The following day.
Enoch sent word to the Grand Duke of the North requesting the horn of a northern rhinoceros, said to be excellent for purging poison.
Relations with the Grand Duchy of the North had never been particularly good, but the emperor’s willingness to extend his hand first for Alexa’s sake surprised many.
“Is there anything further to discuss?”
Enoch was unusually cold at today’s council.
In truth, he had been that way ever since the empress’s poisoning incident. His cold fury was directed at everything around him.
“With your permission, House Taira would like to take a further hand in finding the culprit behind the poisoning incident.”
Duke Taira stepped forward.
It was a sensitive matter that no one else had dared to raise, but then, this was Duke Taira.
“Do so.”
Enoch, remarkably, shared the same view as Duke Taira.
“Once the culprit is found, we must exterminate their entire clan without fail.”
It was startling to find himself thinking the same thing as Duke Taira.
“So it must be.”
“Yes. On the honor of House Taira, we will find the culprit.”
“I grant it in my name.”
At Enoch’s command, Duke Taira bowed his head with elegant composure.
He too was deeply furious over this poisoning incident. He could not stand by while someone had dared to harm an empress who had come from House Taira.
Watching the exchange, the ministers and nobles could not help but grasp anew just how grave the empress’s poisoning incident truly was.
And that Enoch’s fury was genuine.
* * *
Several days later.
The imperial physician ground down the northern rhinoceros horn and prepared a new medicine.
“Ugh…”
Alexa swallowed a mouthful and grimaced. The previous medicine had already been bitter and astringent and difficult to take, but this one carried a foul smell that made it hard to get down even past her throat.
Just then, Enoch entered the bedchamber.
“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Never mind the formalities. Give the empress her medicine.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Today as well, Enoch sat down at Alexa’s bedside. Alexa sat leaning against the headboard, and the closeness of the distance between them made her heart flutter for no particular reason.
“The northern rhinoceros horn is well known for its power to purge poison. You must drink it all, even if it is difficult.”
Alexa gave a slow nod and finished the rest of the medicine. An expression of suffering crossed her face despite herself.
At that, Enoch drew a handkerchief from inside his coat and wiped the corners of Alexa’s mouth.
His touch was careful and gentle. His dark eyes, unlike those in her nightmare, were full of warmth.
Alexa felt her heart pound wildly at even that small gesture of his. She knew she must not hope, yet she found herself almost resenting Enoch for drawing so close to her like this.
Even in her nightmare, her heart had ached so much. If his attitude changed like this after she recovered, she felt it would make her unbearably sad.
But Enoch, unaware of what lay beneath her surface, put away the handkerchief and reached out to press his hand to Alexa’s forehead.
“No fever.”
He smiled faintly, as though that fact pleased him.
Alexa thought that the sight of him like this felt even more like a dream.
* * *
A fortnight had passed since the poisoning incident.
The imperial physician confirmed that her throat had healed and gave his assessment that she could begin speaking a little at a time.
“Ah…”
Her voice came out slightly hoarse, but there was no pain. Just knowing she could speak again made the frustration that had been weighing on her ease a little.
At that moment, Enoch appeared, as he always did.
“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
The imperial physician and Matilda bowed in unison. Enoch sat down at Alexa’s bedside as he always did.
“I pay my respects… to Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Alexa said softly.
“…!”
Enoch’s face filled with surprise.
“Her Majesty the Empress’s throat has healed, and she may now speak a little at a time.”
At the imperial physician’s words, Enoch made no effort to hide his delight. It was a significant improvement, and truly good news.
“That is genuinely wonderful news.”
Enoch’s joy seemed sincere. At least, that was how it looked to Alexa. Or perhaps that was simply how she wanted to see it.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The imperial physician offered a bow and withdrew.
At that, Enoch drew closer to Alexa where she sat leaning against the headboard.
“Empress, how are you feeling? Does it seem like you are improving?”
“Yes… everyone has looked after me so well, I am much better.”
Alexa’s voice rang out softly and faintly.
Her voice no longer cracked, and it came out calm and clear. That fact made Enoch feel an even greater gladness.
“That is truly good to hear.”
Seeing Enoch’s delight, Alexa grew afraid that her own hope would only grow larger.
