Chapter 103 – Can I Say I Love You?
Their faces remained close to each other’s.
“Are you crying?” Patrizia whispered.
“No.”
“Are you sad?”
“Not at all,” he replied in a low murmur. “How can I feel sad in front of this precious happiness?”
“…”
Patrizia kissed him again without a word. The quiet touch of their lips gradually grew fiercer. A stray thought flickered across Patrizia’s mind, that they might work out after all, and Patrizia gasped. So did Lucio. Her voice cracked into a sob.
“Heug… Your Majesty.”
“Patrizia,” Lucio whispered in reply. He carefully pulled away and made eye contact with her. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her eyes were blown wide. He carefully unbuttoned the shawl that she was wearing, and her gaze was fixed on his hand as he worked.
The shawl was finally removed, revealing her slender shoulder, and he leaned in and kissed the exposed skin. The kiss was meant to be soft, as if to heal her wound, but somehow it felt wild like a beast’s. Patrizia gave a brief groan.
“Do you…dislike that?” Lucio said cautiously, and Patrizia looked up and kissed him again, this time unknotting the cravat at his neck. The sound of the cloth falling made her hands more impatient than before. When she finally unbuttoned his shirt, Patrizia gazed at him with red eyes and cheeks. He kissed her without an answer—which meant yes. It was a mutual agreement. Lucio moved his hands steadily, but with an indescribable impatience.
Before they knew it, they were looking at each other side by side in their natural state. Patrizia gently brushed his cheek and kissed him once more.
*
Lucio was asleep with his head buried in her chest. Patrizia looked down at his sleeping face. How much time had passed?
“…”
Obviously she had acted on impulse, but it was hard to say that was the sole reason. She certainly had at least half of her rationality with her. It was her choice, and it was his choice. What else could be said here?
She sighed to herself. Without a doubt, she loved him. The ratio used to be fifty-fifty in the past, but these days it felt like it was leaning towards one side. With a blank expression, she stroked his hair that resembled the pre-dawn sky.
“Hmm…” Lucio stirring at her touch. She stopped her hand when she heard his voice.
“Keep…going,” he mumbled.
“…”
Greedy, Patrizia muttered to herself, but obediently followed his request.
“Did I…wake you up?” she asked.
“It’s alright.” He raised his head and answered. “You’re right in front of me, so I prefer to stay awake.”
“…”
Lucio’s words were dripping in sentimentality, but he said them without batting an eye.
“Are you alright?” Patrizia asked.
“I’m too happy,” he replied in a trembling voice. “It’s hard to breathe.”
“Don’t exaggerate.”
“I am not.” He drew her into his arms and whispered in her ear. “Really.”
“…”
Patrizia stared at Lucio as he hugged her like a child, and she soon returned his embrace and closed her eyes. She was tired. After a while, he spoke again.
“Rizi.”
“…”
She did not answer, but he kept talking.
“I have a request.”
“…Say it.”
“Can I say…” There was a pause. “…I love you?”
“…”
She was sure it was supposed to be a request, but it was a question. Did he want her to just answer, or to let him say I love you? She replied after a moment of thought.
“Do it.”
“I love you,” Lucio said.
“…”
“I love you, Patrizia.”
Patrizia did not answer his confession, but Lucio didn’t need her to. He just wants to confess his feelings.
“I’m so—”
“…”
“—in love with you.”
It was satisfaction enough that she heard it.
“Haah.” Patrizia took a long sigh and held her head. Her body was fine just now, but suddenly she was running a temperature.
Next to her, Lucio suddenly looked concerned. “Are you sick? I’ll have to call the palace doctor—”
“Don’t make a fuss,” Patrizia said with a wave of her hand. “Are you going to brag about what happened last night all over the palace?”
Even if he did not call the palace doctor, what happened last night would have already spread from the mouths of the ladies-in-waiting. But that was better than calling the palace doctor and making it official…
Patrizia slowly rose up from the while holding her throbbing head.
“Where are you going?” Lucio asked with an urgent expression.
“I have to go to my palace,” she answered calmly, but Lucio shook his head.
“Where do you think you’re going in that state?”
“I can still go to my palace,” she pointed out.
“What if you fall down?” he said, his forehead creased in worry. “Can you just stay here at least for a while?”
“…You’ll catch a cold then.”
“Don’t worry about me, just worry about yourself.”
Patrizia grunted at his words and flopped back into bed. She should rest more, but she could not afford it right now.
“I have a lot of work to do today…” she mumbled into the sheets.
“Cancel it all. Your health comes first.”
“You’re being thoughtless. I already had a day off yesterday.” Patrizia said with a troubled voice. “Besides, we are less than a month away from the birthday banquet…”
“It’s your birthday. That’s why you have to put your health as your priority.”
