Chapter 48 - CHAPTER 46. PLEASE HELP ME

“Hmm. Didn’t the letter explain? The events from 8 years ago, no one knows the details like I do.”

Oh, of course, with the exclusion of the Duke. Rosemond added, smiling. Duke Efreni pretended to be as calm as possible, with a pale face.

“This… What is your reason for showing this to me?”

“No, Sir Duke. No.”

She shook her head and denied his words. He looked at her with red eyes, and Rosemond spoke on with a relaxed laugh.

“It is difficult to think that this is all. I wouldn’t call the Duke for just any ‘reason’ I may have.”

“…What?”

“Sir Duke, the Duke of Oswin, has given up his position. Isn’t that the seat that you have taken over, Duke Efreni?”

“What do you want to say to me?”

“The story behind it is very interesting. To the point, I want to tell His Majesty right away.”

Rosemond laughed hysterically and on the contrary, the Duke of Efreni’s face gradually became pale. Rosemond continued as if she were driving a stake in.

“Oh, did you think that this is the end? Let me tell you what it is about from the very beginning. Hmm… For example, with a meeting with your wife right now?”

“Lady!”

Despite the moment that the Duke of Efreni couldn’t take it any longer and screamed, Rosemond held eye contact with Duke of Efreni without any sign of being fazed. There was no reason to fear him from her perspective. No, the one who should be afraid was the Duke of Efreni. She did not hide her confident expression and revealed her ambition to the Duke of Efreni.

“I want to be the Empress.”

“…”

When the Duke of Efreni heard her, he was beyond shocked. The daughter of a mere Baron dared to covet the Empress’s position? She was not even a Queeness. Rosemond laughed aloud once again, as though she had penetrated his thoughts.

“Aw, come on Duke. Do you think that I wanted to become a Queeness candidate? I just… want to become the Queen.”

“But without going through the process of being a Queeness, a Queen…”

“You are frustrating. How did you create all these events with that head of yours?”

The face of the Duke of Efreni quickly flushed red at her rebuke. It was a red color due to anger, and not due to shame or disgrace. Rosemond, however, laughed once again, as if she didn’t care at all.

“Isn’t it more fun to take the Queen’s place, Duke?”

“Lady, you overstep. How dare you think such…”

“Oh my, you of all people shouldn’t say that. All of those specific things you have done to get to the position you are in. Isn’t it?”

“…”

There was no use denying it. All of his secret data now possessed by Rosemond proved it. In this situation, how could he not be made a fool by her? How could he escape being used by her?

Rosemond knew this better than anyone else, and it was the same with other opponents. So, at this moment, Rosemond was enjoying the situation more than anyone else, and Duke Efreni was angrier than anyone else. The difference between the two was so dramatic that it was a straight-up comedy on one side, but an indescribable tragedy on the other.

“So… What do you want to say to me?”

“Please help me, Duke.”

She replied immediately. She didn’t have any need to hesitate. At this point, the other person would know. Who Rosemond was. What kind of person she was. What she could do, and what she wanted to do. Rosemond smiled charmingly and told the Duke of Efreni.

“Help me wear the crown of the Empress, Duke. If that happens, I will make sure to reward you greatly.”

“…”

Due to the absurd request, the Duke of Efreni had to leave his mouth gaping open. She was saying that he should betray the other high-class nobles who had daughters that would become Queeness candidates, and support her when she was the daughter of a low class noble?

It did not make any sense, but it was because of that fact that made his situation into a play. Things that didn’t make sense were happening. He could not complain and seek advice about this to anyone, but like most humans, he felt this was unfair. He didn’t even think about the mess he had made in the past.

“If I do not do that?”

Rosemond laughed at the meaningless words. No, this person already knew. That he had no choice but to help her. That he had no choice but to help her, whether he liked it or not, against the future Empress. Still, to ask this useless question. ‘We’re all nobles like this or just this specific one?’ She put more weight on the former guess and spoke to Duke Efreni.

“It’s a nasty hobby to know and still ask anyway. What will happen? Your political life will be completely ruined. At least in this Imperial Palace, it certainly will. Even if everyone forgave you, Duke, His Majesty would never forgive you. Your family will also abandon you. Above all, your wife will abandon you first.”

“…”

“Shall I say more? I am not close to done.”

“…No, it is fine.”

The Duke of Efreni stopped thinking. In the face of the already determined answer, it was pointless to continue both seeking and devising any longer. He had no options in the first place. He had to choose Rosemond. Even if it wasn’t what he wanted, he had to. It was a much better option than ending his political life. He spoke.

“Okay, Lady Rosemond. I will hold hands with you.”

So, the pair’s alliance was not truly an alliance in its essential sense. This was just Rosemond’s will. He responded to her because this was what she wanted, and he followed because she wanted it. In the first place, he couldn’t do anything about his predicament.

He obviously didn’t want to hold her hand in partnership, but no one noticed his circumstances. The face of the Duke of Efreni was still dark. He sighed and just thought about it.

