The Empress (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 1 - The Unwanted Empress

  Adelaide's POV
 
  How long has it been since I get to have such leisure to see the sunrise? Normally I would indulge myself with piles of work that my supposedly husband left for me as he commits adultery. That man- even though he was born with everything, he still lacks the act of being a gentleman.
 
  "Your majesty- your breakfast is here."
 
  I turned to face my maid, Sarah.
 
  "I heard commotion outside not long ago. What happened?"
 
  I asked as I sat down on the chair.
 
  "His majesty was caught by the dowager empress in bed with multiple woman."
 
  I see. At this point I'm not even surprise if the emperor gets venereal disease from his adultery with different women every single night. Sarah and the rest of the maids seems to have something in their mind.
 
  "If there's anything you all would like to say, tell me."
 
  Sarah sigh before she mustered up her voice.
 
  "The dowager empress is letting the emepror to take in another wife, your majesty."
 
  Oh- is that so? The old woman must be desperate for the crown to give birth to an heir. After all, I am a useless woman. My last miscarriage forbade me from having any child.
 
  "Good for him. The crown needs an heir after all."
 
  I was cutting my food to bite pieces when Sarah expressed her disappointment.
 
  "How could they do that to you, your majesty. The only reason why you lost your child is because the emperor didn't even care about your well-being. Because of him, you had to suffer!"
 
  I raised my hand when Sarah is getting out of hand.
 
  "Enough, Sarah. What will happened if the emepror closest aide heard you? They will deem you guilty for treason."
 
  Sarah wipes the tears brimming in her eyes before apologise to me. As I was eating my breakfast, the emperor's butler came with a message from the emepror.
 
  "I'm sorry for taking your time, your majesty but I have a message from the emperor. He would like to have lunch with you this afternoon at the Rosalia Garden."
 
  I sigh mentally.
 
  "Of course. But do tell his majesty that this morning I have an important meeting with nobles. Tell him to wait for me if I am late for the luncheon."
 
  The butler nodded before leaving my palace. I have a lot of work to do and now that man wants to have luncheon with me? I can't even turn him down since he's the emperor. I took a few more bites of my food before getting ready for the meeting.
 
  On my way to the grand hall, I couldn't help but to curse the emperor for his negligence. Not only I have my own duty as the empress, I have to take care of this empire all by myself. What's the point of having a husband if he's only there when it's something he deem as fun?
 
  What's the point of me taking care of his duty if he didn't even treat me as his wife? I lost count of how many times I've sigh this morning. When I arrived at the grand hall, the nobles are already here waiting for me. The nobles got up from their seat as I walk towards my seat at the head of the table.
 
  "Good morning, your majesty. How are you today?"
 
  One of the nobles asked as I get to my seat.
 
  "Good. Have a seat gentlemen. Now, where did we left off?"
 
  The meeting started smoothly as Marquis Hamilton informed about his finding while he went out to inspect the town and villages in the empire. I read through his report while he explained to everyone about some alarming increase of illegal dwellers within the empire.
 
  "Is there a better way for us to handle this illegal immigrants? We can't let them take advantage of our lax law just because they want to escape from their land. We ought to take action. If this continues, crime rates will rise and our people will suffer."
 
  I turned to Sarah and tell her to bring me the Map board of the empire. I look through the map while thinking of a way to handle this matter. Should I reach out for our neighbouring kingdom to take better care of their people or should I just-
 
  "Oh-"
 
  I pointed at one spot of land near the border.
 
  "How about we created a village for them here? We can make use of them and tell them to work for us if they want a roof above their head. This particular land are being developed for our agricultural purposes, yes?"
 
  The nobles were surprise by my suggestion.
 
  "Count Mooney, what do you think of this idea? Why not use the immigrants to work for you and helping in developing this land?"
 
  The count was surprise before he laughs.
 
  "Even I couldn't think of such resolution. Your majesty, that's a great idea! With this many immigrants who are willing to work, I'm sure our agricultural project will be done before winter comes this year."
 
  That's good. The meeting continues as several other nobles provide me with their report about their territory. When the meeting adjourned, Sarah told me that the emperor has been waiting for me about an hour. I sighed before immediately went to the emperor palace.
 
  "Adelaide, you're finally here."
 
  When Victor Tempest was a child, he said with face filled with determination that he would bring this empire to its glory the moment he became the emperor. The reason why I think he was a good husband candidate was because of those very words.
 
  But after we got married, this man changed. From a hardworking and exceptional leader to a love sick man that enjoys going to brothels. Even I don't know what went wrong. I didn't realised when did this man changed.
 
  Look at him- what kind of emperor would wear such degrading clothes? He didn't even bother to covered up his chest that is filled with other women love bites while meeting his wife.
 
  "Let's cut to the chase."
 
  Victor said as a maid pouring a cup of tea for me.
 
  "I'm listening."
 
  I reached out to the cup, take a sniffed of its aroma before taking a sip. While I was enjoying my tea, Victor just had to ruin it by saying he's taking a few women into the palace.
 
  "Sure."
 
  I said before placing the cup down.
 
  "Is that all?"
 
  Victor was speechless.
 
  "Wait- that's it?"
 
  I nodded.
 
  "What do you expect me to say?"