A Lesson in Closeness
Two days later, Laniakea was still frantically busy.
“Your Majesty, regarding this matter…”
“And not only the Main Palace—the Empress’s Palace decorations for the coming season…”
“As for when you might hold the first banquet…”
It was not only in her office. Even as she moved through the halls, ministers and staff from the Imperial Palace’s various departments trailed after her in a devoted little procession, arms full of documents, begging her to review their papers first. Ordinarily Lucy would have stopped them cold, but they clung so desperately that even Lucy faltered a little before their sheer force of will.
And so, even on the walk to the Main Palace, Laniakea had to listen and sign. By the time she arrived, she had forgotten entirely the worry of what she was supposed to do once she got there, and felt nothing but genuine relief.
“I survived…”
The people who had followed her all day could not pester her freely before the Main Palace. It was Emperor Hyperion’s domain as well. Watching them stamp their feet, unable to follow, she felt anew how swiftly he had taken hold of the palace—and, at the same time, how far short she still fell.
She lay down on the bed and let out a slow breath. Her chest, pressed flat all day, was still heavy. The Empress’s work was not shrinking; it was only growing. The mere fact that the former empress had handled all of this was enough to stir a measure of respect in her.
Of course the former empress had not done it alone. She had ladies-in-waiting she trusted, and a lady-in-waiting was not merely someone who stayed at the Empress’s side and tended her like a maid. There had been twenty of them, each a specialist in her own field—some versed in imperial law, others in the history of the Empire, some gifted in foreign languages, some skilled in accounts. They had moved as the Empress’s hands and feet. All she had to do was make the final decision on what they prepared.
Even that was no easy task. A sound decision required more than basic knowledge; it required the foresight to imagine what would follow. In that regard, the former empress had certainly been capable. That much, Laniakea could acknowledge.
“Haa…”
She sighed again, long and low. She knew how important this moment was to Hyperion. He was raising an imperial authority that had been shaken, and the slightest problem now would deal a heavy blow.
There’s nothing I can do to help, is there.
She had never been taught such things. Anything remarkable was beyond her. If so, the only help she could offer him was to bring a little order to the chaos of the inner palace, and to give him an heir as soon as she could.
Laniakea glanced at the clock. Gemma would be here any moment.
A short while later, Gemma knocked at precisely the appointed time.
“Good day, Your Majesty. How are you feeling?”
Unlike the plain traveling clothes she had worn at their first meeting, Gemma was in the formal uniform of the imperial physician, her hair neatly pinned up, and she carried a thoroughly professional air. Laniakea tensed all over again. It struck her, truly, that she was about to receive a lesson for the night.
“Nothing hurts. The pain from that day… just as you said, it was all gone after a day.”
The ache below had vanished as lightly as a mild muscle strain.
“I’m glad. If you’re willing, shall we begin the lesson at once?”
“Ah, just a moment. Let me tidy this first.”
Laniakea gathered the documents she had set beside her and stacked them on the table. Lucy could have come in and done it, but the papers were too important; it was better to handle them herself. Gemma watched in silence, then asked,
“Are all of these matters Your Majesty must review today?”
“Yes. There are rather a lot, aren’t there? His Majesty has only just ascended, so things have piled up.”
At that, Gemma’s face brightened.
“Perfect!”
“Hm?”
Laniakea tilted her head at her obvious delight. Why on earth would she be so pleased that there were so many documents?
“They’ll do beautifully as today’s practical exercise.”
The words that followed left her even more lost. What did paperwork have to do with the bed?
A few hours later.
“…”
“…”
Laniakea and Hyperion sat facing each other on the sofa in the office attached to the bedchamber. A short while ago, the Enshi couple had said as much to the two of them and withdrawn.
“Then for today, you need only talk at your ease.”
That was all they were meant to do.
When Gemma had first said she would give a lesson, Laniakea had swallowed dryly. So it had come at last. Even if it was embarrassing, she would learn diligently and do better the next time. She had steeled herself with that resolve, but Gemma said something entirely different from what she had expected.
“I hear you have not met His Majesty very often. Then, if I may ask, how much do you know of his private affairs? What he favors, what hobbies he keeps…”
“Mm…”
At Gemma’s question, Laniakea searched her memory. She and Hyperion had barely spoken. What little they had exchanged over meals was the whole of it, and even that had not lasted long. When they dined together, he only listened quietly to what she said. At first she had tried hard to draw him into conversation, but when it refused to continue, she had ended up eating in silence as well. She had thought he wanted a quiet meal, and that was why he only listened. And so she knew almost nothing about him.
When she said as much, Gemma let out a deep sigh.
“His Majesty, truly… No. It isn’t that there’s a problem. Then, for now, the two of you will need to grow closer.”
With that, Gemma went out. Told to rest until Hyperion returned, Laniakea did as she was told and waited for him over her documents.
Then the sky darkened, and Hyperion arrived at the Main Palace. The Enshi couple seized him at once and all but dragged him to Laniakea’s room, where they announced that this was today’s lesson.
“First, the two of you need to become more familiar with each other. Three years have passed since you were married, and yet you know far too little about one another. At this rate, how is it any different from sleeping with the person next door?”
Neither of them could refute her. At the same time, they were faintly shocked. So that was it. If not for the bond of marriage, that was the distance between them.
While Gemma shook her head, Tamil added a little more.
“There is still plenty of time, so it would be better to proceed step by step rather than rush straight into relations.”
At his words, Laniakea’s heart gave a guilty start. The Enshi couple did not doubt for a moment that the imperial couple would go on together from here. It was only natural that they should. She stole a glance at Hyperion. She could not say outright that they had no time, but she thought it might be better if he urged them on. Surely he wanted that too.
But what came from his mouth was nothing like what she had expected.
“I agree with you. As things stand, how would it differ from lying with a stranger?”
She thought it was not quite that bad… but she did not say so.
“As you said, it would be better if I spent more personal time with the Empress. You may return for today.”
After that, Gemma and Tamil withdrew with wishes for a peaceful night. Before they left, however, the two of them whispered something to Hyperion.
What did they say?
Laniakea worried at her fingers. If they were meant to be at ease, what was she supposed to do?
Then Hyperion spoke to her.
“Are you well?”
“Ah—yes.”
Startled by the sudden question, she moved too quickly, and her hand struck the stack of documents on the table. The pile toppled sideways and scattered in a messy flutter. She hurried to gather them, but Hyperion bent and picked up the papers that had fallen near him. He skimmed them quickly and asked,
“Is there a problem with selecting the ladies-in-waiting?”
“Ah, that is…”
Her voice shrank, afraid he was scolding her for not even having chosen them yet.
“I’m ashamed to say I still haven’t grasped all the families of the Empire…”
She expected to hear him click his tongue. But—
“Then, may I be of help?”
Contrary to what she had imagined, he asked again in a voice that was exceedingly gentle. It even sounded, somehow, pleased.