“That’s right, but…” Patrizia trailed off in uncertainty. “You have official business to attend to as well.”
“Fortunately, I don’t have any meetings today.”
“But I’m sure you have some paperwork to handle.”
“I’ll do it a little later,” he replied. He was unrelenting.
“…”
Patrizia did not have any more words to rebut him, and Lucio smiled affectionately at her.
“If you look at it, I’m also responsible,” he said.
“…”
Patrizia turned around with a blush.
Lucio continued, his voice sweet. “Wouldn’t it be better to call the palace doctor?”
“I already called him yesterday,” she answered in a drowsy voice.“At best, there’s no choice but to take medicine and sleep. I took a lot of medicine yesterday.”
“I’m sorry.” His eyes suddenly dropped down in apology.
“About what?” Patrizia said in puzzlement.
“I think you became more sick because of me.”
Patrizia heaved a sigh. “If you know that, then be good to me.”
“Of course I will. So, do you need anything else?”
“…I’m still fine,” she said, even though she felt an oncoming headache. “I want to sleep…”
“…Do you want me to stay with you?” Lucio offered.
“I’m not reckless enough to keep the Sun of the Empire by my side from this early morning.” She spoke in a slightly strained voice. “Please attend your official business in your office. I will call the lady-in-waiting outside if anything happens…So don’t worry.”
“Then…”
He looked unwilling to leave her side, but he had no choice. He had more work than she did. He sighed and kissed her softly on her forehead, and she blinked her eyes up at him.
“Get some rest,” he murmured with a soft blush on his cheeks.
“…Goodbye.” Patrizia immediately closed her eyes after saying that. Soon she heard the sound of him moving away from her, then the opening and closing of the door. Only then that she could rest comfortably.
*
About an hour later, Raphaella came to the Central Palace.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress,” Raphaella said with a bow.
“Raphaella,” Patrizia said, and raised herself off the bed with a grunt. Raphaella rushed to help her.
“Jeez, just stay in bed,” Raphaella scolded.
“Did Mirya send you here?”
“I just came. Why should I be in the Queen’s Palace when the Queen is not even there? You’re the one I need to protect.” Raphaella gave a knowing giggle. “So, how was yesterday?”
“It was alright…”
“Oh, no. His Majesty needs to work harder.” Raphaella looked her over. “Do you feel really sick? If it’s worse than yesterday, that’s terrible.”
“Not that bad. I really felt like I was going to die yesterday.”
“That’s a relief. Are you going to stay here?”
“…”
Patrizia pondered for a moment at her question, then answered slowly. “I’m not confident I can walk all the way to the Queen’s Palace.”
“Who said you will walk? I will carry you. Or we can call the carriage.”
“That’s a waste,” Patrizia refused. “I’ll just stay here until I recover my strength.”
“Hmm…” Raphaella looked at Patrizia with a strange look after hearing her answer, but Patrizia ignored her and continued.
“I think I should take a break just for today. I’m afraid the palace work will be disrupted.”
“Nothing will really happen just because you’re not working for a day or two. The palace will not be easily disrupted. Take care of your body first.”
“Alright,” Patrizia sighed in surrender, then laid back in bed. Raphaella studied her with a worried expression.
“Do you need anything?” Raphaella asked gently.
“It’s okay, Ella. The security in Central Palace is trustworthy…You can stay in the Queen’s Palace if you want.”
“I cannot do that,” Raphaella said with a shake of her head and a smile. “I will stay outside. Make sure to call me if anything happens. Alright?”
“I will.”
Raphaella kissed Patrizia lightly on her forehead before going out. Patrizia immediately closed her eyes. She hadn’t slept much lately. No wonder she felt so tired.
*
Patrizia opened her eyes when she felt something cold on her forehead.
“Wha—?” she said in a bewildered tone.
“Oh, no. Did I wake you up?”
Patrizia blinked her eyes and turned her head to the voice. It was him.
“Your…Majesty?” she stammered.
“I’m sorry, Patrizia.”
“…”
Patrizia remained silent for a time, before speaking in a low voice. “Why…”
“Because I’m worried,” Lucio said softly as he brushed away a stray lock from her forehead. “I’m worried to leave you alone.”
“…”
“So, I’m here.”
“What about your work?”
“I have taken care of all the urgent matters. You don’t have to worry.”
After answering her, he kissed her on her forehead without her permission. Patrizia did not say anything about his action, but she just stared at the man who was looking at her lovingly.
Lucio became self-conscious of her gaze and apologized. “Ah, I’m sorry. I…”
“Your Majesty.” Patrizia cut his apology short. “Do you really love me?”