Lady To Queen Chapter 50

Chapter 50 – Doesn't Look Good

“…I know why you were asked,” the butler murmured.

“…Yes.” Petronilla gave a small sigh. “I don't think anyone would appreciate me going in and out of the house too often. So please do as much as you can.”

“Don't worry, My Lady. I'll make sure there won't be any inconveniences.”

“I trust you.” Petronilla gave a last smile and then closed the window. As soon as the carriage started moving, she leaned against her seat and slowly closed her eyes.

“Shall I take you to the Imperial Palace, My Lady?” the carriage driver asked.

“No.” She wanted to rest a bit today. She had been tired lately, and now that Rosemond wasn't around for the time being, she decided to take a little break.

“Let's go to the Marquis Grochester estate.”

“Your Majesty, your sister says she will return home to the Grochester estate early today,” Raphaella reported.

“Really?” murmured Patrizia, looking puzzled as she walked through a garden. “That's strange. She usually stays in the palace until evening.”

“She said she was tired, and that Rosemond was not here.”

Patrizia nodded in understanding. “Very well. Nilla does need a break.” She herself was taking a long-needed stroll in the garden. The fact that Rosemond's absence was required for her to have peace of mind was annoying.

Patrizia plucked a small red flower in bloom. “The Emperor must be a little bored today.”

“I don't think he has the chance to. He's very busy these days,” Mirya said.

“He's busy all the time, yet he still had time for Rosemond,” Patrizia replied cynically.

She continued her stroll, and found her favorite part of the garden. When her eyes fell on another person there, she sighed and turned around. She was profoundly lucky.

It was Raphaella who spoke. “Ah, isn't that His Majesty?”

Mirya looked embarrassed by Raphaella's lack of tact for Patrizia, but she replied in a casual tone. “It is.”

Raphaella hummed in interest as she observed Lucio from afar. “Oh, that's a bit strange.”

“What is?”

“His Majesty.” Raphaella turned towards Mirya. “Don't you think he doesn't look good?”

“What do you mean?”

“His complexion. Somehow he looks unwell.”

Patrizia's curiosity was piqued by Raphaella's words, and she stole a glance towards Lucio. He stood still, gazing at the flowers in full bloom. His face looked sickly, just as Raphaella noted.

Patrizia stared at him for a short time, then soon shook her head. “Let's go.”

He wasn't someone that she should be interested in anyway.

She walked away.

Patrizia went to bed a little earlier than usual. Normally she would do so due to the strain of work, but today she had completed most of her tasks. She closed her eyes and let her heavy body sink into the bed.

She was not an insomniac, but she hadn't been able to have restful sleep ever since she became regent. Excessive stress also wore her down ever since she entered the palace.

Patrizia's eyelids slowly dropped in exhaustion, but then they suddenly snapped open. She kicked away her quilt with a nervous look and sat up in bed.

“What is that sound?” she muttered. A noise kept bothering her ears. She called for Mirya, and the lady-in-waiting hurried into the room.

“Yes, Your Majesty? What's the matter?”

“Do you hear it too?”

“What? What do you mean?” Mirya shook her head in confusion.

“That sound. Can't you hear it? Is it only in my ears?” Patrizia said wearily.

“I don't hear anything, Your Majesty. Did you hear it wrong?”

“No, Mirya. I wouldn't call you in the middle of the night if that's really the case. Stay quiet and listen.”

Mirya closed her mouth and threw all her focus into hearing. Come to think of it, she probably did hear something, but it was a very faint sound. She was impressed that Patrizia could detect it.

“I hear it, Your Majesty, but just barely. Does it bother you?”

“I'm sorry, Mirya, but I am a bit sensitive. I wake up easily at small sounds.”

“There's no need to be sorry. How can anyone not understand when you've been under so much pressure these days? I'll find out what's going on.”

Now that Patrizia had woken up, she found it impossible to go back to sleep. Her brow furrowed in a moment of thought, then she stood up and pulled a shawl over her pearl-colored silk nightgown. Mirya gave her a questioning look, and Patrizia explained.

“I'm already awake, so I think I'd better go out myself. I wonder who can make this sound in the palace late at night?”

“Will you be alright? What matters is your safety—”

“There are guards. Can you get me a lamp?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please wait a moment.”

Mirya soon brought her a lamp. Patrizia held it aloft with a subdued expression, and stepped out of the room, bringing only Mirya and Raphaella with her.

Patrizia started walking down the hall with even steps. Who would create a disturbance in the palace at this hour?

She concentrated on the sound, and the three of them did not say a word as they walked through the dark building. The sound was clearly coming from the queen's palace. Was it one of the maids?

Patrizia continued her search with concentrated effort. The queen's palace was large, and it would take a long time to circle through it. However, she simply followed the sound, and it didn't take long for it to grow louder.

It was of someone sobbing. What on earth? She couldn't tell if the crying came from a man or woman, but they sounded like they were in deep despair.

“Your Majesty.” A voice rang out, and Patrizia turned her head. An elderly woman was rushing towards them. Patrizia's eyebrows lifted as she recognized her.

“…Aren't you a maid from the central palace?”

The woman reached them, nearly doubling over to catch her breath. “Where…where are you going?” she gasped.

“I don't have to report to you where I go,” Patrizia said coldly, and the woman flinched. Suddenly feeling sorry, Patrizia decided to answer her. “I was trying to sleep, and I heard a strange sound. Why do you ask?”

“I—” The woman bit her lip. “You don't have to go out. It's not necessary.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, that's…can't you let one of the maids do it?”

“Of course. But this is my decision. You don't have the right to question it.”

“You can't pass—” The woman couldn't finish talking and closed her eyes. Patrizia lifted an eyebrow. The woman was behaving strangely. It was as if she were here to block her.

“More importantly, why is a maid of the central palace here?” Patrizia asked. “Did His Majesty send you?”

“That…is…”

“Why can't you answer? If it's not His Majesty, then who is—”

At that point, Patrizia stopped talking. The sound was louder than before. She glanced at the woman trembling before her and spoke again. “Do you have more to say to me?”

“Your Majesty, you don't have to go there—”

“If it's not important, tell me later. I'm busy now.” Patrizia turned her heel. She could sense the maid fidgeting behind her, and she knew that the woman was there to stop her.

But why? Was there something dangerous in the queen's palace? Something here that she wasn't allowed to see?

Either way, Patrizia had to know. She hurried on, and the sound grew louder.

Recognition flashed through her mind, and her footsteps suddenly halted. No way…it couldn't be…

“…Mirya, Raphaella,” she said, and two voices answered in reply.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Please speak.”

Patrizia's voice was firm. “You two wait here.”

Mirya's and Raphaella's eyes widened in shock.

“Your Majesty…!”

“You go alone? Your Majesty, it could be dangerous.”

If Patrizia's guess was right, then it wasn't dangerous. However, her voice trembled as she spoke. “It's an order. Wait here. Don't…don't worry. Nothing's going to happen.”

Neither seemed to want to follow orders, but they could not disobey. Patrizia did not give direct orders to them very often, but they followed her without her having to use such words. For her to say it…it must be serious. Mirya and Raphaella stopped walking.

“…I won't keep you waiting,” Patrizia said.

She hastened away, and Raphaella and Mirya stared at her retreating figure. What on earth was she thinking?

Chapter end