Duke Taira had to be satisfied with that small gain. Alexa’s presence could not be called significant just yet, but the longer they lived as husband and wife, the more influence she would inevitably have on him.
That was why Duke Taira had gone to such lengths to maintain the maternal relative faction’s hold on power.
“Is Her Majesty the Empress truly keeping well?”
“Fortunately, she is.”
For just a moment, a brief instant, Enoch’s expression softened in a subtle way.
“Then might my wife and I be permitted to have an audience with Her Majesty the Empress…”
“She has not improved to that degree yet, so it would be best to postpone a meeting.”
Duke Taira was desperate to exert his influence over Alexa.
Enoch saw through that intention clearly, and so he decided to protect Alexa.
“Is there anything further to discuss?”
No one spoke.
“Then that will be all.”
Enoch rose from the throne and disappeared beyond the curtain at the back.
At the same moment, Duke Taira’s expression soured. He made no effort to hide his displeasure with the emperor, regardless of the eyes around him.
“To have my own daughter as empress and still be denied a meeting. What kind of conduct is this?”
At Duke Taira’s words, his faction nodded in unison. They already held more than half the seats in the council.
“And to think how important trade with the East is…”
If trade with the East declined, House Taira would take a significant economic blow. That was precisely why he had tried to revive it by reducing the tariffs, only to fail in plain sight.
“The duke is right. His Majesty is being truly unreasonable.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Theron, a member of Duke Taira’s faction, said.
He too was someone who drew considerable profit from trade with the East.
“There is still room to watch and wait.”
Duke Taira muttered with a meaningful look.
* * *
Having finished the council, Enoch suddenly changed course on his way back to his quarters. The procession following behind came to an abrupt halt.
“Your Majesty…?”
The chamberlain cautiously inquired after Enoch’s intentions. Instead of answering, Enoch turned his steps toward the Empress’s chambers. The quick-witted chamberlain followed behind with the procession.
And then.
Before long, Enoch arrived at the entrance to the Empress’s chambers. The attendant standing guard at the door was greatly flustered and bowed.
“I pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Enoch raised one hand to wave the greeting off.
“The empress?”
When the emperor’s procession sent the Empress’s chambers into a stir, head maid Matilda came out herself.
“I pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“What is the empress doing?”
“Well… that is…”
“It is all right. Tell me.”
Matilda opened her mouth with an awkward expression.
“She has only just risen and finished getting ready.”
It was nearly noon. Anyone who saw might well take issue with the empress being excessively idle.
“The empress does sleep a great deal.”
Yet Enoch, far from reproaching her for it, even wore a faint smile.
The chamberlain, who had served him for a long time, was inwardly quite surprised at the sight. Enoch had always held contempt for idle people.
And yet Alexa seemed to be the exception. It was no wonder he was surprised, given that Enoch never made exceptions for anything.
“She has finished getting ready, you said, so I may go in?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Matilda bent her knees slightly in a curtsy. Enoch strode into the Empress’s chambers. The first thing that caught his eye was Alexa’s platinum hair as she sat perched alone on the sofa.
“I will announce you now.”
“No.”
Enoch brought his index finger to his lips. It was a signal to be quiet. At that, everyone froze in place.
Enoch took the opportunity to creep up silently behind Alexa.
Alexa had braided half her platinum hair and left the other half loose, bringing out her loveliness. Enoch poked her cheek from behind.
“…!”
Alexa startled so badly she could not even scream and shot to her feet. Enoch laughed as though he found it amusing.
“Y, Your Majesty…?”
Alexa turned around, her face full of bewilderment. It was startling enough that Enoch had come without any notice, but for him to play a prank like this was baffling.
“I heard from the head maid that you only just woke up?”
At those words, Alexa’s cheeks flushed.
“Th, that is… because I could not sleep last night and only fell asleep near dawn. I was not trying to be idle at all…”
“You sleep as much as a child. But why could you not sleep?”
There was no hint of reproach in Enoch’s question. Rather, the look in his eyes, as though he found Alexa endearing, was something she was not used to.
“Just… various thoughts…”
The truth was she had lain awake thinking about her relationship with Enoch and what lay ahead, but she could not say that.
“Is something troubling you?”
