Lady to Queen

Patrizia gave a short reply as the Marchioness smiled in front of her.

“Yes.”

“Do not feel embarrassed. You are all grown up now.”

“It is still an embarrassing subject to discuss in front of my mother.”

“Oh dear. More than that, it is quite amazing. In fact, your attitude toward him seemed so cold, that I thought you had not done anything until now.”

“… It was something that happened by accident.”

Honestly, it was something like that. She had spent the night with him because of an unexpected occurrence, but it was closer to an accident or coincidence. Patrizia added on to her words.

“It was simply because I had to do something in an unavoidable situation, and not because our feelings were involved.”

“It seems that way.”

Although she said this quietly, Marchioness Grochester seemed to appear a bit sad then. It was not so easy to hear this from her own daughter’s mouth. The Marchioness sighed secretly to herself, and spoke to Patrizia in a soft voice.

“Well, no one knows what will happen in the future.”

“At the very least, there will be no signs of me being in love with that man.”

“That is also something that cannot be guaranteed, Lizzy.”

The Marchioness said with a smile showing the wisdom from her years of experience.

“It is too early for such a hastily made conclusion. Has it not been less than a year since you have become his Empress?”

“It is more amazing that it has not been more than a year’s time. It feels like I have already spent a decade of my time there.”

“It is proof that you are tired of this situation.”

The Marchioness replied to Patrizia in a bitter voice, and continued to talk to her with a cautious voice.

“I always felt uncomfortable because you seemed to have been placed with such a heavy burden at a very young age.”

“It was not only me, but also the other Empresses of the past had to go through this kind of ordeal… Someone had to go through it in the end.”

Looking at her adult daughter who was speaking so calmly, the Marchioness of Grochester spoke as if she was making a request.

“This mother of yours is ignorant, so does not know much about politics, and also does not know about the bloody quarrels of the Inner Palace. But I would just like you to be happy. I hope you do not get hurt, and live both happily and comfortably, in the Imperial Palace.”

“I am trying to do that.”

But at least in the Imperial Palace, ‘comfort’ and ‘happiness’ were two words that could never be compatible. If someone tried to pursue comfort, that person would soon be removed from the situation, and if happiness was pursued, they had to move ahead of the others to protect themselves. It was a fact that neither outlook was a very good option. Patrizia said to her mother.

“I have to get going now. If it gets too late, the people that serve me will be the ones to suffer.”

“Yes, that would be best.”

The Marchioness of Grochester struggled to hide her sadness as she rose up from her seat, and hugged Patrizia.

“How long has it been since I have hugged you like this?”

“…”

“You have to stay healthy and make sure nothing happens to you, until we meet again. Understand?”

“I will do that.”

Patrizia replied with a voice that was slightly colored with laughter, and placed her lips on the Marchioness of Grochester’s forehead.

After saying her farewells to each family member, Patrizia finally got into the carriage. After the carriage door was closed and Patrizia was left alone, she made a facial expression as if she was contemplating about something serious. After she met with her family, her thoughts seemed to have gotten deeper. She sighed without her knowledge, and murmured.

“I do not want to go back.”

If she followed her desire, she would just want to stay at the Grochester estate. But that could not be. It was just her acting like a child.

“Did I make a move too late? As Mother had mentioned, you seem to be the one that is suffering too much.”

“Do not say such things, Your Majesty. I would much rather have Your Majesty stay a little longer.”

Rafaella asked her.

“Why not stay here a bit longer? It is also too dark and dangerous to move now.”

“The more time I spend leaving the palace empty, the more difficult it would be to monitor Rosemond… Most of all, it is not good for others to see that the Empress of the Imperial Family is emptying the palace for more than a day.”

“Well, that is true.”

After those words, the conversation stayed closed for a while. In her mind, Patrizia recalled the discussion she had shared with Duke Witherford yesterday afternoon. Rumors would be spread out by his wife, and the Duchess of Efreni would be taken care of by Petronilla. Then all that was left was for Patrizia to take care of the Emperor…

‘Is he going to believe my words?’

