In truth, the imperial palace was an oppressively stifling and excessively ornate place for Alexa to live. If she could change some of that, she felt it would be a great relief. After all, she was someone who could never leave this place for the rest of her life.
“Do not blame me later if my taste turns out to be terrible.”
“That will never happen. I find your taste very much to my liking, even now.”
At Enoch’s words, her cheeks threatened to burn again.
Enoch was supposed to despise Alexa, yet it truly seemed as though everything had changed.
The emperor’s wishes were conveyed to the Empress Dowager’s palace without delay. Camilla took her long pipe between her lips and nodded.
“Giving the empress authority over the inner palace…”
Camilla had never had any interest in state affairs to begin with. All that mattered to her was adorning the Empress Dowager’s palace in splendor and maintaining the power of House Taira.
“It seems the empress has truly won the emperor’s favor.”
Overseeing the inner palace was nothing but a nuisance to Camilla. So she was perfectly content to hand that authority over to the empress.
What was more, had Enoch not been the one to step forward and give the empress that authority? That meant Enoch had opened his heart to the empress of Taira blood.
“Things are going better than I expected.”
The worry that he might keep his distance from the Taira empress and treat her coldly had vanished like a lie. The emperor even seemed to be stopping by the Empress’s chambers privately on occasion. It could not have gone better.
“At this rate, good news will come before long.”
Alexa was an adopted daughter, but she was also a collateral relative of House Taira and had been formally adopted as Duke Taira’s daughter.
In other words, if Alexa produced an heir, the blood of House Taira would run even deeper through the imperial line.
“When the empress was poisoned, I wondered what would become of things…”
To have gone to such lengths to make an empress of Taira blood, only to have her die from poisoning, would have reduced all that effort to nothing.
Fortunately, Alexa had survived.
“The empress seems to have better fortune than I gave her credit for.”
“Truly so. It is a relief that things did not go wrong.”
Stella, the Empress Dowager’s head maid, reported.
Above all, Alexa had won Enoch’s heart. That was something few could have managed.
“I did not expect the emperor to open his heart this quickly. Perhaps the poisoning incident made him feel all the more tender toward her.”
“Whatever His Majesty the Emperor’s feelings may be, it does seem certain that he holds Her Majesty the Empress dear right now.”
At those words, Camilla nodded with satisfaction. It seemed the right person had come this time.
All that remained now was for the empress to stay by Enoch’s side, whisper favorable words about House Taira into his ear, and produce an heir.
“And so she should. Think of what it took to make her empress.”
Camilla said, blowing out a thick cloud of smoke.
“Summon the empress to tea time today.”
“Yes, understood.”
Camilla intended to remind Alexa of her duties once more. It was something that could never be repeated too many times.
* * *
News that the Empress Dowager had invited Alexa to tea time reached the Empress’s chambers quickly.
Alexa received the news with a slightly uneasy look.
“Could she be displeased that His Majesty the Emperor gave me authority over the inner palace?”
This time even Matilda could not readily answer. Enoch had impulsively given Alexa sweeping authority, and that authority had originally belonged to Camilla, the Empress Dowager.
“Please do not worry too much. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager holds Your Majesty dear.”
Matilda said, choosing her words carefully.
Camilla would support Alexa, the empress of Taira blood. Calling it holding her dear was a stretch, but it would not be a bad situation.
“I still find the Empress Dowager uncomfortable to be around.”
Alexa spoke her honest feelings.
The relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is difficult enough as it is. And with both of them entangled with House Taira, she found it all the harder to deal with.
Above all, the Empress Dowager believed the marriage had been consummated.
“Even so, nothing bad will come of it.”
Matilda said, as though to comfort Alexa.
“From what I have heard, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has never taken any interest in the affairs of the inner palace.”
That was true.
Camilla had only ever concerned herself with adorning herself and elevating the standing of House Taira. Naturally, the inner palace had been left half-neglected.
Until now there had been no issue, since only Camilla had resided in the inner palace, but now that Alexa was here, what needed to change would have to change.
“Either way, I received an invitation, so I cannot refuse.”
Matilda nodded. There was not much time left before tea time.
“Matilda, help me get ready.”
“Yes.”
Alexa sat down in front of the mirror. Matilda and two young maids came and combed out Alexa’s platinum hair.
“I will not wear any makeup.”
She had no desire to appear overly done up.
“For accessories, earrings are enough.”
