Chapter 158

Patrizia could not help but feel flustered. Nilla had also returned in time like she had!? Patrizia stared at Petronilla with confused eyes. She asked, “Really?”

“Mhm.”

“Did you really?”

“I said that is the case.”

When she asked again, and the returning answer was the same, Patrizia burst out, “Oh my world, how did something like this happen…”

“It is a secret between the two of us, Lizzy.”

“Of course… I have not told this to anyone yet.”

Patrizia sat down with a dazed look on her face. Petronilla looked at her with pity, and explained the situation. “I regained my memories after you became the Queen. That is why I feel so sorry for you.”

“Even if I came back before then, I would have done the same thing. You do not have to be sorry, Nilla.”

“… Thank you.” In a tearful voice, Petronilla barely managed to utter, “Shall we move somewhere else? There are a lot of eyes on us.”

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The two moved to the terrace and covered all of the stories about what had happened up to that point. Patrizia let out startled noises from time to time during their talk, and what amazed her most was when she listened to the story of today.

“Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed again. “Nilla, thank you very much. If it was not for you, who knows if it would have all ensued in chaos by now.”

That man really hated those flowers. At the end of Patrizia’s words, Petronilla nodded with a stiff face and replied, “I am glad that I was not too late.”

“Rosemond’s ploy? Am I right?”

“Indeed.” Petronilla nodded.

Patrizia’s face was colored with rage. “Oh my world…”

“Do not get heated, Lizzy. Looking at the results, it all worked out well.”

“… Yes, Nil. You are right.” Patrizia said in a shaky voice, and then asked, “Can I hug you once?”

“Acting like you are finally meeting someone now.” Petronilla said as if it was nothing new, but she was already being held by Patrizia. Finally, letting a single tear drop down, Petronilla said to Patrizia, “You have gone through a lot of trouble on your own, Lizzy.”

“Nil…”

“Now I will be with you.”

“… Thank you.” Patrizia spoke in a voice she barely managed to squeeze out. “You have no idea how much of a relief it is that I have you here.”

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SLAP!

Rosemond hit Glara’s cheek, her face full of anger. She quietly raged, “What is the meaning of this, Glara? How many times have you failed?”

“… I am sorry, Marchioness.”

Honestly speaking, it was not Glara’s fault. She had fulfilled her mission perfectly. It was only that Petronilla had gotten in the way. Nevertheless, Glara acted like someone who had no words to defend herself. To relieve Rosemond’s anger, this was the best thing to do. “If only Lady Grochester had not intervened.”

“… Ha, yes. You are right.” Rosemond replied with a voice expressing utter disbelief. “How in the world did that brat find out and come to intervene?”

“That is what I wonder about as well, Marchioness.”

Just before the box went inside the banquet hall, the hired worker had changed the box that contained the flowers. But how did she know, and prepare for it accordingly? Glara shook her head, thinking it was something that was beyond unknown. It was then that Rosemond muttered in a vague voice, “Surely not…”

“Yes?”

“No, that is surely possible.” Rosemond said to Glara firmly. “If it turns out like this, everything will not go well. Glara, write a letter to January right now. Inform her that Petronilla knows about everything, so she needs to pay attention to her behavior even more.”

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“Petronilla.” Rothesay called out to her. Only then did Petronilla turn and look back.

“Rothesay.”

“I looked for you for quite a while.”

“I am sorry,” Petronilla apologized with a sheepish look on her face. She still had room for some kind of excuse. “I had an emergency to take care of.”

“It seemed that was the case. Was it related to Her Majesty?”

Petronilla nodded quietly. Rothesay spoke to her, his face full of understanding, “I am not trying to rebuke you. I was just worried.”

“I know, Ro.” Petronilla said his name like that, then carefully asked Rothesay, who looked dazed. “Can I call you Ro?”

“Of course, Nilla. I am happy.” Laughter bloomed on Rothesay’ face. After a moment, he then urged Petronilla. “I wanted to share a dance with my Lady.”

“Ah…” Right. Now that she thought about it, she and he had never danced together. She murmured, “Now that you mention it, this will be our first time.”

“Yes, our first.” Rothesay received her words tenderly, and added on, “But it is alright. There is a lot of time ahead of us.”

Unless I have to go back in time again, I will surely have a lot of time to spend with this man, Petronilla thought, and smiled sadly. There was no more return for her to the past. She liked it as it was now. So sad that this very moment was not a part of her original life.

Petronilla replied to him in a soft voice, “Yes, you are correct. There is a lot of time ahead.”

Nevertheless, I want to be focused and faithful to this present time, Petronilla thought to herself.

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED