Lady To Queen Chapter 79

Chapter 79 – A Secret Between the Two of Us

A girl who had mistaken the works of fate received a severe punishment.

This was the story of Petronilla Laura Le Grochester.

When she first saw that man, Petronilla immediately fell for the heart-fluttering illusion. Her eyes only saw the beautiful man who momentarily made her heart stop beating. The young Petronilla truly believed that that man was her fated other half.

'If only I could become that man's wife…'

No one in the entire kingdom wanted to become his wife because they all heard the rumors about His Majesty's favored mistress. Even so, Petronilla wanted that position next to him.

In the end, the woman who had originally been selected to become Queen, Lady Vasi, forfeited her Queen candidacy due to her father's interference, and Petronilla was able to become Queen.

While Petronilla was ecstatic about this turn of fate, that happiness didn't even last a quarter of a day after she had gotten married to Lucio. Her husband harshly told her to not expect his love. Even on the night of their marriage, he had gone to sleep with his so-called concubine.

Still, that was alright. She still loved him, and above all, she was still the kingdom's Queen. He can't throw away his own wife, Petronilla complacently thought.

 

She never received his affection, and, unlike the late deposed Queen Alisa, her family didn't have much political backing. Her authority was decreasing, and the concubine only continued to threaten her position. Her husband's coldness and indifference as well as her uneventful life in the palace only wore Petronilla down.

Her peaceful nature was gradually starting to change. It wasn't a change that she could be happy with.

And though she knew this, she couldn't do anything about it.

Though she cursed herself from growing more wicked, she couldn't do anything to stop it.

Though she hated herself from committing these evil acts, she continued to do them.

Ultimately, when all of Lucio's secrets were revealed, Petronilla realized that they were never fated partners. Though she embraced him and loved him, he was a man who was too heavily scarred and wounded. Petronilla was incapable of embracing all of his scars.

And when she saw that his concubine was able to do what she couldn't, Petronilla realized that the concubine was his fated other half, that her own infatuation was just the delusion of a young girl's romanticism, and that she was completely wrong. But despite her regret, she was already the Emperor's wife.

The concubine was a shrewd woman. In the end, that wicked woman was always one step ahead of Petronilla, and dethroned her through false charges and even brought destruction upon her family. Her precious father and younger twin sister were punished along with her. Petronilla's life ended with the guillotine, and her family followed suit.

In the last moments of her life, she thought this. If she could be born again— no, if she could turn back time to the point just before she met that man, she would make sure that they would never cross paths again. She wouldn't even spare a passing glance at him. She would live on as strangers that had nothing to do with each other.

This is what Petronilla vowed as she closed her eyes in anguish.

 

And when she opened her eyes, she had gone back in time. But not long after she gave thanks to the blessing that God had provided her, she couldn't help but fall back into despair. For this time, her young sister became Queen in her stead.

Petronilla suspected that Patrizia had also come back in time, and when she realized that her younger sister sacrificed herself to save her foolish older sister, tears streamed down her face. Petronilla felt an aching sorrow.

The bright personality that she used to have was slightly dampened. She vowed that since she couldn't change what had already happened, she would change the remaining past— no, the future that had yet to come. Petronilla strongly made up her mind to never let herself or her family face such tragedy a second time.

She decided to help her younger sister. Thankfully, Patrizia was a bright girl and didn't act as foolishly as she did in her past life. Sometimes, she saw Patrizia's unhappy figure, but there was nothing that she could do for her other than let her heart ache for her little sister.

Still, what comforted her was the fact that Patrizia was far more mature at handling everything than she was. Seeing that, Petronilla received confirmation she was never suited to be Queen in the first place.

After mistaking a failed relationship as fated love, Petronilla believed that she could never love again. There wouldn't be any man that could love her, and she would only think of love as a hassle. But it seemed that God really liked to toy with her.

“I fell for you at first sight, My Lady. I love you.”

A man confessed his love to her. If this was the past, then she would have been overjoyed and accepted his confession. However, Petronilla was afraid. She was afraid that this man was doing the same thing that she did and mistaking simple infatuation for real love. If so, then both of them would only get hurt.

“I cannot accept your feelings.”

 

That was why she rejected him, ran away, and avoided him. At least until that old woman gave her a wake up call.

“Do not run away.”

