Lady To Queen Chapter 62

Chapter 62 – Sister, Are You Not Going to Marry?

Translator: Jem

Editor: Crystal Crater

Meanwhile, Petronilla went to the Ephreney estate after a while of not visiting. The butler had called for her. Petronilla stood in front of the mansion doors, wearing a pleasant lemon-colored dress with a single ribbon tied to the back.

“You have arrived, Lady Petronilla. Please, this way,” the butler said with a polite bow.

“Hello, butler,” Petronilla responded with equal courtesy as she entered the mansion. There didn't seem to be much that changed from her prior visit. The butler guided her to the living room. After taking a seat and sipping the peppermint tea provided to her, she then asked him, “Did something happen?”

“It is not a big issue. However, it is also not a matter that I can resolve on my own, so I have brought you here. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“It is alright, sir. The Duchess asked me to watch over the estate, so it is only natural that I come. Now, what is the issue?”

“It is regarding Madame January's extravagant spending on luxury items, My Lady.” The butler cleared his throat before continuing. “The expenditure during the first half of the year is much higher than the given budget, but I do not believe it's in my position to say so.”

Oh dear, Petronilla thought to herself. This was quite a complicated problem.

“What is the Duke's position on this?”

“He is…normally very generous on the matter.”

“Ah.” It was a useless question to ask, and Petronilla gave a curt nod. Of course. Weren't all noblemen willing to spare no expense for their mistresses as opposed to their wives? Even the Emperor was the same.

Petronilla masked her expression of contempt.“Then what would you like for me to…?”

“Oh my, Lady Petronilla.”

At that moment, a high-pitched voice cut through the conversation. Though Petronilla had only heard the voice once, she knew instantly to whom it belonged to. She forced a smile on her face, and turned to look at January.

“Hello, Madame. It has been a while.”

“Indeed, My Lady. It has truly been a while.” January gave a small smile. “But what brings you here…?”

“I asked for her,” the butler said. At his words, January's expression cooled slightly, but her smile did not slip from her face.

“Ah, I see. For what reason…?”

“I don't believe I need to explain it. Don't you agree, Madame?” the butler said.

January looked visibly displeased, the butler didn't yield even the slightest, and maintained his straight posture. Petronilla admired the butler's nerve, and immediately cut in.

“It is nothing of importance, Madame. It is but a trivial matter.”

“…Ah, I see,” January said slowly. “I did not realize. I apologize.” She gave a thin smile. “Then please make yourself comfortable,” she said, before leaving the room.

After she disappeared, the butler let out the breath that he was holding in. It seemed that Petronilla was on his side.

“The most important thing, of course, is where the Duchess stands on this issue,” Petronilla said.

“Now, butler, please inform me what the Duchess would do.”

“You ask despite already knowing the answer, My Lady.”

At the butler's words, Petronilla smiled. “Who can say? What makes you believe that I already know the answer?”

“Is it not common sense?”

“There are many households that do not know the concept of common sense. But then again, if I were one of them, then the Duchess would not have wanted to use me. Am I correct?” Petronilla pointed out.

“Indeed, My Lady. The Duchess always kept a constant eye on Madame January. She dislikes the concubine's extravagant spending more than anyone in the house.”

“Then the problem remains unresolved?”

“It's not that simple. The Duke and Duchess have fought many times over the matter.”

Ah, then a resolution was unlikely to happen. Petronilla nodded in response. “It's quite unlikely for that to occur.”

“Yes. There needs to be a compromise, but it's not easy. It's a difficult task.”

“I see,” Petronilla said. “Butler, do I have to give a solution by today?”

“Not necessarily, but the sooner, the better.” Madame January was quite persistent, after all.

Petronilla nodded once again in understanding. “Please do not worry. I believe that I can solve this.” After that, she slowly rose from her seat. “I will come back in three days with a solution that will satisfy all parties.”

“I'm truly grateful, my lady.”

“Think nothing of it.”

With a light smile, Petronilla exited the parlor room.

“…That's why I need your help, Rizi,” Petronilla finished.

After hearing her sister's story, Patrizia nodded. That was quite the troublesome problem, indeed.

Patrizia began to think. 'What would be the best way to benefit us?'

“Whatever we do, we will need to make a choice between the two sides,” Petronilla said.

“Alright,” Patrizia replied. “There's no way that the concubine and the wife will get close to each other. While we can't expect them to be bosom sisters, we need them to at least be neutral towards each other.”

“I agree.”

In any case, Duchess Ephreney was on Patrizia's side. On top of that, she also had Duke Witherford. Even so, it was difficult to choose, as both the concubine and the wife were Duke Ephreney's women. However, anyone could agree that choosing the wife over the concubine would be the best decision.

“We don't know anything about his concubine, nor do we know of the concubine's background. There's no harm in being careful,” Patrizia said after a moment's thought.

“That's right. Whatever we choose to do, we need to settle this with the least amount of trouble.”