There was evidence. It was not difficult to insert herself with it. But would he be able to accept it with his mind, and his heart? Due to her unexpected worries, Patrizia recoiled with fright, without her knowledge. ‘Why am I even worried about this?’

‘Whatever shock he receives, it has absolutely nothing to do with me.’

In the first place, the relationship between Patrizia and Lucio only amounted to that much. Patrizia fiddled with the hem of her dress with an uncomfortable facial expression.

“Who dares to go there!”

It was then, that Rafaella’s sharp voice was heard. Patrizia quickly opened the window with a startled look on her face.

“What happened… Ah!”

They were masked assassins. Seven of them? Eight, no… There were about ten people. Patrizia twisted her lips without realizing she did so. Now she was so fed up with this unoriginal scheme, that laughter threatened to spill out.

“Rafaella, are you alright?”

“Your Majesty.”

Rafaella replied calmly.

“I believe in Your Majesty.”

‘Yes, believe in me.’ Patrizia casually leaned against the back of the seat. But she still seemed anxious, as there was a trembling at her fingertips that could not be hidden. Patrizia closed her eyes, and recalled what had happened two days ago.

The Empress of the Marvinus Empire was escorted by the Second Rank of Imperial Knights. However, it was rare for all of the Knights within that rank to move in order to protect the Empress. It was not only because there was hardly a chance for it to come to such a dangerous situation, but it was also because it was troublesome to do so.

Two days ago, Patrizia had already spread the word that she would be leaving the palace with only a small entourage in tow. If her predictions were correct, there was a person in the Empress Palace who communicated with Vain Palace. Since she had already given Mirya instructions beforehand, it was more than likely that she had found the traitor by now. Of course, even if she had failed, all she needed to do was to switch out all the servants.

Anyway, after she had kept her words like that, she had secretly given instructions to Rafaella. To have only one-third of the Knights of the 2nd rank to escort them from the start. If Patrizia had them accompany the entourage from the start, there was obviously the risk of the opposition catching on to the plan, and since Rosemond only had the chance to nab her while she returned to the palace in the midst of the night, Patrizia had already sent the orders for the rest of the Knights to be on their way to her location at a specific time.

‘Hopefully they will not come late.’

Patrizia grasped the hem of her red dress with a frustrated facial expression. Rafaella was a skilled knight. Also, she did not want to not worry too much because Rafaella was not the only one escorting her, but it would be a problem above all problems if the number of assassins was too large, and the 2nd Rank of Knights had not arrived yet. As she heard the sound of Rafaella relentlessly severing the opponent’s body, Patrizia unwittingly pulled out the amber hairpin that had kept her hair up. Her long, turquoise-colored hair flowed down like a waterfall onto her shoulders.

CLANG, CLANG! The sounds of the battle outside could still be vividly heard. At that time, a familiar voice letting out a scream pierced into her ear. It was the sound of Rafaella.

“UUGH!”

“El…?”

“Your Majesty, I am fine!”

She seemed to have been injured. Patrizia began to get nervous. Why had they not arrived yet? As she bit her lips, the door of the carriage she was sitting in was also forced open. A flustered Patrizia jumped up from her seat, and in that same moment, the assassin brandished his sword at her.

“UGH!”

However, the groan that rang out from the carriage did not belong to Patrizia. The assassin wielding the sword at her suddenly stopped all movements, and then crumpled to the floor on the spot. Patrizia shook out a rough breath without her knowledge.

“Moon of the Empire.”

A profound voice was heard, along with the sound of a sword being taken out of the body from behind. It was the voice of the Commander of the 2nd Rank of Imperial Knight. Patrizia still looked at him with a surprised look on her face. He knelt down on his knees, and apologized to her.

“I apologize for the delay, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“The punishment for this mistake… I will pay it back with a perfect completion of this mission.”

Patrizia replied to him with a slightly quivering voice.

“Preferably, capture them. But of course, if the situation does not allow it, you can just kill them all.”

“Your orders, I will receive and obey.”

