“Does His Majesty not consider this child his son!”

Unable to contain her anger, the empress threw a teacup at the marble floor. The teacup collided with it, shattering into pieces. With only that, her unquelling anger wasn’t yet satisfied. She immediately kicked a large ornamental vase, knocking it over. A broken piece rebounded off the floor, scratching the cleaning maid’s cheek. However, Empress Sienna could not afford the leisure of caring about the maid’s wound.

She felt as though the vase was herself. The shattered pieces were the same as her heart, which was bursting with emotional torture.

“I-I can stand him neglecting me. But he cannot do that to Joseph!”

Sienna covered her face hesitantly, sitting down in place. The maiden, Hain, tried to soothe her by cradling her on her shoulders, but it was useless.

Sienna recalled a story told to her by an ignorant woman. The imperial court ladies had been calling her “The Powerless Empress by Title.” Sienna had just smiled a sad smile at those words that described her position exactly. Nevertheless, she desperately wanted her child, Joseph, to not be called ‘The Only by Title’ like herself….

“Joseph, like me, is going to die hoping fruitlessly for Carl’s love.”

At Sienna’s words, Hain patted her on the shoulder.

“What are you talking about, Your Majesty? No matter what anyone says, the Crown Prince is first in the royal line!”

“I’m the first empress and, yet, I’m turning a blind eye to Joseph being treated the same as me… He didn’t even give Joseph a name.”

Hain was about to disagree by saying that it will not be the same for him, but a servant outside informed Her Majesty that the emperor’s stepmother, Queen Arya, had come.

Hain lifted Sienna’s body while Siena struggled to put on a calm expression. If there was anything she’d learned from her years of imperial experience, it was that she shouldn’t easily reveal her feelings.

“Bring her in,” she said in a calm tone.

The door opened, and Arya entered. Her black hair, shining like the night, was rolled up nicely. Though she was a mother, her beauty didn’t lose to Sienna’s. Rather, the elegance and richness of her years overwhelmed Sienna. She looked at the pieces of glass lying on the floor once and said hello.

“I must have come for nothing.”

Sienna blushed at her words. She tried not to reveal her feelings on her face, but failed to do so because of the evidence lying on the floor.

“I’m sorry. I’m afraid the new maid isn’t used to the job…”

The maid, Hain, stepped forward, making excuses for Sienna. Arya looked at Sienna without replying to the maid’s words, “My master should be teaching me a lesson by whipping this servant who has committed a great humiliation towards you, but Empress Sienna seems to have a big heart.”

The queen had once wielded her whip in front of Sienna, stating that she would teach her how to deal with her servants. Sienna didn’t agree with Arya’s disciplinary acts, so instead, she said wearily since she could not afford to argue with her, “I’m still getting the hang of dealing with the people under me. Hain, prepare some tea for the queen, well-dried Milton if possible.”

Afraid of getting whipped like before, Hain prepared the tea and brought it out in a hurry.

Sienna picked up the well-dried Milton flowers with tongs and put them in Arya’s teacup and then hers. She then carefully proceeded to pour an appropriate amount of hot water into the teacup. When the dried petals hit the hot water, they found their own shape, emitting reddish yellow colours.

“The scent of the tea is good. The production of our tea has gotten much better.”

Despite Arya’s praise, Sienna didn’t answer her. Instead, she stared blankly at the teacup. She wasn’t in a good mood because the petals, which were turning yellow, were reflecting and mocking her jealousy and her lingering feelings.

Arya looked at Sienna, who hadn’t answered, and said, “Has Empress Sienna heard about Queen Bluebell’s pregnancy?”

Sienna worked hard to straighten out her frown. By looking at the pieces of glass lying on the floor, it seemed as though Sienna had already heard the news, but what was it that was keeping her from revealing that truth?

“I’ve heard the news. It’s a blessing for the Imperial Family.”

“Then, do you know the story? There are rumors that the baby in Bluebell’s belly may be a boy. The Head of the Family, who was accompanied by a doctor, had a bright expression on his way back.”

“Yes, that is so…”

Sienna already knew of the news. The fact that Carl had given Bluebell a necklace that had been handed down only to the empress who bore a son meant that the child she was carrying was a boy.

She looked at Sienna’s hardened face and felt bad for her. However, Sienna wondered if she was very pleased by the situation because Arya’s black eyes were shining like those of a predator who had snatched up food.

Sienna tried her best to console herself by distracting herself, saying that everything in sight seemed negative.

Arya continued to talk.

“The Empress Sienna and the Imperial… Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know the name of the prince yet, so I don’t know what to call him…”

At Arya’s words, Sienna blushed.

