Lady To Queen Chapter 77

Chapter 77 – Do As You Please

It was Duke Ephreney and that woman, Rosemond. Despite her headache, Patrizia forced a smile while looking at the other two.

“It's been a while, you two,” she said.

“Ah… Your Majesty the Queen is also here.”

“Greetings to the Moon of the Empire. Glory to the Mavinous Empire,” Marchioness Ethylaire greeted with perfect etiquette. It was probably because the Emperor was here. Rosemond wouldn't have greeted her that way otherwise.

Patrizia put on a cynical smile and turned towards the Duke. “I heard that Duchess Ephreney still hasn't been able to come back from her trip out of the country.”

At those words, the Duke's mood turned into despair. “Yes, Your Majesty. My son seems to be in critical condition…” he said sorrowfully.

“Oh my. I do hope that he recovers soon. Don't you agree, Marchioness?”

 

“I also feel quite saddened for my brother's condition. If it weren't for my position in the royal family, I'd rush to his side immediately…”

Patrizia could only smile wryly as she watched Rosemond put up such a despicable facade.

Duke Ephreney turned to Lucio. “Your Majesty, there is something that I must speak of with you.”

“Is it urgent?”

“It is something related to government affairs, Your Majesty. It is about the budget regarding the aid for the poor.”

Lucio gave a sigh. “I suppose even on a day like this, I cannot spend some leisurely time with the Queen,” he said in a playful voice. His inner thoughts seeped through his cold smile. Duke Ephreney flinched at the response. Lucio stared at Patrizia, but she did her best to avoid his gaze.

Lucio looked at her a little longer, but she refused to meet his eyes. “Let's go, then. Queen, keep in mind what I told you,” he said finally.

Lucio then left with Duke Ephreney, leaving Patrizia and Rosemond to themselves. Patrizia rose from her seat tiredly, only to be stopped by Rosemond calling out to her.

“Your Majesty, are you ignoring me? That makes me a little sad,” she moaned.

 

“How harsh of you. I was only excusing myself for a break because my body isn't feeling well. Looks like you still like to jump to conclusions.”

“I don't know. I feel like that is no different from yourself, Your Majesty.”

“…You would do well to keep your mouth in check. I've felt this before, but you really are much too rash,” Patrizia snapped.

“If I was being impudent, please accept my apologies.” The smile Rosemond wore was in contradiction to her words, but she continued on, unperturbed. “May I ask what flowers you have prepared for His Majesty's birthday bouquet?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I'm rather curious.”

“…Pandora was put into ruins because of her curiosity,” Patrizia warned in a low voice.

“Oh goodness, Your Majesty. You would compare me to her because of my curiosity for mere flowers?” Rosemond simpered.

“There's no difference. Pandora 'barely' opened the box out of her curiosity, yet disaster struck all the same.”

“If you don't want to tell me, just say that you don't.”

 

“Wouldn't you think it'd be unfair if only you knew the secret?”

“I only thought that I had a right to know since I am His Majesty's royal concubine.” A wicked look crossed Rosemond's face. “Ah, Your Majesty. Do you know?”

“What?”

“It's regarding the Deposed Queen Alisa.”

Patrizia glared at Rosemond. Not many people really knew the matters involving Queen Alisa. Her deposition wasn't because of a sin of filial betrayal, but of over-extravagance. Of course, Duke Oswin, who was a relative of the queen, gratefully accepted this ludicrous reason over the truth.

“You dare to bring up His Majesty's weakness?” Patrizia growled in a chilly voice.

“As I thought.” Rosemond's face turned cold as she continued. “You know. Though I expected it.”

“It's clear why you expected it.” Patrizia then leaned close to Rosemond and whispered into her ear. “You think I took advantage of that to sway His Majesty's favor towards me, right? You probably think that's the reason that you've lost His Majesty's favor and I, in turn, gained it.”

“Goodness,” Rosemond exclaimed regrettably. “So you know everything, Your Majesty. Isn't that why I fear you so?”

 

“You're rather keen on lying. I know that you don't fear anyone but yourself.”

“If you continue to see through me like this, of course I'd be scared.” Rosemond's lips twisted into a wicked smile. “Then you should know this as well, Your Majesty.”

“If His Majesty meets another woman like you, then he'll treat you exactly the same way he's treated me,” Rosemond said confidently.

“You seem to think that I'm afraid of that.” Patrizia shook her head in bemusement. “Unfortunately, you're wrong. I don't love His Majesty—though it looks like His Majesty is in love with me.”

At those words, Rosemond's fingers trembled. The amusement on Patrizia's face grew tenfold.

“It seems you're jealous.”

“Please,” Rosemond scoffed.

“How could you not be? I understand. After all… I heard that he hasn't visited you even once since the National Founding Festival.”

“…Why are you being like this to me again, Your Majesty?” Rosemond said in an irritated voice. “And after sending me those flowers and that perfume.” Rosemond leaned close to whisper ferociously into Patrizia's ear. “Now that you know you're a barren woman, isn't it time for you to lie low and stay quiet? Wasn't that the reason you sent me those presents?”

 

“That's correct, Marchioness.” Patrizia forced a smile as she continued. “I really want to get along with you.”

“If so, then why are you being like this, Your Majesty?” Rosemond countered coldly, but Patrizia didn't even blink as she responded.

“I said that I wanted to get along with you. I never said that I would meekly accept insults thrown at me.”

“Moreover, the one who started a fight with me…was you, right?”

“As I thought,” Rosemond said, confirming her suspicions, “Your Majesty has absolutely no intention to 'get along' with me.”

“I already said that's not it. You're far too suspicious,” Patrizia negated, a quiet smile gracing her lips. “You really need to learn how to take your elders' words at face value.”

“I apologize, but I am much older than you, Your Majesty.”

“Is that important?”

Patrizia laughed silently as Rosemond scowled at the covert jab at her older age.

 

Hah, as I thought. Those gifts were just tricks. A mere facade? Rosemond stared at Patrizia carefully, when she was suddenly reminded of something and let out a small, 'ah.'

“That reminds me, Your Majesty. I stopped midway on the subject of the deposed Queen Alisa.”

“That story…”

“Do you know what flower that woman liked the most, Your Majesty?”

“…I don't.”

“It's…”

“Queen.”

Just then, Lucio interrupted the two's conversation. Patrizia looked behind at the man who had called her.

“Your Majesty…” she murmured.

“We must dance,” Lucio said.

 

“I apologize, but I really don't feel like it.”

“The emperor and his queen must have the first dance of a party.” Lucio leaned in towards Patrizia and whispered in her ear. “Isn't it a spouse's duty to save their partner's face?”

Rosemond was watching them—obviously with cold eyes. Lucio was right. Patrizia sighed inwardly. She wasn't a child. She needed to avoid acting impulsively on her feelings. Otherwise, she would be no different from Rosemond.

Patrizia nodded quietly. Lucio smiled.

“Then, if you would excuse us.”

He then politely escorted her away, Patrizia matching his footsteps like a doll. The music was starting, and Lucio gently held Patrizia's hand.

“You can step on my feet,” he said.

“…I'm sorry?”

“I'm saying that you can do as you please.”

With those significant words, he started to dance. Patrizia had never danced at a ball before, but she had received training due to her upbringing as a lady and was able to follow his lead from memory.

It was easy for one's breath to mingle with their partner's when dancing. Patrizia was suddenly reminded of that night. That night where their breaths, scents, and ultimately their bodies combined… She inadvertently let out a groan, as if she could feel the pain from that experience again.

“Are you alright?” Lucio asked worriedly, to which, Patrizia nodded heavily. Damn it, she cursed inwardly. “It's a little difficult.”

At her words, Lucio decreased the intensity of the dance. Patrizia was both grateful and uncomfortable for his consideration. She closed her eyes, her body continuing to dance without ceasing.

“Patrizia.”

For the first time that day, Lucio called her name. At the climatic point of the dance, he called her name, and with a groan, Patrizia responded in a low voice, “Your Majesty.”

Of course, it was not called from affection. Feeling dizzy, Patrizia stumbled, and Lucio easily caught her with his hand.

“Queen, are you alright?” he asked, bewildered.

“No.”

Though she put in her best effort to dance, she confessed truthfully.

“I'd like to rest. Please… I'm so… dizzy…”

The song was only half-way done, but Lucio didn't care. Thankfully, several other people had joined in at some point and surrounded them, so not much attention was directed at the two. Lucio helped Patrizia over to the terrace where there was more room to breath. He looked at her worriedly as he sat her down on the bench.

“Are you alright? Shall I call the doctor?”

“It's not that severe. I'll be fine after a small break,” she reassured with a smile—the first smile she showed him that night. Seeing that smile, Lucio froze momentarily, though Patrizia didn't notice in her attempt to gather her bearings.

“You're free to go now, Your Majesty. I will head back in after a while,” she said.

“It's fine.”

“It's bad enough that I have to sit out from the banquet. If you disappeared as well…”

“If both of us are gone, people will probably assume that we've excused ourselves to kiss,” he said in a low voice, and Patrizia's mouth snapped shut. After resting on the bench for a while, she then asked, “Your Majesty, there's something I'm curious about.”

It was about the thing that Rosemond mentioned earlier.

Chapter end