His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 48

“You don’t know the meaning of the word ‘rest’, do you?”

Raena raised her head from the sketch she was doing, her eyes stopping on Kara, who had just walked into the room with a tray in hand.

“What?” Raena grimaced, gathering her sketch and pushing them under the covers. “I’m in bed, not straining myself and drinking every nasty medicine you give me. What more do you want from me? lt’s not like my legs fell off or my back is broken, is it? If I had it my way, I’d be in the restaurant right now.”

Kara sighed, shaking her head and leaving the tray on the nightstand. Raena gave the small cup that Kara offered her a disgusted look.

“What’s this now? l almost drowned, emphasizing on almost, why do I need to keep drinking those things when I’m clearly fine?” she asked, but drank the medicine in one go anyway. lt tasted like soggy socks, soaked in milk that had expired a month ago, but at least it somehow smelled like strawberries. Raena shuddered, giving her back the empty container and gulping down the water Kara offered her.

“It’s for your weak disposition: You could have caught a cold in that weather, and even colds can be dangerous if left untreated.”

“I haven’t,” Raena murmured.

“Are you a doctor now?” Kara asked in a biting tone. Raena rolled her eyes, slipping out of the bed and stepping toward the balcony. She opened the doors and was just about to walk out when Kara reached out from behind he, closing them in front of her nose. “Bed. Now. Or l am not letting you go to the Empress’s ball!”

“l can’t miss that!” Raena said darkly. “This is Madam Lydia’s only chance of being introduced into high society. I feel like the Empress is going to make a move soon, so I have to use that opportunity to the fullest. That’s why I have to make as many connections as I can that will help with our future endeavors. I can’t rely solely on Raena’s name, which would soon lose importance, or the Empress, who would no doubt turn on me at the first chance.”

“Wait, make a move? As in, try to kill you?” Kara asked, her brows knitting together.

“No, I don’t think she will go as far as that yet. Not at her own banquet, at least. But she’ll probably try to discredit me somehow so that whatever I say in the future is questioned and taken with suspicion,” Raena replied distractedly, striding to her table by the window and grabbing a few more graphites for her drawings. She hesitated but picked up a few more parchments as well.

“And you’re still going?”

“lt’s fine, Ill figure it out,” Raena smiled reassuringly, then strode to the empty nightstand, leaving her items there before climbing into bed.

“What about those new endeavors?”

“Did you replace the current status of all the businesses I mentioned before?” Raena asked instead, grabbing the quill she was using earlier and trying to balance it between her nose and lips. Kara stared at her like she was wondering if she had lost her marbles. “Well?”

“I did,” her friend slowly replied, still watching her.

They are all currently struggling. A few are starting to pick up after some failed deal with Caen, though.”

“How many did we buy off?” Raena asked, her focus still on the quill. The lack of reply made her suspend her game and look at the other woman.

“About twenty-five out of thirty-one,” Kara finally answered. “By the looks of it, we won’t be getting those investments back. They are barely keeping afloat as it is. Or do you plan to do something that will change that?”

“Nope. We’re not doing anything,” Raena replied.

Kara sighed.

“I’m afraid to ask at this point, but I feel like I have to, she said in a serious tone. “Are you… alright? Are you reverting back to Raena’s… original mental state? You’re acting really strange. In just one month you’ve been attacked or got into accidents I don’t know how many times. I don’t see how you can be in such a good mood all of a sudden?”

Raena chuckled, scratching her cheek.

“Good mood? No, I was in a really bad mood until I had an epiphany of sorts. After almost dying again, I have come to a decision. I am sick and tired of being pushed around like a helpless doll, wondering which hand will tear my head off my body. I’m done!” she said, shrugging. “But it’s not like I can suddenly become invincible, so I am going to resolve all of our biggest problems. Please sit, I don’t want to shout.” Raena glanced toward the door and so did Kara, then her maid took a seat next to Raena.

