Lady To Queen Chapter 23 - What's The Queen Doing Here?

Chapter 23 – What's The Queen Doing Here?

It was not a strange subject. It was not even an absurd one. But to these four people, at least, it was.

The Emperor.

Raphaella flushed as she belatedly realized she made a mistake. Moreover, she knew better than anyone that the Emperor was not sweet to his queen.

“My apologies. I misspoke,”  Raphaella said quickly.

It was an absurdity that Patrizia couldn't speak with her friends about her own husband, but she put her bitter thoughts aside and resumed the conversation with a more casual expression.

“Misspoke? It's quite alright, Dame Raphaella. Lady Phelps is more likely to participate.” Patrizia sidestepped the issue by speaking of a more taboo topic. Of course, that didn't serve to lighten the mood.

Mirya spoke. “I don't think Lady Phelps will participate. She can ride a horse, but that's it.”

Patrizia nodded at Mirya's reply. The lady-in-waiting served the longest in the palace, so she would know these things. Patrizia guessed that Rosemond might have some talent, but that did not seem to be the case.

“It wouldn't be bad idea for you to participate, Your Majesty," Raphaella said. "This may be the opportunity to raise your status.”

“Well…” Mirya said, shooting Patrizia a look of concern.

However, Mirya could not stop Patrizia if she wanted to participate in the contest. The queen of the country wasn't mocked if she wasn't skilled at hunting, and even in simple participation she could be seen in a better light. In addition, Patrizia would be able to increase her authority, which had been weakened by Rosemond.

Patrizia wondered whether to choose risk or safety. In the end, she decided to ask Petronilla her opinion.

“Nilla.”

“….”

“What do you think, Nilla?”

Petronilla blinked as if she had been caught daydreaming, and she turned her head towards her sister.

“Is it better if I stay back?” Patrizia asked.

Petronilla gave a moment of thought, before replying. “…No.”

Patrizia was surprised at Petronilla's answer. “Is it because of the same reason as Ella's?”

“Yes. It's true that Baroness Phelps diminished your authority to some extent. I think this would be a great opportunity to gain it back. Historically, there were only a few queens that were deeply acquainted with martial arts.”

Patrizia blushed shyly and cleared her throat. “I'm not that good. It's been a long time since I rode a horse.”

She hadn't been on horseback since she returned to the past, and neither during the past three years in the last life. When did she get so busy?

“Then let's go. If I can't handle a horse, can you do it for me, Dame Raphaella?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. But you'll be able to do it.” Raphaella smiled broadly and clapped Patrizia's back. “For the sake of your dignity, of course. But maybe it won't happen.”

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*

Patrizia thought it best to put in some practice in order not to embarrass herself at the hunting competition. Her purpose was to establish authority as queen, and she couldn't waste the opportunity on nothing.

“Why don't you practice horseback riding beforehand?” Raphaella said in response to Patrizia's troubled face.

Patrizia looked at her friend. “Practice horseback riding?”

“There's a forest behind the palace you can use. You probably don't know about it. It's not a well-known area.”

“Ah…” Patrizia did not know there was such a place, even when she was in the palace her last life. Did Petronilla know? After a brief moment of contemplation, Patrizia returned to the conversation at the sound of Raphaella's voice.

“Would you like to go? You'll love it.”

“Can I really go?”

Raphaella looked at Patrizia as if she were crazy. “What place can the master of the palace not go? Well, maybe someplace that only the Emperor has access to. But never mind, you don't have to worry about it.”

“Well…then it wouldn't be too bad if we could go there.”

“Do you want to go now?” Raphaella said, practically bouncing in her seat. She seemed more eager about it than Patrizia.

“You must really want to go,” Patrizia said with a big smile.

Raphaella let out a giggle. “Oh, you caught me."

Patrizia stood up from the couch. She didn't have much to do anyway, and the weather was beautiful and perfect for horseback riding. Mirya brought her equestrian clothing and gear, and Petronilla helped Patrizia dress.

