Abandoned Empress's Survival Manual Beside the Male Lead - Chapter 67

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 67
Beaet stuffed medicinal herbs into every pocket, crushing them frantically. But her hands trembled so badly that she kept losing her grip, and the herbal juice wouldn’t come out properly.
“Beaet, let me do it!”
Aslan finally took the herbs from her and crushed them himself, then slowly dripped the liquid into Sherkan’s mouth.
“Your Highness, this should help a little. Beaet found it for you…….”
The military physicians had been unable to administer much anesthetic to Sherkan.
His station was far too elevated. If they used more anesthetic than was safe, they couldn’t answer for his life.
But watching Sherkan writhe in agony tore at Aslan and Beaet’s hearts.
That was why Beaet had gone out to harvest medicinal herbs with an anesthetic effect.
She sought out plants gentler on the body, even if their potency was less.
“Your Highness!”
Beaet grasped Sherkan’s hand and wept bitterly.
“Your Highness, open your eyes. We’re here. Just like when we were little, we’re right beside you.”
“It’s all right, Beaet. His Highness has only taken a minor wound.”
“But you’ve always said that since childhood! You said His Highness was only slightly hurt, yet the Knight Commander in our homeland beat him half to death!”
Watching Beaet weep pitifully like a rain-soaked squirrel, Aslan’s heart ached as well.
Beaet and Aslan had served Sherkan together since early childhood.
At first, Beaet had been terribly frightened of him, even revolted by him.
But Aslan understood. Beaet had been only two years older than Sherkan at the time, so it was natural she would be frightened seeing his monstrous form.
In those days, more than ten thousand people lived in the Grand Duke’s Residence.
Yet only those two lived with Sherkan in the cramped, dilapidated Annex Building.
Like fallen leaves trampled together on the ground, the three of them decayed rapidly and darkly.
Even after they moved to the Separate Palace, little changed. It was a miserable, impoverished existence.
“Stop crying, Beaet.”
Nestled in Aslan’s arms, Beaet could hardly stem her tears.
“Your Highness, please rest your head on my lap. We used to do this because we didn’t even have a pillow. Don’t we? I beg you like this. Please wake up…….”
As Beaet pulled away from his embrace and started toward Sherkan, Aslan found himself blocking her path without conscious thought.
“Beaet, you can’t do that anymore.”
“Why? Since childhood, only you and I have looked after His Highness! Why can’t we suddenly?”
“His Highness is a married man now! We can’t continue as we did before……!”
“What does that matter? I’m a physician!”
“Beaet!”
Aslan spoke with firm resolve.
“His Highness has pillows now, and there are plenty of military physicians outside. No physician would place her thigh beneath her lord’s head in such circumstances!”
Beaet bit her lip so hard it went white.
“I was only afraid… afraid that His Highness might never wake again…….”
Aslan and Beaet had not gone to Pasa Imperial Palace.
They had been guarding the Gonet Barracks in the Subjugation Zone overrun with monsters, and had remained there ever since.
That was why they learned only much later that Sherkan had a Grand Duchess beautiful as an angel, a being so noble that a Sun Spirit had chosen her.
Beaet finally buried her face in the back of Sherkan’s hand and sobbed.
Aslan patted her back soothingly.
“Don’t cry, Beaet. When we were little and the Previous Grand Duchess called us to beat us with the cane, His Highness couldn’t sleep, remember? Hmm?”
“My heart hurts so much, Aslan……. Will the new Grand Duchess accept us? You may not realize it, but will she accept me?”
“Why wouldn’t she accept you? I’m only His Highness’s deputy commander, and you’re only His Highness’s physician!”
“But even so, even so…….”
Beaet spoke breathlessly.
“I just want to stay by His Highness’s side…….”
“You can. We endured that hellish time together, didn’t we?”
Only the two of them had protected Sherkan during his childhood, when he was treated as less than human.
In the kitchens of their homeland, Sherkan was always given spoiled food, and the untrained apprentice who served him and the inexperienced physician were tormented relentlessly.
The Previous Grand Duke ignored it, and the Previous Grand Duchess encouraged it.
If Sherkan had not twisted the Knight Commander’s neck with his bare hands—the one who made him bleed under the guise of “training” every day—if the Previous Grand Duke’s eyes had not glinted with satisfaction…….
Then they would have long since crumbled to ash and vanished.
“Why did His Highness marry so young? Other nobles wait at least until eighteen. Why is His Highness so young…….”
“Don’t cry, Beaet.”
Beaet’s sobs ceased abruptly.
“I want us to be three again, like before, Aslan…….”
