Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 156: Empress dowager scheme.

Chapter 156: Empress dowager scheme.

Meanwhile, at the Empress Dowager’s manor, she lounged gracefully on her feathered chair, draped in layers of silk, while her servants diligently fanned her body with large feathered fans.

A grand table stood nearby, adorned with exquisite dishes....roasted fowl glazed in honey, steamed dumplings wrapped in translucent skin, bowls of golden broth bubbling with spices. The sweet, savory aroma filled the air, tantalizing the senses, but the Empress Dowager hadn’t touched a single bite. Despite her stomach growling loudly in protest, she remained obstinate.

"Please, Your Highness," came the gentle yet concerned voice of her most trusted eunuch. "Just take a few bites. You must prioritize your health, or you’ll fall ill at this rate."

The eunuch was a rotund man with a prominent potbelly. His head, round and gleaming, sat so low it seemed as if it were fused directly to his shoulders, giving the illusion he had no neck at all. His name was Eunuch Frank, and he had served her loyally for over a decade.

The Empress Dowager exhaled sharply, her expression one of frustration. "Those palace chefs are completely useless. I wonder why they’re still permitted to work in the palace at all. Their food only has aroma but no flavor. Nothing but a waste of good ingredients." She placed a hand against her abdomen as another growl of hunger rumbled through her body. "They should all be dismissed. Let them find work in some filthy back-alley inn. The palace deserves better."

Eunuch Frank’s face was painted with concern. "But... Your Highness, the Alpha Emperor enjoys the food prepared by those very chefs. In fact, everyone in the imperial palace seems to enjoy their cooking except you."

"Then their tongues must all be dead," the Empress Dowager retorted with a scowl. "Perhaps they should be examined too."

The eunuch hesitated for a moment before offering cautiously, "Shall I send word to the Imperial Noble Consort? She could come and prepare something more to your liking. After all, she owes her status to you, and serving you even through cooking should be regarded as an honor."

"I didn’t elevate Sorayah to the position of Imperial Consort just so she could act as my personal chef," the Empress Dowager said with a cold chuckle, her lips curving into a smirk. "I placed her there to turn the harem into a battlefield, not a kitchen."

"War already began the moment you made a human an Imperial Consort over werewolves," Eunuch Frank murmured, swallowing hard as his eyes flickered with unease.

The Empress Dowager let out a slow, amused breath. "Exactly. And what do you think the fathers of the Empress and the three royal concubines will say once they discover that a mere human is ruling over their daughters? These men have provided unwavering support to the Alpha Emperor over the years. They hold influence and power, and now their daughters are being overshadowed by a low-born human girl? It’s nothing short of an insult."

"But... the Empress and the concubines are forbidden from sending word to their packs. There’s no way their families will find out unless someone breaks the rules," Frank said, his tone threaded with worry.

The Empress Dowager gave a soft chuckle, one that didn’t reach her eyes. "There’s going to be a royal celebration soon....one held in honor of the Empress’s father, the Gamma Lord, for his recent victory in battle. Even if the Empress and the concubines dare not speak of what’s happening, palace maids and servants are notoriously loose-lipped. Rumors travel fast, especially in a place like this."

Eunuch Frank furrowed his brows. "But what if His Highness the Alpha Emperor finds a way to suppress the consequences? We are talking about Emperor Dimitri, not the late emperor. The officials fear him. One word from him is enough to ruin them. I don’t believe they’ll make any bold moves if they want to keep their heads."

The Empress Dowager slowly rose from her chair, her silken robes cascading around her. "And what do you think I’ve been orchestrating all this time, Frank? You’ve been by my side for years, and yet you still fail to understand the depth of my mind."

She walked toward the open balcony, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "If the officials can’t move against Sorayah openly, they’ll do it in secret. Assassins. That’s what they’ll send. They’ll brand her a jinx and eliminate her quietly, believing they’re protecting the Alpha Emperor, their daughters and avenging their honor."

Her voice turned colder. "Now imagine this, if the Alpha Emperor is found in Sorayah’s chambers during an assassination attempt, it becomes a scandal of treason. The officials would be implicated. If Dimitri retaliates by executing them, he loses valuable political allies. But if he chooses to spare them, he appears weak and bewitched by a mere human. Either way, he loses. And when a ruler loses the loyalty of his officials, it’s only a matter of time before whispers of abdication begin."

She threw her head back and let out a rich, dark laugh that echoed through the marble halls.

Eunuch Frank stood silently, his hands trembling. "Your Highness... you are truly wise beyond measure." He bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the floor.

At that moment, the Empress Dowager’s stomach growled again...louder this time, almost angrily.

Frank looked up, concern lining his plump face. "Shall I summon the Imperial Consort now? She can prepare your meal. Even if she’s destined to die soon... she might as well serve you first."

"You’re growing lean, Your Highness," he added softly. "And if I may say... you need your strength for the drama you’ve set into motion."

"What about that beauty soap Sorayah sent before? Is it still available?" the Empress Dowager asked, her hand still pressed against her growling stomach. Her expression was half-annoyed, half-hopeful, as if the mere memory of that fragrant soap might somehow calm her raging hunger.

Eunuch Frank gave a light chuckle, shaking his head as he responded, "Yes, Your Highness. We still have one piece left. But remember, that’s meant for your beauty...your skin, not your stomach. Even though it smells like a feast, it’s skin food, not actual food."

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