The Empress (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 16 - The Emperor's New Friend

  Third Person POV
 
  When Adelaide finally back to the capital, she immediately request for a full body massage. She figure that she needs to get her body and mind ready for what is to come. By now, Victor, the emperor would have received the summon for a Supreme Court trial. It's only a matter for time before Victor is-
 
  "Adelaide Tempest- what is wrong with you?! There has never been a need for a trial since I took the throne from my father. What went through your mind when you called for the Supreme Court?!" Victor came barging into the empress room and started yelling. His eyes widen when he saw his wife is enjoying her time being pampered by the palace servants.
 
  "Adelaide! This is not the time for a massage! You need to fix this matter! The former emperor and empress needs proper reason to why-" Victor realised something.
 
  "This is because of your lover, is it?!" Adelaide chuckled.
 
  "It's a good thing you still be able to use your head, my dear husband. And don't worry about the Supreme Court. I'll write a full script for you to follow. All you have to do is sit down and act as the emepror." Victor sighed.
 
  "Adelaide, there's a limit to what you can and cannot do for your lover. Even I knew the limit so why can't you?" Adelaide open her eyes before facing Victor without getting up from the massage table.
 
  "Victor, the Supreme Court is nothing but a group of old geezer pretending to be of value to us. Just trust me. I know what I'm doing. We can just say that the palace doesn't tolerate nobles who thinks they could go over our head. Be a respected emperor for once." Victor gasped at the fact his wife just belittle him in front of the servants.
 
  Even though Victor wants to argue back, he just couldn't find the words to say. Since they were little, he simply couldn't win against Adelaide when it comes to verbal fights.
 
  "I am well respected." Adelaide smiled.
 
  "Sure. Now, is there anything else you wish to say?" Victor took a seat on one of the arm chair and ask,
 
  "I heard you're rebuilding the North using your own fund. Is that true?" Adelaide nodded as she closes her eyes while the maids continue to massage her body.
 
  "Why would you go so far as to use your own money to rebuilding a ruined land?" Adelaide hummed.
 
  "Because I want to see my lover happy? That woman has been doing her best to keep the North afloat while we decided to neglect it and trust those unworthy nobles. It's partly the former emperor and empress  mistake that the people of the North suffers. We have to do something so our name wouldn't be tarnished by their actions." Victor leaned back before sighing hard.
 
  "Empress, if they heard your words, I don't know what sort of expression they might do." Adelaide waved her hand.
 
  "I do not fear them. Anyway, Astoria will be here the day after tomorrow. Why don't you introduce yourself to her. I did my part when you brought your consorts. You should do the same." Victor hummed.
 
  "If I have to be honest, I'm scared of Astoria Aspen. The stories I heard about her from the knights and my father were enough to bring chills down my spine. It doesn't help much when my father compare us." Adelaide chuckled.
 
  "Victor, why would you be scared of a girl way younger than us? Be a man for once. Who know you two might become close friends." Victor couldn't fathom the reason why his wife would even consider he might become friends with her lover.
 
  "Adelaide, aren't you afraid of public opinion?" The empress shake her head no.
 
  "Not really. I mean, I choose to marry you after all. But I am worried about our daugther. I wonder what sort of face she makes when she knew what is happening here." Victor couldn't help but to sigh. As much as he's afraid of his wife, he is more worried about the things his daugther might do.
 
  "Everything should be alright, yes?" Victor just wanted to make sure.
 
  "I guess so." Adelaide said with a sheepish smile. Somehow Victor was not convince at all.
 
 
  A few days later,
 
  Astoria Aspen was walking through the teleportation portal when she felt uneasy for some unknown reason. When she arrived at the palace, she was surprised to see the emperor and a few of his people seems to be waiting for her.
 
  Astoria bow before greeting the emperor.
 
  "Do you have a moment to spare?" Victor asked with a smile.
 
  "Of course, your majesty." Victor dismissed his servants before they went to the glasshouse for a cup of tea. Astoria was confuse to why the emperor was waiting for her but she couldn't say anything as the emepror himself brew the tea they are about to enjoy.
 
  "I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I can't believe the emperor would be the one brewing our refreshment. It is an honor for a lowly knight like me." Victor smiled as he pour Astoria a cup of tea.
 
  "Have you met other emperor who brewed his own tea? This is a secret hobby of mine. The only person who had ever tasted the tea I made was my wife- and you of course. Please enjoy." Astoria nodded.
 
   Somehow she knows where this conversation is going just from a few words utter by the emperor. Astoria was enjoying the aroma of the tea when Victor asked some rather personal question.
 
  "Have you slept with Adelaide?" Astoria looks up at the emepror before shaking her head.
 
  "We shared a bed together. But we never went overboard. After all, who am I to even consider doing such things to the empress." Victor sighed.
 
  "So that's the reason why my wife has been agitated. Have she been seducing you?" Astoria think for a moment.
 
  "Not that I know off." Victor think for a moment.
 
  "Perhaps I asked the wrong question. Did Adelaide ever cooks for you?" Astoria nodded.
 
  "The empress made the best steak I have ever tasted." Victor face palm himself.
 
  "One last question- did Adelaide ever wear only her see-through lingerie to bed?" Astoria hummed before nodding her head. Victor sigh loudly before leaning his head back.
 
  "Woman- how could you be so clueless?! Adelaide has been driving the palace crazy! Being the trial is fast approaching, she's been conquering this place with iron fist. Everything I did seems wrong to her. Since you're here- do something about that, would you? After all, aren't you the lover?" Astoria was speechless.
 
  "I see- so that was her majesty ways of telling me that she's in need of-" Victor raised his hand.
 
  "Before that, your blood is dripping on the floor. What did you do before coming here?" Astoria apologised.
 
  "I guess the wound reopens again as I travelled into the portal. Before coming here, I had to make sure the border is safe while I'm gone. I had a few setbacks while dealing with new species of monsters." Victor eyes widen.
 
  "New species of monsters?!" Astoria nodded.
 
  "My mother is currently investigating the matter as we speak. I guess there will be full report from her soon enough." Victor leaned back to his seat once again.
 
  "How did you do it, countess? How did you manage to get back from hell with your sanity still intact? Anyone who went through what you did would somehow end up in a ditch somewhere." Astoria smiled.
 
  "It would be a lie if I said my sanity doesn't waver at some point. But whenever I think about my mother, the children and the people of the North, I thought to myself, what will happened to them when I'm gone? The knights wouldn't be able to protect the North if their morality are gone. So whatever situation I'm in, I have to survive." Victor ponder for a moment as he drinks his tea.
 
  "Adelaide choose you as her lover for a reason. I guess that woman saw something in you that she thinks it's beneficial for her. You ought to be lucky. The reason why we are husband and wife is because of our lineage and our parents. It's a different case for you. That woman choose you. I can't say I'm not jealous." Astoria bow his head.
 
  "Don't bow your head. If Adelaide saw us like this, she might think I'm trying to offend her lover." Victor chuckled. Astoria look up and started to wonder what is going on.
 
  "Adelaide believe that we could be friends. And because she befriends my consorts, I should do the same with her lover. So countess, do you enjoy hunting?" Astoria nodded.
 
  "Good! We shall go hunting this afternoon. I may look incompetent but I once lead the imperial knights into war as well." Victor smiled.
 
  Astoria has no choice but to obliged.