Chapter 128

She could only see their backs, but she could feel each other glaring. Conspirators. What was it that they had conspired with? What else did Rosemond do…?

“Empress?”

At that time, Patrizia turned with surprised eyes towards the familiar voice she heard. Lucio, who seemed to know nothing about what was going on, was right there.

“What are you doing here alone…”

“Shh!”

The flustered Patrizia quickly covered his mouth and hid him behind the pillar. Lucio, too, was taken aback by her strength and hid behind the pillar with her together. He had an expression full of curiosity, but Patrizia had no time to think about his circumstances in the present situation.

“Please be quiet.”

“…”

Meanwhile, Rosemond and the woman finished their conversation and quickly separated. Seeing that they were so careful in their ways, she thought that it was probably not a proper relationship. Patrizia finally released her hand away from blocking Lucio’s mouth. Patrizia resentfully voiced her complaints to Lucio, who had absolutely no idea what was going on.

“I did not get to hear more because of Your Majesty.”

“… What in the world is it for you to be like that?”

“It was an important matter.”

Patrizia sighed, and Lucio showed that he was still curious. In response, Patrizia spoke with cynicism.

“We are not intimate enough for me to tell you all the details, right?”

“…”

It was the correct answer. Lucio didn’t say anything, and Patrizia bit her lips as if she was the one that had become a bad person for some reason. As the mood was getting awkward, she barely managed to open her lips and asked him.

“… Why are you here?”

“I thought it was too late, so I came here to see if something had happened. I am relieved that nothing seemed to have happened.”

“… You were uselessly worrying.”

“Well. I will be the one to judge if it was useless.”

At the firm voice, Patrizia remained silent. It was awkward. Then, Patrizia’s body was wrapped in something. Patrizia was surprised and raised her head. She spoke in a sharp voice.

“What are you doing…?!”

“If you catch a cold, it will be a nuisance, so just cover yourself with it.”

“…”

Why did he keep… Patrizia called out to Lucio.

“Your Majesty.”

“What?”

“I have to point out one thing.”

With a serious look, Patrizia asked.

“Why are you acting this way to me?”

“…”

“Why are you acting this way all of a sudden? Is it not awkward this way for us?”

Patrizia continued to speak in a trembling voice.

“Is it not something you should do for the newly adopted daughter of Efreni? On our first wedding night, the one that said he would never love me was you, Your Majesty.”

“…”

It was all correct. Lucio had nothing to say, even if he had ten mouths.

“That is why you hurt me and made me insulted by a mere mistress…”

Ah, oh my. As she continued to speak, she strangely felt sad. Patrizia bit her lips as hard as possible to avoid crying.

“That is why, with my foolish mind, I do not know why Your Majesty is doing this suddenly.”

“… Alright.”

Lucio replied quietly.

“Because I am also foolish, I cannot answer.”

“… I beg your pardon?”

“I am just fulfilling my duty as a husband to my wife.”

“Ha, the duty as a husband.”

Patrizia burst into laughter. It was not a husband’s duty to act as such, the Emperor of the Marvinus Empire.

“A husband’s greatest duty is…”

Patrizia reached out and grabbed the pillar. Lucio, who unintentionally backed up to the wall, stared at Patrizia. Patrizia smiled coolly and whispered to him, “It is about being faithful to your family and doing your best in your marriage.”

“…”

“Your Majesty was not able to do any of that for me. Am I wrong?”

“… Empress.”

“So it would not be too bad to live like you had wanted on our first day. You should suddenly not pretend to be a good husband, or a kind Emperor now.”

Patrizia spoke to him in a suppressed voice.

“… If.”

“…”

“If I can do both of that, what would happen then?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Patrizia resolutely drew a line.

“You cannot do anything for me. The trust between both of us was already broken on the first night of our marriage.”

“…”

“Even if Your Majesty begs and desires it, we cannot return to that. Also, it is a denial from my side. I definitely provided a chance from the beginning. We could have… just lived as if nothing had happened.”

“Empress.”

He called out to her with a sad voice, but she was determined. She continuously reprimanded herself, who had been drawn to him, even at this very moment. And this was correct. Patrizia thought so at least.

“Please fulfill the contract, Your Majesty. I only need one Crowned Prince as the heir to the throne.”

“…”

“… I will be taking my leave.”

Patrizia turned around and walked towards the banquet hall. She had said all the words she had wanted to say from before, and she discarded all the feelings that shook her will since then. It was all that she had been waiting for and promised herself to continue with. But why…?

‘How upsetting.’

…did she feel so uncomfortable?