There's a Snake in the Empress' Bedroom (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
“One week from now. If the Emperor doesn’t give us an answer within a week, we’ll handle things our own way.”
“Yes, Sir Cassius!”
Cassius swept back his red hair, which had grown out somewhat.
This, too, was proof that the war had ended.
On the battlefield, one always had to keep their hair short.
Cassius drained the last drops of wine from his glass and stood up.
Ever since the banquet, Renisha’s image hadn’t left Cassius’s mind.
He kept recalling the expression on her face and how she had looked at him that day.
He wasn’t some cow endlessly chewing its cud.
Cassius frowned.
“Huuu….”
It was because of that look in Renisha’s eyes—the eyes that resembled Duke Rotera’s so closely.
Cassius shook his head.
“Sir Cassius! Sir!”
At the urgent voice calling him, Cassius turned his head.
A boy, seemingly around thirteen years old, came tumbling toward him.
He was the child Cassius had rescued from the Chorpa Plains.
The boy, with hair like dark chestnuts and gray eyes, was named Tesa.
Tesa bore a large wound across his back.
He had lost all his memories and had followed Cassius ever since.
Cassius had even given him his name.
“What’s got you running around like that?”
Cassius asked indifferently.
“A guest has arrived! In an incredibly lavish carriage… someone who looks very noble!”
Cassius frowned and leaned his head outside.
Who on earth could it be at this hour…!
Of course—only the Imperial Household would be so rude.
Recognizing the visitor, Cassius left Tesa behind and dashed down to the first floor.
‘Could it be… Renisha?’
An utterly unreasonable hope sparked within his heart.
Of course, it truly was an absurd hope.
“I come on behalf of His Majesty. I am Henry Florian, Head Steward of the Imperial Palace.”
“…Cassius?”
“Yes, Sir Cassius. We’ve met once before, haven’t we?”
Henry bowed respectfully.
So this was what it meant to be the Imperial Palace’s Head Steward—he carried a distinct air about him.
Cassius straightened his body, which had been bent from running.
Even that alone made his massive frame exude an imposing presence.
“I apologize for the discourtesy of calling so late. It is by His Majesty the Emperor’s command…”
Henry gave an awkward smile.
“On the battlefield, if it’s urgent, people come and go even before dawn.”
It was a rebuke—implying that if it wasn’t urgent, why come at such an hour?
Henry cleared his throat and handed over the parchment he’d been holding.
“His Majesty has issued a decree. A banquet will be held at the Imperial Palace in three days, and you are commanded to attend.”
“Has he decided on the territory and title he’ll grant me?”
“I cannot give you an answer regarding that matter.”
Henry lowered his head.
Cassius frowned and unfolded the parchment.
It contained only brief information about the gathering he was to attend, with no further explanation.
Hesitating, Henry offered Cassius a hint.
“Just adhere to the dress code for that day. Your previous uniform would be excessive—please wear appropriate formal attire instead.”
“…Ha.”
Cassius let out a hollow laugh.
Henry showed Cassius one last kindness.
“His Majesty dislikes anything that breaches protocol.”
You yourself seem the least proper of all, Cassius thought.
But he held back the words.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“Then, I shall see you on that day.”
Henry bowed once more and boarded his carriage.
The carriage, adorned with the Imperial Palace’s ornate emblem, departed from Cassius’s modest residence.
Cassius clenched the parchment in his hand.
Perhaps, if he went there, he might see Renisha once again.
And maybe he could finally say what he needed to say to that woman—the one who kept lingering in his thoughts.
Perhaps then, he could finally shake off this nagging sense of debt.
Cassius unfolded the parchment again.
“Where am I supposed to get formal attire!”
He didn’t even have money to eat, let alone buy clothes. Cassius gritted his teeth.
An invitation with the same contents was delivered to Renisha as well.
“A banquet hosted by the Emperor.”
Renisha lifted the corners of her lips and gave a faint smile.
Her maids watched her carefully.
Ever since the Duke and Duchess had fallen in battle, Renisha had behaved like an emotionless paper doll.
She let herself be moved however the Emperor willed.
Renisha had only begun to regain some spirit after hearing news that surviving family members remained.
And since the banquet she’d previously attended, she seemed even more cheerful.
“Will you attend?”
Henry, the Head Steward, asked with a worried expression.
Though technically even an Emperor couldn’t force an Empress, Rexus was different.
If Renisha showed defiance, he would stop at nothing to make her submit.
“Of course I’ll go.”
“I shall relay that.”
“Sir Cassius will be attending that gathering as well, won’t he?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Renisha rubbed her lips.
“You may go now.”
Swallowing his unease, Henry stepped back.
The Empress was showing unusual interest in Cassius.
The Emperor was inscrutable enough, but the Empress was no less formidable.
It felt as though a storm was brewing in the Imperial Palace.
After Henry left, Renisha summoned Lindey, her Head Maid.
“Lindey.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The Emperor is hosting a banquet in three days, I hear.”
“Will that woman be attending as well?”
