Chapter 37 – Are You Behind It?
While Patrizia did not harbor any particularly friendly feelings towards Duke Ephreney, she did expect him to have wise and sober judgment as a great duke of the Empire. In truth, her expectations of him faltered.
She cast her thoughts on the present political situation in Mavinous. The current emperor was the only continuation of the previous emperor’s bloodline, and Lucio had no immediate heir. If he closed his eyes for good, the throne would pass on to a collateral family. The fact that Lucio was the sole heir of his line gave him tremendous legitimacy, and he exercised great Imperial power over the nobility. The emperorship was equivalent to orthodoxy. It was no wonder that Duke Ephreney resisted against Patrizia, a mere regent in the affairs.
In the end, however, she decided she was jumping to conclusions too quickly. She perhaps might be overthinking it and making premature inferences. Wasn’t it too early to brand Duke Ephreney as a political opponent? She immediately moved on to the next issue.
“We’ll discuss the matter with the finance ministry and deal with it separately. What’s next on the agenda?”
“The following issues are those that Your Majesty has not yet read about yet. We can discuss it at the next council meeting.”
“Very well. So are there no more urgent issues right now?”
Marquis Bringstone spoke up. “Your Majesty. There is one thing left that’s been put off.” Patrizia nodded, and he continued, this time with an angry voice. “We must hunt out who dared attempted to assassinate the Queen of the Empire, and who put the Emperor in this state. They cannot be left alive.”
“Presently, Dame Raphaella is searching the hunting grounds with the guards,” Patrizia informed him calmly. “However…I suspect Lady Phelps is behind it.”
To Patrizia, it wasn’t just a nagging suspicion, but a pure belief. However, not everyone would accept it. In the eyes of others, Rosemond and Patrizia were love rivals, and some might think that the Queen was trying to frame the concubine. Nevertheless, Patrizia firmly pushed her intentions.
Duke Witherford spoke. “Your Majesty, I also believe this is a serious issue. Someone is trying to destroy the Emperor and his people. Those responsible should be captured and severely punished.”
“I agree, Duke Witherford,” Patrizia said. “It is impossible to ignore the assassin’s confession, and I would like to start making investigations and interrogations as much as possible. What do the other nobles think?”
“I believe your judgment is correct, Your Majesty. This crime is heavier than any other issue.”
“We should not forgive those that dare mock the Imperial Family of the Mavinous Empire.”
Patrizia nodded at the calls of overall agreement in the room, then turned to Duke Ephreney. “What do you think, Duke?”
“Your Majesty…” His face tensed. “What if…she is not guilty?”
“What?” Patrizia was completely taken aback by his words, and Duke Ephreney continued.
“There is no clear evidence that Lady Phelps is behind this—”
“Duke.”
He was momentarily embarrassed at the interruption, but then he spoke in a calm voice. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are you behind it?”
“What?”
“I asked if you were behind it.” Patrizia’s eyes were as cold as a glacier’s.
“I, Your Majesty…what are you—” he stammered.
“If you’re not behind it, then wouldn’t the name from the assassin’s mouth be the most accurate assumption? Oh, or do you think I’d risk my life to dispose of the concubine, or even make the Emperor go away?” Patrizia trembled with rage, and her pupils were dilated in anger. She was well aware of her position and never raised her voice, but at this moment she couldn’t help it. How dare he. “Do you think I’m behind this?”
“Your Majesty, you’re jumping to conclusions—”
“No, Duke. What else is there to debate? I heard with my own two ears that Lady Phelps is the true culprit. Do you doubt that? Should I point to someone else in this situation? Duke, tell me. If there is anyone else, I will be happy to investigate them too.”
“…”
“Didn’t I tell you before to give me other options?”
“Your Majesty…I’m just worried that an innocent person will get hurt—” he said in a low voice, but Patrizia cut him off with a laugh.
“If we don’t taken action ourselves, then this case won’t be solved unless someone comes forward and confesses themselves.”
“…”
Patrizia fixed the Duke with a cold stare, and at the same time, she realized one thing. That man definitely hated her.
