Chapter 80 - YOUR HUSBAND’S WIFE

Patrizia decided asking Lucio directly was for the best, rather than having to listen from Rosemond’ mouth.

“Ask me. Whatever you want.”

“Do you have any flowers that you do not like?”

“…”

Lucio’s face stiffened for a moment at the question, then seemed to guess what this was about, and recited accordingly.

“You heard from the Marchioness. Right?”

“… Yes.”

“A flower that I hate, one exists. Almost to the point of despising it.”

Patrizia roughly caught on to what it was, but kept her mouth shut for the time being. He continued in a bitter voice.

“It is the salvia flower, better known as sage. It is the flower that the dethroned Empress liked.”

“…”

“In a garden full of those salvia flowers, she secretly abused me. So when I just look at those flowers, it is enough for me to fall into a fit of convulsions.

He looked around Patrizia with a face that looked unaffected, but at that moment Patrizia was taken aback in not knowing where to turn her eyes. Seeing her act like that, Lucio asked her with her wounded eyes.

“Why, do I seem like a monster?”

“I never thought about you like that.”

Patrizia calmly made excuses.

“The actual monster is the dethroned Empress who had abused Your Majesty. Victims cannot be monsters.”

“Because you could not seem to meet my eyes.”

“How I should respond to your words… I could not get a grasp on how to approach that, there was no other reason beyond that. Please do not interpret my auctions incorrectly.”

“I know. At least you are not someone like that.”

Lucio laughed weakly, and Patrizia strangely felt uncomfortable. She muttered in a voice that was a little more strong than before.

“But why was that story brought up…”

Patrizia muttered this far, and made a facial expression as if she had been hit with something hard, with her body beginning to tremble. Surely… surely not? No, that could not be. Patrizia continued to tremble, and Lucio was flustered at the sight of her, and asked her urgently.

“Patrizia? What is wrong? Where are you going now?”

“Your Majesty, right this instant…!”

As she stood up and tried to run off to somewhere, someone blocked her path. It was Mirya. Patrizia continued to have flustered eyes, as she asked Mirya.

“Mirya? What is the matter?”

“Ah, fortunately you were here, Your Majesty.”

Mirya smiled as if this was a relief.

“It is time for you to present the birthday bouquet of flowers.”

“… You mean it is already time?”

Patrizia asked in a voice that was taken aback, and Mirya asked with a puzzled look in return.

“Is there some kind of problem?”

“…”

Patrizia turned to Lucio with a frozen expression on her face. Darn it all, swear words came out of her mouth.

Rothesay was out of his mind as he spent the time looking for Petronilla. Apparently she had said she had recovered from her cold they could meet at the banquet today, but why was she nowhere to be found? He muttered to himself with a worried expression. Had she perhaps, still not arrived?

Rothesay was worried as he thought she had too weak of a body. He thought that when he returned to his home, he should surely order some herbal tonic medicine for her. He too, had been hit by the same rain, and he was the one who had actually gotten the most rain, as he had even blocked the rain for her. Yet, he was just fine, and Petronilla had caught a cold. He continued to search for Petronilla with eyes that were still full of worries. By chance, Rothesay then saw a woman who seemed to resemble Petronilla, and smiled brightly.

“Petronil…”

But Rothesay’s voice ended there. It was because she was running somewhere with a very urgent look on her face. It seemed like something was going on, so Rothesay lowered his arm that had been raised high towards her, and scratched the back of his head. He thought that he should ask her about it later.

Patrizia entered the banquet hall with Lucio, and she took hold of Lucio’s hand first.

Surprised by the sudden, forward form of physical intimacy, Lucio stared at her, and Patrizia looked at him with an expression as if she was about to cry. Lucio felt something unusual was going on, and asked her.

“What is it, Empress? You seem like someone who has something serious going on.”

She was not her usual self. At those words, Patrizia tightened her hold on his hand, without realizing she had done so.

“… Your Majesty.”

Patrizia called out to him with a trembling voice.

“There is something I want to tell you.”

“Whatever it is, tell me.”

“No matter what happens in the future… do not be surprised.”

“… What?”

“Could you promise me this? Pretend it is nothing, can you do that for me?”

“What do those words mean…”

Lucio was about to dig further into what this was about, but just nodded his head as he saw Patrizia’s facial expression, which seemed so desperate. What in the world was this about, that she would ask for this promise with such a look on her face? Lucio made a serious expression on his face.

“It was not me who had done this. Never…”

“What is it, Empress? You are being a little weird today.”

“Even if it is for the sake of the honor and dignity of the two of us, and for the sake of the Imperial Family as well.”

Patrizia ended her words in a stern voice.