Lindey scowled fiercely as she spoke.
At that moment, all the maids in the room tightly shut their mouths and stared at Renisha.
There was only one woman Lindey would refer to as “that woman.”
“Canaria?”
“Yes!”
Lindey clenched her fists as she spoke.
“I don’t know if Canaria will come. It’s just a small banquet hosted by the Emperor. I can’t guess on what grounds or whom he intends to invite.”
“…So she might come after all.”
Renisha shrugged.
Canaria was far beneath Renisha’s concern.
No matter what Canaria did, Renisha never showed the slightest disturbance.
Yet her maids always burned with hostility toward Canaria.
“I’ll need to prepare a new dress.”
“How about taking out those rubies the young Duke Rotera once sent you?”
“That’s a good idea. What about a silver gown embroidered with golden thread? With white shoes, you’ll look both noble and beautiful.”
The maids had already begun discussing plans with a combative air.
Leaving them behind, Renisha called her Head Maid once more.
“Lindey.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Could you send a gift in your family’s name?”
“…?”
“Send formal attire for Sir Cassius to wear at the banquet.”
There was only one reason the Emperor would host a banquet and invite guests.
This banquet was meant for Renisha and Cassius.
Renisha gave a cold, faint smile.
That day, she had recognized Cassius as the pawn the Emperor had prepared for her.
But whether Cassius had recognized her in return remained uncertain.
“Clothes… you say?”
“Yes.”
Lindey, the Head Maid, bowed with a confused expression.
She couldn’t understand Renisha’s intention behind this order.
Why Cassius, of all people?
But faced with Renisha’s chilling demeanor, she dared not ask further and could only withdraw.
The next morning, an order was placed at the dressmaker’s in the name of House Lindey.
Renisha’s position in the Empire was ambiguous.
She hadn’t borne a child to secure the future, nor was she on intimate terms with the Emperor.
Yet everyone agreed that without Renisha, the Empire could not function properly.
Renisha was, after all, an exceptional Empress.
In winter, the poor survived the harsh season wearing the padded clothes Renisha had provided; in spring, they filled their empty stomachs with grain released from the Imperial treasury by Renisha’s order.
Thanks to Renisha’s diplomacy—led by her striking beauty and social grace—merchants could make a living.
Every deed done by the Imperial Household bore Renisha’s name, making her praise unavoidable.
It was a fortress no amount of Canaria’s imperial favor or stubbornness could ever breach.
News of the Emperor’s banquet reached the dressmaker’s early that morning.
The previous night, Canaria—who had been invited to the event—had sent a warning letter stating she wouldn’t leave the dressmaker’s, who made the Empress’s gowns, in peace.
“How utterly ridiculous!”
Madame Turiel clicked her tongue and handed the warning letter to her assistants.
“Exactly! For a commoner-born concubine to dare speak so to Her Majesty…”
“Even if House Rotera has fallen, is she really so lowly as to challenge Her Majesty like this?”
“Indeed. The world truly is ending—what a disgrace.”
Turiel shook her head and said,
“Didn’t we take Her Majesty’s measurements before?”
“Yes, Madame Turiel.”
“Then make her a pair of exquisite white satin shoes in that size and send them. Do I look like I’d heed the words of some commoner girl?”
Madame Turiel was, after all, a dress designer born from a viscountess’s family.
To her, Canaria’s words were nothing more than barking from a dog outside.
“An excellent idea, Madame Turiel.”
Just then—
A visitor arrived to see Turiel.
Lindey entered the dressmaker’s shop, removed her hat, and greeted Turiel with a bright smile.
“Turiel!”
“Lindey? It’s been ages since you came in person! What brings you?”
Turiel welcomed Lindey warmly as well.
They had been childhood friends.
“I come bearing Her Majesty’s command, Turiel.”
“Hm?”
“You know Sir Cassius, right?”
“Oh.”
“Her Majesty wishes to gift him attire for the banquet.”
Turiel’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lindey pulled a pouch of gold coins, stamped with the Empress’s crest, from her bag.
“We’ll place the order under my family’s name. Can you do it?”
Turiel smiled, amused.
“Of course. It seems Her Majesty is plotting something again.”
Turiel’s dressmaker’s shop was the one that led the effort each winter to make padded clothes for the poor, distributed by the Empress.
Noblewomen who wished to join the Empress’s charitable acts also brought their own handmade padded garments to Turiel.
Thus, Turiel’s shop was one of the Empress’s greatest allies.
Lindey simply shrugged in response. Turiel raised her voice and shouted,
“Close the shop for the day! We must tailor attire for Sir Cassius—gather every type of black fabric! Oh, and don’t forget the leather for shoes!”
“Yes, Madame!”
“Then we’ll get to see plenty of handsome knights, won’t we?”
The assistants giggled.
Lindey and Turiel exchanged meaningful smiles.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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The king must be thinking he made a smart move. Sorry honey you wrongg
What a tattle,snobbish women. Tha one who doesn’t conceive
Such a twisted, insecure and desirable man. Leave renisha alone