The Duke's Passion

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Silvia finally broke her silence while staring worriedly at Florence. The hunt has already begun, but the two of them were simply riding their steed leisurely in the forest lane.

"Yes." Florence glanced back at her and smiled. "It's just... I hadn't seen His Majesty and His Highness. I wanted to talk to my brother about something."

"He said he will follow us. I'm certain Prince Heliot will find us, no matter how deep we are in the forest."

Florence pressed her lips into a thin line. "Is this your first time participating in the hunt?"

"Huh?" Silvia's brows furrowed. "No, Your Majesty. I usually come to the capital during this time of the year to join the hunting season."

"You're not the type who enjoys the banquet?"

This time, Silvia chuckled. "Before, yes. But after experiencing things... I appreciate these activities more than attending a banquet."

Once again, silence descended on them as Florence remained silent. The sound of the horse's hoof resonated along with the rustle of the leaves.

"Your Majesty..." Silvia called, getting more and more worried every time the empress remain silent.

"Lady Silvia, what is the late empress like?"

"Pardon?"

Florence turned her head in Silvia's direction."The late empress, His Majesty's mother. Was what she like?"

"Ah... well." Silvia scratched her jaw with her index. That question was not the one she expected.

"To be truthful, the late empress was... selfish."

"Selfish?"

Silvia looked around as if she was scared of her life. "I mean, even though she was the empress, she didn't actually sit on the throne. Understandable since she was in a long slumber when the previous emperor ascended the throne. However, when she awoke, she barely did the minimum work."

"But she is well-loved and popular. Wasn't this season means to remember her all about?"

"It is." The side of Silvia's lips curled up into a subtle smile as her eyes softened. "The late empress didn't like social gatherings. She didn't socialize in high society or acted as a role model. However, everyone loved her and respected her because... she is not perfect and she didn't try to be.

The late empress is capable; she had proven that when she was still a duchess. Even so, her negligence to her duties as the empress was overlooked, not because of that. Her negligence was overlooked because of her actions.

What is it to be an empress? Was it how she handle the high society? Her wits in politics? Or how does she appear?

Before her, we all see an empress as a mother who will take care of the nation. Someone who was noble and beautiful, fitting to stand beside the emperor.

But Lilou... for her, being the mother of the nation means protecting it even at the cost of her life. She didn't do it because she was the empress. She did it because she loved her soil and was proud of it. And that... is enough to touch her subject's heart."

"She sounds like an amazing person." Florence smiled subtly, gazing at Silvia's rear. The latter's eyes were full of affection and admiration. For a former queen such as Silvia to speak about another empress with such respect spoke volume.

"She is." Silvia set her eyes on Florence. "But so was you, Your Majesty. I don't know why you are asking about the previous empress, but you can do things she couldn't. If she is here, she will say the say. Trust me when I say she will admit she isn't fit with the title."

"That makes her even more amazing." Florence took a deep breath, looking ahead. "Someone who isn't afraid of not being perfect. Someone who is free from the restrictive rules that bind us to our titles..."

Silvia pressed her lips into a thin line. This was the first time she had seen Florence look so lonely. Although the empress often looked sad, she usually hid it behind her understanding smile. But now, she wasn't even trying to conceal it.

She couldn't help but see the older version of herself. How Silvia was so lonely despite being crowned as the queen. Not because Stefan couldn't love her, but because of many things. Aside from treading on eggshells, afraid to make a mistake that would stain her forever. Silvia could also understand that this title, the crown, was heavier than what one could imagine.

"You know, Lady Silvia. In our Karo Kingdom, we were born and raised to always think logically. A lot of the nobles decide what will benefit them the most. Love? I have seen no one in my home country bear the same affection in their eyes when describing that word." Florence paused as her eyes narrowed.

"I even believe no one in our Karo believes in love. Who would believe in such an intangible thing? It often made me think I wasn't normal. That maybe, my imagination was just too vast, that I want a happy marriage. A marriage that is bound by love and not just mutual interest." She glanced at Silvia, bouncing every time her steed take a step.

"After seeing you talk about your husband... and after seeing Duchess and Duke Remington, it made me think maybe I wasn't defective. The people in the Great Heart Empire were free to marry out of love or convenience," she continued with a weary smile. "You can say I am a bit sentimental since my relationship with the emperor is the latter. But deep down... I hope he can look in my way. Maybe I am asking for too much since he hadn't brought a mistress, but I just can't seem to get close to him."

Florence released what had been draining her bit by bit. She kept telling herself not to expect from her emperor, but she couldn't help it. Especially earlier, when Kristina and Noah were being lovey-dovey. The two looked so happy; not just them, but also young noble ladies giving their trinkets to their chosen knights.

She also made a trinket for Rufus. Unfortunately, she couldn't give it to him because she couldn't approach him earlier. Also, she didn't have the courage.

"Your Majesty..."

Florence looked at Silvia again and sported a smile. "Don't worry. It's not like His Majesty hadn't made it clear in the beginning."

"He made what clear?" Frustrated, Silvia furrowed her brows and inquired without a second hesitation.

"Not to expect anything from him other than having an emperor."

"That jerk..." Silvia ground her teeth, gripping the reins tighter. "I'll beat him senseless until he gets into his senses."

"You sound very close to him." Florence chuckled seeing that Silvia seemed she was ready to snap the emperor's neck. Her remarks brought Silvia to her senses, though.

"Ah, that..."

"It's fine, Lady Silvia. You and everyone had gone through a lot together. So, it is understandable that you were close to him." As usual, the kind Florence shook her head, not asking for any explanation. "Anyway, you don't have to accompany me. You want to hunt, right? I will --"

"I will stay." Silvia frowned. "Accompanying you is more important for me than winning the contest. Please don't misunderstand. I am not doing this as your lady-in-waiting. I want to stay with you because I like it. I enjoy talking to you."

Florence's heart slightly warmed up at her words. "Thank you, Lady Silvia." There was a long list she wanted to thank Silvia for, but an entire day wasn't enough.

"Your Majesty, how about..."

Silvia trailed off upon hearing a horse's loud neigh and hasty footsteps. She looked back, eyes dilating seeing a horse running rampant.

"Out of the way!" yelled the knight, riding it, waving at them.

"Huh?" Unlike Silvia, Florence had a slower reaction. When she turned her head back, the galloping steed was already close.

"Your Majesty!"

THUD!