The name was Joseph, which meant “The Loved One.” That was the name of the child, and it was a name filled with her well wishes.

“…It’s Joseph.”

Sienna blushed with embarrassment while saying the child’s name.

“You’re using the name’s old meaning for a loved one. It’s a very good name. Anyway, considering the news about Queen Bluebell and the sapphire necklace she received, it’s a pity for Empress Sienna and Prince Joseph. The Crown Prince’s position was taken away by the Queen Bluebell’s child.”

Sienna’s expression hardened at her words.

“It is natural for the Bluebell’s baby to succeed Carl.”

Joseph had yet to see the light of the world despite being the eldest son.

“The first prince in line for the Laifsden Empire was Joseph. It’s natural that the the next heir should be Joseph, the eldest son.”

“You really think so?” Arya asked.

Looking at Arya’s face full of derision, Sienna grabbed her skirt with trembling hands. She tried hard to keep a calm face, but her face was distorted.

“As the empress knows, Laifsden has long chosen its successor to choice and good fortune, not through the inheritance of the eldest son.”

“And yet…”

“The Emperor requested a sapphire necklace, the Royal Gazette, as soon as he heard of Bluebell’s pregnancy. It’s a gift that has always been given when an empress produces a Crown Prince.”

“That’s….”

“The necklace was supposedly called ‘The Mother of the Emperor’ back in the day. The Emperor passed the necklace down to Queen Bluebell. You know what that means.”

“…”

Sienna bit her lower lip at her words. Who didn’t know that? It was something you knew but couldn’t do anything about.

“The life of a prince who cannot be emperor… I think you know what it means even if I don’t explain it to you.”

At Arya’s words, Sienna’s eyes clouded over, forcing her to endure her desire to cry. Carl, the current emperor, had also lived through that type of hardship. Even if he wasn’t that now, the miserable words of the prince-who-had-not-been-loved-by-the-emperor could be found easily throughout history.

Joseph was Sienna’s child, and she had no political power. Sienna bowed in despair as she thought of the difficulties ahead. Tears filled her eyes, falling down her face.

‘If I hadn’t fallen in love with you that day, if I had answered your request to divorce me on the day we met for the first time after our marriage, I wouldn’t feel so miserable… No, it’s certainly less than Joseph, who has lived a miserable life…’

Sienna recalled the time when she met Carl at her eighteenth-year ceremony.

At the coming-of-age banquet, he was leaning against the wall of the banquet hall. Even in the corner, he had stood out.

The golden hair that glistened like sunlight had caught her eyes first. The olive-colored eyes, in the eyes of many women, had contained nothing, as if indifferent.

Sienna had thought she would only have him in her eyes. It was definitely the moment she thought she had fallen in love with her destined love.

That was why she had happily accepted the offer from Queen Arya, who had asked her to be Carl’s princess.

It was not because she longed for a splendid royal life, nor did she want to sit in the best position as a woman. She had just wanted to stand by Carl and be in his heart. Sienna had thought he could also hear the bells of fate within himself.

But whether she had been cursed by the Goddess of Fate, those were Sienna’s one-sided feelings. Sienna, a peasant who had grown up in a corner of the North, had only found out after that wedding that Carl had already had a fiancée, and that their marriage had been nothing more than a political maneuver.

Sienna had looked back on it hundreds, thousands of times.

‘If I had known in advance that there was a fiancé named Bluebell beside Carl, would I have refused to marry him if I had known that it was just a political move? And would I have been hated by him for being hostile to Arya?’

Knowing that she could never go back to that time, Sienna would ask herself that over and over, but the answer was always no. Even if she could’ve gone back to that time, Sienna would’ve still chosen to marry him.

‘I may have lacked in effort. If I’d done better… If only I had tried harder than I did to get closer and gain his trust when he tried to distance himself…’ Even if she hadn’t gotten his whole heart and mind, wouldn’t she have been able to get a little piece of that person? Couldn’t she have seen at least a piece of his true smile?

Sienna still hadn’t given up her lingering feelings for Carl.

‘Why am I…’ Wouldn’t she think that she could be loved since she had Carl’s child?

She was troubled by the grief of the crown, thinking about the unfortunate life Joseph would face because of her lingering feelings and obsession. She could hardly bear her cry even though she knew that she had Queen Arya in front of her and that bursting into tears in front of others was an act that would damage the dignity of the Imperial Family.

