Chapter 12 - CHAPTER 10. HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?

“Is that customary, Duchess?”

“If you’re asking if it’s customary…”

“Did all the past Empresses step in this path, I am asking?”

The Duchess of Efreni immediately answered Patrizia’s question, “It was only a few, but…”

“…”

“This way would make Your Majesty more comfortable as well.”

“Of course it will. However, it’s hard to see this as a simple task, Duchess. The Imperial part being handled by the Empress is customary, as the symbol of the Marvinus Empire. Surely, you’re not trying to drop my authority, are you?”

“You are mistaken, Your Majesty. I just … did it for Your Majesty.”

“Really if this was for me, you would ensure my authority wouldn’t be pushed down for a whole year, Duchess. Not only that, but there are unsavory rumors swirling around in the capital.”

“…”

The Duchess of Efreni, realizing that she was talking about Rosemond, closed her mouth.

Patrizia could not figure out whether the Duchess of Efreni was on her side or on Rosemond’s side. Of course, she was the wife of a Duke, and her pride regarding pedigree would be higher.

Looking at it that way, it made sense for the Duchess to be on her side, but in the past, she had switched her allegiance to Petronilla, and Patrizia found it difficult to trust her easily.

If this was the case, excluding the maids from the Empress’ palace, there was not one person she could trust.

“I know you would do this better than me. I also don’t have any complaints regarding you continuing your duties as before for the time being. But the final decision will have to be made by me, Duchess. Because that’s the norm. My words, do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize.”

She then glimpsed at her hands, as she was clenching her fists and trembling. Is it possible that she thought that she had violated her authority? That she had crossed the line? If so, there was nothing funnier than that, but this was the way things were done.

If one continued to own something that did not belong to them, they would mistakenly believe it was theirs. It was human psychology. So it may be that Rosemond felt mistakenly entitled to be the Empress herself, as she had kept the Emperor’s side for a year.

“Then I’ll understand it as such. I’ll get to know the documents you gave me as soon as I can. You can leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then…”

She turned her back and went out of the room. It was possible she was swearing internally at her. No, she’s probably swearing. But it didn’t matter anyway. The easiest person to deal with was a turncoat. Sometime in the past, she had turned her allegiance to Rosemond and if she knew whatever the reason may have been, no, even if she didn’t find out it wouldn’t be hard to turn back.

Patrizia looked at the documents that the Duchess of Efreni had left behind, thinking nothing more of it. Since she had proclaimed it so loudly, to protect her self-esteem she knew she had to read these as fast as possible.

In contrast to what she had thought, no particular incident occurred since then. It was not that Rosemond came and announced defeat to her, nor was there some bad incident the palace.

It was possible that Patrizia’s last memory was so intense that she was terrified as a result. Even at the moment, the worry that something big was going to happen might caused her to cower, but crisis did always come when one was not vigilant.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty The Emperor, has come.”

The Emperor’s visit was enough to surprise Patrizia, as it had been several weeks since their last meeting. It didn’t fit him to be visiting her. She wondered deeply what else he would say to hurt her this time. She said boldly, “Please let him in.”

Dressed in a white uniform, he entered the room. It was a lovely appearance, but for Patrizia, it was as if it was a grim-looking white snake.

She showed her manners in a dry voice, “I see Your Majesty. The Sun, with glory.”

“No need for the greeting, you can get up.”

“Yes.”

He sat down naturally at the table. She didn’t know what he wanted to talk about and for how long to sit in a seat, but it wasn’t like she could stand and talk. She asked Mirya for two cups of lemon tea, and Patrizia sat down at the table. It was better than sitting side-by-side, but it was also very uncomfortable and awkward to sit across from one another. Either way, it wasn’t a comfortable relationship.

“I had something to tell you.”

He spoke before the tea came out. It was probably better that he left quickly. “She wasn’t sure which would be better, and as she thought this, Patrizia replied.

“Yes, please speak.”

“You know I have someone in my heart.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

There was no way she wouldn’t know. She smiled nonchalantly and responded. She even knew the name. Of course, he would think she wouldn’t know that much…

“It is my intention to give her a rank in nobility.”

“…”

She had expected it, but still for him to be so brazen. Thankfully, what came out was not a frown, but a bright laugh. It was so ludicrous she couldn’t wrinkle her in disbelief. Lucio instead frowned as he mistook Patrizia’s smile as mocking him.

“That look, what is it for?”

“There would be nothing more miserable than to frown in this situation, Your Majesty. Do so. Even if I say don’t, you’ll still carry on with it.”

“Not very stupid, you seem.”

“Would you like her to be a Baroness?”

“…How do you know that?”

He asked in a voice that felt a certain reluctance.

“I haven’t discussed this with her yet.”

“…”

Oh, my. It was a mistake. Patrizia quickly concocted excuses.

“I just called the lowest rank first. I couldn’t have said a Duchess position, Your Majesty. But… seeing how you responded, she must not be a woman of high status.”

“…You don’t need to know that far.”

“I should know. A new Baroness will be made? As the head of the Imperial household, it wouldn’t do if I don’t know that. Especially if she remains in the palace, I’ll be the one accounting as I am in charge of the budget.”

“…She is a woman from a Baron. Do you need more other information than this?”

