His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 99

“Are you sure you don’t want to get in with me?” Raena asked as she sunk into the pool to her chin, looking at Kara, who was lying comfortably on one of the sunbathing chairs. Her maid had declined the offer to wear one of the extra swimsuits Raena had made for guests, saying that they were too revealing for her, and was now lying in her dress with her skirts lifted to her knees and a serene expression on her face. “It’s one of your last chances. Fall is almost here and soon it would be too cold for the outside pool.”

“I’ve survived over twenty years without using an outside pool. I’m sure I’ll manage.” Kara murmured without opening her eyes and Raena scoffed, turning her back on her and swimming across the pool. The water was cool and refreshing and if it wasn’t for the wind that picked up from time to time, the weather would have been perfect.

It’s not like she had anything to do and sitting still in the mansion was driving her crazy. She had even finished her other work ahead of time.

“His Highness hasn’t been around that much these days,” Kara said suddenly after Raena had crossed the pool a few times. Raena swam to the edge, catching herself on it and wiping her face before looking at her friend. Kara was watching her now, a thoughtful look on her face. “A few days ago you were practically joined at the h*p. Is everything alright between you?”

“What are you, a psychic?” Raena grimaced. “We’re fine. I think.” Raena leaned her hands over the edge of the pool, resting her chin on them. “I think he is annoyed that I insist to go back to the restaurant and every time I mention a man’s name, he gets this look like he is imagining me having s*x with them. What am I supposed to do, sit here for the rest of my life as a houseplant and bask in his light whenever he sees fit to shine on me?”

“Well, that’s a very unappealing way of putting it, but most women don’t mind. Besides, it’s not like there is nothing to do the whole residence needs running, noble ladies are expected to host social events and attend such. You can also pick out a hobby like embroidering or do some drawing, or even learn to ride a horse. Don’t look down on others just because you prefer a different lifestyle.”

“I didn’t mean it like that…” Raena sighed, pushing herself off the edge and submerging herself under water. When she swam up, Kara was sitting up and still watching her. “I just don’t that for myself. I enjoy running a restaurant and I enjoy being among people. And I don’t want to change that – which I have told him. And I am not interested in other men – which I have also told him.”

Kara gave her a smile full of pity and Raena rolled her eyes, twisting around and preparing to do another lap when the sound of approaching steps made them both turn. The steps stopped right outside the of the cloth surrounding the space and a woman cleared her throat.

“Your Highness, you have a visitor.” The servant announced.

“Who?”

“it’s. um, His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

The servant said with a shaky voice. Raena forgot to keep kicking with her legs and sunk down, but quickly swam up and spat the water that had invaded her gaping mouth. She glanced at Kara, who seemed equally surprised, then looked back at the spot where the servant was staying.

“Did he say why he’s here?” Raena asked, swimming towards the edge and climbing out of the pool.

“He said he would like to have a conversation with you.” The servant replied. “He also said he is curious to see your outdoor pool since he had heard so much about it.”

“The heck?” Raena muttered, accepting the long robe Kara offered her and wrapping herself tightly in it. She wiped her face and glanced towards the water, then sighed. “Fine. Bring him here.”

“Do you think this is such a good idea?” Kara asked in a hushed voice.

Raena spread her hands and turned towards her.

“This thing covers more than my dresses do. And he is Kassian’s brother, if he is jealous of his own brother, there is something wrong with his head.” Raena said, and Kara gave her a pointed look before raising her hands in surrender.

They waited for a couple of minutes until the sound of steps returned, this time of three people. The cloth was pulled aside and one of the maids stepped in, holding it up. Yulien lowered his head as he stepped through, smiling brightly as his eyes took in the surroundings before stopping on Raena. She noticed his bodygquard trailing behind him, but the scary-looking man remained outside.

The maid stepped out as well, leaving them to stare awkwardly at each other.

Kara cleared her throat and Raena quickly curtsied, feeling entirely foolish in doing it in a bathrobe.

“There is no need for that,” Yulien said quickly, waving his head. “There are no other people here, so we can discard the formalities.”

When Raena raised her head, he was moving around, eyes inspecting everything with wild curiosity as if he was making measurements and calculations in his head. He stopped by the sunbathing chairs and stared at them before looking at Raena with a raised eyebrow.

“You lie on that and sunbathe. You can get a nice tan and relaX under the sun.” She explained and he nodded in understanding, glancing towards the clear afternoon sky. He then crouched down by the water and dipped his fingers into it.

“The sun warms it.” He said, smiling at her approvingly. “But I guess it will be too cold soon “

“Yes, this is a summer activity.” Raena nodded, glancing towards Kara, who just shrugged her shoulders. “May I ask what is the reason for your visit, Your Highness? You must be really busy at the Imperial palace with… everything.”

He flashed her another tight-lipped smile, then got up and shook the water off his hand. He wiped his fingers on his pants then looked back at them.

“Can I try this?” He asked, pointing at the pool. Raena’s eyes widened.

“Are you serious?” She asked without thinking.

“Yes, I find new ideas fascinating and as you said, this can only be done during the summer.” He said, throwing his hands in the air. “If you find it uncomfortable, I understand.”

