Chapter 131

“The Duke is not part of the Inner Palace that I run. Because of that, I cannot afford to punish the Duke like I can with Lady Efreni.”

“…”

“But is this any different than an insult to the Imperial Family? It has not been a year since I became the Empress, and my age is not too far gone. I am a lot younger than when Duke Efreni’s mistress gave birth. To then discuss whether I possess the ability to give birth to a descendant, or not is…”

Patrizia muttered in a relaxed voice.

“How should I interpret this situation now, hm? Why not you tell me instead?”

No one could open their mouths towards Patrizia’s attitude confirming that she would not let things go anymore. It had been the second time since the Empress had shown such a sensitive response after living so quietly.

“This is a very unpleasant situation, so it is hard to stay in my position. I am very sorry if I ruined the mood. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their time here.”

Patrizia talked up to this point, then walked in a hurry to leave the party hall. Subsequently, Mirya, Petronilla, and Rafaella ran after her. The party hall remained quiet for a while but soon became noisy again. Nevertheless, there were still those who remained silent. Lucio dragged Rosemond to the quiet terrace and asked her, “Rose, why did you do something so reckless?”

“No, Your Majesty. It wasn’t reckless.”

The lovers no longer looked at each other with warm eyes. Rosemond spoke in a cold voice.

“As a daughter of a Duke and a servant of Both Majesties, it was a question and concern that could be raised. It is none other than the Empress who misunderstood this as an offense against the Imperial Family.”

Rosemond pleaded with a voice full of being faced with injustice.

“Do you blame me anyway? Are you blaming my father?”

“As the Empress said, she is still young. Also, if it has less than a year since we were married, what is the recklessness of bringing the problem of producing an heir to the surface? You, are you the one I knew? Rosemond, is it really you?”

“It wasn’t me who changed, but Your Majesty.”

Rosemond stared Lucio with her eyes set coldly. Yes, he had changed. She hated to admit it, but he had changed. It was a lie that he was saying, that she had changed. She had originally been like this. She was originally a person like this. He was the one who had put a mask on her, that didn’t even suit her, and only saw what he had wanted to see. Rosemond laughed.

“You no longer love me, Your Majesty. I can tell just by looking at those eyes.”

“…”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You are not even denying it anymore.”

Rosemond muttered in a defeated voice. In the end, was this it? After all that, without any change…

“The Empress, that woman must have done something. Right, Your Majesty? How did she seduce you? Did she even take off her clothes in front of Your Majesty? Or did she act like a whore in the bed?”

“Stop it. It is over the level of acceptable statements.”

“If that is not the case!”

Rosemond howled. Everything she had tried to protect felt like they were collapsing. She had tried so hard to not let this happen again. Even so…!

“Why in the world! For what reason?!”

“…”

“Your Majesty has changed to this extent. Why?!”

“… Yes. We may all have changed.”

Lucio murmured in a sad voice.

“You must also not love me anymore to be speaking like that. No, did you ever love me?”

“Your Majesty, do you know something?”

Rosemond gave a smile that was close to ridicule.

“Your Majesty, that obsession with love, was really tiresome.”

“…”

“You could not shake off your scars from when you were young, and still acted like a child…!”

“Stop.”

“No, I must.”

Rosemond foresaw the end. She shouted as if she was making her last blow.

“I will be honest. I do not love Your Majesty. No, I loved Your Majesty’s position, power, and wealth.”

“…”

“There is no one in this world who will love Your Majesty. Wake up from your dream, Your Majesty.”

Rosemond was cruel to the end. To Lucio, to his soul.

“Who would dare love a murderer who killed their own mother?”

Finally, she made his soul fall to the very bottom.

“You… How could you say that to me…?”

Lucio stumbled in shock, but Rosemond spoke on without blinking.

“If it had been a favor this easily shaken, I wouldn’t have dragged it like this for so long.”

“…”

“Yes, I was foolish.”

It was foolish, Rosemond.

“I was foolish…”

She knew. That something like intimate favor didn’t matter. That the important thing was power, nothing more, nothing less.

So she had promised herself. To climb higher than anyone else. To reach a place where no one could touch, and nobody could mess with her.

“I will become the Empress, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“I will go to take the Empress’s position, which Your Majesty promised to me.”

“Rosemond.”

No, Rosemond. Do not do that.

Don’t break down anymore. Don’t crash.

Please.

“Do not do that.”

“No, Your Majesty. I will do that.”

Rosemond smiled cruelly.

“So I will stand next to Your Majesty, and when Your Majesty dies, I will become the Dowager Empress of this Empire.”

Rosemond smiled satisfactorily, laying out her plans.

“That process, please stay tuned, Your Majesty.”

How she would take his side and how she would remain as his only girl.

Look properly. Look carefully. Don’t miss anything.

“You can look forward to it.”

This was only the beginning for her. She would not go on about while believing in his favor, but taking hold of real power, and gaining the place of the Empress. She would dedicate the first step of the grand plan to him.

To a man she had at least sincerely loved, once.