The Knight Commander replied in a simple manner, and closed the door. Patrizia was left alone, and swallowed her dry saliva as she heard the situation of a vivid brawl coming from outside the carriage. She was worried about Rafaella who was injured. She could only hope that it was not too big of a wound.

“Your Majesty!”

After a while, the door was opened, and the Knight Commander appeared. Patrizia got off of the carriage with a swift movement. The assassins were all dead. The Knight Commander spoke to her in a voice that showed he could not raise his face.

“Three of them were captured, but they all bit off their tongues and died.”

“…”

She guessed that they were hired at a fairly expensive place. Patrizia scoffed mockingly, and muttered.

“It cannot be helped. If they have been paid for, they have to carry out the costs.”

Patrizia said this, and this time asked Rafaella with a worried expression on her face.

“Ella, are you alright?”

“I am alright, Your Majesty.”

“… You have a serious injury.”

Patrizia twisted her face into a frown. Interlocked with the memories from her past life before, the events of that time remained like an afterimage. At that time, Rafaella had died trying to save Petronilla who had been the Empress. When Patrizia bit onto her lips, Rafaella carefully patted Patrizia’s lips.

“Please do not bite your lips.”

“…”

“I am really fine.”

“Because you have such an incompetent Empress, you are the one that has to suffer.”

“Do not say it like that. You have chosen me after all, and Your Majesty is far from incompetent.”

Rafaella laughed brightly, and Patrizia, who watched this all so painfully, soon gave her orders.

“Come inside the carriage. Other knights will do the escorting now.”

“But Your Majesty…”

“Rafaella, are you going to hurt my heart any more than this?”

“…”

With those words being said, Rafaella went inside Patrizia’s carriage quietly, without trying to argue the point further. Red blood could be seen on her right shoulder, as if there was some kind of would from a cut. Patrizia bit her lips without her knowledge.

“Come on, let us get going.”

At the end of her words, the carriage began to set off, and Patrizia calmly took off the dress she had been wearing. Soon her white inner dress was revealed. Rafaella asked her in a taken aback manner.

“Your Majesty…?”

But her question soon turned into a flustered voice. It was because Patrizia ripped the dress without hesitation. Patrizia thought about how she had torn a dress like this before. That day when she and Lucio had gone back and forth between life and death.

“I have to stop the bleeding.”

“I am fine.”

“Are all the knights the same? Pretend that it does not hurt, even if it hurts, thinking it will be fine if it does not hurt.”

“…”

“I am the one that is not alright.”

Patrizia in a voice full of worry, and resolutely told Rafaella.

“Take off your top.”

“…”

Rafaella did so silently, and Patrizia haad another feeling of déjà vu, wrapping the clean, white cloth around her injured shoulder. Intermittently, she could hear the sounds of Rafaella’s groans while trying to hold it in. Patrizia bit her lips whenever that happened. This time also she had… almost been sacrificed. As she thought about it like that, she felt her heart palpitate.

“I am sorry.”

“The 2nd Rank of Knights were the ones to arrive late, it is not the fault of Your Majesty.”

“No. I should have considered the possibility of this kind of situation as well.”

Patrizia sighed and apologized.

“I will not let this happen to you again.”

“That is what I should be saying, my dear Empress.”

Rafaella smiled brightly and softly soothed Patrizia.

“I will be better once I go back to the Imperial Palace, and receive the treatment well. You do not have to make a big deal about this.”

“A big deal. When the blood flows like this.”

Patrizia responded with an upset voice as she tightly tied a knot on the fabric. A low moan grazed by her ear, and Patrizia asked her in a serious manner.

“It is good for you to protect me, but I do not want you to get hurt.”

“I will make sure to do that.”

Rafaella smiled brightly, and only then did Patrizia’s facial expression slowly begin to loosen and relax. Then Patrizia pulled out a dagger from her bosom, as if she had forgotten all about it, and began to make long slashes on her arms and shoulders with it. Shocked by Patrizia’s behavior, which was accompanied by moans from the pain, Rafaella hurriedly grabbed hold of her arm.

“Your Majesty!”