How To End This Marriage-Chapter 159: The Empress’s Gambit

"How can I not remember my child?" the old man pleaded, his voice trembling as he met Princess Vixara’s gaze. Tears welled in his eyes, adding to the sincerity of his plea.

A stunned silence descended upon the hall, broken only by the faint rustling of silk gowns and the occasional cough. Then, a soft, incredulous laugh escaped Princess Vixara’s lips. It grew, gaining momentum until it erupted into a burst of controlled laughter that echoed through the chamber.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Has she lost her mind?" one courtier hissed. "Is this some strange jest?" another questioned.

Vixara wiped away a single tear, a playful glint in her eyes as she addressed the bewildered audience. "Forgive my amusement, but the absurdity of this situation... it simply tickled my funny bone."

The old man’s face contorted in confusion. "My daughter," he stammered, "why do you mock me?"

Vixara’s smile vanished, replaced by a steely resolve. "Mock you? No, father. But your claims are... fanciful, to say the least. Devoid of logic, even. Laughter seemed the only appropriate response."

"The empire would know if the Empress was with child," she continued, her voice growing firm. "The arrival of an heir would be a cause for celebration, not a whisper in the shadows. How could you, claiming to be the father, be oblivious to such momentous events? Your ignorance casts a rather large shadow on your entire narrative."

A wave of murmurs washed over the hall, the old man’s bravado crumbling under the weight of Vixara’s words. He slumped onto his knees, his body trembling, as the princess’s gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering.

"So, this elaborate scheme was meant to sully the Empress’s reputation?" Princess Vixara’s voice rang through the stunned hall, a spark of defiance in her eyes.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, disbelief and confusion evident on their faces. "Unbelievable!" one courtier gasped. "Could it be true?" another whispered.

Without hesitation, Vixara issued her command. "Apprehend him and throw him into the dungeons. I demand a thorough investigation - uncover his motives, his accomplices, everything!" Guards materialized, their steps echoing as they dragged the trembling old man away.

The princess surveyed the hall, her gaze sweeping across the courtiers who had so readily believed the man’s lies. "Have you all been so easily swayed? One fabricated tale, and you were prepared to cast aspersions on the Empress? Such gullibility is... disheartening, to say the least." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Crown Prince Maximus, his shoulders slumped, spoke in a low voice. "I have failed as a candidate for the throne."

Vixara’s expression softened slightly. "Perhaps," she conceded. "But the true failure lies in the ease with which someone can manipulate your perceptions. If this charade succeeded once, it could happen again. How then can you trust your judgment, the Emperor’s judgment? Perhaps it’s time to question everything you’ve been told."

A tense silence descended upon the hall. The Empress, seated on her dais, her face a mask of emotions, met Vixara’s gaze. The air crackled with unspoken tension.

Vixara turned towards her mother, her voice filled with a mix of sorrow and accusation. "Your Highness, did you truly stoop so low? Did you orchestrate this entire farce to discredit me, to push me aside?"

The Empress stammered, her composure faltering. "W-what are you implying? You accuse me without proof!"

"Proof may be lacking," Vixara admitted, her voice hardening, "but I know you play a greater role in this than you let on. Your hand is in this, Mother. You orchestrated this assassination attempt, hoping to remove me from your path."

The Empress’s smirk twisted into a sneer. "You, a princess raised as a maid, presume to lecture me on behavior? You know nothing of the court, of the intricate games that must be played."

Suddenly, Duke Bernice rose from his seat, his voice booming through the hall. "Your Majesty, Princess Vixara has never been treated as a maid within our household!"

"Perhaps your intentions towards this girl weren’t entirely benevolent," the Empress insinuated, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

Duke Alexavier Agnes frowned, his brow furrowing. "What are you implying, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of defiance.

"Oh, I think you know precisely what I imply, Duke," the Empress countered, her eyes glinting with amusement. "This is a public audience, and no amount of obfuscation can conceal your true motives."

"I fail to grasp your meaning, Your Majesty," the Duke declared, his voice strained with annoyance.

