Y/n couldn't help but admire Navier, the Empress was sitting on her favorite chair that resembled a bird's nest. With branches placed and stuck together to be comfortable enough for the Empress.
Navier was reading a book in silence, a time Y/n respected and had devoted to either admiring the beautiful Empress or let her thoughts wander, just like when they were kids.
Today it was the first, she couldn't help but wonder why would a married man look at another woman?
Navier was beautiful, kind, and hardworking.
And yet Sovieshu was prancing around with his slave instead of doing his job last she heard and because of that Navier had more on her plate.
"I've head his majesty visits her everyday"
"Apparently he even brings her food himself!"
"That stoic emperor? How peculiar!"
Even if Y/n didn't have her good hearing, she could still hear the noblewoman chatter away with their gossip out in the open.
It seems Navier's mood was ruined as a sigh escaped her lips and she stood up after closing her book. The noblewoman didn't notice at all.
Y/n stood up to escort the Empress together as she called for the Ladies-in-waiting nearby.
They walked out from the hidden area as Y/n made sure her scarlet dress didn't get caught up by the branches.
"Is that her?"
Their eyes turned at a voice that was unfamiliar even to the blonde haired knight. Y/n's eyes narrowed with a scrutinizing gaze towards the person.
Truthfully the young woman or was she still in her teens, was pretty with silver hair and gray eyes, an innocent aura she had made. She realized that right before them was the rumored slave that Sovieshu took with him.
But she couldn't agree with the fact that she was compared with Duchess Tuania. That and an annoying sound had resonated from the silver haired girl.
"Shh, Lady Rashta you can't!"
'they call her a lady now?' she raised a brow.
"Hello there!"
Y/n couldn't help but feel. . unnerved just by hearing her voice.
Rashta's eyes averted to stare at the beautiful woman next to the empress, blonde hair with striking h/c tips and her honey ombre eyes had caught her attention the most.
Yet Y/n blatantly ignored the stare she threw that was far from discreet, opting to send a harsh glare towards the maids that took care of her.
"It seems you haven't been doing a good job." She crossed her arms as the two maids flinched back.
"We just wanted Miss Rashta to get some fresh air." One quickly said. There was no problem with that, it's just they had choose to take her to a garden frequented by the Empress.
'how careless' her eyes narrowed further causing their lips to zip tight.
"Let's go." Navier said as she turned around.
"Ah! H-ey you!"
'ha?'
The two stared at the woman as if she was insane. 'Did she just address an empress like me. . with a simple 'hey you'. . .?' Navier thought.
The maids tried to pull her away. Chiding her softly.
"Let's leave"
"you can't call her like that, Lady Rashta."
Yet the silver haired woman had shrugged them off with a humph like a child as she walked forward towards the duo.
"I'm Rashta!"
'what to do now?'
Navier wondered her eyes flickered to Y/n who was still flabbergasted, she turned to Rashta "is that so, Rashta?"
'did she want me to call her name or. . .?'
A sigh left her lips
'we probably won't meet each other again anyways'
The Empress in red had turned and started to walk away yet Rashta had reached out towards her, grabbing the soft red fabric causing it to tear.
"Your majesty!"
The voice of her Ladies-in-waiting had grown nearer as Y/n stepped aside to let Laura pass her, while Countess Eliza walked around Navier to swat the woman's hand away from the dress before any further damage could happen.
"How rude of you!" She scolded harshly.
"Err. . I- I'm sorry I should've addressed you properly, but I didn't know what to call you. ." The woman shook, tears brimming her eyes.
Yet Y/n didn't have the heart or compassion to come to her aid like she did to other people. The sound resonating with her was beyond annoying and upsetting as is.
"Her Majesty is the Empress of the Eastern Empire. Be mindful of your manners!" Laura added gesturing to Navier.
"Wha-?"
"No, It's not that. I know you're the Empress."
"If you knew she was the Empress then address her properly." Y/n said walking to the side of Navier.
"My name is Rashta!" She smiled quickly.
"We already know but we do not care for that." She pinched the bridge of her nose. Meanwhile Navier had placed a hand on her face "You know of me?"
"His majesty the emperor has kindly allowed me to reside in the eastern Palace." Rashta said.
"Ah you're the slave?" Navier asked lowering her hand, staring down at the slave. "W-well I. ."
"Your Majesty!" A maid that had accompanied Rashta jumped forward to defend her "Please forgive ng forwardness. But Lady Rashta is not a slave."
"Is that so?" Y/n smiled as Navier cautiously turned to the woman who's smile though bright, held not welcoming warmth.
"Then care to explain her mysterious origins?"
"No but-"
"Then let's agree that she may or may not be a runaway slave like how she may or may not be a commoner. Either way" she clasped her hands,
"that should not excuse her lack of manners towards her Majesty."
The maid stepped back, her mouth open as she was left speechless having finally noticed the dark aura that surrounded her body.
"Y/n" Navier called to her, as if telling her to stop right there. She merely smiled at the Empress this time a bit more genuine.
"I-i was wondering when I should go and meet you." Rashta said when the group turned to her once more, she was nervous most likely because of Y/n stressing the words 'runaway slave.'
"Meet me?"
"Either way, we'll be seeing each other all the time soon! So I think it's best to meet each other first."
"What should I call you?"
"Just call me 'Your Majesty.'"
"Huh?" It seemed it wasn't the answer she was expecting.
"That should suffice." Navier turned yet Rashta seemed to have something more to say as she raised her hand but it was quickly slapped away by Laura who was pissed.
"How rude!"
"How dare you act this way to her Majesty." She scolded "How Filthy."
