Lady To Queen Chapter 49

Chapter 49 – I Suppose She Didn't Trust Me Enough

“Are you all right?” Glara asked.

“…Yes,” Rosemond finally answered. Glara looked doubtful, but she went back to her work.

Rosemond slowly rocked herself back and forth on a rocking chair as she put her thoughts together. She sat in quiet contemplation longer than usual, as she had to consider the state of palace affairs for when she would be gone.

“Glara.” After some time, Rosemond called her lady-in-waiting.

“Yes, Lady Rosemond.”

“Get a pen and paper. I need to write a letter.”

Glara did as she was ordered and brought the requested items. Rosemond brought pen to paper and began to write something down. Her expression was serious at first, but soon she appeared pleasant again. When she finished, she folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it.

“Tell them that the letter must be burned as usual,” Rosemond said, handing the letter to Glara.

“Don't worry, Lady Rosemond. Don't they always do that?” Glara took the letter, but Rosemond said nothing in reply regarding the recipient.

“Lady Rosemond, when do you need the letter delivered?” Glara asked.

“The sooner the better. And as secretly as possible. Understand?”

Glara gave a sly smile. “Don't worry, Lady Rosemond. It has always been the case.”

The lady-in-waiting's confidence relaxed Rosemond somewhat. Glara was a smart woman, and wouldn't do anything to worry her.

A smile spread across Rosemond's lips.

As scheduled, Rosemond left the palace the next morning. The distance to the Darrow estate was considerable, and she was expected to return to the Imperial Palace in about two or three weeks.

After a week since Rosemond was gone, Patrizia felt a sense of relief as if an aching tooth had been pulled out. It was clear that the concubine caused a great deal of harm to her mental health.

Lucio did not accompany Rosemond on her trip, but he saw her off and wished her safe travels. Afterwards, he returned to his office as usual. He settled in front of his paper-strewn desk, then picked up a pen to begin his backlog of work.

“Ah!”

A sharp pain shot through his wrist, and he used his other hand to clutch it. A maid standing outside heard the noise, and she rushed into his office.

“Your Majesty, what is it?”

“Haaah…” Lucio swallowed down his groan of pain. “T-today is…”

“What?”

“What's the date today?”

“The twenty-first of July. But why—ah!” The maid's mouth fell open as if she remembered something.

“Damn it,” Lucio muttered under his breath as he squeezed his aching wrist. Damn it. “I never went…”

The maid did not say anything, and Lucio's expression turned grim. He lifted his pain-free hand and twirled his wrist. The maid looked hesitant, and Lucio ordered her to leave the room.

The pain lingered for a long time. It didn't heal as much as when he cried. His body was indeed far too cruel and clever to him.

Lucio gave a miserable smile.

Petronilla wore a warm smile as she arrived at the Ephreney mansion. The housekeeper recognized her and allowed her inside, and Duchess Ephreney greeted Petronilla as soon as she saw her.

“Young Lady, you're here.”

“Are you leaving today, My Lady?” Petronilla asked in a dismayed voice.

Duchess Ephreney nodded. “I feel like I've put too much of a burden on you…I'm sorry.”

“There's no need to be sorry, My Lady,” Petronilla soothed. “I'll only need a favor later, as you promised.”

“Of course,” Duchess Ephreney said reassuringly. “Don't worry, Young Lady. I'll keep my promise in return for your hard work.”

“I have faith in you. Travel safely, and I hope you'll bring back good news. I'll also pray for your son.”

“Thank you very much.” Duchess Ephreney drew Petronilla in for an emotional hug. “I told the butler all the information you'll need. He has been in the family for a long time, so he'll be reliable.”

“Thank you, My Lady. There is no need for you to worry.”

“And thank you again.”

The door opened and someone came into the room, and Petronilla naturally turned her head in the direction of the sound.

“Ah…”

It was a young woman. She had fiery red hair and striking amber eyes. Judging by her beautiful appearance, Petronilla guessed that she was the Duke's concubine.

Petronilla glanced towards Duchess Ephreney, who was trembling with the effort to suppress her emotions and look calm in front of the guest.

