Lately, I've been receiving letters about people taking an interest in joining the project of rebuilding the palace. Supplies expenses had gone up recently to help with the costs.
I sent back letters to the few who had the materials needed for rebuilding.

Tomorrow is when I would be crowned empress. There was nothing to be nervous about, though everyone else thought I'd be panicking.

It's not the first time an empress was without an emperor, be that as it may, a scarcity.
By now, some of the gossip about rashta and sovieshu had been spread. I could hear commoners and maids whispering about it in the palace halls and by the marketplace.

✰°࿐

"Princess~" aria lightly shook me by the shoulders and I get out of bed, rubbing the sleep off my eyes. "I've prepared your dress oh- and arrangements. The event will be this evening!!" She lets out, I nod and head to the bathroom to get ready.

Once I stepped out in the new dress, she was no longer there. I left my room to quickly finish breakfast and continue preparing.

✰°࿐ later ✰°࿐

...."with the blessings from the high priest, I will serve the eastern empire as empress." I ended. I kneeled down and high priest vimirey looked around, then back at me. He slowly put on the crown and I got up to sit on the makeshift throne to wait for the high priest to finish packing then leave. The cheers slowly faded, groups stepping forward greeting goodbyes.

I waited in my seat chatting with my "bodyguard" - Rhys as more people slowly left. No one took longer to leave so I had enough spare time to go do other things for the rest of the day.

✰°࿐ next day ✰°࿐

I woke up early in the morning to get ready. With a bag of materials in my hand, I open the door and get inside.

I sat down and stocked the drawers with the stuff from my bag...

Work was tiresome especially for someone as lazy as me. All the stacked papers on my desk we're piling up since sovieshu's disappearance. Of course, now that sovieshu was gone his assistant, Marquis Karl would be working for me. I had no plans of getting him fired till I get a replacement, which I doubt I'd find any time soon.

From across the room on his desk he stayed cautious, observing me in fear that he might go missing next in accordance to previous statements of suspicion from sovieshu before he went missing.

I was finalizing and signing the last few papers with the numerous companies who'd provide materials for the rebuilding when I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I told.

Aria walks in, keeping her head down. "Your majesty, viscount and viscountess ishka was found outside your residence." The sudden change of formalities weren't very easy to get used to but i'd get used to it soon. "Have you let them in?" I questioned. She nods, fully opening the door for them.

The two run over to my desk with tears in their eyes. I look over to Marquis Karl and he leaves the room along with aria. Once the door was closed I glance back at the viscount and viscountess.

I put aside my papers and get off my chair. I take chairs from the corner of the room and let them sit.

Once I was back at my seat I start questioning "A-" but before I could even end the first utterance viscountess bursts out sobbing.
"P-please help us f-find our daughter, she was the only one we had left." She said in a low voice through sobs. Viscount ishka patted her back in trial to comfort. He was about to apologize, expecting me to decline their wants since it wasn't a secret that work was piling up for me, the evidence was right in front of them, but I spoke first. "You needn't worry, the guards patrol daily and we have sent several search guards looking for the mistress. Now that sovieshu has gone missing, all his failed unfinished business will be handed over to me." I grin. They smile back, repeatedly saying thank yous and we're so grateful.

After exchanging a few more words they finally left and I went back to work since I didn't need to look for the slut anyway.

✰°࿐

A few days later I had finished all my work and unbanned kosair from the eastern empire. I doubt he'd come back any time soon but atleast he could visit his parents whenever.
Sovieshu and rashta had caught a cold and were practically freezing in the basement, they could die of hypothermia.

I was in my office as I've always been recently, reading a letter sent from navier. She talked about how she suspects heinrey was a bird, just as I was about to start writing my letter back, I hear a knock on the door then a loud creak.

Aria bowed with kosair beside her. I glance to the edge of my table, the stack of pastries, tea bags, and herbs as a gift from the other guests. "Oh, hey!" I waved, reading his face expression. this might be a long conversation. "Aria, please bring some tea." I said. He took a seat infront of my desk, on the chair I kept there for the multiple guests.

✰°࿐

Aria came back with the tea while we were having small talk, she took the finished papers to clear some space on my desk and left the room, softly shutting the door.

A soft stray chuckle escapes his lips.
"What's so funny, did I say something?" I question, completely confused. "It's nothing." He told continuing his laughter while staring at me. I subconsciously touch my face, checking if I had accidentally smudged ink on it but there was nothing. Maybe it dried? I brush it off, not overthinking it.

"Right," I recalled. He stopped his soft laughs to listen.

"Will you help me with something?"

"Anything..." He whispers, slightly leaning over on the table.

.

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚❋ ❋ ❋˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

Heeeyy :)
Sorry for the extremely slow updates ,again. I was in the mental hospital. And I just tested positive for covid two days ago.
I've lost all motivation for this book since chapter 17 and that's probably why updates are soo slow.
I also changed my mind, according to the last time I checked most of the people commented kosair so 🙌
Expect to see him more often.