After all, it was his karma, it was his destiny. Nevertheless, he would not regret everything he had done in the past.

Patrizia was so busy with work that she didn’t have the time to be unhappy with the results of the recent events. Since the day of celebrations was to be held two months later, she had no choice but to focus on her work. It was quite nerve-wracking for her, because it was the first time she took on the role of planning this event as Empress, and it was an international event.

“Your Majesty, a letter has been sent by the Duchess of Efreni stating that it will not be possible for her to participate in this event.”

“What?”

Patrizia asked in surprise. She was a woman who was powerful enough to compete with Patrizia in the Inner Palace. Aside from other things, few women like her were familiar with this. That she couldn’t participate in the preparation for the event. Patrizia quickly asked her.

“What is the reason?”

“The son of Efreni is studying abroad, but he is currently suffering from an endemic disease. It is a situation where he cannot go anywhere, and he only asks for his mother.”

“So the Duchess of Efreni will be leaving the country? Does this mean that her position at the Duke of Efreni’s estate will be empty?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The situation is dire, where he is straddling life and death, and that this was not a situation to care about the work of the Duchy.”

“For it to be so serious. Has that been allowed by Duke Efreni?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. In the meantime, the affairs are scheduled to be taken over by the Duke of Efreni’s mistress.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Patrizia mumbled with a sad voice. Patrizia was thinking about something for a moment and then turned to Petronilla.

“Nilla, can you write a letter to the Efreni estate that I will support them if they ever need anything?”

“I can write it for you, but… The Duke of Efreni?”

Petronilla frowned and asked in response. She also knew that the Duke of Efreni was in opposition with her little sister. But this kind of reaction. Petronilla could not comprehend such an incomprehensible response.

“But that hard work… I don’t like that much.”

“No need for the pettiness. It is not even hard work. Please.”

“Well… If that is how you feel.”

She replied that she would do so with a grim face, and then pulled out a letter paper from the drawer. Patrizia again focused on her work and then asked Mirya.

“Then, who should I entrust the work that Duchess Efreni was in charge of? I am in a fix.”

“I’m going to search for people, Your Majesty. First, pass over that part and start with the smaller things.”

“If things are going to be like this, I should.”

Patrizia nodded her head, responding with a voice that expressed she had no choice. In that moment, she heard Rafaella’s voice outside of her door.

“Your Majesty, this Rafaella. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

Rafaella came into the room with a ball of sweat on her forehead. ‘She must have practiced very hard.’ Thought Patrizia, as she asked a question.

“Would you like a glass of water? You look very heated.”

“I am alright, Your Majesty. More than that…”

She still gasped for breath and talked to Patrizia.

“I just found a bit of a strange sight.”

“A strange sight?”

“The Duke of Efreni came out of Vain Palace. Maybe they are scheming something strange again?”

“…”

Patrizia sighed inwardly, thinking that she was a diligent woman. It was diligence that she did not dare to follow. After all, she was hit by so many duties, while she had no responsibility or work to do, so was it natural? But Patrizia thought that if she was in the opposite position, she would still not be as diligent as her.

“Sir Rafaella, please do your best this time. What is she scheming this time…?”

Patrizia’s words were filled with worry, and Rafaella reassured her to not worry.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. I will keep an eye on the area around Vain Palace.”

“Sure.”

Patrizia nodded as though to show she was grateful, and Petronilla, who had finished writing the letter, told Patrizia.

“I finished writing, Lizzy. Since you’re sending this, I will just go to the Duke in person.”

“Do you need to do that? You can just order people…”

Patrizia’s puzzled voice made Petronilla give a small smile and explain.

“I still have to go home for a while. It won’t take long. Can I go there?”

“Of course. Have a safe trip.”

Upon receiving a friendly greeting from Patrizia, Petronilla left the Empress Palace. While holding a letter to the Duchy of Efreni, Petronilla rode in a carriage with her head leaning against the back, with a slightly tired look. She had slept a little yesterday and it seemed to have not been enough.

She closed her eyes to get a little sleep while on the way to the Efreni estate. When her consciousness gradually eroded away and she was about to drift into sleep…

“Ahhh!”

Petronilla screamed and woke up. The carriage shook violently at a strong shock. She opened the window and checked the situation.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, Lady. I am sorry. Because we almost hit the opposing carriage…”

The driver spoke with an embarrassed voice, and immediately, the other carriage’s driver yelled at him.

“Oy, be careful! Do you know who’s riding in here right now?”

“Come on, I said I am sorry!”

“Who’s the one that did something wrong to be then shouting loudly?”

Things were not good. Petronilla sighed and got out of the carriage. Then her driver looked at her with embarrassed eyes as if he was wondering why she came out.

“Oh, Lady. You should just stay inside…”

“I am fine. Don’t fight. More than that, is the person riding inside alright?”

While Petronilla’s gaze remained on the opposing carriage, someone stepped out of it.