Chapter 136

Patrizia responded with a cold smile to Rosemond’s meaningless greeting. Patrizia did not show a response to anything after the encounter with Lucio, she gave him the ultimatum, “If you want to bring in a concubine, even if it means diminishing my dignity, then do as you please.” She did not test for infertility, and did not challenge the issue of the council’s vote.

Patrizia acted as if she had lost all of her life’s motivation for a while. She looked through the documents in the Inner Palace, read books, and took walks as usual, but the people around her felt that she was emptier than before. This was a distinct change that even Petronilla felt.

“Thanks to you, I am having a ve-ry comfortable day.” Patrizia replied sarcastically.

Rosemond was unfazed and replied, “I am also having a comfortable day due to earning the favor of His Majesty.”

“That is quite a relief.” Patrizia smiled brightly as she replied, and brought up another topic. “But the story I heard does not seem like that.”

“Yes? What does that mean…”

“I am talking about your birth parents,” Patrizia changed the subject casually.

“I heard some terrible news yesterday. Well, they said that Baron Darrow’s estate was burned down by a massive fire.”

“…”

“Of course, right now your parents are the Duke and Duchess of Efreni… Anyways, they are still the birth parents who gave birth to you and raised you. I heard that even your birth parents all burned to death during the turmoil of that time.”

“….”

“Unfortunately, that is what I heard happened.”

“Yes. It really is a pity. In addition to that, the family of Viscount Per that your older brother married into also went bankrupt during this time? If one possessed pride as a noble, it would be a difficult shame to bear…” Patrizia said, and passed by Rosemond. Before passing her completely, Patrizia whispered into Rosemond’s ear, “To kill your own blood… how far are you planning to go, Rosemond? I guess you are not afraid of divine retribution from the Heavens.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Your Majesty,” Rosemond whispered with a smile back into Patrizia’s ear. “To me, my only relatives are the Duke and Duchess of Efreni and their children.”

“… Sure. If that is what you wish.” Patrizia left only those words and stepped away, as she felt Rosemond shooting daggers at her he back. She smirked, and muttered strangely, “If so, maybe I should dare to become the Heavens?…”

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“You returned, Empress Majesty.”

As soon as Patrizia entered the Empress Palace, Mirya greeted her politely, and Patrizia smiled nonchalantly as she sat at her desk and turned over the documents. Soon after, she asked Mirya, “Petronilla is late. What is going on?”

“The Lady said there was something going on at the market today. She asked me to deliver the message that she might be a little late.”

“Oh dear. I seem to be pestering her too much.”

She felt bad. Mirya felt a bit creeped out by Patrizia, who was laughing and muttering to herself today. She had never had this feeling before. Even when she came back alive from the threshold of death during the hunting competition, this feeling…

“Mirya.”

The voice of Patrizia brough Mirya out of her thoughts. She replied quickly, “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Do you know Sterin, by any chance?”

“Sterin?” Mirya shook her head in response to Patrizia’s question. She had never heard of this word before. She asked, “What is that?”

“A very… good scent. It is said that to be called by another name in a country in the East… Anyways, the scent is so fragrant that it is used in incense a lot in the East.”

“Incense?”

“It is similar to perfume. It is said that when you light incense, it leaves a nice scent as it gets on your body.” Patrizia laughed in an enchanting manner.

“I was indifferent. It is something to congratulate the new daughter of a Duke, and now to receive a Marchioness title on top of that. It is not the way to stay still.”

“Yes…?”

For a moment, Mirya was puzzled by her attitude, so different from usual, and Patrizia smiled and gestured to her. Mirya stepped close to Patrizia, who took something from the shelf and handed it to her.

It was a small box. Mirya asked, puzzled, “This… What is it, Your Majesty?”

“In the West, the concept of incense burners is unfamiliar and not used well. Instead, I made it into a perfume, so please take it over to Vain Palace.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Mirya left the room after receiving the box from Patrizia. A faint smile rose on Patrizia’s mouth as she stared at Mirya’s back, but it soon disappeared. After a while, she sat back at her desk as if nothing had happened, and began to focus on her work again.

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED