Chapter 342: Empress and Sophien (3)
In the darkened Imperial Palace, Sophien sat in her inner chamber facing Rohakan, her sudden, uninvited visitor. With a slight smile on his face, Rohakan absorbed her emotions of contempt, anger, and sorrow, tolerating the protracted silence that thickened the strained ambiance.
As if in boredom, Rohakan silently looked around the inner chamber. On a wall, a portrait of a man was hung—the late Emperor of the Empire and Sophien's father.
"He was a great sovereign, and a fine friend," Rohakan said, recalling Sophien's father with a bitter tone.
Sophien, watching Rohakan, leaned her chin on her hand, her eyes narrowing to an intense stare.
"He was also the husband of the Empress you had murdered," Sophien replied.
As Sophien added, Rohakan lowered his head.
“... That is correct.”
Though Rohakan uttered his words in a hushed tone, almost like a confession, Sophien found his demeanor unlikable.
"Rohakan," Sophien said, her teeth grinding as she let out a heated breath.
Rohakan was a name loathed by Sophien, for he was a significant cause of her hatred—not only toward the Scarletborn and the desert but also toward the worst of the Black Beasts who dared to assassinate the former Empress.
"I will now ask once more," the Empress continued, her frigid tone becoming more pronounced.
From Sophien's voice alone, Rohakan seemed to already understand what her question would be.