“Duke, I don’t know another way. As Queen Regent, I have the responsibility to lead this situation and hunt down the criminals on behalf of His Majesty. That is why I say the things I do. Are you saying we should ignore what happened in case there’s harm done to potential victims? Even though the two pillars of the Empire almost died?”
“…I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Yes, Duke, you should beg forgiveness. What you just said could be used as treason. I’m sure you know that.”
“…”
Patrizia turned her head away from him. “Duke Witherford should take charge of this investigation. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll do my best to find the real criminal.”
Patrizia’s face was still slightly flushed in anger, but she took a deep breath and regained her composure. She quieted the storm in her mind as much as possible, then closed the meeting.
“I’ve only taken this position yesterday, and I’m not yet experienced in state affairs. Let’s end this council and convene again tomorrow.”
*
The first thing Patrizia did when she returned to her chambers was to investigate her new political opponent.
“Mirya, please do a background check on Duke Ephreney.”
“What happened at the council meeting today, Your Majesty?” Mirya asked.
“This is what happened,” Petronilla said, just as Patrizia was about to open her mouth. Petronilla’s face didn’t look too happy. “Duke Ephreney picked a fight with everything the Queen Regent said today. Like…like it was on purpose.”
“…”
Patrizia just shook her head at Petronilla’s words, her mind lost in thought. Mirya looked at her curiously.
“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?”
“Nothing. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. After what happened yesterday, I’m not in my right mind.”
“Your Majesty…about yesterday…”
Patrizia still hadn’t told them the specific details of the assassination attempt. She had talked about it with Raphaella to an extent, and perhaps Mirya and Petronilla were able to piece together some information from her and palace gossip spreading around.
In the end, Patrizia told Petronilla and Mirya everything without missing a detail—save for what happened after the river. Not for any special reason, but simply because she thought it was unnecessary. As she expected, Petronilla and Mirya reacted with shock.
“Oh my word…for Lady Phelps to do that…”
“But no matter how large the crime, it’s impossible to punish without any evidence.”
“Which is why I’m worried. There might not be enough evidence,” Patrizia said.
“Are you going to completely end things this time?”
Patrzia’s eyes were as hard as steel. “If possible…then yes, gladly.”
There was no need to drag this battle on. No mercy, no forgiveness. It may have been possible in the past, but at this point, it would just be a display of stupidity. Patrizia wanted nothing more than to end these problems as soon as possible.
What she wanted…
What she wanted was Rosemond’s death. Patrizia was not so pure-hearted to not have the desire. If one was harmed, one wanted to pay it back. If one almost died, one wanted to retaliate. God had commanded not to make Hell of this world and take revenge, but, well. If Patrizia didn’t get revenge now, there would not only be Hell on earth, but in her mind as well. And even if she was condemned to damnation, she didn’t think she would regret it.
Patrizia smiled and rested her face on her palm.
*
Rosemond’s interrogation proceeded immediately. Although Patrizia was up to her neck dealing with state business, she made sure to take the time to observe the concubine in her prison. Although Rosemond was in a dungeon, she never gave up her peculiar, haughty smile. Patrizia hated the sight, but she decided to put up with it. Rosemond would disappear soon anyway.
Rosemond was uncooperative with the investigation, of course. Even though she had the right to exercise silence on all questions, she always replied, “I don’t know.” Progress was sluggish. Patrizia didn’t expect the process to be easy, but she didn’t expect Rosemond to be so sealed up either.
For the first time, Patrizia flirted with the thought of abusing her power. That was the wrong thing to do, of course, and she soon gave up the idea. She couldn’t show she had doubts about the process.
One day, Patrizia watched as Duke Witherford questioned Rosemond, then walked into the interrogation room herself. The Duke looked at her in surprise.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”
“The investigation is making little progress. It’s already been three days, and she hasn’t revealed anything.”
Three days. Lucio was still in a coma, and Rosemond hadn’t revealed anything. Patrizia was usually patient, but in these circumstances, patience didn’t work.
“Duke, I’d like to question Lady Phelps myself,” Patrizia said in a low voice.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Duke Witherford walked away, and Patrizia glanced down at the open notebook he left behind. It was blank. A void.
Patrizia was sick of it. She wouldn’t let herself lose.