“Empress Sienna,” Arya sang her name affectionately and moved to her side. Then, she grabbed the tip of Sienna’s chin with her hand and made Sienna look at her. She spoke in a friendly manner, wiping away the tears that covered Sienna’s cheeks with a purple silk handkerchief. “What are tears? I’ve told you before that the person sitting at the seat of the empress doesn’t cry easily. Instead of tears, you have to smile and figure out how to admonish the person who has embarrassed you.”

Even though she seemed to chastise Sienna, who was shedding tears, her voice was very friendly.

Because of this, Sienna could not keep Arya away. The more she relied on her, the more she knew Carl would hate her, but she was the only one who cared about Sienna in that palace where no one cared about her.

Arya smiled softly and said to Sienna, “If you do me a favor, I promise I’ll make Prince Joseph the next emperor.”

Queen Arya gave her a confident smile, but Sienna stared at her blankly. Her words did not sound like an offer to make Joseph emperor, but one to make him Carl’s favorite.

‘You’re going to make Joseph loved by Carl instead of resented by him?’

Arya’s words seemed more absurd than the story of the extinct dragon falling to the ground with the moon. Nevertheless, Sienna just wanted to believe what she had said.

“By what…”

“It’s very simple. Will you listen?”

Sienna nodded, captivated by the words of the queen. She would nod her head even if the devil had asked, let alone Queen Arya. If Joseph couldn’t live the life his title awarded him to live…

“I’m going to prepare a dance for Prince Joseph’s birth banquet. If the Emperor asks about him, please tell her that Empress Sienna called them in person to celebrate the birthday of Prince Joseph. I’m sure it will be a big present for Prince Joseph.”

How could Joseph be made the next emperor by her simply accepting a small request? But Sienna nodded blankly, without asking Arya anything further.

“Also, if the Emperor asks about a large box placed between the dancers, tell him it’s a cradle prepared for Prince Joseph by Prince Waters, Empress Sienna’s father.”

That day, the Empress’ eyes felt like those of a venomous snake, but Sienna worked hard to dispel that idea from her head. Arya was the woman who always patched up the wounds Sienna received because of Carl, who didn’t know her mind. Sienna had to trust her.

*

Prince Joseph’s birthday banquet was arranged smoothly. Sienna chose a blue dress embroidered with lilies.

“Would a white pearl necklace be good? Or do you want a red necklace?”

The handmaid, Hain, said, alternating necklaces around Sienna’s neck.

“The pearl necklace looks sweet and innocent, and the red necklace will be provocative and attractive because it blends with the empress’ red hair. Which do you like better?”

Sienna gave no answer to Hain’s question.

‘It doesn’t matter what kind of necklace I wear…. He won’t look at me no matter what I do, so what do I need a necklace for?’

Sienna looked at herself beyond the mirror. The reflection was beautiful. It showed her curving red hair flowing down to her shoulders and her eyes shining green. On the back of her nose were a pale freckles that made her look alive like the sun, but perhaps more subdued and clean than normal because Hain had carefully covered them with powder.

But Sienna couldn’t see herself in the mirror. A blue-eyed bird with no other color at all might look beautiful, but within it, was only despair and resignation.

“There was a time when these eyes contained hope…’

There was a time when Sienna had hoped that if she tried, she would be able to approach Carl. But when she tried getting closer to him, all she got was cynicism and disdain.

No matter how hopeful she was, if she continued to fail, she would turn hopeless and become afraid of even standing up. That was what had happened to Sienna. She was tired and afraid of being laughed at and hated by Carl. She thought she’d rather stay in that palace room as she did not want to be seen by him.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the Crown Prince is entering.”

At Hain’s words, Sienna nodded.

But now, she was the mother of a child. No matter how hurt she had been by Carl, she wanted to be able to give Joseph a happy life. Yet, that did nothing to rid her of her tears of despair.

Hain brought Joseph, who had been handed over by the nanny, to Sienna. The child was so small and lovely that it felt strange to see him breathing. Every time Joseph breathed with that little nose of his, his palms twitched.

“Hain, I’ll hold Joseph.”

“The dress will crumple.”

“The main focus today is Joseph. I’m sure no one cares about my crumpled dress, my necklace or anything.”

“But…”

Hain had a worried look. She was also well aware that the empress she was serving did not receive the attention of the emperor. In a way, she felt more sensitive to it than Sienna.

“Come on, Hain!”

Hain nodded and handed the child to Sienna’s bosom. Sienna held Joseph, who was wrapped in red robes, in her arms. The child grinned, reaching out to her when he recognized his mother. The olive-colored eyes, which resembled Carl’s, glistened.

Hain said, “He seems to recognize Your Empress because he is so intelligent. I am saying so because as soon as Her Highness cradled her grandson, he smiled at Your Empress.”

