Before opening the door, the empress took a deep breath.
She wondered whether she should have come here today. But in the end, all these thoughts were useless because she was already there. Nothing was supposed to happen today.
To calm her nerves, the empress recalled the image of the emperor she had last seen almost a month ago.
"He looked very weak. As if he were on the verge of death."
His hands were shaking and he was coughing incessantly.
All these signs made it obvious that the man who was currently Julia's lawful husband and ruler of the Nadal Empire was very ill and would not live long.
"How can someone so ill still continue to lead the country?" was the obvious thought that crossed many minds. But nevertheless, it was a situation in which no one had a choice.
So, the empress thought that today's meeting would go peacefully.
All she had to do was check on the emperor's current condition, about which the imperial physician had long given a bleak prognosis.
Lost in her thoughts, Julia Ravelia Ashelot finally made up her mind to go in.
Then she opened the door herself and entered.
"......."
Julia quietly entered the room, muffling her footsteps.
The emperor's bedroom was finally in sight, and the man lying on the spacious large bed also appeared before her quite clearly. The scene that unfolded before Julia's eyes was as expected. The man with dishevelled silver hair was so pale that it seemed as if he had long since stopped breathing. Julia decided to touch his hand, and it was cold. So cold that the empress felt goosebumps run down her skin when she touched his hand.
If it weren't for the emperor's faint heartbeat, which was still barely discernible, this man could easily have been mistaken for a corpse who had died long ago and was now simply lying there.
Julia pressed her lips tightly together as she looked at her sick husband in front of her. Finally, she let go of his hand, but painful thoughts still haunted her.
The emperor had not regained consciousness for almost a month since falling into a coma. No one knew if he would ever wake up or be able to think clearly again. Most likely not. Perhaps this circumstance played into their hands in the sense that the emperor still did not know about the death of the crown princess. It so happened that he fell into a coma the day after his last conversation with his daughter and had not regained consciousness.
This gave Julia precious time to think things through. To think about what to do next.
— ......
Julia watched the emperor's motionless face intently. His breathing was still barely audible.
— Huh?
His previously tightly closed eyelids suddenly opened slightly, revealing the golden irises inside. Suddenly awakened, the man looked at the empress with a gaze that seemed to embody all the hatred in the world.
"Oh God!" thought the empress, and her heart sank.
Had the emperor really come to?
Julia breathed heavily, pressing her hands to her chest. Her heart was beating faster than before.
Looking at the empress with a hazy gaze, the man's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something. Julia immediately lowered her head and brought her ears close to his pale lips.
— Your Majesty, what happened? Are you still in pain? Do you need anything? Shall I call a doctor? — she asked anxiously. When she brought her face closer, she saw that his eyelashes were fluttering as if he was trying with all his might to keep his eyes open.
— Yes, tell me. I'm listening.
His lips began to move slightly again. His face was pale and his body limp. Nevertheless, even at that moment, one could still discern the dignity inherent in the imperial family.
— Go away.
The empress blinked several times. It took her a moment to understand the meaning of his words. Julia looked at her husband in confusion, and he repeated:
— Get out of here.
"........"
As soon as the emperor regained consciousness, he lashed out at the empress with harsh words.
Julia almost lost her composure, but tried to control herself.
This man is the emperor. Besides, he is clearly not himself and is seriously ill. She must not get angry with a sick man.
She repeated these phrases to herself diligently, as if memorising them, as a way of controlling her own emotions.
— ....
There was a moment of silence. The Empress of the Nadal Empire took another deep breath.
— Your Majesty, you need absolute rest. The doctor said that you must not be shocked or angry...
— Get out.
His lips, which were cracked, moved and uttered those harsh words again.
Hearing the emperor's words, the empress began to bite her lips. Yes, that was exactly how she had lived her life. Julia clenched her teeth. It wasn't the first or second time she had been treated this way, but she still couldn't remain indifferent. After all, the emperor had always treated her this way since she married him and entered the imperial family.