But Petronilla already saw it all. She saw how the Duchess hated her husband's lover so much to react like that. Petronilla wondered if she should say hello to the concubine, but she decided to sit still. It wasn't rude to not acknowledge someone of low status. Instead, Petronilla decided to observe the interactions between her and Duchess Ephreney.

The Duchess calmed her trembling hand and spoke to the woman. “What is it, Jaenory?”

The woman called Jaenory replied. “I was wondering if you had a visitor, elder sister.”

Duchess Ephreney's face visibly hardened at the term “elder sister”, and Petronilla felt waves of anger emanating from her body.

“That's none of your business, is it?” Duchess Ephreney said coldly.

Jaenory gave a soft smile in the face of open hostility. “I was wondering if I could do anything to help. Your position will be empty, and I was worried.” Although she went off-topic on the conversation, her words were meant to provoke Duchess Ephreney. Petronilla noticed it, and she knew that the intelligent Duchess wouldn't miss it as well.

Duchess Ephreney kept her voice in an eerie calm. “How can I entrust you to such a difficult task?”

“I'm going to leave the household affairs to this young lady, a woman from a marquis family with a long history. Didn't I say this before?”

“You did, sister.” Jaenory looked at Petronilla and gave her a dazzling smile. Petronilla kept her face blank, and lifted her lips slightly in return—not too much, not too little, but just enough to look formal.

Jaenory nodded. “She seems good enough to fill in for you.”

“I think so, too,” Duchess Ephreney said with a forced smile. “While I'm away, Lady Grochester will be responsible for the family's household. I hope you will follow her instructions. You are part of this family too.”

“…As I should.” Jaenory looked appropriately obedient, but Petronilla had the gut feeling that being around this concubine for even a few hours would be tiring. Fortunately, she didn't have to spend too much time in this house. She would only intervene in the bare minimum.

Another person entered the room—a servant, this time—and addressed Duchess Ephreney. “You should go now, My Lady. You'll be late.”

The Duchess urgently stood up. She hugged Petronilla for the last time and spoke in a warm voice.

“Please do well, Young Lady. But I'm sure nothing will happen.”

The butler was waiting for the Duchess, and Petronilla nodded quickly. “Yes, My Lady. Please take care.”

“Thank you.” Duchess Ephreney returned to her usual elegant self and left the mansion. All the servants saw her off, as well as Jaenory, but the Duchess pointedly ignored her.

As soon as the Duchess was gone, Jaenory approached Petronilla.

“I suppose she doesn't trust me much, seeing that she asked you to do this,” Jaenory said.

“Not at all, Miss.” Petronilla smiled sweetly and defended the Duchess. “She's just being considerate, and wants to make sure you're comfortable.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Well, I don't really know what human minds are like,” Petronilla answered vaguely. “Anyway, she asked me to help. If I had known you were here, I would have refused.” That was a lie, of course, but Petronilla continued on innocently. “Don't worry, Miss. I'm not going to intervene too much. In any case, I am an outsider, and the Duke wouldn't want me to know what's going on inside the house.”

“You're intelligent, as well as polite,” Jaenory said.

“I'm flattered,” Petronilla answered.

She looked up at the concubine. Petronilla wasn't short, but Jaenory was taller than her. The concubine entered her thirties this year, but she looked almost a full decade younger. Petronilla only had some knowledge of the family's affairs, but she felt pity for Duchess Ephreney. The Duke had no kindness.

“I heard the basic details from the butler yesterday,” Petronilla said. “I'll only stop by when I need to. The housekeeper will take good care of the house.”

Petronilla's role was merely to be a watchdog. Both Jaenory and Duchess Ephreney knew it. It was only symbolism.

“I think Her Majesty is waiting for me. I'll be on my way,” Petronilla said.

Jaenory nodded. “Take care of yourself, My Lady. Butler, please see her off.”

“…Yes,” the butler replied.

Petronilla climbed into the carriage without saying a word. Before the carriage departed, the butler spoke quietly to her.

Chapter end