"Do you truly believe I’m blind to your machinations, Duke?" the Empress scoffed. "You brought this maid, masquerading as a princess, into my very court. Was it not all to elevate her station, to grant her nobility, and ultimately, to take her as your wife?"

Her words hung heavy in the air, creating a ripple of stunned silence throughout the hall. Every courtier craned their necks, anticipation buzzing through the room.

"Your Majesty! Such accusations are preposterous!" the Duke exclaimed, his face flushing with indignation.

"Preposterous?" the Empress echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why, I find the notion quite plausible, wouldn’t you agree, Duchess Bernice?"

Duchess Bernice, who had remained stoic throughout the exchange, finally met the Empress’s gaze. A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke, her voice calm and measured. "What is wrong with a Duke desiring the Princess as his wife, Your Majesty? Is such a union truly so outrageous?"

The unexpected intervention from the Duchess shifted the dynamics of the confrontation, leaving the court buzzing with speculation and intrigue.

A wave of hushed murmurs rippled through the audience as Duchess Bernice’s words landed like a bombshell. "Has she lost her mind?" one courtier whispered. "Is she challenging the Empress openly?" another speculated.

Undeterred, the Duchess pressed on. "Your Majesty," she addressed the Empress directly, her voice calm yet firm, "you yourself ascended to the position of Empress after serving as the Emperor’s concubine. If you could find happiness in such a union, why should my husband’s aspirations be considered scandalous?"

A tense silence descended upon the hall. The Empress’s smile vanished, replaced by a flicker of anger. "Duchess," she hissed, her voice laced with venom, "do you truly seek to compare your situation to mine? Your husband is merely a Duke, while I..."

"While you were once a concubine yourself, Your Majesty," Duchess Bernice interrupted, her words sharper now. "Did you hesitate then, even though the Empress lived? Is your morality truly so dependent on your current station?"

The court gasped collectively. Never before had anyone dared to speak to the Empress with such audacity. The air crackled with tension, charged with the weight of unspoken accusations and festering resentment.

"How dare you!" the Empress snarled, her eyes blazing with fury. "Do you think you can get away with such insolence?"

Duchess Bernice remained unfazed. "I merely speak the truth, Your Majesty. Perhaps it is you who should answer for your own past actions before casting aspersions on others."

The confrontation between the two women had escalated dangerously, pushing the boundaries of courtly decorum and threatening to unravel the carefully constructed facade of power and control. The audience, held captive by the drama unfolding before them, awaited the next move with bated breath.

"I believe the court has endured enough for one day," Duchess Bernice declared, her voice ringing through the stunned hall. "Therefore, I will not detain you further and take my leave, allowing the Empress’s reputation to remain unblemished."

A wry smile played on her lips as she swept out of the court, leaving behind a trail of confusion and intrigue. Stepping into the corridor, she clenched her fists in frustration, muttering, "Why did I defend him? I knew this would be the outcome."

Moments later, Princess Vixara caught up to her, her face etched with concern. "Duchess, wait! Thank you for what you did, even though I know it couldn’t have been easy for you."

Duchess Bernice turned to her, her smile genuine this time. "My dear, I wasn’t taking sides. I simply spoke my mind. If Duke Alexavier has chosen you as his future bride, I have no objection. It’s not my place to interfere with your desires."

Her eyes held a knowing glint, making Vixara frown. "Our relationship," the princess began, her voice hesitant, "will soon be revealed, and then you will understand everything."

"There’s no need to explain, princess," the Duchess said gently. "Trust that time will reveal all. Now, rest assured, I won’t stand in your way."

With those words, Duchess Bernice turned and glided towards her chambers, leaving Vixara standing alone with a mixture of gratitude and confusion swirling in her mind.

Inside her room, the Duchess bolted the door and allowed herself to finally exhale. "How long must I endure this charade?" she whispered, her voice laced with worry. "She’s not the same girl I remember from before. This Vixara is bolder, independent, and shows no interest in the Duke. Am I being overly cautious? But what if my suspicions are true, and history repeats itself once again?"

Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered the chilling whisper that echoed in her mind, "If you cannot survive, your timeline will crumble."