Chapter 200 - If You Want, For a Lifetime

“If you can remain healthy by me catching a cold, that would be a blessing in itself, too.”

As he said that, he laughed faintly. Parizia stared at Lucio with clear eyes. -This man always confuses me. From the first time I saw him, until now,- Patrizia thought to herself. -So he is a man that is so annoying, bothersome, and always weighs heavily… on my mind.-

“Are you feeling a bit better? Your dress looked a bit thin.”

“I am fine.”

“About… about your birthday celebration.” Lucio hesitated before he finally brought out what he wanted to say. “Is there anything you would like to have?”

“I already told you last time, material offerings of luxury are meaningless to me.”

“No, not something like that. It does not have to be related to extreme wealth and riches. I am just saying that as long as you do not say you will be leaving the palace… whatever it is you want, I will do everything.”

“There is nothing that I really would like to have as of yet,” Patrizia replied in a dry voice. “There might be something that I might desire someday, but for now I do not know what I want.”

“Hmm…” After hearing her answer, he looked as if he was deep in contemplation.

-What could he be thinking about right now? What is he trying to prepare again without my knowledge?- Patrizia was curious, but she did not ask him.

“Then, you know what?”

Patrizia raised her eyes to gaze at Lucio. He hesitated again, and then asked, “Do you have any particular flowers that you like?”

“… Roses.”

She loved roses. Ironically, the name of her husband’s mistress had been Rosemond. Patrizia laughed bitterly and repeated again, “I like roses…”

“Alright. Thank you for letting me know.”

“You are not going to do something cheesy and tacky like preparing a bouquet of a hundred roses or…” Patrizia tried to slightly feel him out a little, “something like that, right?”

“… Not in the least!” She seemed to have guessed correctly. For the first time, Patrizia cracked a tiny smile. Lucio saw it, and told her with renewed vigor, “I would never do that!”

“Alright, I understand, Your Majesty,” Patrizia responded gently, as if she was placating a child.

Lucio let out a brief sigh as he witnessed her behavior. “It is certainly not easy. Actually, I have never done anything like this before.”

“…”

‘Then just give up,’ she was about to say, ‘as that it would be easier.’ But she stopped herself from doing so. She thought it would be cruel to both of them to say such words. This continuous stream of thoughts made Patrizia feel uncomfortable somehow, so she figured that she should end their conversation quickly. “I will be taking my leave now.”

“I will escort you back.”

“I can go alone.”

“Do not be stubborn about this. If you do not like being with me… I will call some guards over.”

“… ”

“I cannot step back on safety issues.”

Patrizia released a short sigh. In the end, he was a man who remained stubborn on useless issues such as this.

—

After his words, Lucio quietly walked Patrizia back to the Empress Palace without saying a word. It seemed to be in consideration of her, but it was actually rather uncomfortable for her, instead.

When they finally reached the Empress Palace, Patrizia bid him farewell, “Well then I will take my leave…” As she said these words, she tried to take off his coat, but he stopped her.

“Go inside and take it off. What if you catch a cold?”

“But…”

“Please do that for me.”

His soft yet powerful voice somehow seemed to overpower her, so Patrizia could only nod quietly. He turned around first and went on his way. Patrizia was still as she watched his retreating back, before she soon turned inside nonchalantly.

—

When events unfolded such as this, usually one side would catch a cold. With the natural flow of what had occurred, Lucio should have been the one to catch a cold after he took off his clothes for Patrizia, and been terribly sick in bed…

“Ah, why am I the one?…”

“Your Majesty, are you uncomfortable?”

Strangely, it was Patrizia, not Lucio, who had come down with a cold. It was a very unfair situation. She had even taken his coat, but she was the one to catch a cold. Patrizia was struggling as she asked, “Did His Majesty come down with a cold not too long ago?”

“I am sorry?” Mirya had a puzzled expression, as if she was questioning why Patrizia was suddenly asking this question, then replied with a tilt of her head, “No… His Majesty is probably not sick.”

Then, it was not like the cold had been transferred from sharing the same clothes. -So then why…?!- Patrizia closed her eyes tightly. She certainly had an unfortunate lack of luck. Patrizia let out a difficult sigh, and asked, “How is His Majesty?”

“Yes?” As it was another unexpected question, Mirya cocked her head to the side. But this time, she really seemed to be unsure about the answer, so there was no reply. Patrizia asked again in a delicate voice. “His Majesty… I am asking if he is alright.”

Patrizia silently thought that since she was so ill herself, she was unsure if he was fine and not inconvenienced by sickness. Only then did Mirya recognize Patrizia’s intentions, and answered accordingly, “Ah, His Majesty the Emperor is said to be just fine.”

“Is that so?” The answer in itself made her feel bad. -The same cold wind was blowing on us equally, but why am I the only one…- Patrizia covered her eyes, a tired expression on her face. Everything felt so painful and difficult in her current state.

Mirya continued to speak, “Please take a rest today. There is nothing urgent that needs to be attended to.”

“… I should do that. It might be contagious, and I do not want it to spread so… Please tell Nilla not to come here.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After asking Patrizia to call for her if she needed anything, Mirya left the room. Patrizia was left alone and fiddled with the blanket, a depressed expression on her face.

She felt lonely.

-Because I am sick, I have all kinds of thoughts.-

Patrizia broke into a small grin after she blinked a few times. A familiar piece of clothing stood out to her. Patrizia reached out in that direction. The warm cloth was quickly caught in a firm grip. She unconsciously dragged the garment toward her and embraced it.

-It is warm…-

It had been a while since the last time she had worn it; it was something she had forgotten about and not been able to return yet, but all Patrizia could feel was that the coat was warm, perhaps because of the fur attached to it. Patrizia took a deep breath with difficulty and exhaled accordingly. The scent of that man was still on it. Warm yet cold, and sweet yet bitter, a scent like that…

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED