The Empress (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 5 - Meeting Empress Adelaide

  Adelaide's POV
 
  Today has been eventful. Luckily consort Lydia and Rosanna received proper education about basic household affairs. I guess Victor chose a proper lady as his consort. Ahhh, I finally get some breather after so long.
 
  "Please excuse me, your majesty. But count Lowenstein wishes to see you now." Huh? Count Lowenstein never requests to see me first. This must be urgent.
 
  "Bring him in." I was getting myself ready to meet the count when I noticed the woman standing behind him.
 
  "Count Lowenstein, it's good to see you again. But who is that person standing behind you?" I leaned back to my seat as the count introduced her as the new lord of Aspen.
 
  "This is Astoria Aspen, your majesty. I apologize for this abrupt manner but the countess has something to say regarding the Northern Territory. And since we have known each other for years, I implored that her majesty be kind enough to forgive our rudeness." For the proud count to lower himself- Astoria Aspen must have done something to earn that honor.
 
  "I will not apprehend you for the rudeness you've shown today. What is happening in the Northern Territory that is so urgent that the lord needs to come here in person." Knowing the Northern's plain, the lady must be here to request for food ration.
 
  It's almost the winter season after all. But does the empire need to spare more than what was agreed upon?
 
  "As the count stated, my name is Astoria Aspen. I am the new lord of Aspen. The reason why I am here in person is because I need the imperial family to properly enthrone me as the lord of the North. In short, I need the imperial family to acknowledge me as the lord." Huh?
 
  "Wait- isn't it hereditary for the heir of the former lord to be the next lord? The imperial family shouldn't interfere with something like that." Lady Astoria stared deep into my soul. Did- did my heart just skip a beat?
 
  "That's normally the case but for me, I have to face many obstacles to be where I am now. It doesn't matter how many monsters you slayed. It's known to everyone in the North that my mother was not of noble blood. Because of that, my father's blood relatives wish to take my place as the rightful heir." I see- so this is a battle of inheritance. But-
 
  "And there's a problem with the will and the acquisition of the former lord as well, your majesty. I've known the late count Aspen for many years and he is not the man everyone depicted him to be. That man would never do those heinous things. It was all rumors spread by those greedy siblings of his." Is that so?
 
  "Do you have proof of this claim, count Lowenstein?" The count shook his head.
 
  "But I know by heart that the former lord will never hurt those demi-humans, let alone selling them to those illegal slave traders." I- I am a bit overwhelmed.
 
  "So the reason why the lady is here is so that the imperial family could recognise her as the new countess? Is that all?" Lady Aspen shakes her head no before kneeling on one knee. I leaned forward to see what she was doing down there.
 
  "Please send help to the Northern Territory. We need all the help we can get before the winter comes. My people are already starving. If this continues, the winter will kill them." The count place a hand on the lady's shoulder.
 
  "It was only recently lady Aspen took charge of the North castle. Before that, the former lord siblings was taking care of it but their action didn't help the Northern Territory. They made it worse." The count explained.
 
  "The commoners are dying because they couldn't afford the high price of coal. The sick were getting sicker because they couldn't find cheap medicine. I wish to help my people, your majesty. And the only person who I could look up upon is the imperial family." I never knew the North was in need of help.
 
  All this time, I turned a blind eye because the North's representative gave me such a perfect report. I was so sure they were faring well. This is partly my fault. I should have known better.
 
  But is it wise of me to interfere with the battle of inheritance? Hmmm- I need some collateral. I can't just blindly help this woman. Ah-
 
  "Are you single, Lady Aspen?" Of course the lady would look at me weirdly.
 
  "Yes I am. What men would like a barbaric woman like me." I smiled. Well, I just thought of something rather interesting.
 
  And since Lady Aspen is a woman, I don't have to worry about getting pregnant or worried about any sexual advances. She's a woman and I am a woman. We should be able to understand each other, right?
 
  Right? Besides, I can use her prowess as a warrior who defeats countless monsters. That woman easily killed a monster. It would be easier for her to end another human being, right?
 
  "I will help you. In return, you have to do something for me." The lady looked up to me with curiosity.
 
  "Be my lover." Both the count and the lady were shocked. Even my butler and Sarah were surprised by what I just said.
 
  "I'm sorry but as you can see, I am a woman, your majesty. I don't have the right genital for-" I raised my hand.
 
  "That's even better. I don't have to worry about getting pregnant or those tedious sexual activities. I need a lover who spend my alone time with." The lady seems confused.
 
  "You mean a friend?" I shake my head no.
 
  "A lover. The emperor permitted me to have a lover and I chose you, Lady- ah wait- I should address you accordingly. I choose you, countess Astoria." The count pinched the bridge of his nose while the lady seemed confused.
 
  I smiled at both my butler and Sarah who were ready to question my sanity. What? I didn't specify the gender of my lover. This could be the start of something much more exciting than being the empress of an empire.