Lady To Queen Chapter 40

Chapter 40 – Looks Like You've Changed A Lot

A few of the maids who recognized Patrizia bowed to her.

Patrizia nodded briefly in acknowledgment.  “Who's in there?”

“Just the Emperor and the head doctor, Your Majesty,” a maid replied.

“Announce me.”

The maid nodded and turned towards the door. “Your Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Queen Regent is here.”

“Let her enter,” a voice said from the room, and the maid opened the door.

Patrizia inhaled a sharp breath. Why was she so nervous? She stepped inside with a carefully smooth expression. Her eyes fell on the doctor…and him. The doctor stood up and gave her a quick bow.

 

“Greetings to Her Majesty. Glory to the Mavinous Empire.”

“Greetings. How is he?” she asked.

“I just finished his checkup. After a week of bed rest, he should be able to return to daily life.”

“Thank you for your work. You may leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Goodbye.” The doctor stepped out of the Emperor's chambers, leaving only Patrizia and Lucio alone together. She turned to look at him, who was sitting back on his bed. Maybe because he was awake, but he looked less haggard than when he was lying down. She habitually bit her lip against the surge of emotion inside her, and sat calmly by his bedside.

Ah, what should she say first? She scrambled for a clue. What could she say to his empty-looking eyes? State affairs were running smoothly. Should she tell him not to worry about that part? Or should she report that she had not yet caught the criminal behind his condition? Or should she—

“Your face looks worse,” Lucio said.

At that moment, all coherent thoughts were blown out of her head, and she lost her self-control.

“So…you speak nonsense now,” she snapped at him before she could restrain herself.

“I've already heard from the maids that you are regent. It's not an easy job—”

 

“Stop,” she said in a stiff voice. She hated the feeling of something out of place. Was she always this emotional? To the point that she would dare interrupt the newly recovered Emperor?

But she couldn't help it. Something that had been holding up her head was broken. She was in the state of confusion that people felt when they were trapped in chaos. However…Patrizia didn't think she'd start a conversation with these words…

“Stop.”

“…You don't look well. And…you seemed to have changed a lot,” Lucio observed.

Patrizia smiled cynically at his words. She's changed a lot? Of course she did. She finally realized how foolish she was. A queen who was not loved by the emperor was small and insignificant. So she had to change. Otherwise, there was no guarantee of survival.

She replied in a monotone voice. “I know now. How much a queen's power could fall without the emperor's favor.”

When Lucio didn't say anything, Patrizia quickly added to her words.

“Your body…is it alright?” Those were the first normal words Patrizia was able to pull out. Lucio gave her an empty smile. She looked confused at his subtle look, but he continued on to speak.

“I'm sitting here, so I must be fine. That's what the doctor said.”

 

“…You're reckless,” she said in exasperation. Now that her worrying was over, it was time to reprimand him for his actions. “I can't believe you. As the emperor of the nation, you shouldn't sacrifice yourself so easily. You weren't thinking of what you would leave behind.”

Lucio was mildly surprised at her angry tone—no, actually, he was impressed. Has this woman ever revealed to him her emotions before? She was always expressionless, calm, with seemingly nothing beneath the surface; but for the first time, there was a fire lit in her.

“How stupid are you?” she snapped at him.

To be honest, though, Lucio didn't understand why she was angry at him. After all, she walked on her own path from him. Shouldn't she be happy instead of angry?

“Why are you angry?” Lucio asked, looking thoroughly confused.

“I'm not speaking just as queen, but as regent. Can you understand why now?”

“So you're angry at me now because you don't like being regent?”

This conversation is going in a strange direction, Patrizia thought. Why did he interpret it that way, and why was she blowing up over a sick person? Just a day ago, she just desperately wanted him to wake up. Her mind swirled in confusion, but she managed to find the words to speak.

“…That's not true.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“That's…!” Patrizia was at a loss for words. Yes, why was she so angry? Her worry was justified, but there was no reason for her to be angry. She didn't have enough special feelings towards Lucio for that. She didn't know the answer, but reached for it step-by-step.

“I was worried, Your Majesty,” she finally said.

 

He looked skeptical. “Is that a reason to be angry?”

“Isn't that enough?”

“No. If you really didn't have feelings for me and just saw me as 'Emperor', you'd only be worried.”

Patrizia fell silent. Did anger only make sense when one had special feelings for someone else? She already knew the answer, but she wouldn't admit it. Instead of replying, she calmly organized her thoughts. The reason for her emotion was not easy to explain, but she made another attempt.

“I don't like to be indebted to others.”

“Indebted,” he repeated.

“I don't like it. Owing you.”

“So of course I'm angry. And of course, I'm worried too.”

“Speaking of debt, I'm sure I told you about mine,” Lucio said matter-of-factly.

 

“Did I not?”

Patrizia remembered. Lucio told her he wanted to repay his debt, citing what happened at the banquet with the envoys' wives. She didn't believe it back then. It made some sense when she thought about it, but it was certainly not enough to replace the Emperor's life. There was no reason why he should care about something like that.

A troubled look crossed Patrizia's face, but soon afterwards she spoke from her heart. “I'm just confused about this situation,” she confessed.

“Me too. I didn't realize you would get so angry.”

“Haaah…” Patrizia sighed. She didn't mean to get angry in the first place, but her emotions got the better of her. Why did it turn out like this? The thought made her uneasy, and she changed the subject with a tired look on her face.

“As you already know, I've been acting as queen regent since you fell into a coma. I have dealt with major and minor issues, although some were put off due to the importance of their nature. I haven't done too much, but it won't be hard for you to return to work later.”

“…Thank you.”

“I'm just reporting it to you. Technically speaking, what happened is my fault too.”

“It's not your fault. And I don't think it's mine.”

“…The criminal hasn't been confirmed yet.” Patrizia spoke in a slightly lowered voice. “I'm questioning everyone that's a suspect, but it's not easy. The evidence is hard to find.”

“…Is Lady Phelps included?”

“Yes.” As soon as Rosemond was mentioned, Patrizia quickly masked her emotions again. She hated talking about that woman with anyone, especially if it was with the emperor.

Patrizia spoke in a firmer voice than before. “I will find evidence. She will not be able to escape punishment.”

Lucio had a pained expression, and Patrizia could understand why. Patrizia would punish Rosemond, and the punishment would clearly mean the taking of her life.

“Will you stop me?” asked Patrizia.

“What do you mean?”

“If I punish Lady Phelps. Don't you…love her?”

“I used to think like this when I was young—If I was emperor, I could do anything. So I just waited until I was.”

“That's true.”

“No. There is no absolute power in the world. If you cross a line, you'll face the consequences. When that happens, absolute power eventually collapses.”

Patrizia noticed a hint of bitterness and anger in his words. “Then if I send her to the guillotine, and you will stand still,” she said in an emotionless voice.

“Empress,” Lucio said with a sigh. Patrizia nodded, curious about his next words.

Chapter end