Remarried Empress

zoom=1.25&resize=40%2C40&ssl=1 ” class= ”img-responsive ”>“Yes.
There’s no need to thank him.”

He cast a doubtful eye on Rashta.

“You didn’t just give it out of gratitude, did you? Were you threatened?”

“Oh no.
What could Rashta be threatened with?”

“…”

“The rumors about slavery had already spread.
It’s not really like that, Your Majesty.”

She wished she could tell him she was being threatened, but desperation forced her to lie.
If Sovieshu knew that Viscount Roteschu was blackmailing her, Sovieshu would surely punish the viscount, who in turn would tell Sovieshu about the baby and drag Rashta down with him.

“If you say so, then I believe you…”

Sovieshu lowered his eyes and gently placed his hand on Rashta’s cheek.

“If he’s threatening you, Rashta, don’t give him anything and let me know.
Do you understand?”

Rashta nodded quickly.

“I will.”

However, Sovieshu still looked apprehensive.

“That is an order, Rashta.
No, I’d better check every day for now.”

“What?”

“When your allowance payments come in, I’ll leave it to Baron Lant to manage it until you are able to do it yourself.”

Rashta paled.
She could not give Viscount Roteschu money or jewelry if Sovieshu was watching her finances.
And when it came to that…

 ‘No! He’ll spread the story about the baby!’

*

*

*

Wirwol was known as a magical city, but despite its prestige, it was located deep in a mountain valley.
It was surrounded on all sides by mountains, and there were two magnificent buildings on the eastern and western parts of the city.
The magical academy on the eastern side was my stop for today.
I was here to honor the first student admitted from the orphanage I sponsored.

“Congratulations.”

I hugged the girl I met at the dean’s office, and the red-faced child replied in a scarcely audible voice.

“Thank you…”

I was worried because she wouldn’t be able to socialize with her friends when she left the orphanage, but I was proud that she came this far, and hugged and patted her on the back.
She completely froze.
Finally, the girl bowed and left, and the dean of the academy gave a chuckle.

“She is a good girl and has many talents.”

“Yes.
I look forward to it.”

After discussing the child’s sponsorship in more detail, the dean offered to give me a tour of the school.
Wirwol was near the border, but it was still territory of the great Eastern Empire, and so he gave special consideration to me.

“I’m worried because the number of mages these days keeps decreasing.”

“We received a similar report.
Do you know the cause yet?”

“No.
I’ve been researching everywhere, but the rate of magical expression has been going down.”

“The more mages there are, the more can that be recruited into our national defense.”

As we walked along a long stone corridor, I saw a freestanding wall that was not connected to the others.
Hanging on the wall were several portraits.

“These are…”

I walked closed and looked at it, and the dean explained.

“Portraits of the academy’s top graduates.”

Ah, yes.
The most recent portrait was that of Duke Kapmen.
On closer examination, there was also a portrait of the current dean as a young man as well.

But there was something strange.

“Why is this frame empty?”

One portrait bore no image.
I looked at it curiously, and the dean was somewhat flustered as he replied.

“It was left blank because someone who came through the exchange program took the top spot for a while.
They weren’t a regular student.”

“They weren’t from the academy, but they were at the top? That’s fantastic.
Who was it?”

I was surprised to have not heard this achievement.
The dean replied in a quiet voice.

“Prince Heinley of the Western Kingdom.”