When the Crown Falls

Chapter 14 - The voice behind the Crown

TENJI YOUZEI

Spending the entire day in court with nothing but complaints from every person in that suffocating room was all and frustrating.
Replacing every one of them was also not even a choice, but due to what happened to Emi, I barely got any peaceful seconds without another person yelling at me to make amends.

Finally, my steps' echoes reached the halls of the main palace as I eagerly made my way to find the solace of my chambers. However, a few whispers in the usually quiet hallway caught my attention. I turned towards the sound, failing to even notice the furrow of my brows.

The voices grew louder and clearer as I approached a double door, the slight gap beneath it enabled the light from inside to seep out.

The distinct movements of shadows and difference of voices indicated two people inside and I immediately recognized one of them as the palace physician.

It was hard to make out until I heard the word 'empress' rolled off his tight lip. If only the door was slightly open, my curiosity fueled me to know who the other person was.

"My lord, Her Majesty cannot avoid it and neither can we. Once she recovers fully, she will be immediately asked to resume her nightly duties."

I glared at the thought.

Who did they think I am? I am not so heartless to force someone to get into bed with me. I should fire this quack right immediately after the empress's recovery.

Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through my raveling thoughts.

The other man's voice echoed in the room with a warning, "She will not be returning to any duties with His Majesty once she has recovered. Not if it risks her health again."

Ahh...who else but Sujin.

The physician, horribly audible with his miss for words and worry, tried to argue back, "...but I understand your concern, but she is still the empress and it is her duty to-" he paused. "...My lord, we both know well that His Majesty will not sit and let this happen."

There is no way in hell I would. Not after that stunt Sujin pulled on me at the garden.

I supposed that the truth behind the physician's words slowly sank in the atmosphere as the room fell into still silence for a few seconds before Sujin once again disrupted it.

"He will have to deal with it. The empress is in no condition to fulfill such duties, and her health is a priority. If His Majesty does not understand this... then I have no choice but to step in and protect her myself."

The nerve of this traitorous bastard. We've been friends ever since we could talk and he's throwing it away just because of a woman he met not even for over a year! This is clearly treason.

After a moment of hesitation, the physician eventually claimed defeat."...Fine. But be careful, His Majesty isn't known to be lenient when it comes to matters of duty."

Having heard enough, I slid away from the door just as the physician was about to open it.

I marched back to my chambers full of frustration than before and spent the whole night being haunted by their words.