Shadow Empress (GirlxGirl) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 4 | True Feelings

"Your majesty?" Lady Delphine was surprised when Elpis came into her quarters. She was struggling to get up when the empress stopped her from moving too much.

"I'm not that cruel to let a woman who just had a child get up to greet me. Stay on your bed, Delphine." Lady Delphine nodded with a smile. She watches as the empress removed her formal coat and placed them on a table nearby.

"Did you have dinner?" Delphine nodded.

"What about you, your majesty? You seemed a bit tired. It must be a long day at court." Elpis smiled.

"It's normal. Since the war is over, there is a lot of things that need my attention. Enough talking about my day. I would like to spend a night here. Do you mind?" Lady Delphine shake her head no.

"Your majesty. To be honest, I didn't expect you to come to see me. You know, after what I did. But since you're here, I would like to say thank you for letting my child to be born. I'm grateful." Elpis didn't react much when Delphine was thanking her.

"Just remember to never betray me ever again in the future. I might not be that kind-hearted anymore." Lady Delphine nodded.

"About the minister, did any of your sisters told you about his fate?" Lady Delphine nodded.

"Noble consort Grace did come to see me earlier and told me about his punishment. I ..." Elpis was waiting for her concubine to come clean about her feelings.

"I did love him, your majesty. But he's not the man I thought he was. His words tricked me. It felt genuine at the time, and I was weak." Elpis laid next to her concubine.

"So, do you still love him now?" Lady Delphine didn't respond.

"He was such a smooth talker. I didn't even realise that most of my jewellery was gone. It was Sister Celestia who told me that my prized ruby necklace wasn't at the place it should be." Elpis scoffed.

"The minister took my gift that I had bestowed to you? What other things did you find missing from your treasury?" Lady Delphine listed a few more jewellery and priceless gifts that were missing from her collection.

"I see. I will ask the palace guard to ransack his home tomorrow. You don't have to worry about it. I could always reward you more gifts in the future." Elpis smiled. She was getting herself settle in when she realised something.

"Did you and the minister had sex on this bed?" Lady Delphine didn't say anything.

"I'll ask the craftsmen to build you a new ivory and gold bed. We can ask the maid to remove this filthy thing tomorrow. Just thinking about him on this bed made me sick." Lady Delphine apologised for her action.

"Stop apologising. I understand that you against our union in the first place. So it was predicted that you might betray me. Do you know why your parents decided to give you to me instead of my brother?" Lady Delphine nodded.

"Because you hold power in the empire. We cannot question your decision. It also means my father's position in the court shall be higher than the rest." Elpis chuckled.

"You are indeed the prime minister's daughter." Delphine slowly rested her back on the headboard.

"But you didn't promote my father. He still held the position as the prime minister." Elpis nodded.

"That is true. And now your father has the guts to demand more power now that you produced an heir. I should teach that man a lesson or two." Elpis smiled when she saw Lady Delphine's eyes widened.

"What did my father did in court today?" Elpis shrugged.

"He asked to see you in Galatea Palace. But Virtra forbid him from doing so. I have a feeling tomorrow your mother will try to coax the empress dowager. And if she fails, she will ask Sophia for help." Lady Delphine sighed.