Chapter 93

He was a tall man with brown hair and auburn eyes, and his physique was quite strong and wide. While Petronilla stood blankly, the man opened his mouth first.

“Sorry, Lady. It seems that our coach made a mistake.”

“No, Lord. I am fine.”

She didn’t know who this was, but she thought that he was from a noble family because of how he was dressed or the state of the carriage. Petronilla asked him with a display of manners.

“Perhaps, you were hurt somewhere.”

“I am fine. Is the Lady okay?”

“Yes, I also…”

When it was confirmed that both of them were fine, Petronilla finally told him with a reassured look.

“That is a relief. Then I will be going. Please go safely.”

“Wa- wait a minute, Lady.”

The man on the opposite side tried to catch Petronilla, but she hadn’t heard it, and she had already gone into the carriage. Soon the carriage with Petronilla inside departed, and the man remained there for a while with a dazed look, and finally went back into the carriage at the urge of the driver who expressed they might be late.

Lucio was busy on that day focusing on affairs once again. He quickly filled the gaps, as he showed that some of the gaps created by his unconscious state were meaningless. He was admiring Patrizia’s thoughtful work and was looking at the budget documents from the Empress Palace.

“YourMajesty, Lady Rosemond is here.”

“Rosemond?”

He hesitated for a moment but soon nodded to allow her in. Rosemond approached him, dressed up in a gorgeous dress, as usual. Of course, the beautiful smile on her lips was a bonus. She called to him with a seductive voice, “Your Majesty.”

“You came, Rose?”

“You are busy. These days, you haven’t even been stepping into the Vain Palace.”

“As you know, I had been lying in the bed unconscious all this time. Sorry. I will go later.”

“You promised.”

She sat on his knees, smiling like a child. Rosemond kissed his lips slightly while holding onto his shoulders, and told him the reason for the visit.

“I actually have something to tell you, Lucio.”

“Something to tell me? What is it?”

“It’s nothing, I’m just going to go down a bit to my estate for a while.”

At the word “estate,” he frowned slightly as if trying to come up with something. He soon realized what she was saying and then frowned further.

“Are you going to go to Baron Darrow?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“I have something I would like to request from him.”

“To him?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She smiled and explained it to him.

“I need a contract waiving his parental right.”

“A waiver of parental rights? What do you mean by this suddenly?”

“That’s what I said. I’m not going to be the daughter of Baron Darrow anymore.”

“Then?”

“The Duke of Efreni will take me in as an adopted daughter. Then I’ll be an Efreni Lady. And not the daughter of a mere Baron.”

“…”

Lucio had a thoughtful expression when he heard her words, and of course, Rosemond had expected him to welcome her idea, but then asked him with a slightly perplexed expression.

“Ah… Perhaps, do you hate it? That I am going to abandon the Darrow name and take Efreni’s instead?”

“It is your choice, so how can that be. It is just that you were fine until now, and I am a little puzzled why you are doing this all of a sudden.”

“Ah. Not until now.”

She smiled brightly and corrected his words.

“I was shocked after this recent event, Your Majesty. I went through such a controversy just because I was the daughter of a Baron. I have to stand next to Your Majesty as a love that lacks a title.”

“…”

“I am afraid of Her Majesty who was trying to condemn me by asking for sins that I had not committed, and I am sick of the other nobles. Thankfully, during this time Your Majesty, the Duke of Efreni saved me.”

“… Sure.”

“He said he wanted to take in a daughter like me. I gladly accepted his request.”

“…”

“It’s a good thing, right?”

“… Sure.”

He replied with difficulty. He knew that she had done nothing wrong this time. He was feeling a bit terrible, but didn’t express it, and accepted Rosemond’s approaching kiss with a smile.

He could not abandon her for reasons of hypocrisy, at least not yet. The act itself was hypocritical of him in the first place.

Duchess of Efreni seemed quite surprised that Petronilla had visited her home. She invited Petronilla inside and led her into the drawing room. The Duchess of Efreni served tea and strawberry tarts before proceeding to ask.

“I did not expect Lady Petronilla to come here. That is surprising.”

“Is there a reason for that? You are in charge of affairs in the Inner Palace, and I am the sister of Her Majesty, the owner of the whole palace.”

Petronilla, who responded casually, pulled a letter out and extended it to her. The Duchess asked with a puzzled look.

“What is this?”