Chapter 4: EATING ALONE

POINT YOUR SWORD TO ME CHAPTER 4: EATING ALONE

It was very hilarious that after their first night, her husband didn’t even bother eating with her. Although she knew that he was a busy person, he could have at least dined with her since it’s their second day of marriage.

After that, he can leave her alone, neglect her and don’t visit her in her bedroom. She concluded that this marriage was nothing but for pure connections. She also couldn’t believe that she’d start living here as the Empress. 

The Palace was built so well that you would think that you were in a painting because of the aesthetic flowers, amazing design and well-balanced colors within the Palace. She hasn’t toured herself inside the Palace. This day, she planned on touring herself and memorizing each room.

With this thought, she heaved a depressed sigh and closed her eyes. 

“Your Majesty, your hair is done.” 

Leen said behind her. Opening her eyes slowly after Leen’s words, she sighed again and stood up. 

“Your Majesty, aren’t you tired because of last night? You can just ask us to give your food here.” 

Ireane suggested with a bright smile. 

Lyla looked at Lixien. “Yes, Your Majesty, Ireane is right. You can just do so.” She then bowed her head unhurriedly.

Lixien swept her gaze to them and slightly smiled. 

“Is that so? Then, please get my food here, Thea.” 

After hearing Lixien’s words, Thea's face brightened up and grinned. “Yes, Your Majesty!! Will do so, please wait for a moment!” 

Thea dashly went outside with a cute laugh. 

“Your Majesty, if you’re tired because of last night with the Emperor, please rest for the whole day. You should avoid getting sick because people will make an unnecessary fuss.” 

It was a serious remark, but Lixien knew what Lyla meant behind her words. Since she became the Empress, she must avoid getting sick so that everyone wouldn’t need to be busy. Lixien sighed. This must be related to three years ago. She must investigate Lyla’s family background. 

If it has no connections with that, then it must just be because Lyla hated her. Thinking to that point, Lixien looked at Lyla secretly and finally answered her.

“I know. You don’t need to say, but I know what to do. I would like to tour myself in the Palace, and I want you, Lyla, to accompany me.

If Lyla hated her just because she became the Empress, isn’t that so childish? But even so, she should get close to her enemy because enemies should be kept closer. 

Lyla widened her eyes and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. It’d be my honor.” 

Lixien was satisfied and waited for Thea to arrive for her food since she hadn't eaten her fill because of yesterday’s marriage and because she had to stay fit to satisfy the Emperor, but he seemed displeased rather than satisfied.

She remembered the look on his face back when he pushed her away. 

He did push her away, it was careful enough, but what concerned her was the sad look on his face the moment he stopped moving forward. She wasn’t expecting for him to love her, because why would he? But the thing that made her wary was his face when she opened her eyes before he pushed her away. 

He looked very sad, more of a heartbroken expression, not sad. Does he have any lover but didn’t get to become Empress due to her low status or just because he couldn’t get himself to touch her since she was the daughter of a person who planned treason? 

But an Emperor, having a secret affair outside the Palace, how interesting. She curved up her lips and decided to dig up what he was hiding. Or maybe not?

“Your Majesty, here’s your food!”

Thea who almost shouted, said to her and offered her the table with her clean plate on it. 

“Thank you, Thea.” She grinned at Thea. 

“It’s my pleasure, Your Majesty.”

Thea nodded to herself feeling that she got closer to the Empress. 

“Is the food to your liking, Your Majesty?” a voice she hadn’t heard before spoke. It was so soft that it melted Lixien’s heart. How can a person have that very gentle and soft-like voice?!

Lixien looked up and saw Step, the maid who had done nothing but served her quietly. 

“Yes, indeed. The chef is really amazing.” 

Lixien humbly praised. 

“Yes, the chef here was a renowned chef in the past.” Step continued. 

Lixien was a bit surprised. She wasn’t that shocked considering that the Emperor is a tyrant. He must be lacking nothing but… a bit of manners. The Emperor lacks a gentlemanly manner. Well, he looked elegant and fit, but the memories of last night which flushed down to her memory, made her believe that he was mannersless. 

