Shadow Empress (GirlxGirl) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23 | The Unimaginable

IMPERIAL CONSORT VIRTRA'S POV

"What is going on with the matters in court?" Elpis asked while she looked at me with that intense blue eyes of hers.

"Almost half of the officials and ministers want the second prince to replace Ragnar as the emperor. They deemed Ragnar as incompetent because he chooses his wife rather than the court matters at these dire times." Elpis suddenly laughed.

"Let me guess, empress dowager's brother has something to do with this? Since his daughter got into the palace as the second prince's concubine, he was given the opportunity by the empress dowager to get himself into court matters, am I right?" I nodded. How can she laugh at this?

"So the empress dowager wants to take over the court using his second son while disposing of her useless first son by making him as the incompetent leader. I bet right now the empress dowager, and her brother is trying to get the remaining officials to be on their side." Well, if that happens, we're doom.

"That's okay. I want to see how well both brother and sister planned to do just that. Ragnar was appointed to be the emperor by yours truly. I want to see which officials and ministers whose dumb enough to go against my orders. That way we can just feed them the poison we bought." So that was her solution? It's inhumane, but it's her way of doing things.

"Tell me about what you know about Virtacus." I hate hearing that name. I sighed.

"What's wrong?" Elpis asked. Should I even say it? That I met him a few days before she arrived at the capital?

"Virtra, what happened?" Elpis noticed the changes in my body language.

"I've met him. A few days ago, just outside the capital. He was killing a few of the travelling merchants who betrayed him." Elpis's eyes widen.

"You what?! How can you be so careless?! Did he hurt you?!" I shake my head.

"He said he survived the fatal blow from your sword because the queen of the North saves him from the brink of death. After you left him to die alone, the queen went back to helped him by brought him back to the North Kingdom. For years he took refuge behind the North Kingdom royal palace until five years ago, he finally took the queen as his wife." Elpis listened to me tentatively.

"And now as the king, he wants his revenge against the Empire. For a reason like you took me away from him and destroyed the Faraway Kingdom." Elpis scoffed.

"He destroyed his kingdom by challenging me and lost the bet. He was the one who forced me to destroy your kingdom." I looked up to Elpis.

"But you ordered for the death of my family. I've forgiven you for what you've done to my kingdom and my family but not him. He's coming back to have your head, Elpis." Elpis doesn't care about her safety.

"If that brother of yours wants to have my head, he needs to work on his sword skills. The only reason why I managed to stabbed him years ago because he was too proud of his sword technique. But in reality, he doesn't even know how to defend himself!" Elpis looked up to me.

"The only person who managed to get me on my toes in a duel was you, Virtra. Between you and the Empire's talented fighter, I still can't defeat you when it comes to sword fighting." I smiled.

"But that's not the case, Elpis. The North Kingdom possesses unimaginable power when it comes to protecting their kingdom. I've read your reports about the time when you fought the North. Do you think you can hide anything from me when it comes to your safety? Elpis, I was informed about your injury." Her expression changes.

"You knew?" I nodded. Of course! I am her wife! Of course, I keep tabs on her.

"Your highness, the second princess, is requesting to see you." Huh? That was sudden. Elpis turned to the maid.