“That is more than enough. Can I handle anything else other than that?”

“Do what you want. But, it would be good if you never meet her.”

“You don’t need to worry that I would grab her by the hair or something. I am not foolish enough to break my promise to Your Majesty.”

“…”

He silently stood up from the spot. The teacups were filled to the brim with tea, and not a sip was taken. Before he was out, at last, Patrizia spoke quietly, “Do not forget about what I had asked you then.”

“…”

“If you want, I could even give her the position of Duchess. But it is up to that point. Not any more than that. You’re not… going to provide me with an illegitimate child.”

“…”

He left without answering. Patrizia bit her lips and glared at the spot where he had gone. If he broke the promise he made with her, then she also would not stay put. Patrizia sighed as she thought this far.

“Haa…”

It was unfair. After all, the Empress’s respect depended on the Emperor. No matter how good the family background may be, it was the end if the Emperor’s intimate favor was lost. The only reason she could keep this position, for now, was that she was the daughter of a Marquis, and would one day become the mother of the future Emperor.

Indeed, it was unfair. That man could meet anyone he wanted to. But soon Patrizia raised her head.

“Let’s not complain, Patrizia.”

She entered this knowing everything. To prevent the past’s tragedies. She would not act as her sister had, with jealousy engulfed her and behaving emotionally. These thoughts were endless if she kept thinking this way. Then her reincarnation would lose its meaning as well.

She decided to become more above all this. She decided to get rid of her feelings for the Emperor a little more. Only then would she live, her family live, and survive to the very end. It was a bitter fact, but it was a reality.

“Crazy. It makes no sense.”

Rafaella spoke sharply, but Patrizia, who would normally have restrained her, did not restrain her this time. To be honest it was crazy. Of course, this was limited to herself.

“It’s crazy, but I mean it makes sense. My husband is the Emperor.”

“…You’re too calm, Your Majesty. Now your husband has declared that he’s going to bring his mistress in, but you say this?”

“I can’t do anything about it.”

She didn’t know if she was just pretending to be calm, or if she really felt that way, but at least in front of Rafaella, she was. Well, it wouldn’t be bad to deceive both her and herself in this way.

“There’s nothing you can do? Oh, my world, Empress. You can’t really imagine how I feel right now.”

“I can imagine. But it would be funny for me to comfort Sir Rafaella.”

That was true. Rafaella released a sigh. It was scarier and more daunting because she pretended nothing was wrong. Originally, no, most in this situation wouldn’t react this way. They would be angry. Or they would be sad. Maybe even curse. Perhaps hoping for their defeat and suffering.

Whatever it was, it was normal to have negative feelings, but Patrizia didn’t. She couldn’t. She didn’t have the power and wasn’t in the position and situation to do so. Rafaella thought about how she could not understand up to that and said, “Really… What is His Majesty thinking?”

It was not unusual for an Emperor to have a mistress. It was not something to be blamed for. But if one’s friend was the Empress, the story had to be different. Rafaella sighed and told Patrizia.

“That mistress, I really want to see her face. Who in the world? When you hear a rumor like this, don’t you have to come out at least once?”

“…”

Patrizia was the only one who knew about her existence besides the Emperor. Only laughter seemed to come out. She briefly made a thoughtful expression and spoke simply.

“I think we’ll meet one day, anyway. You’re not going to slap her on the cheek, are you?”

“I will never do anything to bring harm to Your Majesty. It’s not like I don’t have a brain just because I’m a soldier.”

But it should be okay to shoot, right? Ah, that might not be allowed either? Patrizia looked at Rafaella who was pondering cutely with a faint smile. But the smile quickly went missing. The thought of Rosemond caused a shadow to fall on her face. Patrizia muttered her name with her mouth.

‘Rosemond…’

She was beautiful. However, she was not beautiful enough to be called the beauty of the century. But there was a kind of sexiness, as well as charm. It would never be strange if the Emperor fell to her.

She was a rose, and she had thorns. To keep the beauty, the thorns made in order to protect herself had begun to threaten other flowers, and in the end, it was her sister Petronilla. And now that the past has changed, it would turn out to be herself.

Patrizia had no intention of attacking first, but she planned to defend it hard if her opponent attacked first.

Without drawing attention to the interests of others as much as possible, acting nonchalant. At the very least, for now, she was just going to watch the situation.

If she had been Petronilla, and Petronilla had been the one to reincarnate, she would have known about her opponent perfectly, but unfortunately, she had only been a bystander in her previous life. Because of this, she didn’t know the Emperor, nor Rosemond.

So the main thing now was to pinpoint the enemy. Attacking at any time would not be too late. Anyway, this Empress’s position was not one that was to be taken lightly. Even if one was the most favored of the Emperor, it would not be easy to face the Empress.

“If you think positively, you can put her under Your Majesty’s care. Well… then Your Majesty will have to take care of it.”

“I don’t want to admit it, but it’s true that this much is an advantage. It was difficult to know what to do because up until now, everything was covered in veils, and it is difficult to manage, and control.”

In addition, the Baroness was also an aristocrat. If the Emperor had appointed her as his mistress, it would have been advantageous to take advantage of her weakness later on.

Anyway, if she thought positively, she could definitely do that. Patrizia decided to make her mind comfortable and began to smile a little.