Celestial Sovereignty

By morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and wind whistling. I had forgotten to close the window last night. As I rose from the comfort of my bed, I was greeted with a letter bearing the Royal Symbol. Was it from the Empress? 

I grabbed the dull knife to cut open the letter. As soon as I read its contents, I realized it was from Kaiserin. His letter was simple and short, asking why I would be busy today, but he agreed to meet me at another time.

I wrote with my feather quill on the paper, "I'll be meeting with Empress Theresa, your mother." I made it short and simple, like my previous letters, and then began to search for dresses appropriate for meeting the Empress face to face. 

I started thinking that I should wear one of the luxurious dresses gifted to me by Kaiserin, but on the other hand, I am a lowly Countess. Should I just wear something suitable for my rank? I looked into my closet and grabbed an old dress. It was wearable and looked appropriate. 

As I was walking out of my room, I passed Pavel, and he stopped in my way and scanned me as if he was judging me.

"You're determined to meet the Empress but decided to wear that? Wear one of the dresses the Crown Prince gifted you."

"I could, but they were all too pretty and luxurious, suitable for only a Duke's daughter or a Princess to wear. It'll be quite rude for me to show up with a dress unsuitable for my rank. After all, I shouldn't forget that I am just a Countess, and she's an Empress. If I wear a dress made for royalty, like her everyday dresses, wouldn't it be rude?" 

Pavel looked at me and brushed it off. He looked still mad from yesterday, but he also looked like he didn't have time for me. 

"If you excused me now-"

Pavel grabbed my wrist and looked me dead in the eye.

"I don't care what the consequences are, do whatever you can to stay in one piece."

He pulled out a sheathed dagger and put it in my hand. He hesitated at first, but he left as if in a hurry. 

Is meeting the Empress that bad? She must be a wicked woman, then.

I held the dagger tightly in the palm of my hand, then left to the estate entrance.

As I looked behind me, I saw Pavel looking at me in the window. His expression was something I had never seen before. He looked desperate and regretful. As he saw me staring at him, he closed his eyes as if he were in pain and closed the curtains. 

I sighed, walked step by step into the carriage, and watched as the estate slowly left my sight.

Empress Theresa, what type of wicked woman are you?