“……Don’t cry.”
That could never be again.
Aslan swallowed the voice in his heart and comforted Beaet, who could not let go of Sherkan’s hand.
With the blood wiped clean, Sherkan’s face was so devastatingly beautiful that both Aslan and Beaet found themselves unable to look away for a long time.
* * *
“The Grand Duchess of Gonet enters!”
“Open the gates at once!”
“Move!”
After days of riding, we finally entered the Imperial Capital.
The Imperial Palace of Gaiard looked completely different from how it had appeared during the Coronation Ceremony.
At the very peak of the highest spire hung Gaiard’s new flag, fluttering in the wind — an eagle embroidered in gold thread on a deep indigo ground, its wings seeming to spread with each gust.
‘They’ve done impressive work here.’
All traces of the chaotic war had been erased, and the walls bore fresh whitewash everywhere.
The newly laid marble corridor stretched endlessly, with acanthus-leaf reliefs gilded in gold standing in rows along each pillar. With each shift of sunlight, every leaf gleamed like a tiny sun.
Fountains rose high among the sprawling gardens. Water caught the light and shattered into a fine mist as it fell, even bringing a sense of refreshing coolness.
‘Beautiful, even in autumn.’
Fallen leaves lay thick beneath our feet, creating a dry rustling sound each time the carriage wheels passed. Even these seemed arranged with care, sorted by color.
‘So this is what the dignity of a victorious nation looks like.’
War spoils gleaned from conquered lands were displayed in every corner of the Imperial Palace. Everything was new, everything was valuable.
After going deeper inside for some time, the Chief Steward brought me to a halt before a certain palace.
“This is the Separate Palace where Your Highness will reside.”
I was momentarily taken aback.
“Here?”
“Yes. His Majesty has commanded that you be treated as the highest-ranking guest.”
I was utterly astounded.
Of course, having become the sole Grand Duchess in this empire, and indeed across the entire continent, I’d expected a fine palace. But this…
But this was…
Far too magnificent…
‘This is the Central Palace that the emperors of Pasa have used for generations, isn’t it?’
Were they mad?
I wanted to ask why this palace had been given to me, but the Chief Steward who escorted me forward showed not a flicker of hesitation.
“Wow…”
Even the maidservants from Gonet followed behind, softly marveling.
The frescoes on the ceiling gleamed with vivid color, the paint still barely dry, and the silk curtains draped along the walls hung crisp and unwrinkled.
A faint smell of fresh wool drifted from the newly laid carpets. Everything I touched felt pristine, unmarked by any hand.
Winged cherub sculptures in gilded relief stood along the wall pillars as if holding up the ceiling, and through their midst a crystal chandelier cascaded like a waterfall. Though only a few candles were lit, hundreds of crystals scattered light with blinding brilliance.
For all its hasty completion, it somehow appeared all the more fresh and luxurious.
The sensation of having an entire five-star hotel suite prepared for me alone was truly exhilarating.
“Tell His Majesty the Emperor I am grateful.”
“How could it be otherwise? His Majesty will be greatly pleased.”
The Chief Steward withdrew, and the maidservants immediately set about unpacking our belongings with quick efficiency.
I climbed to the second floor and stepped out onto the terrace.
The entire Imperial Palace lay spread before me in a single glance. It truly befitted a place reserved only for emperors.
“There are so many people arriving.”
Briget, who stood beside me, answered.
“I hear over thirty thousand will be attending.”
“Good heavens. That’s practically the population of a small city.”
Luxurious carriages bearing family crests passed through the main gate in succession, and from within them descended nobles dressed in elaborate finery, their numbers seemingly endless.
The sounds of servants carrying luggage, of guides directing guests, of nobles greeting one another after ages apart — all mingled together to fill the vast palace with noise.
It appeared this magnificent Imperial Palace would provide meals daily for all its guests.
Briget and I pored over the menu that the Chief Steward had left, deciding what we might eat that evening.
The offerings were appetizing just to read.
Of course, not every nobleman would receive the same menu. There would surely be distinctions based on rank.
I felt envious.
When we held banquets at home, we had to serve chicken feet instead of finger food, and grape-rinsing water instead of wine…
In fact, having spent all our money purchasing coal mines, we’d now resorted to showing pictures of chicken feet instead, and serving cup-rinsing water instead of anything else.
‘Sigh.’
I was just conspiring with Briget to smuggle out a few expensive bottles of wine while we were here, when—
“Your Highness, a visitor has arrived.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes. A Countess Shana, she said her name was…”
“…!”
In an instant, the color drained from Briget’s face beside me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————