pale, blank face.
"Lets make it a reality."