Lady To Queen Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – Your Majesty, I Offer My Congratulations

“This is a map of the hunting ground, Your Majesty. Can you see this part marked there?”

Raphaella pointed to a red circle drawn on the map.

“What is that?” Patrizia asked.

“It's another passage to the hunting grounds, Your Majesty. We managed to find it after an extensive search, and it's not something a regular person would be able to find. No wonder no one knows about it.”

“So the assassins came through there?” Patrizia's vision swayed in front of her. How on earth did Rosemond know about it? No, the assassins? It was difficult to find the place even when seeing the topography above. So either Rosemond or the assassins knew about it beforehand…

The only problems were that Rosemond's lips were firmly sealed, and Patrizia didn't know where the assassins went. They were in the mountains, and it would be impossible to track them down.

Patrizia pinched her forehead. The situation was slipping away like water through her fingers.

“Then it would be easy to destroy evidence. Rosemond is cunning,” she said.

“Your Majesty, don't you think it strange? It's a place that was near impossible for us to find. How could Lady Phelps know it was there?”

“I believe it's strange too. But someone else should have used the passage before.”

Raphaella shook her head. “I interrogated those responsible for guarding the forest, but none of them have seen it before.”

“Hmmm…” A troubled expression crossed Patrizia's face. How did Rosemond know about it? That was impossible, unless she was clairvoyant. Patrizia struggled with various theories, but none of them seemed plausible, so she sighed and decided to turn back to Raphaella.

“You've done well these past few days, Dame Raphaella. You should get some rest for today. The other knights can take over.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty.” Raphaella bowed and left the room right away. She had to be tired, as she would usually insist on staying by Patrizia's side.

Patrizia wearily closed her eyes. How on earth could that woman have plotted this?

The outcome of the search was made available to everyone at the next council meeting, and the nobles couldn't hide their bewildered faces when they heard the report. The results only seemed to assure them that this investigation would not end easily. Patrizia, however, spoke in a confident voice.

“In addition to a search, there are other ways to conduct an investigation. In fact, I didn't expect much results from the forest search. Duke Witherford, is there an update on Lady Phelps?”

“I'm interrogating the baroness and everyone around her, but nothing so far, Your Majesty. I'm sure that we'll get good results soon, though,” Duke Witherford said, his face sagging in tiredness.

Patrizia traced a small circle on the table with her finger. “We'll find out the truth, no matter how long it takes. Does everyone agree?”

“Your Majesty.”

Someone spoke up, and she looked up to face Duke Ephreney, the man who had been opposing her on every issue lately. She nodded her head in signal for him to speak.

He clasped his hands. “I believe you're pushing too hard for one specific person to be the culprit.”

The room fell utterly silent.

Meanwhile, an amused smile spread on Patrizia's face. Yes, that was true. She was absolutely convinced that one specific person was the criminal. But she was also convinced she would still act the same even if she didn't hear that name from the assassins' lips. Her gut told her that Rosemond was behind this, and she wanted more than anything to be rid of the concubine. Rosemond, after all, had been trying to get rid of her too since the beginning. Perhaps the strings that connected Patrizia to reason snapped ever since the banquet with the envoys' wives. In any case, it was useless to speculate on what could or couldn't have happened.

Patrizia casually returned a smile. “Duke, why do you believe that?”

“There are others you can question, but you are only targeting those in Bain palace—”

Patrizia cut him off. “I was looking forward to your work experience as an investigator, but you are letting down my expectations,” she said in a level voice as she stared into Duke Ephreney's eyes. “Isn't it normal to conduct an investigation before a motive is discovered? What could be the motive for someone who tried to destroy the Sun and Moon of this Empire? Is it the jealousy of a mistress towards a queen? Or did I make up this play, is that it?”

“No, Your Majesty, I just—”

“Remember what I said before, Duke. I dislike criticism without alternatives. So what do you wish for me to do now? Tell me an alternative.”

