Chapter 121

When Patrizia allowed her to come in, Rosemond, whose skin was rougher than before, came into her place with pompous steps. Patrizia, tired of her arrogance, lectured her on her attitude.

“You are probably the only one who shows such impolite conduct in the Imperial Palace.”

“What did I do for you to say that, Your Majesty?”

“I am saying, mind your manners. You look very urgently in need of etiquette education.”

At her words, Rosemond couldn’t bear it and shouted.

“The person that needs etiquette education is not me, but the Empress!”

“I?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She asked Patrizia with a cold expression.

“Why did you cut the budget for Vain Palace?”

“Ah.”

Patrizia was expecting it, but when she finally faced this situation, it felt more strange than she had thought it would be. She replied after she had soothed down her voice.

“Are there any problems?”

“How can the budget suddenly be cut like this? I returned the Baroness title, but I am still His Majesty’s mistress.”

“Yes. You are His Majesty’s “unofficial” mistress. There is no provision in Imperial law to budget for the mistress. I am just doing it according to custom.”

“Then why are you suddenly ignoring custom and doing this arbitrary thing, I’m extremely curious.”

“Of course, Lady Rosemond. Maids were given to the Vain Palace, and as you said, you are no longer a Baroness. So, I just thought it was reasonable to reduce my useless budget as the owner of the Inner Palace.”

Patrizia, who said this, added on something with a displeased expression.

“Not only that, but it is also unprecedented to meet with a mere daughter of a Baron whenever you want, Lady Rosemond. I think that alone is enough to treat you well as His Majesty’s mistress”

“Did you say, daughter of a mere Baron, just now?”

Rosemond laughed and corrected Patrizia’s words.

“Your Majesty, unfortunately, I am no longer Baron Darrow’s daughter. That name now has no meaning for me.”

Patrizia asked, raising one eyebrow.

“What does that mean?”

“My father signed a waiver of parental authority. I will soon be brought in as an adopted daughter of the Duchy of Efreni. So now I’m not, ‘a daughter of a mere Baron, but the daughter of the one of the Empire’s three Prime Ministers.

“So?”

Patrizia asked with a firm face, and Rosemond’s face crumpled.

“I’m asking you to stop doing things that insult me.”

“I do not know when I said I did something insulting, Lady Rosemond. It does not matter to me whether you are a Baron’s daughter or a Duke’s adopted daughter. Whatever you are, I am the noblest woman in this empire, and no woman dares to surpass me. But should someone like myself, have to care about what you say?”

“…”

Unfortunately, Patrizia’s words were all true for Rosemond. Patrizia continued.

“That is even better. Congratulations, Lady Rosemond. Congratulations in advance. From what I know, I heard that the riches of the Duke of Efreni are not small. Then I do not have to increase the budget for Vain Palace. No, I would rather cut it.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Do not shout, Lady Rosemond. If you’re going to be a princess soon, keep your manners and dignity. You must relearn from the nobility about etiquette before being admitted to the Duchy. If it is embarrassing to say that directly to the Duke, I have the intention of showing mercy and tell the Duke myself.”

“No, there is no need for that, Your Majesty.”

Rosemond replied in a hurry.

“Because my father has already promised to attach a tutor to me. So I do not need Your Majesty’s mercy.”

“That is good. The Empress’s position is not so free to care for such trivial matters.”

“…”

“Then is this over now? Hurry and go. I am very busy right now.”

Patrizia said that and then called the maids into the room. To the maids asking what they were called for, Patrizia made the world’s most caring expression and gave them an order.

“Lady Rosemond is returning to Vain Palace, so you all escort her well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Rosemond’s face was hardened by the clear expulsion. However, Patrizia was sitting at her desk again, and reviewing the overwhelmed documents without any interest. Rosemond made a rare smile on her face and soon spoke with a sharp voice to the maids of the Imperial Palace, walking alongside her.

“It is alright to run along. It is not like I have a broken foot.”

As Rosemond said that, she walked alone with an arrogant face in the world. She could feel the maids of the Empress Palace gossiping behind her, but Rosemond continued to walk gracefully with an expression that said she didn’t care at all. Her mood was ruined because of that brat Patrizia, so she was going to go to the Central Palace, and to purify her mind.