Chapter 150

“Your Majesty.” Rafaella’s face looked quite haggard, as if she had stayed up all night.

Patrizia, feeling somewhat apologetic, asked her, “Are you alright?”

“I am alright. What about Your Majesty?”

“Ah…” Patrizia shook her head with a slightly embarrassed face. “It is… a bit painful.”

“Would you like me to carry you on my back?”

“Oh dear. There is an Empress’s face to uphold.”

At the mention of saving face, Patrizia suddenly thought about Rosemond. Apparently the first one to attempt seduction was Rosemond. Then that meant that Rosemond had not been chosen by Lucio. Her insides must be churning, Patrizia thought to herself, and asked Rafaella, “What about Mirya?”

“Preparing Your Majesty’s bath. She has been busy warming up the stones since the morning.”

“Haha…” Patrizia scratched the small of her back with an awkward face. It was strangely embarrassing, even though it was nothing to be ashamed of. She coughed emptily, and then said to Rafaella. “Because it will look strange to be supported by you, let alone to be carried on your back, I will walk on my own.”

“It is at this kind of instant that you put an escort knight to relentless use. If you do not like either of the options, then I will just carry you in my arms, so do not say anything further and just be carried, Your Majesty.”

Because Rafaella was being stubborn to the very end, Patrizia had no choice but to be forced to head to the Empress Palace in Rafaella’s arms. As she had her eyes tightly closed, because she was embarrassed about being seen by anyone, she found out she had arrived at the Empress Palace within a few minutes. As she entered her quarters, Mirya welcomed her in her usual way, instead of making a fuss.

“You have arrived, Your Majesty.”

“I will take a bath first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Patrizia was helped up immediately by Mirya, and washed herself in the huge bath with the help of the maids’ hands. As soon as she took off her clothes, bright red marks could be found all over her body, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward. Fortunately it did not last too long. It was a calm process, except for one young maid who gently cleaned up every corner of her body, carelessly saying something she shouldn’t have.

“…The medicine His Majesty took yesterday seems to have been quite strong.”

“…” Patrizia was so embarrassed in that moment that she wanted to go hide in a mouse hole.

In the middle of their intimate relations, Patrizia had spoken to Lucio, who unconsciously tried to use a contraceptive, “I am infertile anyways. It is alright if you do not use anything.”

“Should I have just told him to do so?”

“Yes?”

“It is nothing.”

Patrizia sighed briefly, and soon had three or four clean towels on her, as the maids were carefully wiping her down. They were being cautious, as it was right after she had her first night of coupling with the Emperor. Patrizia was grateful for the consideration from her maids on one hand, but also felt burdened on the other.

“Ah, Your Majesty. A communication from the Marquis of Grochester arrived this morning. Lady Petronilla has caught a cold, so she says that she will remain in her home for the time being. Still, she said she will probably be able to come out for His Majesty’s birthday celebration.”

“Oh dear.” Patrizia laughed. “It seems that she must have enjoyed her date even while being hit by the rain outside, our Nilla.”

“Lady Petronilla must also meet a good partner and get married as well.”

“It is not ‘also,’ but more like she ‘should,’ is it not, Mirya?” Patrizia smiled bitterly as she corrected Mirya’s words, and Mirya only smiled quietly with an awkward expression.

Subsequently, Patrizia instructed one of the maids in a more rigid voice than the one she had used before. “Look into the current situation at the Vain Palace side and come back. What is the status of the Marchioness right now, and what is the atmosphere of the Vain Palace? I already have my predictions, but… it is better to confirm it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Mirya, go to the Central Palace and tell the maids to attend to His Majesty in Iste Palace. When he wakes up, he’ll be embarrassed if no one is there.”

“…Yes.”

Only then did Patrizia feel there had been some sort of organization, and closed her tired eyes. Yesterday, no, today, how many hours had she slept? Three hours, no, two hours? Grasping her blurry memories, Patrizia murmured to herself, “It seems I need to take some time to rest…”

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Rosemond sat without moving on a chair, a frosty expression on her face. Everything was the same as it had been yesterday, including the slip of a dress that she hadn’t changed out of, and the thick makeup that she hadn’t taken off. The maids, including Glara, were looking nervously at Rosemond as they stood next to her.

“So… His Majesty spent the night with the Empress yesterday.”

“That is… what they say, Marchioness.”

If that was so, last night would be the first night together for the Empress and the Emperor. But Rosemond was more calm than one would expect. She smiled coldly, and spoke to herself, “Well, she is a barren woman and will not be able to give birth to a child anyways, so it does not matter.”

“… ”

It was not a position that could be held merely by intimate favors. In the heat of the moment, His Majesty might whisper sweet things to a new flower due to simple curiosity, but it would not be for long. He was someone incapable of love.

Rosemond’s expression softened as she thought about that. Nevertheless, it seemed that she was still angry about how she had missed out on yesterday’s perfect opportunity. But even then, she soon consoled herself.

“It is fine. His Majesty and I are both still young, so there will always be a chance.”

If there was anything she had to worry about, it was that she had completely lost his trust. But it would work out if she just made up excuses, and made another opportunity. If that still did not work…

“Your Majesty, more than that.” Glara changed the topic to lighten the atmosphere within the cold Vain Palace. “Would it not be better to think about what will happen on the day of the birthday celebration?”

“… What do you mean? Ah!” Rosemond nodded her head and laughed, as she had forgotten about that.