You never miss the water till the well runs dry, and if Enoch’s attitude changed, Alexa would feel wretched. Had she not resolved from the very beginning to want nothing from him?
“Your Majesty.”
Alexa looked into Enoch’s eyes.
“I am much better now, so you need not come to the Empress’s chambers any longer.”
Those were not her true feelings.
But she felt she had to draw a line, even like this. She had no desire to hope alone, be disappointed alone, and end up in a miserable state.
“It is only natural for the emperor to visit the Empress’s chambers.”
Enoch felt a slight pang at Alexa’s words pushing him away, but he made an effort not to show it.
“However… Your Majesty must be occupied with a great many affairs of state.”
Alexa spoke with composure, but the sense that she was drawing a line still came through. Whether it was because they were a false couple who had not yet shared a wedding night, or whether it was Alexa’s true feelings, he could not tell.
“Your body has not yet fully recovered, so it puts my mind at ease to come and see for myself.”
Enoch said plainly.
He intended to keep visiting Alexa going forward.
Of course, if they were a true couple, that would be only natural. But their marriage had not been consummated.
Even so, was there any need to hold to such a principle?
“I am… truly fine.”
She had not died from this incident, and now she only needed to rest without worrying about lasting effects. Why was Enoch showing this much concern?
Even though the Enoch of the original story had despised and ignored Alexa’s existence.
“I wish for nothing but the empress’s full recovery.”
Somehow, those words of Enoch’s sounded sincere.
Her mind kept telling her she must not think that way, but Alexa’s heart responded to his low voice.
“I am… deeply grateful.”
Alexa lowered her gaze for no particular reason.
She felt that if she looked at Enoch’s face right now, needless thoughts would come to her again and her heart would grow restless.
* * *
News that the empress had recovered to some degree reached the Empress Dowager’s palace as well.
“That is a relief.”
Camilla said, leisurely blowing out a stream of smoke.
“And it seems His Majesty the Emperor has been visiting the Empress’s chambers every day.”
At those words, Camilla’s eyes opened slightly wider.
The Enoch she knew was an indifferent man who could not be called gentle even in passing. So to hear that he had behaved this way the moment he took an empress was nothing short of surprising.
“The empress was poisoned, and yet she is playing her role well. I thought at first she was only exceptionally beautiful, but to have won Enoch’s heart as well. That is an unexpected gain.”
“Truly so.”
Stella bowed her head as she spoke.
Camilla curled her red lips upward.
“Perhaps this incident has deepened the bond between the two of them. Thinking of it that way, it is not entirely a bad thing.”
Whether Enoch’s feelings were pity or something else, what mattered most to Camilla was the fact that an empress of Taira blood was being treated with regard.
“When is the empress expected to make a full recovery?”
“The imperial physician has reported that she should be able to resume daily life in about a fortnight.”
“Good. That is how it should be. The empress of House Taira cannot be absent for too long.”
“Still, it seems fortunate in the midst of misfortune that this happened after the consummation.”
Camilla nodded.
“If something like this had happened before Enoch had taken any interest in her at all, the situation would have become quite serious.”
House Taira and Camilla had done everything in their power for this imperial marriage. Had that come to pass, it would have been a disaster.
“Indeed. It seems Her Majesty the Empress has heaven’s fortune on her side.”
“Yes… to have captured the emperor’s heart this quickly. She is a remarkable girl.”
Camilla knew well just how heartless Enoch was and how much he disliked House Taira.
And yet it had been an imperial marriage forced through against his will, and Alexa was playing her role better than expected.
“The emperor even set aside his pride and reached out to the North first, did he not? In all my life, I have never seen the emperor behave that way.”
Enoch had a fierce pride. And he was not the sort of man who ever bent to others.
And yet he had been the one to extend his hand to the Grand Duchy for Alexa’s sake.
“I chose the right empress.”
Camilla said with satisfaction.
“Now I need only wait for the empress to make a full recovery. If she can give us an heir before long and add to the strength of House Taira, that would be all the better.”
Stella nodded at those words.
“I am certain it will come to pass.”
Camilla exhaled a thick cloud of smoke with a contented expression.
Whatever the case, the goal had been achieved, and everything else seemed of little consequence.
