“It’s certainly been a while since I had the privilege of his company,” Alexis couldn’t tear his gaze from the sight before him, captivating but absolutely disheartening, an ethereal sight of the woman who ruled this empire beside the man he follows. “I feel like I am anything but a cherished companion—a ceremonial ornament, perhaps, but as his wife? It is more of a title I am burdened with.”
This was the first time he has been graced with the honesty of your words, and truthfully, a part of him feels relieved—and perhaps a sick part of him felt even delighted realizing the depth of your dwelling. It’d certainly mean that he has a chance, as slim as it was, a chance was still a chance that he was willing to risk his entire blood for.
He offers a reassuring smile, which in return, he sees you mirror. “My Empress, though your heart may be heavy with the weight of your solitude, know that your presence here is far more significant than the mere title you bear. If it is solace you seek, or understanding, I am here to listen—to be a confidant if nothing else. I offer my ears, my words, and loyalty to you.”
There’s a noticeable shift in your expression, as if you were comforted by his words.
His smile twitches a bit, and it widens.
“Your majesty, if it eases your worries in the slightest bit—love, in its truest form, is not always demonstrated through constant presence but through the foundation it builds over time. His Majesty’s preoccupations with his consorts do not negate the fact that you are the Empress; the one who his heart belongs to.” He daringly reaches for one of your hands, letting his thumb gingerly caress the back of it, and lets out a soft sigh. “It does sometimes concern me how His Majesty seems to overlook you, the most beautiful and remarkable woman in the empire, in favor of his consorts.”
If the Emperor had willingly traversed a path of falsity to you, then Alexis himself was equally willing to walk the treacherous road of deceit to offer you solace.