“Nothing like that.”
At her answer, Enoch nodded. His expression said that was enough.
“Do not let needless thoughts keep you up at night. People grow more sensitive as night falls.”
Alexa nodded.
“I happened to have some free time and stopped by on my way.”
“Yes…”
For a moment, an awkward silence passed between them.
“Is the empress not going to offer me even a cup of tea?”
“Oh, not at all. Matilda, please bring refreshments quickly…”
“There is no need to rush.”
Enoch sat down on the sofa where Alexa had been sitting. Then he gestured with his eyes for Alexa to take a seat as well.
Alexa sat down awkwardly across from him. It was fortunate that she had at least finished getting ready.
Alexa wore almost no makeup, yet her pure beauty showed through. Compared to Empress Dowager Camilla, who was excessive and ornate in everything, the sight was a relief to Enoch’s eyes.
“What were you planning to do today?”
“Nothing in particular… I had not decided.”
In truth, even when Alexa thought to do something, she did not know how far she was permitted to go, so she found it difficult to act freely.
“You are the empress of this empire. So you have full authority to oversee this inner palace.”
“That is… Her Majesty the Empress Dowager…”
“No. By proper custom, now that an empress has come, the empress is the one who oversees and manages the inner palace.”
Enoch said firmly. He wanted to strip Camilla of that authority. He disliked the inner palace growing more and more ornate with every visit, and the incense so strong it gave him a headache.
“I will speak to the Empress Dowager myself, so I would like you to change this inner palace for my sake.”
Alexa wore a single pair of earrings, blue as her own eyes. She wore no other accessories.
Enoch liked that taste of hers. It was pleasing to see her natural beauty brought out without excess.
“This inner palace is yours.”
The sudden granting of such sweeping authority left Alexa unable to hide her bewilderment.
Watching her, Enoch smiled to himself.
“I am not asking you to do anything grand right away. But it is right that you should be the one presiding over the affairs of this inner palace.”
Alexa nodded with some difficulty.
“You have the empress’s seal, so do not forget the authority it carries.”
“Yes…”
“There is no need to rush, however. If there is something you wish to change or something new you wish to bring in, you are free to do so.”
“Yes…”
No particular ideas came to her readily just yet. But knowing she had that authority gave her a peculiar feeling. It was a kind of power the Alexa of the original story had never once glimpsed in her entire life.
“Is there nothing you want to do right now?”
“There is… one thing I would like to ask your permission for.”
“What is it?”
Enoch’s dark eyes lit up.
“I found a kitten under the eaves of the Empress’s chambers. May I keep it?”
Such a modest wish made Enoch smile. The first thing she asked for upon receiving authority over the inner palace was to keep a cat. He found her innocence endearing.
“If that is what you wish, of course.”
“Thank you. I will name the cat… Luna.”
“A fine name.”
Enoch could not recall the last time he had had such a human conversation.
But sitting across from Alexa like this and talking about small things, he could feel his heart growing remarkably at ease.
“You are actually a spirited sort, I think. Are you not?”
“N, no I am not…”
“There is no need to hide it from me. I find lively women perfectly agreeable.”
At those words, Alexa nodded.
In truth, she had been cheerful and lively in her original life. After becoming Alexa, everything had to change, but there were many times she still wanted to act freely, the way she used to.
“Even so, I intend to observe proper decorum as the empress.”
“Decorum is not so important. What truly matters is the heart.”
Enoch’s dark eyes looked at Alexa with a meaningful gaze. When their eyes met, Alexa felt her cheeks grow strangely warm.
“I could accept you even if you were a hopeless handful.”
“You have been teasing me this whole time.”
“Have you only just realized?”
Alexa bit her lip softly. Enoch was watching her with an amused smile.
“But I am in earnest about overseeing the inner palace.”
Now that a true empress had arrived in every sense, it was no longer the Empress Dowager’s place to take the lead.
Above all, Enoch disliked the atmosphere of the inner palace that Camilla had created. The only place where his heart felt at ease was the Empress’s chambers, which carried an elegance without excessive decoration.
“Do everything as you see fit.”
“Is that… truly so?”
“Yes. You may change anything you like, however you wish.”
Alexa nodded, still dazed.
