Lady to Queen

Chapter 36: CHAPTER 34. DECLARATION OF REGENCY

Nobody could say anything as they all just looked at both Patrizia and Rosemond. To be precise, Rosemond’s side got a lot more attention, but Rosemond didn’t show any hint of being flustered despite the sudden attack from Patrizia.

No, to be precise, she was taken aback, but Rosemond was a woman who didn’t reveal the appearance of being surprised by anything. She was already too crafty of a politician to reveal such emotions and expressions from one-on-one confrontations. She asked Patrizia with an expression showing disbelief.

“Your Majesty? What in the world do you mean…?”

“Your Majesty, the examination is over.”

Before she could continue her words however, the physician intervened, and Rosemond was quite displeased by the unintentionally blocking of her words but did not reveal what was going on inside her mind. Patrizia seemed to encourage the results, as she made her chin tense, and the court physician gave the results quickly.

“Fortunately, His Majesty’s body was not seriously injured because of Your Majesty’s use of sculler… He seems to be not getting up for some other reason.”

“Then what your words mean is that you do not know when His Majesty will wake up?”

“I apologize but, that is the case, Your Majesty.”

Lucio said this with a regretful expression, and Patrizia momentarily felt hopelessness. In any case, the first reason was that because of her, someone irrelevant to the situation was in this condition, and the second reason was that if it was flipped around and if not for him, she would be in that state, or worse, perhaps already dead.

Patrizia momentarily closed her eyes and took the time to calm down her feelings, but that time did not last long. She quickly opened her eyes and asked the imperial physician the same thing.

“So you mean, you do not know when His Majesty will wake up?”

“I am sorry.”

“…”

When this turned out to be true, Patrizia glanced around at everyone with a calmer look than before. Everyone in the area looked very nervous, waiting for what words would come out from the young Empress’s mouth.

In a voice that was neither large nor small, she spoke as such.

“Since His Majesty is in a coma, according to Imperial law, all matters of the empire are to be determined ultimately by the power that belongs to myself, the Empress. Is that right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Until the Emperor awakens, Your Majesty must act in place.”

At the words of one of the nobles, Patrizia spoke as if it was a proclamation, without any hesitation.

“I cannot guarantee when the Emperor’s consciousness will be restored, and as of now, I declare that I, Patrizia Leila Les Grochester, am the regent of the Great Marvinus Empire. Does anyone have any objections to this decision?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Voices of consent could be heard from all over the place, and Patrizia raised up her bent knees to look over Lucio. Instead of looking around at all the nobles with her tall height, she stared at only one person, Rosemond. She had to finish what she had tried to say earlier.

“In the midst of the impending crisis, at the end of the cliff, I asked the assassins who tried to kill me. Who in the world… would be the culprit behind this insane action. In fact, it is standard to not tell me but… They must have thought that I was going to die soon in their hands.”

“Who is it, Your Majesty?”

“I can’t forgive anyone who dared to undermine the Emperor and Empress of this empire.”

Patrizia almost burst into laughter at the voices of the knights coming from all over, but barely held it in, and without hesitation, opened her mouth.

“They said the Emperor’s mistress ordered the murder of the Emperor’s wife.”

“…”

It wasn’t very awkward to feel the cold silence, as it was felt for the second time, just like the previous one. Patrizia turned her head and looked at the Duke of Efreni. She asked in a calm voice.

“Duke Efreni.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak to me.”

“I am not fully certain. Anyone who dared to condemn the Emperor and Empress, what should I do as punishment?”

“Your Majesty, that is…”

Surprisingly, the Duke of Efreni was unable to speak properly, and Patrizia was taken aback as she naturally expected a quick response would follow, but soon demanded an answer from him.

“Why can you not speak? Is there something different from what I know and what you know?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“However, it is strange that you can not speak. Ah, perhaps the truth is you are the culprit behind this?”

“Never, Your Majesty. I apologize for the late reply.”

The Duke of Efreni coughed a few times, and then gave the answer she wanted to hear.

“Anyone who dares to condemn the Emperor and the Imperial Family is to be punished by Imperial law, and to be decapitated, regardless of age or gender.”

“Decapitation…”

It was a word that pleased her, but Patrizia had already known it. It would not be so easy to put Rosemond to death with words from her.

She was definitely the Empress of this empire, and currently the regent, but it was really difficult to put a person to death in the absence of evidence. It would count as tyranny even if the opponent was not Rosemond.

Of course, she or Lucio, who knew the situation, could be understood by Rosemond on a broader scale, but in the eyes of others, it could just be interpreted as the Empress’s desire to bury one mistress due to jealousy.

She didn’t want that. It didn’t matter if it looked dirty and crude, but she was afraid it would catch up to her and bring her down later. Whether it was revenge or repayment, it was good to be clean and unobtrusive. The same was true for work itself, and for her future self.

Of course, that didn’t mean that she just had to step back.

“Captain of the guards.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Right now, arrest Lady Phelps and take her towards the Imperial Palace.”

At those short words, the Captain of the guards faithfully followed her words. Rosemond’s movement was limited in an instant, and she glared at Patrizia as though she would kill her. Since Lucio wasn’t present anymore, she didn’t need such things as fake expressions anymore.

Rosemond didn’t think about clichéd thoughts such as how she was revealing her true colors. After all, she always did reveal her true colors to Patrizia. Patrizia just happened to overlook it. It was a good excuse for a warning and mercy.