Young maid Ella opened a box filled with earrings and held it out for her to see.
Alexa chose a simple pair of blue earrings, the same color as her own eyes. They were modest little ornaments of no great value.
“I will wear the pale blue dress.”
“Is it not too plain?”
“That is better.”
Alexa had just been given authority by Enoch. If she dressed too elaborately, she might be misread as putting on airs.
“How shall we do your hair? Half braided and half loose?”
“Yes.”
Young maids Ella and Sophie helped style Alexa’s hair. They braided half of it, gathered it into a half-up style, and pinned it with a simple silver pin, and a pure, clean beauty came through beautifully.
“Ella, bring the dress.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Alexa put on the dress with its soft blue sheen. It too had no particular ornamentation, yet it showed off Alexa’s own charm without taking anything away.
“Then let us go. We must not be late.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Only Matilda will come with me.”
Bringing a large procession might give the impression she was trying to make a show of her standing. Since they were staying within the inner palace, Matilda alone was more than enough.
* * *
A short while later, Alexa arrived at the Empress Dowager’s palace.
“I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
Alexa offered a graceful bow. Camilla sat reclined in her seat at the head of the room and watched.
“Bring the empress a chair and some tea.”
“Thank you.”
Stella brought a chair.
Alexa sat down lightly. She had only just arrived, yet the intense fragrance distinctive to the Empress Dowager’s palace was already threatening to give her a headache. The tea Camilla offered was so sweet it nearly numbed her tongue.
But she could not let any of that show.
“I hear the emperor gave you authority over the inner palace?”
“…Yes.”
Camilla blew out a thick cloud of smoke.
“How very fortunate.”
“Pardon…?”
The entirely unexpected response made Alexa’s eyes go wide.
“Does it not mean the emperor trusts you that much?”
That was true.
Something Alexa herself had not quite realized.
“I have never had any interest in overseeing the inner palace. And yet the emperor stepped forward himself to give you that authority. It seems you have already won his heart.”
Camilla’s expression was one of satisfaction.
In truth, winning Enoch’s heart was a harder thing than simply installing an empress. And yet the Alexa before her had managed it.
“There must be a reason the emperor gave you that authority. Pay no mind to me and do as you see fit.”
“I am deeply grateful.”
The Empress Dowager’s reaction was nothing like what Alexa had expected. Whether that was a good thing she could not say, but for the moment it was a relief.
“I hope you will give the emperor an heir before long.”
At those words, Alexa’s cheeks burned a little. Even between women, being spoken to so plainly about such things felt embarrassing.
“House Taira has great expectations of you.”
Ironically, it had been her rejection of House Taira that had turned Enoch’s heart. Camilla would never know that.
“I had worried whether you would be able to win the emperor’s heart… but it seems the sympathy gained from the imperial marriage poisoning incident worked in your favor.”
Camilla said all of this knowing full well that Alexa had nearly died.
Alexa felt she understood, at least a little, why Enoch disliked House Taira so much.
“Only, you must take care of your health going forward. That is what will allow you to bear a healthy heir.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Alexa dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.
“Then handle the affairs of the inner palace as you see fit. I will not interfere.”
That was the one welcome thing she had said.
It meant Alexa could actually do something, at least.
“I am deeply grateful. I will do my best, however lacking I may be.”
“Whatever you do, as long as you can win the emperor’s heart, that is all that matters.”
Alexa gave a slow nod.
“Even so, you have dressed rather plainly. You are still young. Is it not a waste?”
“I am comfortable this way.”
“Even so, the honor of House Taira is at stake, so do dress more elaborately going forward.”
“Yes…”
Alexa had no intention of following that advice.
Enoch disliked anything lavish and extravagant. All the more so if it bore the mark of House Taira.
The reason Camilla had such a poor relationship with her own son Enoch was precisely because she had no idea of any of this.
Alexa returned to the Empress’s chambers and let out a breath.
Contrary to her expectations, Camilla had been generous about Alexa holding authority over the inner palace.
That was surely because Alexa was the empress House Taira had made.
“Authority over the inner palace…”
With such sweeping authority suddenly in her hands, she had no idea where to begin.
But what was certain was that the things Alexa could do had grown.
“Oh, Matilda. What became of Luna?”
“Sophie fed her some warm milk, and she is sleeping in her bed.”
At those words, Alexa smiled softly.
Alexa had loved animals in her original life too.