He had no alternative. Duke Ephreney was suggesting that she investigate everyone, but that was insane. It would be a monumental waste of effort and time. Nothing was more inefficient than an investigation with no direction.

Patrizia continued to reprimand him. “If you have any other suspects, feel free to bring them forward, Duke. I'll have them interrogated the same way. Even if it's my own family.”

Patrizia's eyes turned elsewhere. “Duke Witherford, please step up your investigation. Shouldn't the real culprit be confirmed before the Emperor wakes up?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I'll do my best.”

After the discussion was finished, Patrizia took a deep breath, and she shuffled her papers to tackle the next item on the agenda. It was on an internal palace affair.

“As you all know, the National Founding Day celebrations will be held in the capital in a few months. I cannot prepare for it alone, and the ladies of the palace will help me as is customary. In addition, I will need assistance from a noble regarding the affairs of the upper houses. Is there anyone who will volunteer?”

The room was silent for a while. Patrizia waited, but her patience started growing thin.

Finally, someone spoke. It was a familiar voice.

“Your Majesty, I will take the honor of the position.”

Patrizia blinked in surprise. “Duke Ephreney.”

“My family is of the upper house, and we will be able to help Your Majesty. If you give me the task, I will do my best.”

“Well…” Frankly speaking, Patrizia was a little uncertain. It was easy to infer from previous meetings that he disliked her—so why did he want to help her now? She wondered about his motivations, but there was no way for her to find out. She decided to ask the other nobility.

“What do the others think?” she said to the room.

Duke Vasi spoke up. “Duke Ephreney is the best man for the job, Your Majesty. Showing him grace will also be beneficial for the Imperial Family and for the palace.

Patrizia was taken aback by the words of Duke Vasi, who famously maintained a neutral position. Well, she didn't have time to argue the point when there were no other volunteers.

“Then Duke Ephreney will be—”

Suddenly, the door burst open, cutting her off. Everyone turned in their seats in surprise, and a young man ran into the room, gasping for breath.

“What is it?” Patrizia demanded.

“I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It's urgent, so I had to…” the young man said through his heavy pants.

“Very well. What is it? Did Lady Phelps confess?”

The man shook his head. “His Majesty has woken up.”

His words caused the room to fall into silence, not because the nobles were unhappy, but because they were surprised. It had been nearly a month since he had fallen into a coma. The first one to come to his senses was Duke Vasi.

“Your Majesty, I offer my congratulations.”

Only then did Patrizia blink back into awareness. She hid her stunned expression and ended the meeting.

“I believe we should call it a day. We'll discuss this later. You may all leave.”

At her words, the nobles stood up and began to leave one-by-one. Finally, Patrizia was the only one left in the room. Mirya looked at her strangely.

“Your Majesty, what's the matter? His Majesty has woken up, so you should go.”

“…I should,” Patrizia said in a blank voice, and slowly rose from her seat. After leaving the conference room, she slowly began to walk down the hall towards the Emperor's chambers. Her eyes were like a child who didn't know what to do. Not everyone noticed it, except for Mirya, who had become keenly attuned to the Queen's subtle moods.

“Your Majesty, is there a problem?” Mirya asked.

Patrizia suddenly stopped walking, then she turned her head to look at her lady-in-waiting. “Do you mean me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You don't look happy.”

“…Be careful,” Patrizia warned. Those were dangerous words Mirya said. Was she implying that Patrizia didn't want to rejoice in the Emperor's recovery because she didn't want to step down as regent?

“What makes you say I'm not happy?” Patrizia asked.

“…No, my apologies, Your Majesty,” Mirya said, recognizing her mistake and apologizing quickly. “Your complexion just didn't look well. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“…Be careful in the future,” Patrizia said shortly, then began to walk again. As if she were conscious of Mirya's words, she walked faster than before. However, as soon as she was near the Emperor's chambers, her footsteps slowed again. Mirya noticed it, but she remembered Patrizia's warning and said nothing.

Chapter end