Be loyal to the present. Carpe diem. Hearing those words, Petronilla mustered up her courage once more and made up her mind. Even if she was doomed to have another failed love in this lifetime, maybe…maybe God would bless her with another opportunity to go back in time. Petronilla decided to have courage.

In the midst of that, she was given the opportunity to help her younger sister. Rosemond, that wretched girl, switched the flowers that Patrizia prepared with sages—the flower that His Majesty despised. On top of that, it was done right before the presentation of the flowers! Petronilla believed that this was her chance.

“I can finally say this to you.”

And then,

“I also came back in time.”

Success.

There was no way that Patrizia would not be shocked. Nilla came back in time like I did! With confused eyes, she stared at Petronilla.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“You're serious?”

“That's what I said.”

When Patrizia asked the question again only to find that the answer she was given was the same, she looked shocked. “Goodness, how could this…”

“It's a secret between the two of us, Rizi.”

“Of course… I haven't told anyone yet.” With a dazed expression, Patrizia sat down. Petronilla looked at her pityingly before explaining the situation.

“My memories came back when you became queen. That's why I'm sorry towards you.”

“Even if you came back before we decided, Nil, I would have made the same decision. There's nothing for you to be sorry about, Nilla.”

“…Thank you.” With a tearful voice, Petronilla weakly continued. “Let's go somewhere else. There are many people here.”

The two women moved over to the terrace and began to talk about everything. Patrizia interjected the story with a few exclamations. The part that shocked her the most was when she heard what conspired that night.

“Goodness,” she exclaimed once again. “Nilla, I'm so grateful. If it weren't for you, things could have turned into a disaster. That man detests those flowers.”

At Patrizia's words, Petronilla nodded, her face stiff. “Thank goodness it wasn't too late.”

“It was Rosemond's doing, right?”

“That's right.” Petronilla nodded, and Patrizia's face scrunched up in anger.

“Heavens…”

“Calm down, Rizi. It turned out well in the end.”

“…Yes, Nil. You're right,” Patrizia agreed shakily before asking, “Can I hug you?”

“You're asking that now?” Petronilla said upon the abrupt question, but she was already embracing her. A tear finally dropped from Petronilla's eye.

“You've really gone through a lot by yourself, Rizi.”

“Nil…”

“But now, I'm with you.”

“…Thank you,” Patrizia choked out. “You don't know how relieved I am to have you here.”

SLAP.

Rosemond slapped Glara's face, her face own contorted in rage.

“What happened, Glara? How many times have you failed me?” she quietly seethed.

“…I apologize, My Lady.”

In all honesty, it wasn't Glara's fault. She had perfectly carried out her assignment. Petronilla simply interfered afterwards. Regardless, Glara kept her mouth shut. She needed to quell Rosemond's anger first and foremost.

“If Lady Grochester didn't interfere…”

“…Ha. Yes. That's right,” Rosemond said in a dumbfounded voice. “How on earth did that bitch know?”

“I don't know, My Lady.”

The flowers were switched out immediately before the box was to be presented, yet how could she have known and prepared another in advance? Glara shook her head, unable to think of an answer. It was then that Rosemond murmured in a vacant voice,

“Could it be…”

“I'm sorry?”

“No, it's definitely possible.”

Rosemond then gave an order to Glara in a stiff voice. “If so, that complicates things. Glara, write a letter to January immediately. Warn her that Petronilla knows everything and for her to be more on guard.”

“Petronilla.” Rothesay called her name.

Petronilla looked behind her. “Rothesay.”

“I've been looking everywhere for you.”

“I apologize,” Petronilla said, embarrassed. Rothesay simply replied with a face of understanding.

“I am not reproaching you. I was just worried.”

“I know, Ro.” She looked up at Rothesay, who looked dazed. “Is it alright if I call you Ro?”

“Of course, Nilla. I'm so happy.” A smile bloomed across Rothesay's face.  “I wished to dance with you.”

“Ah…”

That's right. Now that I think about it, he and I never danced together.

“Now that you mention it, this would be our first dance,” she murmured.

“Yes, our first,” Rothesay responded kindly before adding, “However, it's alright. We have plenty of time ahead of us.”

If I don't go back, then I'll be able to spend more time with this man, Petronilla thought with a sad smile. There was no way that she was going back. She liked the way it was right now. So much to the point that she agonized over the fact that this time wasn't her real timeline.

“You're right. We have a lot of time,” she responded in a tender voice.

Regardless, I'm going to enjoy the present time, Petronilla thought to herself.

Chapter end