Chapter 141

Lucio had a defeated expression on his face as he stared at the Empress lying on his bed. She appeared quite haggard, sleeping there with her eyes closed. There was a bandage on her foot, covering her wound. He called out her name carefully in a voice full of desperation, “Patrizia…”

If she could hear this voice, she would probably get upset again, and so he had to use a soft voice. He closed his eyes with a miserable expression, and shook his head.

“I… to you…” What did he do to her? What games did he play with a woman he had brought in, who knew nothing? Lucio shed an ocean of tears and embraced the remorse. He wanted to atone for his mistakes, but it was already too late. She despised him, hated him, reproached him, and would blame him. He stood by her side as he muttered to her with a painful expression.

“How can I atone for…”

“…”

“Is there such a way?”

Was there any point to doing that? To her, and to myself. Was there anything I could do about the sincerity, feelings, and love that I had realized so late? Lucio quietly bit his lips with his eyes still closed.

You, who has been hurt by my actions, will never forgive me.

“Alright. Do not forgive me.”

Hate me. You can resent me as well. If you want to kill me, you can do that as well. If that can relieve your heart even by a little, go through with it.

You can have whatever vicious emotions towards me. Even those feelings would be overkill for me. So with that kind of feeling… stay by my side for all of eternity. Please do not leave me.

“Even if you call that being selfish, so be it.”

I am a severely horrible bastard. So it does not matter whatever curses you may say to someone like me. Just stand beside me with the name of the Empress. It does not matter if your heart is not facing towards me, as long as your body is next to me.

“Yes, I would be content with that.”

For such a cruel man, even that would be considered a luxury.

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“… ”

When Patrizia first opened her eyes, her first sight was a white ceiling with bright sunlight. She was astonished when she realized that, and furrowed her brow.

“I…” She quickly lifted herself up, but soon felt a huge pain in her foot and furrowed her brow again. Her mouth naturally let out a groan.

“Ugh…” She bit her lips, and the groaning went back inside. She continued to frown and looked around her surroundings. Damn it, a place she had seen a lot somewhere. Here was…

“Have you woken?”

It is the Emperor’s room!, Patrizia cursed inside. So now, she was in the room of the husband that she despised, and asleep on top of the bed at that! Patrizia glanced up and down, all over herself, just in case. Ah, fortunately nothing had happened. If something had happened to her, the most terrible option imaginable, she would have had the mind to bite her tongue and die.

“… Why am I here?”

“You were not kidnapped, so do not worry.”

If that was supposed to be a joke, she was sorry, but it wasn’t funny at all. Patrizia asked him again, “Why am I here?”

“It was not me, but the Empress who ran around barefoot in the middle of the night. It would be quicker to ask yourself about this.”

“I remember that too, Your Majesty. I don’t think you are properly getting the point of the question.” Patrizia asked him coldly, “What I am curious about is, even if I had done that, why am I on Your Majesty’s bed, and not on my own bed?”

“…”

“I would like to hear the answer.”

“… It is a given since I was the one to move you.”

“Why did you move me?”

“Because you were hurt.”

“No, stop providing textbook answers.” Patrizia rebutted without even a smile, “I do not think Your Majesty has a difficult time understanding. I will ask again. Why did you move me here? Not to my bed, but to Your Majesty’s bed.”

“… I apologize if it offended you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It was offensive. When I opened my eyes, I thought I would rather commit suicide.” Patrizia laughed for the first time, hurting him with her harsh words. “Why did you move me here?”

“Because of my greed.”

“You are selfish. You never thought about how when I opened my eyes, I might feel the slightest bit offended.”

“… I apologize.”

“It is done. Since this is not the only thing that Your Majesty needs to apologize to me.”

Now Patrizia felt cynical about whether this was even something new. Lucio’s face turned solemn in response.

“UNGH!” She stumbled while letting out a moan. The pain ran through her whole body as she tried to stand up on her own. Damn it, with just a single foot being hurt… She was irritated with herself. Then someone supported her.

“Be careful.”

It was that man. Patrizia showed her stubbornness in a determined voice, “I can go alone.”

“Do not be ridiculous.”

“At least, it would be a much better option than being treated by Your Majesty like this?” Patrizia laughed with a sad voice. “Let go of me.”

“I do not want to.”

“Your Majesty!” She was angry. But he was resolute.

“You can say anything you want, and whatever you want. But not with your body like this.”

“It is my body. Your Majesty has no right to interfere.”

“I am your husband. Is that not enough of a right to be involved?”

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED