Chapter 132

The celebration eventually concluded with the argument between Patrizia and Rosemond. Patrizia was not happy because she had prepared for this event while losing sleep for a month, but she had no regrets. She had been thinking that she would have to show her up at some point.

The next morning, Patrizia showed nothing but her normal speech and behavior, but the people around her were more restless due to her behavior. Patrizia reassured them that she was okay, but nevertheless, when she noticed the servants including Mirya and Rafaella kept being careful around her, Patrizia decided to give up. In fact, she knew if she had been in their shoes, she would have acted the same way.

“Your Majesty, did you hear?”

On that day, an hour before lunchtime, Mirya spoke to Patrizia in a nonchalant voice.

“I just heard about it myself, but it was not just one or two people that saw His Majesty and Lady Efreni arguing on the terrace, right after Your Majesty left for the Empress Palace.”

“…”

“It is said that they fought heavily.”

“What does it matter to me?”

Patrizia muttered in a bitter voice.

“From the beginning, I had nothing to do with the relationship between the two. You know this.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty. That is so, but…”

“Well, is it a good thing for us?”

But well. Anyway, it was a fact that she had noticed before anyone else, that the Emperor’s favor was moving away from Lady Efreni. So it was news that wasn’t even new to her, but it was still surprising. Patrizia asked Mirya a question to change the topic.

“By the way, why is Nilla so late today?”

Petronilla couldn’t shake off her uncomfortable heart from yesterday. Patrizia’s issue, of course, played a part, but rather…

‘Yesterday the man said his name was Rothesay.’

Rothesay was the bigger reason. She roamed around the room unconsciously.

‘Will he try to find me?’

She was nervous and bit her nails. It was her usual habit when she was anxious about something. Then Petronilla stopped biting her nails, wondering why she should think so deeply about a man she had only met twice.

“This is horrible, Nil. Wake up.”

Even after that, to go on and on about it still being fate, what was it? Petronilla shook her head, muttering, ‘I am also quite out of control.’ This was not what was important now.

‘Anyways, I should tell Lizzy what I found out.’

The relationship between Rosemond and January. Obviously these two seemed to have nothing in connection, but in fact, they were closely related. After contemplating something, Petronilla decided that it would be better to go to the Imperial Palace, where Patrizia was waiting. She changed her dress to cobalt blue, and with the help of a maid, was putting on a sapphire necklace with a silver chain, when someone came into the room. It was her mother, the Marquess of Grochester. Petronila asked her, “Mother, what is the matter?”

“Nilla, someone has come looking for you.”

“Who is it?”

Petronilla went down to the reception room with a puzzled look. And, when she discovered who her visitor was, Petronilla almost fell backwards at the shock. In a voice full of disbelief, she put the guest’s name in her mouth.

“Sir B… radington?”

“It has been a long time, my Lady.”

No, it hadn’t been long. They clearly saw each other last night. She looked at the Marquess of Grochester with a look asking what was going on, but the Marquess simply smiled and said, “I heard that he was very impressed with you yesterday. That is why he came back.”

“Mother, but I…”

“If you are uncomfortable, I will leave, my Lady.”

Rothesay quickly interrupted her words. Meanwhile, the Marquess of Grochester left, and Petronilla stared at Rothesay with a devastated expression. Petronilla asked him.

“How did you know… our house…”

Petronilla could not finish asking the question. Ah, of course. The location of the Marquis of Grochester was not a top-secret of any Imperial intelligence agency. Petronilla sharpened her voice and asked, “What is the reason for coming so far…”

“Ah.”

Rothesay smiled brightly at Petronilla. She thought the man’s smile was quite pretty. Petronila spoke to him.

“I am a little busy. I would just like you to tell me the reason.”

“Right, you are the senior maid of the Empress Palace. I forgot.”

Rothesay laughed in an unfazed way and handed something to Petronilla. It was a bouquet of flowers. Petronilla swallowed her dry saliva.

“While I was taking a walk today, I saw these flowers that resembled my Lady…”

“…”

“So I bought one.”

“… Ah.”

Petronilla nodded her head with an awkward expression. A bouquet gift from a man. It was a gesture she had not even received from her father. Petronilla expressed her gratitude in a shrinking voice.

“Thank you, Sir. But why this to me…?”

“I told you, my Lady.”

He replied to her with a beautiful smile.

“I do my best for someone I love.”

“…”

“I did my best in my own way, but I hope you will like it.”

“…”

“Do you not like it?”

“That is not it… Thank you, Sir.”

Rothesay’s face brightened in response to her positive response. When she saw that, Petronilla laughed.

“Why did you leave first yesterday?”

Ah, yesterday. Petronilla told him frankly.

“I was out of my mind because of the disturbance that occurred yesterday. I am really sorry if I made you wait.”

“No, I understand. I would have forgotten too. You did well.”

“…”

“Then maybe…”

“Please speak.”

When Petronilla urged Rothesay on, who seemed so shy he could not speak further, and he brought out the words as if he was waiting for that.

“Since we could not dance together yesterday…”

Since we could not…? Petronilla’s one eyebrow rose.

“If you are alright with it, would you go on a date with me?”