“The authenticity of these charges can be argued later, but for now you cannot be free from the charges. This way will be more certain.”

“It is unfair, Your Majesty! You can’t do this just because of Your Majesty’s words!”

“I suffered damage with His Majesty. I came back alive from the underworld’s threshold. Do you think I would lie like that?”

Patrizia smiled and reassured her.

“Do not worry. The investigation will be held thoroughly. I also do not like things that are left open.”

She might be different. Patrizia, who had calmly added those words, glanced meaningfully at the guards, and soon Rosemond was dragged away. She didn’t scream out as expected, and she hadn’t pleaded and protested due to the unfairness. She just glowered at Patrizia, who was now regent and walking away on her own feet proudly. However, for now, Patrizia had turned off the fire and immediately returned to the other problems at hand, as if she didn’t want to worry about anything else.

“The stability of His Majesty should be the priority, so it is better to return immediately. Sir Rafaella, do you have a carriage?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I was not expecting this to happen…”

Rafaella bit her lips quietly with a regretful face that showed failure. The bowed head displayed her feelings of being sorry and guilty.

Patrizia felt her emotions soaring instantaneously but soon brought them down again as if nothing happened, and gave the following orders.

“Then, it would be better for me to ride a horse with His Majesty, even for the efficiency of the escorts. What do you think, guards?”

“It is better for us that way, but if that happens, Your Majesty will be uncomfortable.”

“I do not care as long as all of you are comfortable.”

When Patrizia cut them off, they had no reason to refuse. She seemed to think the necessary work had been decided, and focused on the preparations to return.

“So let us decide to do that, and bring new horses. My horse is so tired that I do not think it would be suitable to ride again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That shall be done.”

Soon, Patrizia climbed on top of a new horse, with Lucio, and she secured him so that he would not fall. Soon the nobles and knights who were arranged in rank started off, and the horse Patrizia was riding began to move as well.

Fortunately, the hunting grounds were located not very far from the Imperial Palace, so it would not take too long to move there.

“…”

Patrizia listened to the noise of her horse walking and looked at Lucio who was almost embraced by her.

He had a lower fever than before due to the first aid from the physician, but he was still hot. Patrizia sighed. What had happened for this point to be reached. Only a day had passed, and so much had changed.

And more would change in the future. Patrizia gave the hand holding Lucio more strength, with a complicated expression. She also felt her body begin to tremble and shudder, but she couldn’t rest and feel sick until all of this mess had been cleared up.

Patrizia chanted a spell to herself to endure for a little longer and prayed for a little quick arrival to the Imperial Palace.

Once Patrizia ordered the dissolution of all the nobles, she moved Lucio to his quarters. Naturally, the treatment was much more intense than what was given at the hunting grounds, and she was able to relieve some load. This meant that she had managed to end this task. Patrizia was about to leave the Central Palace to handle the next task when one of the court physicians grabbed onto her.

“Regent Majesty, Your Majesty, should also be treated, is that not right?”

“…”

Patrizia paused for a moment, but soon turned back around with a casual look and replied calmly.

“There is an urgent thing I must take care of, so the treatment can be delayed.”

“But Your Majesty…”

“Do not worry. I will call for you soon. Chief Maid, please take good care of His Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Don’t worry.”

Only after Patrizia said this did she managed to leave the Central Palace. Now it was time to go meet Rosemond.

Rosemond was imprisoned in her place by the guards. Even though she was imprisoned, she sat still in one place with a face that was undefeated, and Glara had to worry about how her mind might have gone crazy because of this kind of appearance that she had not witnessed for so long.

Whether it was a relief or regretful, she was fine. No, maybe this appearance was closer to her usual self.

She closed her eyes and mouth quietly, as if she was thinking of something, and showed a thoughtful expression.

“Her Majesty the Regent.”

This Imperial Palace didn’t look like it, but it changed quickly. How many hours had passed, for them to say Regent Majesty? Rosemond criticized internally and then opened her eyes. She had not changed into a dress and was still dressed in armor, with blood everywhere. Ah, no dignity. Rosemond internally clicked her tongue and spoke to Patrizia.

“You must have had enough time to change into a dress, Your Majesty.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

Despite the sharp response, Rosemond calmly said the next thing with an unaffected look.

“Well, sure, Your Majesty. So why did you keep me locked up like this?”

“I know it was explained enough, Lady Phelps. You tried to murder the Empress, myself, and is that charge not sufficient?”

“There isn’t proof though?”

“This will come out from the investigation. Until then, you do not need to worry at all.”

After Patrizia finished speaking, she looked her up and down at her. Although imprisonment had been imposed as soon as possible, it would be better to remove the fear of the destruction of evidence for an effective investigation. Patrizia smiled nonchalantly and soon called out to someone.

“Is someone there?”

Shortly thereafter, several guard knights came in. Patrizia commanded them with orders using a dry voice.

“Lock Lady Phelps up in the dungeon. This is the best way to prevent the destruction of evidence. And make sure that no one else can enter this room unless someone has been stamped with approval by me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Rosemond was in danger of being dragged once again, and Patrizia looked on at the sight without an expression of surprise and added one more thing after seeming to have forgotten Glara who was by Rosemond’s side glancing around, not knowing what to do.

“Oh yeah, drag this maid along as well. Don’t forget to keep them in solitary confinement.”