Chapter 194

Wearing a white dress, Patrizia released her hair, which had been neatly tied up since she first entered the palace as the Empress. The turquoise hair curled like meandering waves from the sea as it fell over her shoulders and chest. Patrizia walked in black high heels to the Central Palace.

“Her Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”

“Escort her in.” The door opened at the same time as his voice allowed it, and Patrizia walked slowly into the room. There was nothing on her face that could be described as an expression. Lucio was wearing a black uniform and appeared to be a little surprised when he noticed how she looked as she entered the room. He had never seen her hair loose, except during the days she had met him as the Lady Patrizia.

Before he could even ask what was going on, Patrizia opened her mouth first. “I am going to leave the Imperial Palace.”

Part 5. They go off into the Sunset.

(This section was written by the author in English)

“… What?” Lucio asked in a vague voice after a long time had passed.

Patrizia replied calmly, “It is exactly what I have just said.”

“You are going to leave the Imperial Palace, what does that mean?”

“As I have said…”

“No, what I am saying is…” He hurriedly strode over to Patrizia. After he arrived right in front of her, Lucio asked, his eyes full of anguish, “What do those words mean? Why all of a sudden…”

“It is not ‘all of a sudden’, Your Majesty,” Patrizia answered in a collected manner. “Because this is something I have been thinking about for a long time. When the fight against Rosemond came to an end, I wanted to put it all down and step away from this position, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“I am so exhausted. I no longer want to reside in the Imperial Palace.”

“Empress.”

“I do not want to live as the Empress anymore.”

“I…” He spoke as if his throat was choked up. “I have done a lot of things wrong and made mistakes.”

“…”

“I know that you are tired of me, and that you dislike me. But…” Lucio begged her. “Please do not say anything about leaving this palace. Just the words saying that you will be leaving my side… do not utter them.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Empress, please…”

“I am so tired. I feel disillusioned,” Patrizia explained in a dry voice. “If I stay here any further, I feel like I will go crazy… that is why…”

“So, that is why you will be leaving me? Leaving me all alone…” He asked her, a look of agony on his face. “At least for my sake… Not for yourself, but for me…”

“…”

“For the selfish and despicable me… Can you not do that for me?”

“Because I want to live my life as well.”

“If there is anything you want, I will do anything to give it to you. If you want treasures of gold and silver, I will provide a ship full of that.”

“Wealth no longer makes sense to me as the daughter of a noble, Your Majesty.”

“If you need anything else, I will give you everything. Whatever your wish for, I will listen and grant anything for you.”

“…”

“Just remain by my side. You can continue to hate and resent me by my side.”

“I lack the energy to hate Your Majesty now, nor do I have the strength to blame you.”

Patrizia politely but firmly delivered her will. “I solely want to leave this place and reside at my home in comfort. In a free place where there is no more bitter strife and schemes…”

“Other than you, there will be no woman in this palace that I will touch. I will swear by it. I will live only looking at you, as the one and only in my life…”

“Your Majesty,” Patrizia gently interrupted him. Looking at his defeated expression, Patrizia continued without any wavering whatsoever. “What I really want is to escape from this place and be free. I do not want to continue living in a cage, but to live in the wild in a humble way.”

“…”

“Do not live solely looking at me. I cannot handle Your Majesty’s heart.”

“I am not hoping for anything from you. I will not expect anything. I will not even ask for it. Just stay next to me, you can do whatever you want to do as long as you are by my side… Can you not stay?”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

“Empress, Patrizia. Please…”

“I cannot do that.”

“I am begging you, do not…” Do not throw me away. He could not get those words out of his mouth, they hovered around his mumbling.

Patrizia read his mind, but shook her head to the very end. It was the best option for her, and for him as well. Patrizia gave her last words to him.

“I want to permanently leave the Imperial Palace, Your Majesty. Please dethrone me as the Empress, and send me away on the condition that I was not adequately acknowledged as one. Please… I am making a request.”

“I…” Lucio could not do that. How could he possibly do that? He had finally fallen in love with her. Only now could he finally distinguish his love from sympathy. Only now was he…

“I will not allow it.” Only now he was able to look straight into her eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

“It is fine if you curse at me for being a selfish man, or you can look down on me for being an Emperor of sheer effrontery.”

“…”

“But you leaving is the only thing I will not allow. That is the one thing that I will never…”

“Even though I do not love Your Majesty?”

“My love, my yearning, and my heart all belong to you.”

“…”

“I told you. It does not matter if you loathe, hate, or resent me.”

‘So dear Patrizia, please just stay by my side…’

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED