Abandoning her lunch, she let June help her change into a thicker outfit because of the cold and went out to join them in the garden fifteen minutes later.
As soon as Rhoda and Anastasia saw Emilia approaching them, they rose to their feet, with smiles playing on their lips.
Emilia responded with a smile as well, wary of them and wondering what their purpose was.
The sound of a breeze and rustling leaves filled the silence between them after and Emilia cleared her throat.
"Your Majesty, your skin is so flawless," Rhoda said sweetly, smiling again. It seemed after what happened, she decided to switch sides and back up the tree of Emilia instead of Eleanor's.
"Truly, none of us compare to you," she went on, and Emilia's fingers paused on her teacup, baffled by her sudden praise.
She is used to getting compliments from a lot of people, but hearing one from her supposed rival who sat while she got hit a week ago felt completely weird.
"Thank you," Emilia replied coolly, blowing gently on the steaming tea, believing there is definitely a reason for this behavior.
Rhoda immediately began to chatter away, telling her about palace gossip and upcoming banquets while Anastasia also chipped in from time to time.
Emilia listened without interest, nodding her head and, within a few minutes, she was already bored, but they didn't seem to be leaving very soon, so she decided to get useful information out of it.
"What do you think of the King?" Emilia asked, abruptly cutting them off.
The vibrant look on both of them dropped as soon as they heard her question and silence fell on both of them.
If Emilia hadn't been there to witness them chatter a second ago, she would've believed they couldn't talk.
"Why?"
"What's wrong?" she asked again.
"We've… rarely met him," Anastasia admitted softly.
Emilia raised her brow in surprise, but also shocked at the same time. She stared at Rhoda as well and she confirmed the same thing.
"You've been married to him for more than a year."
"There is no way you don't know anything about him" she pressed, and they shook their heads still.
Although they have been married to Lucas for nearly two years, they hardly get the opportunity to see him or get invited to his chambers.
The only reason they were able to get married to him in the first place was because of the pressure from the officials for him to have an heir to succeed the throne.
Emilia folded her arms in disbelief as she stared at both of them.
They are definitely beautiful and attractive women, and they are more or less the same age as her.
She originally wanted to see if she could find out what kind of person Lucas has become in recent years so she would know exactly how to figure him out, but it turned out they are not only unable to help her but also need some help themselves.
"But the King treats us well," Rhoda told her, and Anastasia also chipped in.
"He has bestowed us with a lot of property, money, estates and servants. There is nothing else we wish for."
"So, you have had no relationship with him?" Emilia asked carefully, and they lowered their faces, embarrassed.
They both shook their heads.
Emilia sighed and decided to change the topic before she embarrassed them further.
"What about Queen Henrietta then?" she queried,
"Do you know anything about…" Emilia's voice trailed off when she saw the dreadful look in their eyes and stopped.
"Your Majesty," they both muttered, visibly tensed.
"Did I say something wrong?" Emilia pressed.
"We… shouldn't speak of the dead," Rhoda murmured, standing abruptly.
"We must take our leave now, we will visit you another time," they chorused, and hurried away quickly without looking back.
Emilia watched them go, suspicion blooming in her chest.
She tried to ask the servants anything they knew about the death of the late queen, but none of them dared to mention anything else to her aside from what was known by everyone.
If the concubines are also scared to talk, then the King must have ordered it.
She knew Lucas to be reserved in the past, but to not have any relationship with his concubines at all, despite being married to them for long, made her curious about why.
That night, while he laid in bed waiting for her to undress, she was sure that he meant to consummate with her. That had prompted her to stab him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Madam Allison, who came to her and bowed.
"Your Majesty, you will be done with your studies in a few days."
"You should start managing the affairs of the harem very soon," Allison reminded her, and Emilia simply nodded.
She will need to get through her issue with Lucas first before concerning herself with such matters.
"We will see about that," she muttered, standing to her feet, and the servant came over to clear the place.
"I want to take a walk around the palace," Emilia said, and turned to June and Alice, who had been silent behind her.
"I would have servants and…"
"There is no need for that," Emilia refused, beckoning June to follow her and walking towards the space close to her quarters.
She wandered aimlessly for a few minutes before coming to a quiet scene with no one in sight.
Emilia paused and turned to June at that instant, and she immediately delivered a letter to her.
"The young master sent you this yesterday."
" It seemed your plan of restoring the family business really worked out," June informed her, and Emilia grinned as she read the letter.
Thankfully, they still have a few loyal partners who are willing to continue with them, and they have managed to recover their connections with their foreign partners as well.
Emilia's thoughts drifted towards her father at a split moment, and she drew an inhale, putting the letter away and continued to walk while June maintained a distance from her.
"Your Majesty, the wind is strong."
"Perhaps we should head back?" June suggested, seeing she was walking too far, but Emilia didn't respond and continued to stare into the empty space in front of her.
"Your Majesty…" June nudged further and Emilia cut her off.
"I will walk a little more."