‘Maybe I’m just thinking too much.’

Lixien said to her mind. 

“So, who is working here for many years the most?” 

Lixien got bored of only eating and asked the maids who were standing while remaining in their positions. 

“It’s me, Your Majesty.” Lyla’s voice could be heard.

“Hmm... how old are you now Lyla?”

Lixien pointed at Lyla. Lyla then stepped out. 

“Ah, I am already 29 years old, Your Majesty.” 

Lixien perked up her brows. Lyla is older than her by over a decade, and older than the Emperor, so why does Lyla hate her? Lixien couldn’t relax and sit. So, after eating for a few bites, she pushed the plate away and slowly wiped her mouth with the napkin prepared along with the plate.

“I’m finished.” 

Thea looked at her and was worried. “Your Majesty, but you only ate a mouthful of food? Are you sure that you’re already full?”

“We—”

Before Lixien could finish her words, Lyla meddled in smoothly. 

“Thea, stop asking such things. If the Empress said so, you have no right to question her. Hurry and apologize.”

Lyla gently hit Thea’s shoulder and Thea instantly kneeled, with her head touching the ground. 

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I crossed the line.”

Lixien got even more puzzled. Lyla had these disgusted eyes whenever it met hers, but at the same time, she couldn’t tolerate if she was being asked such unworthy questions. Is Lyla on her side or is she neutral? As expected, life in the Palace has never been easy. 

Lixien averted her gaze to Thea’s bowing head and lifted her hand.

“It’s nothing, Thea. Lyla, you should let her be, she did nothing wrong.” 

Thea had cute eyes and Lixien felt like her heart melted at the sight of Thea acting cute. 

“I am very sorry, Your Majesty. My judgment was wrong.” 

Lyla soon apologized. Not wanting to hear anymore sorry, Lixien stood up. 

“Lyla, let’s start the tour.” 

Lyla slightly flinched and nodded. Before they left their room, Lixien could see the rest of the maids cleaning the sheet with the blood she poured earlier. She felt bad because she lied that they did it. Letting out a sigh before leaving the room, Lixien was surprised to see multiple servants coming here and there, paying respects to her.

She wasn’t accustomed to it but felt rather uncomfortable. She must get away from this uncommon sight unfolding before her eyes. Increasing her pace, Lyla followed behind with her puzzled face. 

‘Why is Her Majesty walking faster?’ 

Everyone knew that the Emperor didn’t share breakfast after his first night with his wife, and it became big news especially to the servants who had nothing interesting to do than gossiping. 

They were murmuring even if they gave their greetings to her politely and kindly. Lixien, who had a good sense, could bizarrely hear what they were talking about. 

(“Hey, do you know? The Emperor shared a passionate night with the Empress, but he didn’t dine with her.”)

(“I told you so. The other maids said that they heard nothing from their bedroom last night, did they pretend that they consummated their first night?”)

(“Well, even if they did, no one knew except for them. But what’s important is that the Emperor seemed to only like her body. Don’t you agree?”)

(“Haha. Yes. I also wouldn’t question if the Emperor only likes her body because an Empress duty is to conceive an heir, that’s all.”)

(“Surely. Some other Empresses were just so shameless to think that an Emperor would love them. Do you think the Empress is like that too?”)

(“Pfft. Of course, who isn’t? How naïve haha. Nevertheless, let’s get this laundry done.”)

After that, Lixien heard nothing at last. Lixien then got stressed. Even if she wasn’t doing anything, the mouths of everyone was faster than a wave. She thought that it was a great skill that they managed to create a new topic to talk about and it was her and the Emperor’s first night, on top of that. 

Lyla led her to the garden first to calm her down. Lyla was aware of the fact that there were many groundless rumors going around. 

“Your Majesty, I know I have no right to say this, but life here is very restricted. You’re not free to do anything you want, and even if you did a good job, many people would still backstab you, and talkback. If you encounter this, please ignore it to not intensify it.”

Lyla reminded her kindly. 

Lixien, who suddenly got curious, asked her. 

“Why are you telling me all of this?”