Chapter 10 - CHAPTER 8 PART 2. QUEEN PATRIZIA

Beautifully dolled up to no avail. Patrizia did not feel much emotion when she saw her gorgeously-draped figure. Anyway, the Emperor, whether she wore rags or dresses, would choose Rosemond instead of her. Of course, she had no desire to be chosen by him.

“Lady Patrizia, you must leave now.”

Patrizia moved slowly at Mirya’s words. There was no nervousness at all. Being nervous was when one liked the other person.

She did not like him, and he did not like her, so this was merely a ritual, not a divine matrimony. That was the complete meaning of this.

Patrizia did not smile when she saw the Emperor fully dressed in a suit. Lucio also didn’t smile when he saw the beautiful Patrizia in her dress.

The two seemed to stand there like dolls. Just like a pair of people who had to do their job.

Officiating the ceremony was the Duke Vashi. His officiating lasted a fairly long time and Patrizia felt that her feet were falling asleep. At that moment, the Emperor’s words climbed into her ears.

“Let me tell you in advance.”

“…”

“Love, favor, it would be best not to wish for anything like this.”

“…”

It was rather fresh to listen to the facts she already knew. Patrizia still looked forward with emotionless eyes. She didn’t feel the value in responding.

“Live as if you aren’t there. It will be better for your health.”

“Is that a threat.”

“You’re quick to notice.”

And then he laughed as if it was satisfactory. Patrizia kept her mouth shut. Opening her mouth was not favorable and annoying to her only. She decided she would rather focus on the officiating work of the Duke. It would be better to listen to the boring officiating than the bullcrap words of her husband.

“Then, Lady Patrizia, do you vow to serve, follow, and respect our Sun as your husband?”

“…I swear.”

“Our Majesty. Do you swear to respect, care, and love Lady Patrizia as your wife?”

“I will swear.”

Both of their lies came and went without meaning. It was almost like a skit, but she barely endured it.

“I hereby declare that the two have become a married couple.”

And the ridiculous wedding ended.

After the reception that night, Patrizia’s body was exhausted. It wasn’t an easy thing to do to attend a wedding reception. Patrizia, who finished her bath, wanted to sleep, but Mirya did not allow it.

“Your Majesty will soon be visited by the Emperor. Even if you are tired, you must endure it.”

“Mirya.”

Patrizia quietly called Mirya. He wouldn’t come here anyway. Just because it was the first night, she didn’t expect something different. If he had been such a person, he would not have treated her sister that way in the past.

“His Majesty will not come.”

“…”

“Now that I have spoken, let us talk again. I have heard that His Majesty has a mistress.”

“Your Majesty…”

Mirya’s face is pale as if she wondered how she knew about this. But Patrizia could not understand Mirya. She was not some country bumpkin from the countryside, but as a daughter of the Marquess was a socialite—though she attended as a wallflower. However, that rumor was spread throughout society, that the Emperor already had a mistress, and everyone knew about it. Patrizia spoke matter-of-factly.

“I don’t think that rumor will remain as just a rumor. Mirya, you had to have known the truth while staying in the Imperial Palace. Right?”

“…I apologize.”

It was not something she had to apologize for. She spoke as if nothing was wrong again.

“So His Majesty will not be here today. My words, is it wrong?”

“…”

Mirya could not answer. How can she speak of that fact from her mouth? Patrizia, who understood her position, smiled faintly and said to Mirya, “So, Mirya, help me get to bed. Why waste my time waiting for someone who won’t come…”

Then there was a loud fuss made outside the door. Naturally, Patrizia’s words scattered into thin air. A maid outside alerted them of someone’s visit, “Your Majesty, His Majesty The Emperor, has visited.”

Patrizia’s eyes shook. Why was he? As she blinked her eyes as if she could not understand, he walked into the room. Mirya quickly stepped out, and Patrizia greeted him mechanically, “I greet Your Majesty.”

“You are not asleep yet.”

It was exactly at this moment she had planned to sleep, but Patrizia just decided to tell him what he would like to hear.

“Your Majesty had not come…”

“You did something futile.”

He coolly cut off her words. Patrizia also agreed with those words, but fortunately, she was not sad because she had not been waiting for him. She was rather pleased that her judgment had been correct.

He sat down in a chair instead of going straight back. Since the Emperor had come, she worried that she should at least provide tea, but the emperor addressed this conundrum.

“You don’t need to bring tea. Just sit down.”

She did just that. And she looked at the Emperor who had visited her instead of Rosemond. She wondered why he had visited and wanted to tell her. It would not have been to spend this long, long night together.

“Since you have been staying in the Imperial Palace, you should know to a certain degree.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rumors about me.”

Alas. He was here to talk about that. As the topic did not stray far from her expectations, she smiled instead.

“Do you mean the rumors about you having a mistress?”