“That’s right. What an astute child…”

Sienna was moved to tears as the child, who looked like her beloved Carl, had to grow up in the shadow of the Emperor. She said, holding back her tears.

“Hain, I won’t do the necklace, but could you bring me the most spectacular, out-of-the ordinary gangbo, please? Today’s focus is Joseph, so I hope this child shines most of all at the banquet.”

(Gangbo definition: Swaddling clothes or baby quilt.)

“You should shine like the Empress, Mother of the Crown Prince. In my thoughts, I think the pearl necklace looks better…”

“Hain!”

When Sienna called her name firmly, Hain nodded reluctantly.

“There’s a gangbo I embroidered for the prince left. Would you like to see it?”

When Sienna nodded her head, Hain, who had the other maid rush out to fetch it from her place, spread it out to Sienna and bragged about it. The red gangbo was embroidered with a large golden dragon kicking off the ground. Sienna admired the sight of the famous painting.

“It’s really cool.”

“Right? I worked very hard to make this. It’ll look good on the prince, won’t it?”

Sienna smiled at her words and nodded.

Sienna, who wrapped Joseph in the red gangbo, headed for the banquet hall. The soldiers guarding the entrance to the banquet hall saw her and opened the door.

As they entered the banquet hall, the musicians started the entrance music. The aristocrats, who had been enjoying the banquet in advance, bowed to Sienna as they made way. She was headed for her seat above the podium.

Carl and Bluebell were not present yet, but Arya, who had come early, welcomed her.

Arya raised her skirt to greet Sienna, who bent at the knees in response because she was holding Joseph. Arya greeted Sienna before Sienna had even reached the top, making her look like she was at her feet.

In Laifsden, where the emperor’s authority came first, the empress’ authority was higher than the queen’s. By law, Arya was not supposed to greet Sienna from a place above her.

“He’s the star of today’s banquet, but he appeared too early.”

At her words, Sienna looked at the empty seats of both Carl and Bluebell. It wasn’t that Sienna had come out early. Carl and Bluebell were late.

“I guess I was in a hurry. Today is the Prince Joseph’s official announcement so that all may know him. I wanted to be able to show my confidence as his mother as soon as possible.”

“Yes. Prince Joseph looks very healthy. He’s the scarlet of Laifsden.”

Sienna thanked her but tilted her head at the same time. Until now, Arya had called Joseph the Crown Prince, but today, she had called him Prince Joseph. The one in line for the throne was given the title of Crown Prince, which was an inappropriate title for Joseph, who hadn’t even received his name from the emperor.

Sienna recalled the conversation she had had with Arya not long ago. Arya had said that she would make Joseph the next emperor if Sienna could fulfill a very simple favor. Sienna had been so sad that she hadn’t understood her properly, and had forgotten about it after that…

“Have you forgotten my request?” Arya whispered in Sienna’s ear.

“But how can it…”

When she tried to ask how the little request could make Joseph the emperor, Arya shook her head and prevented her from speaking any further.

“You’ll know the reason soon. It’s important for Prince Joseph, so please.”

Sienna wavered, but she trusted Arya’s words and nodded.

The banquet resumed when the two women were seated. The noblemen danced in pairs to the merry music played by the musicians.

“The Emperor and Her Majesty, the Queen II,” the door guard announced Carl and Bluebell in a loud voice. Soon, the door opened, and the two entered.

Carl, with his vivacious golden hair, the symbol of Laifsden’s royalty, looked around the banquet hall with his commanding light blue eyes, and those who seemed easygoing straightened themselves. He had been born to be king.

Bluebell was next to him, as she should be. She was as beautiful as a fairy, with her blue, silvery hair well combed and adorned with pearls.

With her white skin and slender shoulders, she was almost leaning against Carl’s arm. They looked very good together to Sienna, who smiled bitterly at the sight.

“Today and any other day, I wish you’d come out with me in hand…”

After the couple’s appearance, the people inside the banquet hall remained on edge, but that wasn’t just because of their good looks. Everyone’s eyes were on Bluebell’s white, slender neck, which was adorned with a necklace. He didn’t have to explain what the 227 shiny diamonds and large sapphires meant.

Having drawn everyone’s attention, Bluebell changed her posture and supported her waist with one hand, as if her belly, which wasn’t even been popping out yet, was very heavy.

If the action was intended, it was a success. People realized that the one next to the emperor of the country was not Sienna and the child in her arms wrapped in the gangbo, but Bluebell and the unborn child inside her belly.

“Prince Joseph’s birthday celebration turned out to be a celebration party for Queen Bluebell’s pregnancy,” Arya whispered in Sienna’s ear.