Navier flinched noticing an approaching group. "Who are you calling filthy?"
"What do you mean by that?"
They bowed towards the male, yet Y/n didn't bother to bent her body full way as she had quickly raised her head to stare at him.
"Rashta!" She watched as he walked passed Navier in favor of approaching her. The sounds of slight sadness and anger that Navier tried to hide had hurt y/n as well as she felt angrier at Sovieshu.
"There there. . Don't cry." He softly muttered taking his coat off to drape it around Rashta who was crying on the ground, looking helpless.
'Laura's slap was directed at her hand and wasn't even that strong to throw that girl on the ground' her brows furrowed.
"No matter how much I console you. . You are such a handful" his head had caressed her cheek and wiped away the waterworks 'then why the hell don't you keep an eye on her properly? It saves us from a lot of trouble.'
Rashta glanced at them, meeting Navier's eyes, 'is she provoking us?' her veins revealed on her head with an angered expression causing Rashta (who had noticed) to flinch.
Realizing her slip up, Y/n had shook her face to have a more neutral face. Navier had sighed "Let us leave, my legs are beginning to ache."
"Wait-"
"Stop right there, Empress."
Sovieshu ordered. "Is there something wrong?"
"That lady-in-waiting" he pointed at Laura who trembled already having an idea on what was to come "leave her here and you can be on your way."
"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"
It was insulting to both Laura and the Empress, to punish her lady-in-waiting who was still noble for insulting a mere slave if not commoner.
"No. She's my lady-in-waiting." Navier raised her arm in front of Laura as if to shield her from her own husband.
The wind picked up sending the leaves flying. "Although she may be your lady-in-waiting, she is still one of my subjects."
He called over the two guards who were with him "Lock her up for three days."
"your majesty" y/n called catching his attention "when did you become so benevolent to punish a noble for insulting a woman of unknown or commoner origins?"
"Y/n" Navier uttered her name. Y/n stepped forward to hide her face from Navier, she felt so angry her face might give away her emotions as she forced a smile.
But she saw Rashta who smirked when Sovieshu ordered the guards, she was no innocent woman.
"She called an injured woman filthy." He glared at her.
'should I. . . ?' she thought before shaking her head, to fight the woman who had the foolish emperor wrapped around her fingers wasn't worth it for now, but she couldn't let Laura or the Empress be humiliated.
She clenched her fists as she lowered her head
. . . . .
Navier placed a hand on Y/n's shoulder but it didn't last as she kneeled on the grass "then, punish me instead." Her voice wavered as she trembled.
"Y/n!" Laura yelled guilt bubbling in her stomach, having known she had caused this mess.
Sovieshu was silent staring at her, her head lowered staring at the grass. He sighed, his determination wavered but seeing Rashta get his attention with a new set of tears spilling from her eyes, it had been resolved.
"Lock her up for 5 days."
"You said three days." Navier stated.
"This should serve as your lesson." Sovieshu replied 'besides despite Y/n's cowardice she has been trained to a certain degree so it shouldn't be too harsh compared to punishing that lady-in-waiting.'
'5 days is no big deal, Gramps' punishment was much harder than this!' Y/n though as the guards started to pull her away, albeit awkwardly since they each knew each other.
⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⁀➷｡˚⸙͎۪۫⋆ ༄
Y/n started to think she was dying with how Navier and her ladies-in-waiting pampered here.
She was shock to find Navier waiting for her as she was let go of the cell she stayed at. But she didn't mind since she thought Navier did it to show her support and because of their friendship.
But it seemed that they were keen on going far and beyond just for her today.
She was grateful, but 'I CAN WASH MYSELF-!!!'
Finally convincing the ladies-in-waiting to leave her be, she had let herself soak in Navier's own personal tub.
She raised her cupped hands, the water spilling from them. The rose scent had filled her nose as she relaxed.
The time she spent locked up had served with analyzing the situation, 'Rashta is clearly not Navier's Ally.' she thought standing up as she pushed her wet hair back with a frown 'I need to keep an eye on her.'
'Luckily Sovieshu looks down on me enough that he doesn't seem me as an immediate enemy or else he'd have found some way to kick me out.'
'As soon as possible I need to find some dirt on Rashta, first I should confirm whether she is a slave or not.'
"Y/n are you done?" Laura peeked through the door, her cheeks turned red seeing Y/n's toned body (luckily from behind only, from the stomach up.)
"Ah Yes I'm done, you can leave the towel right there." She said turning her head to Laura but the orange haired girl was so embarrassed she had shut the door quickly.
After changing back into a different outfit that Navier prepared her, which was a (Choose what you want ^^ ) due to her uniform being in their words 'smelly.'
Navier then prepared different desserts and drinks for the blonde from her favorite food to the latest trends.
"Here Laura," she raised a cute delicious cupcake towards the lady-in-waiting "This is your favorite right?"
"But those are for you."
"Then let me share! You also went through a lot, his majesty must have scared you." Y/n smiled as the orange haired girl took the cupcake and took a small bit, tears spilling from her eyes "That's why, you don't have to feel guilty. I'd take the blame for any of you."
Her hand reached on Laura's back, rubbing it soothingly.
'That man is unbelievable.' was on the back of her mind, as the blonde woman had cursed at the emperor.
Y/n perked up, turning to the door when a knock came. When Navier gave the approval, one of the emperor's servant came.
Y/n's role in the story isn't as major as Navier and Heinrey or Heinley (depending on translation) but nonetheless she is an important supporting character in their lives, and
she is her own main character in her own life ❤️
+ Random
Navier: *breathes*
Y/n: *faints*
Heinrey: she's perfect ❤️