Classified (COMPLETED)

File 2, Part 16 - Her Imperial Majesty

Inevitably, the marquess discovered my older sister's pregnancy several weeks after their wedding when she felt too ill and swollen to function. As I feared, the time came for her to consult the royal physician, which meant the possibility of her divulging that my older sister had been pregnant for some time. While the royal physician watched my older sister with much judgment, the former did not reveal anything that could jeopardize the latter. The royal physician announced that Her Imperial Majesty was almost two months pregnant when it had been more than four months.

I assume my older sister took care of this as well. It did seem like she told her physician the truth and bribed her to lie about it in the presence of others.

Naturally, the marquess was elated with the news because that was the second time I saw him smile. Excitedly, he tried to rush to the Great Seer to query if the child was a boy or girl. He did not need to, though, because a guard immediately reported that the Great Seer suddenly fainted in his office. His eyes turned white as he exclaimed the following prediction about the baby:

He shall be an emperor like no other. He shall have a simple and leisurely nature, but one shall not belittle the biting brilliance beneath his character. He shall be the fruit of the most tender love, and he shall be as bewitching as his mother and lovely as his father. The empire shall adore and despise him with equal fervor. However, the secrets behind his character shall forever haunt and ruin this emperor, and the most unconditional love shall be his only savior.

Upon that announcement, the room became dreadfully silent, and it was for a valid reason.

The Great Seer's prophecies are usually shorter than this. The current prophecy being longer than expected insinuates that my older sister's baby with the gardener shall likely be a significant figure. The last time a Great Seer's prophecy for an upcoming royal baby was this long, the king at the time conquered various countries and islands and formed an empire.

Also, based on the prophecy alone, the baby could grow up to be the most beloved emperor or be in constant jeopardy. The latter could most likely be due to his actual father, too.

I gazed at my older sister. I did not think it possible for her to turn paler than she already was, but it happened.

She likely understood the implications of the Great Seer's words.

As for the marquess, bafflement filled his eyes, which made me hold my breath.

The length and content of the prophecy as a whole were perplexing, but I sure hope he does not dwell on the part about the tender love shared between the baby's parents and the loveliness of his father. My older sister is not in love with him, and he is not exactly renowned for his looks. If he discovers anything more, my older sister and her baby would see doom.

Then again, if that happened, I would not take care of it anymore. My older sister would-!

Without warning, the marquess stood up and bowed to my older sister. "Excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty. I will return in a short while."

Before she could inquire why he needed to leave immediately, he bolted out of the room. I did not quite understand why, but I followed him in haste. Our bodyguards and my ladies-in-waiting followed us.

~o~

The marquess sensed my presence because he stopped walking when I almost grasped his shoulder. He turned, and his irises shook slightly.

"What happened, marquess?" I asked, hastily dropping the hand that reached for him and folding it behind me.

I almost forgot my manners, my bad.