Chapter Text
Kaufman had given the love potion to the Empress because of his feelings of frustration for her due to her husband’s recent behavior. Really, having his mistress treated as almost an equal to the Empress? Honestly, Kaufman couldn’t help feeling insulted on behalf of Her Majesty. It had been meant to be a simple gift for the Empress, to help her out with her marital troubles. It was merely something intended to subtly aid her.
So, how in the world did this happen? That potion was not supposed to have been this strong.
…
The Grand Duke’s offer to demonstrate the effects of the love potion, on himself, caught Navier by surprise. She had thought his explanation was plenty already, though she couldn’t deny her curiosity to see the potion in action. Besides, the Grand Duke had graduated top of his class at the Academy of Magic and even claimed to have an antidote-actually, it was a bit strange that he had an antidote, but just as she was about to ask why he had it, the door swung open and the Emperor himself, in all of his glorious assholery- no, not asshole, Navier would not call him an asshole, that was horribly improper no matter how true it was- walked in.
“I heard you were with Grand Duke Kaufman,” he says, like Navier hadn’t been put in charge of setting up trade with Hwa and Grand Duke Kaufman wasn’t absolutely integral to that. Honestly, the nerve of this man. Emperor or not he should at least be able to see that Navier could handle her duties as Empress, thank you very much.
“Grand Duke Kaufman,” the Emperor frowns slightly as he enters the room, and only now does Navier see that the Grand Duke is turned away from Soveishu. Realization hits her like, well, something a noblewoman such as herself would be hit with? A pillow? No matter, she is hit by realization all the same. The Grand Duke must have drank the potion, he must be turning away to avoid humiliation in his current state.
“…Good afternoon, your Majesty.” Kaufman’s tone is light.
“Why are you facing that way? I’m over here.”
“There’s a reason i can’t face you right now, your Majesty.”
Navier steps in before things can get out of hand, “What brings you here, your Majesty? Did you come to bring me that?” She asks, gesturing to the document in her husband’s hands. It would be best to divert the attention away from the Grand Duke at the moment, and she hopes that her husband will pick up conversation with her and forget about the Grand Duke’s current staring contest with the wall.
Her hopes are quickly squashed. “What were you two doing before I arrived? One of you is refusing to look me in the eye and you are covering for him,” Navier stiffened. “Were you two kissing or something, Empress?” Would calling Soveishu a prick be considered proper as long as she tacked ‘royal’ onto the front of it? “Are his lips swollen from kissing?” Ok, that didn’t even make sense, Navier’s lips would be swollen as well if that were the case-
Soveishu grabbed the Grand Duke, turning him slightly to look him in the eyes-
And immediately stepped back. Navier glanced around the form of her spouse, and saw that Grand Duke Kaufman was blushing quite hard, his face a bright crimson- and were those tears? This may end worse than Navier had hoped. Soveishu and Kaufman stood for a moment, staring at each other for a few tense seconds.
And then the Grand Duke Stepped forward.
“It’s lovely to see you,” the gentle smile on his face was accented by the flush adorning his cheekbones. “You look dashing today, your Majesty, though you always do.” He leans in, and Soveishu leans away.
“…What?” His Majesty, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire squeaks, “I don’t know what kind of prank you’re pulling on me, Grand Duke, but don’t push your luck,” he states before hastily retreating and rushing out of the room.
Navier stares after him.
She thinks she hears a faint “Please, call me Kaufman,” from behind her, and turns toward the Grand Duke, who is looking at her with what can only be described as a Royal Stink-eye
“Are you ok?” she asks, moving towards him.
Kaufman frowns. “Please don’t come any closer.” He moves away from her, holding a hand up.
“Ah,” Navier knows what’s going on. “Are you perhaps feeling jealous of me?”
The Grand Duke turns slowly towards Empress Navier, his face still flushed a deep red.
“Grand Duke?”
“Your Majesty, kindly pretend you didn’t hear that,” He was covering his blushing face with his hand, clearly embarrassed. “It seems the love potion was more potent than i thought. And… I seem to have fallen in love…” He looked away, towards the door through which the Emperor had left. “… with your husband.”
Oh dear, thought Navier. This was an absolutely spectacular turn of events.