The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Emperor Cabel sits in his office, stamping documents. Duke Oslo sits across him, scanning over papers.

"Your highness, there's been talk of the Lancaster Kingdom uniting with the Shanti kingdom in rebellion—if candidates are not chosen soon." Duke Oslo places a letter on the desk.
"Marriage talk again?" Emperor Cabel scoffs.
He takes the letter reading it.
"Your highness, why not ask Lady Luna? She was a princess of a wealthy kingdom, has proper manners and is more than intelligent enough to help govern the empire. Regardless of her situation, she's a smart lady who'd do well to help the empire. They can be upset if their princesses aren't chosen, but they can't ruin the relationship with the empire if you choose Lady Luna."
Emperor Cabel sighs, staring at the letter he's thrown on his desk.
"No." He responds coldly.
"P-Pardon?" Duke Oslo stares, surprised by his bluntness, "Your highness, if she won't do as empress I highly doubt you'll find anyone you like, who can become a proper royal."
"There's no evidence she is able to hold that throne."
"She's a neutral person who would understand the citizens in a way nobles can't. She may not have been raised to become an empress, but she's studious and will learn over time."
"Is there a reason you're pushing for her to become empress so hard, or are you just naturally interested in affairs that aren't your own?" Emperor Cabel scoffs, his eyes cautiously scanning the duke's expressions.
"Your highness, I'm your subordinate and the duke of this empire. I know what the empire needs and am merely giving my thoughts."
"It's been years since I rose to the throne without a queen or empress. For me to continue running the empire this way is fine."
Duke Oslo sighs, rubbing his forehead.
"You'll eventually need a successor. It can be a marriage of love or politics, but people would look down upon Cypheler if we never have a mother for the empire, or a future emperor."

Emperor Cabel takes a deep breath, thinking to himself as he leans against his hand.
"Is there a reason you don't wish to marry Lady Luna? You've confessed your feelings, have you not?" Duke Oslo cocks his head.
"I have. I told her that I love her."
Duke Oslo stares at Emperor Cabel, his eyes widened as he looks at him in shock.
"Don't sit there slack jawed." Emperor Cabel scoffs, standing up as he walks over to his liquor cart.
"Forgive me, I just never thought you'd admit it that easily to me."
"Of course. There's a guarantee that a 'rat' won't risk listening to our conversations if you're here."
"Your highness, you're the emperor. I doubt anyone would try to listen to your conversation regardless."
"You would think. Seems I've been too lenient lately though." Emperor Cabel shrugs, his attitude almost uncaring and playful but his eyes sharp and irritated.

Emperor Cabel pours an aged rum into two glasses. He adds a few droplets of water, swirling the glasses before handing Duke Oslo one.
Emperor Cabel smells the rum, taking in the scent before sipping it.
"She hasn't told her feelings to me."
"She hasn't?" Duke Oslo looks at him, confused.
"No... All she mentioned was that she wishes she could have told me her feelings. I assumed she would tell me when we returned from Avris, but now that we've returned, she's grown distant."
"Distant how?"
"She has a troubled expression at times, I don't know what it means and... She's forced herself to ignore her discomfort. Something's wrong but she's hiding it from me. My concern is if she found out about what the other kingdoms have done." Emperor Cabel sighs.
"Ah, those incidents. I doubt she knows, you did a thorough job keeping that in the shadows. I actually spoke with her recently and it seems she did have a lot on her mind."
"Recently?"
"Yes... As you know, after the training incident I brought her to my office and bandaged her up. We talked and I think she may have doubts if your love is... 'Genuine'?."
"How absurd. One time in my life I say 'love' and she dismisses it." Emperor Cabel scoffs, downing the rest of the fine liquor.
"It's not like that, your highness. She knows your love for her, however from the whispers of a candidate being chosen, she seems to understand your position in the empire. I believe she's worried about how your relationship can survive if you must marry another."
"I'll do everything to make it survive then, but I will not risk her life to achieve it."
"Would you tell her the truth one day? The truth could put her to ease."
"Only when I can guarantee her safety. I won't let her live in fear again and when there's still high risks, I can't bring fear back to her after all she's been through."
"I'm surprised you lack confidence in your abilities."
Emperor Cabel closes his eyes. Taking a deep breath in, he wears a solemn smile.
"I barely made it in time—I barely saved her. I have confidence that I'll always prevail on a battlefield, but I can't help question myself when it comes to her. What if an attempt is successful? I need to ensure her safety and clean out the rats of my palace before I involve her."
"I understand..." Duke Oslo nods, sipping his drink as he watches the emperor sit back in his chair, "Have you thought of a plan?"
Glancing at the duke, Emperor Cabel nods—his expression torn as he thinks for a moment.
"I've thought of many... But there's only one that'll keep her safe."
Duke Oslo's brow raises as he stares at the emperor's disheartened expression.