Chapter 172

Lucio sighed with relief at the diagnosis from the court physician. While the court physician was treating Patrizia, Lucio scrutinized every single aspect of her during that time. Patrizia felt burdened by the unintended interest and gaze, but she did not say anything, and she simply looked on as the court physician treated her wounds.

Eventually, after her cuts had been meticulously wrapped with clean white cloth, the court physician left the room. Patrizia did not speak for a while, and only spit out a few words after a long time had passed, “I did not come here looking for treatment, but I was unexpectedly taken care of, and became a burden.”

“Burden.” Lucio repeated in a slightly choked-up voice. “This sort of thing is… not a burden.”

“…”

“So you do not have to say those kinds of words.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Tell me, Empress. What happened?” His eyes had once again turned slightly red.

Patrizia stared at him for a moment, then spoke in a weak voice that went against the previous pledge she had made to herself. “I encountered assassins while I was outside of the Imperial Palace. Fortunately, I had contacted the Second Rank of Knights in advance, which saved my life, and two assassins were captured…”

“…”

“After that, my knight almost died as well.”

After she told the story with a combination of some exaggeration and lies, Lucio looked at her with a strange expression on his face. Half of it was due to relief, and the other half was due to anguish.

Patrizia wondered what his expression signified, and asked him, “Why do you make a face like that?”

“Because I think I was too late.”

“… What does that mean.”

“I had sent my knights in time for your return to the palace.”

“…”

It was something she had not known about. Patrizia was taken aback as she asked, “Why did you do that?”

“…”

“Your Majesty, did you already know something like this would happen? Surely not… Your Majesty hired the assassins…”

“No, Patrizia. It is not like that.” Lucio quickly cut off her words, and denied it. Patrizia stared at Lucio with reddened eyes.

Lucio’s face was desperate as he stared back at her. “… I eavesdropped on what Marchioness Ethyller was talking about.”

“…”

“I had sent the knights as a precautionary measure, but it was not directly related to this incident. This misunderstanding… I hope you will not think like that.”

“What does that…”

“But even that was too late, if the Second Rank of Knights had not moved in the right time…”

He closed his eyes with a distressed expression. A thought that he hated to imagine had come to mind. Words full of pain burst out of his mouth, “I am sorry, Patrizia. This is all my…”

“Ah…”

It was Patrizia who was flustered by the sudden guilt on his part. She blinked her eyes in a foolish manner, and soon said to him firmly, “Calm down, Your Majesty.”

This man had trauma concerning the death of his mother. He was perhaps projecting what had happened in the past with what she was experiencing now. When her thoughts reached this point, Patrizia’s voice turned urgent. “Strictly speaking, this is not Your Majesty’s fault.”

“…”

“As you have said, it is a crime that belongs to Marchioness Ethyller. After the end of this, her existence will be no more in the Imperial Palace.”

“…”

“Even if you hate it, I…”

“You do whatever you want.” Lucio ended her words with a tired voice. Patrizia had her words obstructed, and asked him with a stunned expression on her face, “Really… you mean it?”

“Did you not say you captured the assassins, as well? It is a crime that will be revealed anyway, since there is actual evidence, and all that is needed is a confession. I will give you the full power to conduct the investigation.”

“… You are speaking as if you do not possess any residual feelings for her anymore.”

“…”

Residual feelings. Residual feelings for her had disappeared on the day of the party, when she had revealed to him all of her deception, leaving only the bitter wounds behind. He let out a chuckle.

“Indeed.”

So that was why, there were no residual feelings now. All of this was a disaster brought on by his own foolishness. There would be nothing more ridiculous than if he still had some residual feelings while he begged for the Empress. He said to her, “Make everything right again. On behalf of my foolish self.”

“…”

She liked this kind of avoidance of responsibility, but also hated it. Feeling a conflict of emotions, Patrizia quietly bit her lips. At some point in time, he began to show this kind of attitude to Rosemond, and Patrizia was curious, since she did not know the reason why. She could only guess that some kind of story had come and gone between the two of them.

Patrizia asked him, “The reason for your heart having changed suddenly… may I ask why?”

“There is nothing special. I just realized too late that the truth I thought I had known was actually just fiction.”

“…”

She did not know what he had discovered, but at least that was not what she was trying to reveal to him now. What kind of face would he make when he found out what she was about to tell him? How would he feel?

Patrizia quietly opened her mouth, “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Rosemon… It is regarding the Marchioness of Ethyller.”

“I really do not want to talk about something like that when I am with you.”

“Now is not the time. I am too tired to tell you now, and the timing is not ideal as well.” Patrizia continued calmly. “It will be a shocking story for Your Majesty.”

“…”

“I am worried that you will not be able to endure it.”

“Worried.” He smiled and noted, “It is quite unusual for you to be worried about me.”

“…”

“Did you not hate me?”