“Please…”

“Alright. Whatever it is, you do not need to worry.”

After he said that, Patrizia seemed to calm down a little bit, but she still looked anxious. With this, Mirya and Lucio had even more questions on what this was about. Lucio stepped into the banquet hall, feeling tense and nervous. Sitting on the chairs placed on the highest position, everyone showed the appropriate greetings toward them.

“Greetings to His Majesty and Her Majesty. Infinite glory to the Marvinus Empire-.”

“I am thankful for you all coming together like this.”

He opened his mouth briefly, and Patrizia continued to appear uneasy. Lucio held her hand to reassure her, but Patrizia rather put her other hand on top of it. She thought to herself with a trembling face.

‘As long as he is able to endure it well, nothing will happen. No problem, Patrizia.’

‘So stay calm.’ Patrizia constantly repeated this to herself internally, and forced a smile on her face.

“Your Majesty, we will now begin the presentation of the birthday bouquet of flowers prepared by Her Majesty. the Empress. The maids shall now…”

“Wait a moment please!”

It was then that someone cut off the words with an urgent voice. Everyone’s eyes were focused on one person. When Patrizia saw who it was, she murmured in a voice full of surprise.

“Petronilla…!”

“I greet both of Your Majesties. Infinite glory to the Marvinus Empire.”

It was Petronilla. Lucio asked her with a puzzled look on his face.

“Lady Grochester? What is the matter?”

“It is the first birthday that Her Majesty prepared for since she became the Empress, so she said that it would also be quite impressive if I was the one to present the flowers to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, if it is alright with you, can I dare to present the bouquet of flowers to Your Majesty?”

“It is fine for me. Is it not?”

“But your Majesty, this goes against the lawful tradition…!”

Rosemond shouted with a flustered voice, but it was Patrizia who cut off her words. She stopped her with a voice that was shaking.

“Marchioness Ethyller.”

“…”

“This was something that was granted with my permission, as I am the Moon of the Empire. Is there any point that could be a problem?”

“…”

Seeing how Rosemond was biting her lips, it seemed what Patrizia had predicted was spot on. Patrizia made a cold expression on her face, without realizing she did so. Patrizia quickly returned to her original facial expression, and spoke in a warm voice.

“Keep going, Lady Petronilla.”

“Full of Her Majesty, the Empress’ grace…”

Petronilla laughed coolly.

“It has been prepared accordingly, for Your Majesty, the Emperor.”

At the same time as she said this, Petronilla lifted the cloth that was covering the box. And inside there…

“It is Her Majesty, the Empress’ sincerity, Your Majesty. Hopefully, it is to your liking.”

Amaryllis flowers were inside. Those redder than red flowers. In addition, there were white ones as well. Petronilla laughed, but Patrizia couldn’t laugh. She muttered to herself with a slightly shocked facial expression.

“How…”

“These are such beautiful flowers, Empress. The combination of the red and white colors is impressive. Do you like Amaryllis flowers?”

Lucio said this casually smiled as he said this.

“I received a wonderful gift, Empress. So I should also give a gift in return.”

“… There is no such need to.”

“I will refuse your declination.”

He smiled brightly, and Patrizia murmured randomly with a dazed face.

“Right this instant… There is nothing that I would like to receive.”

“There must be at least one.”

“If that is how you really feel then…”

Patrizia continued to speak, unaware of what she was actually talking about.

“Could you one day, fulfill one of my wishes?”

“That is not difficult. I will do that.”

Lucio said this, and lifted the cocktail that was next to him with a smile.

“For the Marvinus Empire’s prosperity, everyone let us clink our glasses for a toast.”

After the birthday bouquet ceremony ended, Patrizia staggered as she descended below the platform. She looked at her older twin sister with eyes that were tremendously shocked. Petronilla faced such a sister with a calm expression on her face. Patrizia called out Petronilla with a shaking voice.

“Petronilla.”

“… Yes, Lizzy.”

“Nilla, you really…”

Patrizia covered her mouth as she made an expression as if she was about to burst into tears. She muttered in a voice that was full of disbelief.

“Nil, I… I… Is what I am thinking, correct?”

“…”

“Is it so?”

“What are you thinking, Lizzy?”

“How did you know?”

Patrizia asked in an empty voice.

“How… how…”

“Once I was also.”

Petronilla showed a cold smile.

“Your husband’s wife.”

THUD. Patrizia’s heart dropped. She collapsed down onto the floor. Petronilla approached her in that current state, and kneeling down with one knee, greeted her with a tearful voice.

“It has been a long time, Lady Patrizia.”

“… Ah.”

“My beloved twin sister.”

Petronilla had tears brimming in her two eyes.