Violet watched as the maids changed Lady Olivia's dress and the doctor checked on her.
Violet lowered her head .
She stared at her flat stomach and wondered if she could be as cruel as Lady Olivia to achieve her desires.
Then , she stared at Lady Olivia's slightly protruding stomach .
Violet imagined the existence of the tiny life inside Lady Olivia.
No. She couldn't do that.
She could never endanger an unborn baby, hers or anyone one else's to achieve her desires.
It will too inhuman to sacrifice a baby for something as shallow as the Emperor's favour.
'How could anyone be so merciless towards themselves and to others?'
' But will I really be able to love this child?'
Violet was lost in her thoughts when the Emperor barged into the room followed by Robert and Marco.
Xander was also standing beside her.
Violet had called him into the room soon after the maids changed Lady Olivia's clothes.
"Olivia! What happened to her?
Answer me , Empress!" , the Emperor exploded.
"Lady Olivia seemed to have accidentally slipped and fell into the pond.
The doctor was just checking on her.
He said that Lady Olivia was alright but the baby might suffer the consequences of the fall."
" Is that true , Doctor?" ,
the Emperor addressed the doctor who was standing at the side of the bed.
" Yes , Your Majesty.
Lady Olivia is alright. She will wake up soon. However , the same cannot be said for the unborn child.
Though he will survive , this incident might
hamper his development to some degree and he might have a slightly weak constitution."
" That's alright."
Violet was shocked .
' That's alright?
Does the Emperor not care about the
well-being of the unborn child?'
"Your Majesty , what are you doing?
You shouldn't move Lady Olivia in this condition." , Violet said urgently as she saw the Emperor trying to carry Lady Olivia.
"Your Majesty , I would advise you to let Lady Olivia rest and take her back when she wakes up. It would be in her best interest to sleep for now."
The Emperor looked at the doctor for confirmation.
"Your Majesty , Her Majesty Empress is right. It is better to let the lady rest soundly for now."
"Hmm. You may leave."
"Thank you , doctor ", Violet said as the doctor bowed and left.
" Empress , what really happened there?
I believe that you have not told me the whole truth?"
The Emperor stared accusingly at Violet.
Violet looked at the Emperor solemnly and replied , " It is true that Lady Olivia fell into the pond due to her negligence.
Your Majesty seems to be suspecting me.
No amount of malice I bear would allow my conscience to make me push a pregnant lady into the pond."
" There is no way Olivia would fall into the pond like that."
" But she did. And that is the truth , Your Majesty."
" Do not think you can hide anything from me , Empress!
Tell me exactly how she got hurt.
I will not forgive you if I find out that you had anything to do with her fall."
Xander tried to defend Violet in front of the Emperor but she gestured him to be quiet.
Xander seemed to be extremely pissed at the Emperor's accusation.
Marco and Robert felt uncomfortable as well.
They knew the Empress well enough to know that she was not such a person to scheme against another.
Though Marco and Robert were not intimate with the Empress , they had exchanged more pleasant, though short conversations with the Empress than the Emperor himself.
To Marco and Robert , the Empress was a noble and kind person who treated people right.
They did not understand how the Emperor failed to recognise the Empress for her worth.
How could he always find fault with her?
How could he always be so suspicious towards her?
How could be treat her so coldly?
And why does he even favour Lady Olivia?
In terms of beauty and grace ,
the Empress was far more beautiful and graceful.
Lady Olivia could never compare to her.
Even if they kept those superficial reasons behind , the Empress had a far more pleasing personality and she was more fitted to be an Empress than Lady Olivia will ever be.
She was diligent and righteous.
Soft yet strong.
Reasonable and wise.
But why was the Emperor so fixated on Lady Olivia?
These were the questions Marco and Robert asked themselves frequently.
" And how could I have anything to do with Lady Olivia falling into the pond?
I did not send her any inviting to visit me.
Did Your Majesty ever question the fact that Lady Olivia was leisurely strolling in my garden as if it were her own?
Did you not find it strange that Lady Olivia was in my garden without any maids following her?
Isn't that too convenient?
And how would I have planned such an incident in my own Palace?
Do I appear to be that stupid to you?"
" Empress! Do not try to shift the blame on to her! She's not at fault."
" And how does Your Majesty know whether she's at fault or not? Is Your Majesty perhaps blind?"
" Empress! That's enough! Truth. I want the truth."
" The truth , you say.
If I told Your Majesty that she jumped into the pond on her own will , would you believe me? Definitely not , right?"
" Of course not! That's simply ridiculous.
Don't try to blame an innocent person here , Empress."
"How hypocrital."
" Empress."
The Emperor gritted his teeth in anger.
" I was simply stating the truth though it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Your Majesty , believe whatever you wish to believe. I do not have the strength to argue with you."
Violet clenched her fist and felt vexed and humiliated at the absolute favouritism of the Emperor.
He just blatantly refused to believe that Lady Olivia would ever be at fault.
Violet left the room followed by Xander without showing courtesy of the Emperor.