“So… let’s hear it.” Kara nodded, staring at her with a tense, but curious expression.

“First, we need power. Money is power.” Raena said, raising her hand and unfolding one finger. The restaurant is earning well, but with all the investments we made in it, the brothel and the people we hired, it will take some time before we start earning a lot, and we might not have that time. The businesses I told you to buy, they will make us rich.” Raena hesitated, looking at her fingers before returning her attention back to Kara.

“Second, we need to take control of things here. I know the harem is the first wife’s responsibility, but that might soon change. Right now, everyone considers me a dumb pushover that they can get rid of at any point. We’ll show them this pushover can bite back. So, to begin with, I’d like to submit a request for your status to be changed to Head Maid. As such, you’ll have the authority to dismiss and hire staff as you see fit and control everything in the mansion. Once you do, get rid of anyone new or even slightly suspicious. At this point, I don’t think my dear husband would refuse anything I ask.” Kara opened her mouth, but Raena raised her other hand to stop her from speaking. “I know it’s a lot to ask and making you a Head Maid might make you also a target, so we’ll do it only if you agree. I’ll be making Elene my personal maid, which would justify her being with me all the time and she’ll be my decoy for when I am out of the North Palace. I think she can handle herself better than some naive girl and I need the freedom to move at least for times like the Empress’ ball. As long as she just stays in my room and doesn’t leave, no one would be the wiser.”

“You trust her?” Kara asked, raising an eyebrow. “To be your maid?”

“No,” Raena said after a brief hesitation. “At this point, I don’t trust my own shadow.” Kara raised an eyebrow. “But I trust your shadow, don’t worry.” Raena grinned.

“Fine.” Kara sighed. “Was that your epiphany?”

“No,” Raena said, licking her lips. “There is more.

“Oh”

“Third” she continued, adding another finger, “l need to do something about Kassian. He is falling for me, or maybe he already has.” She laughed, scratching her temple. “Which is flattering, but also very bothersome. If he is in love with me, there is no chance he’ll divorce me.

And I have already played my cards with that strategy I mind. So..” she hesitated, glancing at Kara and laughing.

“I figured out how I can get him to forget about me. And since he is stubbornly not paying attention to Elene, I have another person that could seduce him.”

“Who?” Kara frowned.

“Madam Lydia,” Raena said sheepishly. Kara blinked a few times, then closed her eyes. “Before you say anything, think about it. Madam Lydia is already on his radar. She is mysterious, attractive, smart and can give him the things I can’t. I think I might be able to pull it off.” Kara sighed. “We don’t need him to marry her or give her his undying love. We just need him to be interested in pursuing a relationship with her, so when I, Raena request the divorce, he wouldn’t resist that much. I’m sure my brother will assist in every way possible the moment I mention I want out of this marriage. The Prime Minister might be a different story, but he will fold.”

Kara let out yet another sigh, louder this time.

“I have a crazy idea,” she said unexpectedly, and Raena nodded for her to continue. “I know it’s risky, but things have already become too complicated and very soon, something is going to go wrong. So…” she paused, looking Raena directly in the eyes. “Why don’t you just tell the truth to the third prince? Tell him you’ve been pretending all this time to protect yourself. Come clean about everything. It is a gamble, but I am positive that there is a bigger chance of him feeling relieved than angry. I mean, I have seen how he looks at you. The only thing stopping him from expressing his feelings is this charade. And I don’t see why he would be mad about you successfully creating a business. If anything, he might want in, seeing how he is trying to establish himself in the trading circles. Having a wife with such a successful business would only benefit him.”

“We can’t” Raena said darkly.

“If you’re worried about me, don’t. He knows I am important to you and if he executes me for deceiving him, he’ll lose your favor. I’ll be fine.”

“We can’t” Raena repeated, firmer this time.