Raena hesitated, glancing towards Kara whose eyes screamed ‘NO! loud and clear. What Kara didn’t know, though, was that they stood in the presence of the future Emperor and they couldn’t Just say no to him.

“Kara, please bring His Highnessa bathing suit” Raena said, hoping she wouldn’t regret her decision. Kara didn’t move for a second but then quickly disappeared out of the encirclement. When Raena looked back at Yulien, he seemed confused.

“It’s something you wear when you swim. I can’t really have you here naked, can I, Your Highness?”

“of course not.” He said with an incline of his head, then continued to look around until Kara returned. Raena stepped outside while he changed, glancing at his guard, who regarded her with a silent nod of the head. A loud splash came from behind her and a moment later Kara lifted the cloth, giving her a hard look before stepping out.

“I’ll go bring you some refreshments, Mistress.” She said in a bitingly polite tone, walking away before Raena could tell her to send some of the other servants nearby. Once she lost sight of Kara’s back, Raena took a deep breath and stepped on the other side by the pool, gaze stopping on the figure in it that was running his hands through the water with almost childish glee in his eyes.

“This is nice.” He said while she made her way to one of the chairs. “I’ll have them make one in the Imperial Palace if you don’t mind.”

“You can do whatever you want when you become Emperor, Your Highness,” Raena said, crossing her legs and making sure her robe was covering them. Yulien glanced at her with a mysterious smile, then returned to playing with the water. His long, dark hair was falling down his back, sticking to his neck and shoulders. “Why are you here, Your Highness? Are you looking for Kassian?”

“You’re calling each other by your first names now, that’s cute.” He laughed. “I did go to the Main Palace first, but I was told he was out following a lead on the Craidal insurgents. So I dropped by to see you instead. I have something want to discuss.”

“With me?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Alright, what is it?”

“I want you to come work with me,” Yulien said without hesitation, making his way towards the edge of the pool where she was sitting. “To make the Empire better, I need smart people with new, fresh ideas and a lot of courage to stand for them. I need people who won’t bend when offered money or break when pushed against the wall. I believe you’re such a person. You also seem to have an acute knowledge of business and trade and you are good at making opportunities for yourself. Also, you have a way with people and you can work a man into doing whatever you want – and that would be helpful for you since most of the people working for me right now are men.”

“I don’t think your brother would like that very much.” Raena pointed out with a sour smile.

“Probably not.” Yulien chuckled, looking away. “He’ll probably even get angry at me for offering you this, but my duty is to my country first and to my family second. And missing on utilizing a good asset is practically a crime in my book.”

“Is that how you view people? By how useful they could be to you?” Raena asked, leaning her head on her hand.

“For regular people, judging people through the prism of their emotions and moral values may be normal, but the higher your position is and the more people you’re responsible for, the less those emotions and values matter. It doesn’t matter if a man beats his wife every night or gets pleasure from watching people cry in pain as long as he can lead men into battle and come back victorious or create a solution to a problem others find unsolvable. It might sound ugly to you, but when you’re in my position, you see a lot of ugly and evil things. And sometimes you need to pick to the lesser evil to win against the bigger evil. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Raena murmured, scratching her forehead. “It’s still a very sad and lonely way to live

“True.” Yulien smiled, completely undisturbed by the pity in her eyes. “That’s why I keep amusing people like you and your husband close by. It was entertaining to see how your drama unfolded, almost like watching a play.”

Raena had to try really hard not to scowl or roll her eyes.

“You’re making it really hard to like you sometimes, Your Highness.” Raena pointed out.

Yulien laughed, pushing himself off the edge of the pool and heading for the other end.

“So?” He asked when he returned. “What is your answer?”

“I politely decline, Your Highness,” Raena said, meeting his eyes. “For one, I do not see people the way you do. IfTlearn someone is beating his wife every night, I might have his balls cut off, no matter if he is the strongest commander of the army or the smartest person in the world. And also, you pushed my husband to pick up on an occupation for which he clearly doesn’t have the mindset. I think he needs me here way more than you do there.”

Yulien stared at her with a smile, then shook his head.

“To think I’ll be jealous of my little brother.” He sighed, chuckling to himself. “My wife will most definitely leave me if l wasn’t next in line for the throne.”

“Then maybe give your wife another reason to stay.” Raena shrugged. “Looks fade and power isn’t everything.”

Yulien laughed, glancing towards the chair next to her. Raena followed his gaze to the neatly folded towel, then she got to her feet, picking it up.

Yulien hoisted himself up and Raena covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. When she met his confused eyes, she lost it, bursting into laughter. His confusion seemed to grow as she covered her eyes, handing him the towel.

“What?” He said impatiently.

“I’m sorry, this.” Raena kept laughing trying to catch her breath. “That’s really not a good look on you. Especially since my maid must have made a mistake and given you a bottom that is supposed to be worn by a woman.”

“That explains why it was so tight,” Yulien said, thoughtfully while wrapping the towel around himself with an exasperated sigh. Raena burst into laughter again, her attempt at composing herself turning utterly unsuccessful.