“The weather's sunny and cloudless, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You won't have to worry about any rain.” Mirya smiled and placed riding boots on Patrizia's feet.

When Patrizia was dressed, she looked awkwardly at herself in the full-length mirror. It had been a while since she wore these kinds of clothes.

“It looks good on you,” Petronilla complimented from behind.

Patrizia flushed in embarrassment. “It's been so long that it feels weird,” she murmured. It had been three or four years. Suddenly recalling her memories, she smiled and turned to her sister. “It's been less than a year. Now, let's go out.”

*

The sun shone warmly overhead, and Patrizia relaxed and smiled for the first time in a long time. When was the last time she experienced this feeling? Ever since she returned to the past, she was constantly pained from a thorn in her side. Was her happiness because her sister was next to her, or what it just contentment for this very moment?

“I think you can ride this horse, Your Majesty,” Raphaella said, tugging along a white horse beside her with a proud look. The horse's pure white mane shone in the sun.

“I don't know much about horses, but it looks like an excellent steed,” Patrizia said with a wide smile. “What's its name?”

“The stablemaster says her name is Sally. She has an excellent pedigree.”

“Really?” Patrizia carefully climbed on the horse's back, and she found herself quickly adjusting to the reins. Perhaps it was because it really hadn't been that long ago her body rode a horse. She turned to everyone else with a slightly excited look.

“I'll go ahead alone.”

“Alone? Your Majesty, it's dangerous,” Raphaella said worriedly.

However, Patrizia grinned as if everything was alright. “It's been a while, and I want to run. I'm not a beginner, so don't worry.”

Raphaella looked uncertain. It wasn't that she didn't understand Patrizia's mind—after being surrounded by maids and ladies-in-waiting 24/7, one would desire some time alone. But she was still worried. In the end, she spoke in a firm voice.

“Very well. But don't go too far, and come back in half an hour. If you don't return, I'll come for you right away.”

“Don't worry,” Patrizia sang in a clear voice, and started her horse on a gallop. Raphaella stared at her gradually receding figure.

“Will she be okay?”

“You know that Rizi's not a beginner. She'll need some time alone, too,” said Petronilla.

Raphaella gave a nod. “Yes, well. I hope everything will be okay."

“I hope she'll take all this time to release all the stress she's been under. I feel bad seeing her work so hard these days,” Mirya said, and everyone present nodded in agreement. Patrizia needed a break of her own.

*

“Woah, woah,” Patrizia said, tugging on the reigns and slowly bringing her horse to a stop. They had been galloping through the quiet forest for a while now, and the horse came to a graceful halt. Patrizia carefully jumped to the ground.

“…Good.”

They were in the middle of the woods where it was slightly damp and cool, but Patrizia liked the fresh air on her nose. Thinking it wouldn't be bad idea to talk a walk, she started to move forward, tugging the reigns in her hand so the horse would follow her.

“I didn't know there was a place like this,” she said admiringly as the forest floor leaves crunched underneath her boots. She spent three months as queen, and three years as the queen's sister. During that whole time, she never knew that such an area existed.

She gave a wry smile and petted her horse's mane. The horse neighed in contentment, but then suddenly bit her hand.

“Oh!” Patrizia yelped and withdrew her fingers. It wasn't too painful, but the wound was deep enough to bleed. Damn it. A swear came out of her mouth.

“Do you still need a trainer? Ugh…no matter how much I talk to you like this—”

Saleuleug.

A strange sound caught her ear, and she stiffened. There was someone else here. Who on earth could it be?

Patrizia nervously cast her eyes around. There was only one other person who could enter this place besides herself.

“Don't tell me…” A sudden thought struck her. She bit her lip and looked up at a person approaching. He was also wearing equestrian clothing, and he looked down at her with an impatient look.

Naturally, his title flowed out of her mouth.

“Your Majesty the Emperor…”

“What are you doing here, Queen?”

It was Lucio.

Chapter end