“Why? You like him! He likes you! This might actually develop in a healthy, loving marriage. Do you know how rare that is among nobles?” Kara continued. “It’s much better than tricking him yet again and increasing the chances of being caught. Because he will have a limit of how much he is willing to be made a fool of.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Kara,” Raena said, sliding off the bed and taking a few steps away. “If it was just that, then maybe l would have considered it. But it’s not possible anymore, I have already betrayed him in a way he will not forgive.”

“Don’t tell me you and Zen have…” Kara whispered, horror appearing on her face.

“No, no, no,” Raena said quickly, raising her hands defensively. “That’s not it.”

“Then what?”

“You know how the Empress generously agreed to support the restaurant and use our venue for her social gatherings?” Kara nodded tensely. “Well, it wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart. I promised her I’ll support Rissen for the throne. And I kind of blackmailed her into supporting me or I would reveal things I know about her and her son that can get her executed for treason.”

Kara stared at her with an open mouth, then let her face drop into her hands. She stood like that for a few minutes and Raena was afraid to speak or even move.

When Kara straightened again, she had her usual cold and collected expression, which she used to talk to everyone but Raena.

“So this is why you said it’s better if I didn’t know,” she said in a neutral tone, and Raena winced. She hated it when Kara did that, it was impossible to read her. “Why? Why would you choose to support the second prince? You don’t even like him and l am positive you don’t think he is capable of running an Empire!”

“Because the first and third prince are going to be dead soon,” Raena said with a heavy sigh. Kara’s mask cracked, and her eyes widened again. She glanced toward the door even though Raena’s voice had barely been a whisper, and rushed toward it. Raena frowned as her maid yanked the door open, sticking her head out and looking around. A few seconds later, she got back in, striding back to Raena.

“I thought I heard someone,” she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat before locking her worried gaze on Raena. “How do you know that? You didn’t arrange…?”

“Of course not!” Raena exclaimed, grimacing. “I would never kill anybody!” Kara continued to stare at her as if trying to replace a hint that she was lying, then sighed in relief. “You’ve noticed I know things, right? Things that have not happened yet, but that always happen just as I say they would?”

“Yes. You keep saying the stars told you,” Kara replied. “Which makes no sense, but so far you have not been wrong.”

This is one of those things. Kassian will be executed for treason soon and Yulien will be poisoned.

The second prince will survive.” With every next word, Kara’s face grew paler. “So I had no option but to bet on the horse most likely to win.”

“Why not try to prevent it? You..”

“Because there is no guarantee it would work. I don’t know when or how exactly it happens. And if we do try, I will no longer know what happens next,” Raena said in a serious tone. “Not only that, but we’ll be putting me, you and everyone we know in even more danger. These problems with Craidal, they will escalate, and my plan is to be far away from here before that happens. I know that might be selfish, heartless and disappointing, but I am not some hero who can brandish a sword and save everyone with their bravery. I don’t want to die a second time or see you get hurt. So I will make sure to save the ones that are closest to me.”

“Are you sure about this?” Kara asked with a serious expression. “I know I am always talking about how you’ll get me killed, but this is the fate of the Empire we’re talking ab..”

“Kara,” Raena interrupted her, putting her hands on her friend’s shoulders. Even though it was her plan and it was their best chance of surviving all this ordeal, she couldn’t help but feel her heart clench when she thought of the scene in the book where Kassian was executed.

Staring stubbornly forward, with his head raised high, he didn’t beg, didn’t argue, he didn’t show a hint of fear as they tightened the noose around his neck.

Still, the evidence against him had been irrefutable and even the crown prince couldn’t replace enough to exonerate him. Trying to interfere and help would only drag her down with him. After his fate was sealed, his entire household was punished, so she had to get divorced from him before that happened.

“Fine,” Kara finally said, her voice quieter than usual.

“But you need to tell me everything. No more secrets. I can’t have your back if I don’t know what’s going on.

“Alright.” Raena nodded, pulling her back toward the bed. “You’ll want to be sitting down for this.”