“For now, tell the girl to make a list of every luxury item that she chooses to purchase. From that list, let her keep only the essential items and throw away the rest. That will be the best way to go about this for now.”

“I think so, too. It'll be best for the future to play for Duchess Ephreney's favor.” Besides, January probably already thought of Petronilla as someone on the Duchess's side, given that the Duchess tasked her for watching over the estate.

Petronilla gently changed the subject. “Let's stop talking about that… So, Rizi, did anything interesting happen here? It's been so quiet in the Queen's Palace, so I'm out of the loop.”

“There isn't anything newsworthy… ah, actually there's one thing. Maybe even two?”

“What is it?”

“Rosemond came back a little earlier than expected. And apparently, she'll soon become the adoptive daughter of Duke Ephreney.”

“…What?”

What kind of situation was that? An incredulous expression flashed on Petronilla's face, but she hastily rearranged it to look more neutral.

“Well, it's something that I expected to happen sooner or later,” Patrizia replied. “The simple notion that she'd even stay within the family of a baron is…”

“Oh, Rizi. How are you so unbothered by this?”

“It's not that I'm unbothered, but there isn't anything else I can do,” Patrizia said dejectedly. “Rosemond's probably planning on attacking me with the backing of a higher-class family. She already came by and made a ruckus this morning.”

Petronilla dropped her head in her hand, as if she was nursing a headache. It hasn't even been a full day since Rosemond came back to the palace, and already she was stirring up trouble.

“This needs to be settled as soon as possible.”

“I know, but it's still too early. We need to wait for the right time. Until then, I just have to continue my work diligently and wait for my chance,” Patrizia said, and Petronilla simply nodded in agreement. They were truly a mature pair of twins.

Petronilla turned to another subject. “Mavinous's National Founding Day will be next week. Have all the preparations been completed?”

“They're nearly finished. Only some minor things that need to be taken care of are left. Nothing that I need to concern myself over,” Patrizia replied.

“That's good to hear.” Petronilla gave a small smile before asking, “Then care to have a date with your older sister that day?”

“Hm…no, I can't. I'm sorry, but let's do it next year.”

“Why not?”

“I think I'll be exhausted by then. I'll need to socialize with the nobility all day.”

“That's true.” Petronilla gave a nod of understanding.

It was then that Patrizia asked her sister a question. “Sister, are you not going to marry?”

“…What?”

Petronilla was slightly taken aback by the sudden question, but Patrizia looked unperturbed and asked again.

“Hm…well, I'm already married, so I thought that it was about time that you got married as well.”

“Goodness. Rizi, do you really want to do away with me that quickly? If I'm married, then I can no longer serve as your lady-in-waiting.” Petronilla had a forlorn expression on her face, and Patrizia gave an amused chuckle before replying.

“That's not it, Nilla. I didn't mean it like that.”

“Then?”

“Well…I just hope that you'll meet a good person and be happy.”

“Such nonsense.” Petronilla dismissed the possibility in a stern voice. “I'm already happy.”

“Really?”

“You're by my side, and so are our parents. Is this not happiness? My marital status shouldn't decide whether I'm happy or not.”

“Whoa, Nil. You sounded cool for a second.”

“I know.” Petronilla flashed a cheeky grin to her younger twin. “There's nothing more I enjoy than spending time with you like this. I still wish to be free from restraints such as marriage.”

“That doesn't mean you'll never get married, right?”

“If a good person shows up, then I'd marry them within five minutes.”

Five minutes was quite the exaggeration. Patrizia giggled in delight.

“I want to meet my niece or nephew soon.”

“I want to as well.” Petronilla's tone then turned teasing. “My little sister, isn't it more realistic to expect that from you than me?”

“Why?”

“Because I'm still a maiden, and you're married.”

Mirya shifted uncomfortably as she listened to the sensitive conversation, but Patrizia replied in a light manner.

“Nilla, my husband and I have no intentions of having a child until at least five years from now. I just need to hold out until I can become pregnant with a son.”

“Did someone offer to give you a son? What a staunch dream.”

“Well… I guess I'll need to keep trying until I do bear a son.” Patrizia hastily ended the conversation there, then moved on to a different topic. “In any case, try seeking out a handsome suitor during National Founding Day. Who knows? Your fated partner might show up.”

“Nonsense. Something like 'fate' is so wearisome to me now.”

“Huh?” Patrizia asked with an odd expression. “What do you mean by 'now'?”

“I don't believe in fate anymore. No, even if I believed in it, that's not something that I can decide anyway.”

That was true. Patrizia nodded in silent agreement before getting out of her seat with a short, 'hup' sound.

Petronilla looked at her curiously. “What's wrong?”

“I want to eat some bread. How about you?”

A small smile spread across Petronilla's mouth. “If it's fresh out of the oven, then I'm in.” As expected from my cute little sister. “Good idea, Rizi. Wait for me.”

Chapter end