Sienna didn’t reply to her words. She just looked at Carl’s hand, which was supporting Bluebell, with envy.

Standing at the top, Bluebell greeted Sienna.

“I wish the prince a happy birthday and a great celebration.”

“Thank you. By the way, I have to congratulate you on something as well. I’ve heard that Queen Bluebell is pregnant”

At Sienna’s words, Bluebell carefully wrapped her belly with her arms and said, “Thank you. It hasn’t been that long yet, so I was going to wait a bit before informing you, but… I think news of it has reached all over already. The child in my belly is so picky that there isn’t a single comfortable day. I was late again today because of the baby. Please understand.”

“Is… that so?”

While answering Bluebell, Sienna’s eyes turned to Carl. He hadn’t looked at either Sienna or Joseph, who was in her arms, after entering the banquet hall. It was always Sienna who thought it was her fault that she had pushed him away, but this time, she couldn’t help but feel resentment.

Carl, who didn’t even say hello to Sienna, said while assisting Bluebell, “Your body must be feeling uncomfortable. It’ll be better if you sit down.”

Sienna bit her lower lip with misery. The red robes embroidered with golden dragons surrounding Joseph felt shabby. Inside the embroidered cloth, a child who had a close resemblance to his father lay asleep, unaware that his father had not even given him congratulation or a simple greeting. Yes, maybe it was better not to know…

The banquet began in earnest when Emperor Carl entered the hall.

“What’s that box in the middle?”

Sienna looked at Arya with embarrassment. She had the answer ready at the tip of her tongue, so Sienna gave the answer Arya had hoped for.

“That is a gift from my father. It’s probably a wooden cradle. Heidel’s trees, which grow in the cold, northern wind, are famous for being strong and sturdy.”

Carl nodded and looked down at the banquet hall, and Sienna looked at his profile. How long had it been since she had peeked at him like that?

The girl, who had been just eighteen years old, whose heart had trembled at his straight nose and smooth lips, was now twenty-three. Five years later, after becoming the mother of a child, she was still peeping at his profile.

“The child’s kicked my stomach.”

“Ha-ha! You’re a tough guy. I’m sure he takes after me.”

At Bluebell’s words, Carl turned to look at her, and Sienna’s vision was filled with his brilliant golden hair.

‘When is it that I’ll be able to face Carl’s hazel eyes? Will the day ever come when he faces my eyes with those eyes? Why is it so easy for Queen Bluebell? Facing him, listening to his friendly voice, and feeling the warmth of his touch. How come something that is it so difficult for me is so easy for her?”

“Empress Sienna.”

Sienna, who was lost in thought, didn’t come to until Queen Arya called her three or four times.

“Why are you so enraptured when this is Prince Joseph’s banquet?”

“Oh, no. That’s not it.”

“I think the banquet hall is a little hot.”

“…Yes.”

Arya’s mention of ‘hot’ was the signal to call the dancers and singers known as Muhee. Sienna nodded and told Carl, “I’ve called the Muhee for Prince Joseph. Their dance will further illuminate the banquet.”

Carl nodded without looking at Sienna.

Wearing exotic costumes, the all-male dancer troupe carried knives. When Carl saw them, he made a face and asked Sienna, “Why are those dancers you called for wielding knives?”

It was the first time Carl had looked at Sienna that day. She slowly opened her mouth while facing him and said, “… It’s a traditional dance from the southern part of the country called Homulus, a sword dance to pray for the child’s long life. I called them in to wish Joseph well.”

“Is that what it means… Even if so, the act of recklessly taking up arms at the banquet hall should not be allowed, regardless of what empress calls for it.”

Sienna became nervous at his words. Regardless of whether he resented her or not, he could use that as an excuse to get her dethroned under the pretext of safety. He couldn’t kick her out and leave young Joseph all alone… How would the child live by himself in that stark castle?

Sienna hugged Joseph and bowed before Carl.

“Please, forgive me.”

Carl said with a look of annoyance, “That’s enough. It’s a celebratory day, so let’s just leave it.”

“Thank you.”

Her hands, holding Joseph, were soaked with cold sweat.

With the emperor’s permission, the dancers began to dance around with their swords. They swirled their heavy swords around easily, displaying the dance deftly. Sienna exclaimed at the splendid sword dance.

She was from the North. With more monsters than animals in its forests, the North was a place where men and women learned the sword as soon as they learned to walk. Sienna hadn’t learned the sword by herself because of her status as the duke’s daughter. She had done it because she had been confident that her eyes were quite sharp.