Lady To Queen Chapter 41

Chapter 41 – A Passionate Love

Lucio spoke. “I'll tolerate any punishment. I grant you royal permission. Just spare her life.”

“Your Majesty, I cannot do that. Attempting to kill or injure any of the Imperial Family are among the most serious of sins. You cannot just make an exception for your concubine.”

“I'm not telling you to do away with the death sentence. I don't care if you make it look like she's gone from this world, just spare her.”

“Please, Queen. You may not understand it, but she is of enormous importance to me. If you allow her to live, I'll never forget it.”

Patrizia couldn't hide her incredulity. “…Why? Why is she so precious to you? Why is she—”

“You won't understand,” Lucio said remorsefully. Patrizia sensed that he was withholding something from her, a secret far greater than she initially suspected. Was she ready to accept the truth?

“Your Majesty. Unless you tell me, then I'll never understand.”

Lucio was conflicted between wanting her to know and not wanting her to know. These curious and complex emotions were something he dare not explain.

Patrizia seemed impatient. “I know she is a woman of great importance, but then what will she do? Officially, she will be dead. Do you think she wants to live a life like that?”

“After that, I don't intend to interfere with her choices. At the very least…I just want to leave her with the minimum options.”

“What a passionate love indeed,” Patrizia muttered sarcastically. Lucio gave a faint smile in reply, and once again she felt a surge of annoyance. However, the moment was broken when he suddenly doubled over and started coughing violently.

“Cough, cough!”

“Your Majesty!” Patrizia cried, and she caught his shoulders to support him. It was an automatic gesture that neither of them realized at first. “Are you alright? Do you need me to call the doctor?” she fretted.

Lucio shook his head. “M'fine. It was just for a moment, there's no need to worry.”

Patrizia was suddenly aware of where her hands were and quickly withdrew them. Oh no. She couldn't control her emotions again. Stupid Patrizia. She bit her lip before carefully speaking.

“I've kept you for too long. I'll arrange for you to return to work in a week, so please rest easy for now. I'll take my leave, then…”

She needed to get away from him. Whenever Lucio was by her side, she tended to get emotional. In the negative way, of course. She stood up, bowed, and left the room.

Patrizia wordlessly strode through the palace halls. Now that the Emperor was awake, she would have to step down as regent. She addressed Mirya walking beside her.

“His Majesty has woken up, so I'll have to step down as regent soon. Until then, I have to complete my work as much as possible.”

“I'll make sure it goes smoothly, Your Majesty. Don't worry about it,” Mirya replied.

“Thank you. What's next on the schedule?”

“Duke Witherford has requested an audience, Your Majesty. He's probably waiting in the Imperial Palace parlor room by now.”

“Then I must hurry,” Patrizia murmured, and hastened her footsteps. She couldn't let the Duke wait.

She quickly reached the parlor room while maintaining her graceful stride. When she entered, she found Duke Witherford sitting at a table and drinking black tea—perhaps Darjeeling—presumably served to him by a maid. She smiled and greeted him.

“It's good to see you again, Duke.”

“Your Majesty.” As soon as Duke Witherford saw her, he stood up and bowed. “Greetings. Glory to the Mavinous Empire.”

“Yes,” Patrizia said, then sat down at the table opposite of him. The Duke seated himself afterwards. Instead of going through the conversational introductions, he went straight to the point.

“I asked to meet you today to speak about the investigation.”

“Yes. I know there has been no progress.”

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty.” He bowed lowly as if to show his deepest regret, but Patrizia's expression remained unchanged, as she already knew the results. In fact, she expected that the investigation alone would not reveal the truth. But Patrizia sensed that it was something else that was bothering Duke Witherford.

She maintained her self-control, and looked at him with an impassive face. “But you didn't come here just to tell me this. There is another reason you wanted to see me, am I wrong?”

Duke Witherford looked impressed. “Not at all, Your Majesty. There is something I'd like you to consider.”

Consider. Patrizia quietly tested the word on her mouth. If Duke Witherford wanted her to talk to her about something, it had to be about the investigation. With that wording, it meant something that required her approval. Patrizia nodded for him to speak, and he opened his mouth.

“If we can't get evidence, we can just make it. In addition, it's not that difficult to do on a critical issue such as this.”

“You are right, Duke. In fact, I think you've already arranged someone for the evidence to point to. Is that right?” Patrizia asked with a knowing smile. From generation to generation, the Witherford family had always been below the Ephreney family. It was likely the person Duke Witherford had in mind was involved with Duke Ephreney.

'I wish it were Rosemond,' thought Patrizia. That was the most realistic person at the moment. If Duke Witherford were to suggest anyone else, Patrizia wouldn't hesitate to push her own plan.

“I can't fool you, Your Majesty,” Duke Witherford said.

“Such are the circumstances. So who is the person you are thinking about?”

“It's the one that His Majesty loves. Everyone knows it.”

Patrizia smiled in deep satisfaction, but she continued her questioning. “But why? I don't understand why you of all people would make this choice. Does she have anything to do with Duke Ephreney?”

All Patrizia knew was that in the past life, there had been some plot between Duchess Ephreney and Rosemond, but even Duke Witherford was probably not aware of this connection. Why would he point his finger towards Rosemond?

Duke Witherford leaned in and replied to her question. “It's possible if you think about it as taking sides, Your Majesty.”

“What do you mean?”

“Duke Ephreney has no regard for you, Your Excellency. I'm sure he'll try to side with Lady Phelps to maintain his grip on power.”

“Do you think I'm wrong?”

“No. It's just…” Patrizia knitted her brows as she thought for a moment. Yes, she knew that Duke Ephreney did not like her much. Even a blind fool couldn't miss his constant antagonism. But why? She never discriminated against any of the three dukes. She tried to treat them all as equally as possible, and the result was a rather friendly Duke Witherford, and a neutral Duke Vasi. Only Duke Ephreney was openly hostile towards her. Patrizia racked her thoughts. What was the cause of it? When no answer came to her, she decided to ask Duke Witherford.

“I want to know why he hates me. I don't believe I've caused reason to upset him.” Patrizia waited for the Duke's reply, and the answer surprised her.

“Your Majesty, why do you think there's a specific reason?”

She blinked. “…What?”

“I told you. Politics is a game all about taking sides. Especially in this case.”

“…You did,” Patrizia said carefully.

“I also know that you treat all the nobles equally. I'm sure all the aristocracy in the advisory council know.”

“But?”

“So they have no problem with your attitude at least. I don't know if it was when you were before regent or queen, but as everyone knows, you were quiet in social circles, and you had a normal childhood. It was interesting to see you emerge from that.”

“Then why didn't Duke Ephreney choose me?”

It wasn't something she could say before the patriarch of Duke Witherford, but she was really desperate. Why, why on earth, didn't Duke Ephreney take her side? She looked at Duke Witherford, but he just smiled.

“I don't know. Perhaps only he knows.”

“…I see.”

“What is certain, Your Majesty, is that we've already crossed a bridge, and we cannot go back.”

Chapter end