The empress even felt goosebumps from his consistently harsh treatment, even now, when the emperor was in such a state. How strong was his true hatred for her...?
But on the other hand, it was the attitude she should have expected from the beginning. Julia, who was a low-ranking concubine, had unexpectedly risen to the status of empress for one reason alone. Thus, considering that they had never been truly close to each other, it was foolish to hope that the emperor would treat her well.
— No matter how hard you try, you won't get what you want from me. Don't even dream about it.
Nevertheless, those words still hurt Julia.
— Who told you I want anything?
She noticed the emperor's eyebrows twitch in response to her sharp reply. His eyes widened as he stared at his wife. However, the emperor was unable to continue his speech because at that moment he lost consciousness again. When his golden eyes closed again, the empress struggled with conflicting feelings deep within her soul.
This man... If he ever regained consciousness and learned that the crown princess, the only reason Julia had ever risen to the status of empress, was no longer alive, would he allow her to remain in her position?
They had never been good spouses or good parents to their child. There had also never been any love or understanding between them. For this reason, Julia sincerely doubted that the emperor would be merciful enough to keep a useless empress like her by his side.
"Maybe I should just end it here and now...?" At some point, this frightening thought formed in Julia's mind.
The emperor was unconscious. It would be easy for her to take the pillow lying next to him and cover his face with it... It would all be over very quickly and quietly. That way, at least if she was destined to fall to the very bottom, she would at least take that bastard with her to hell.
The sudden desire that arose in Julia burned even more intensely. The woman thought about how she could really lose control and do it. However... It happened at the moment when she was almost ready to commit such a reckless act.
Suddenly, she felt the presence of a stranger behind her.
— Your Majesty, the Empress.
That voice. Julia recognised it and turned around.
— Chancellor Ardelio, — she said in a trembling voice, — how long have you been here?
Although it was not noticeable on the outside, the empress was indeed very agitated inside. The chancellor's appearance sobered her up, and she completely forgot about the crazy idea that had just crossed her mind.
— Don't worry. I just arrived, — said the official.
Julia frowned.
— Then why didn't I hear anything?
— You must have been too preoccupied with your concerns about the emperor and simply did not hear the door open.
"......."
— Your Majesty, how is the emperor feeling? — he asked anxiously.
— The same as before, — Julia replied grimly.
— Really? — sighed the chancellor. — It is unfortunate that despite all the efforts of the physicians, we still see no improvement in His Majesty's condition.
The empress pressed her lips together, feeling that further conversation with the chancellor was becoming unpleasant for her.
— Chancellor Ardelio, if you have come to visit the emperor, I will leave you alone.
— Why? — he objected suddenly. — I came to see you.
— Me? — Julia asked in confusion.
— Your Majesty, you should not be surprised. Now that the entire imperial court is in such a difficult position, you are our only support.
Nevertheless, the flattering words made no impression on the woman, and she calmly asked:
— And what do you want from me?
However, the government official's next statement was truly unexpected.
— Your Majesty, I am here with the sincere intention of helping you.
The empress looked confused.
— What kind of help are you talking about? — she asked.
He continued:
— As you know, the imperial dynasty is currently in an extremely unstable position. To be more precise, it is under great threat. If we do not find a worthy successor in the near future, we will have no choice but to hand over this country to the northern devil...
Of course, Julia herself was well aware of the current situation in the empire. But she couldn't understand why the chancellor had decided to bring up this topic at this particular moment.
— Why are you telling me this? — frowned the empress.
At that moment, Gregory Ardelio's lips curved into a mysterious smile. He took a step closer to the empress.
— Because I know a way that will allow you not only to retain your current power, but also to increase it.
After his words, the empress seemed even more disconcerted.
— What... What are you talking about? — she asked quickly.
— Your Majesty, the fact is that I recently made an unusual discovery in the imperial city, — the man's smile grew even wider, — It is a remarkable child who was born to become your adopted son.
— A child...?
— Yes, exactly. This child is the key to saving our empire.