Chapter 83 – So, Are You Proposing Now?
“Duke Witherford is here, Your Majesty.”
Patrizia did not say anything, and the door opened. She had been organizing her thoughts over her favorite peppermint tea in the luxurious, sound-proof parlor room. Duke Witherford greeted her courteously.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, the Moon of the Empire.”
“…Welcome, Duke. Please sit.” Patrizia faced Duke Witherford, looking more modest than usual.
“What’s the matter, Your Majesty?” asked Duke Witherford, his face lined with thought and worry.
“Duke.” Patrizia began. “I’ll be straightforward. What do you think about Duke Ephreney?”
“…”
Naturally, no answer was given to the sudden question. She continued calmly. “People already whisper that you and Duke Ephreney have an uneasy relationship. Did I hear wrong?”
“I’m afraid not, Your Majesty,” Duke Witherford answered.
“Very well.” Patrizia’s expression turned serious. “Duke, if I had a way to destroy Duke Ephreney—”
“…”
“—what would you do?”
“Your Majesty, what do you—”
“Answer me. Exactly what I said.” Patrizia kept her voice steady. “I’m telling you to choose. You have a chance to destroy him, and I hold the key to do so.”
“…”
“I need someone who can help me. I don’t want to get my hands dirty.”
“You hold the key to destroy Duke Ephreney…” Duke Witherford held his breath. “So I need to make a choice.”
“Yes. Two people are better than one,” Patrizia said with a low laugh. “That means that even if you take a negative stance, it will not change my mind.”
“…Your Majesty.” Duke Witherford pulled up the corners of his mouth into a smile. “If there is a way to punish him, then I’m open to any method.”
Duke Ephreney had risen from a low-ranking baron family. For that reason, Duke Witherford—who was a pure-blooded duke—disliked Duke Ephreney. However, the biggest problem was that Duke Ephreney successfully copied Duke Witherford’s businesses, causing great damage to the latter. Duke Witherford had couldn’t help but to harbor a burning hatred for Duke Ephreney.
“Your Majesty, please tell me. How can I help you?” Duke Witherford said in earnestness.
“…”
Patrizia wordlessly handed him seventeen letters. He looked at her questioningly, but soon began to read each one. After a while, his hands began to tremble.
“Your Majesty, this is…” he said in amazement.
“Do you know about the Emperor’s past?”
“Yes…” Duke Witherford answered cautiously.
Patrizia’s face remained calm. “You’re aware of the repercussions, aren’t you?”
“Of…of course, Your Majesty.” His voice trembled as he offered his opinion. “These letters alone are not enough, Your Majesty.”
“As you say. However, Duke…” Patrizia said in a relaxed voice. “These letters are enough. Queen Alisa has already been executed, and Duke Oswin cannot tell anyone about it, and there is no guarantee that he knows about it in detail anyway. Then, all that’s left are the two people in the letter and Duke Ephreney. So the evidence will unlikely come out, even if someone goes looking.”
“The most effective way is to inform the Emperor of this and that letter…”
“No, Duke.” Patrizia shook her head firmly. “You’re mistaken about this. This isn’t about treason. Nor did Duke Ephreney insult the royal family. We can show the Emperor this letter. However, if the Emperor directly punished Duke Ephreney over this matter, it would only be out of personal revenge. His Majesty would be seen as a tyrant. Do you want that?”
“How do you wish for this to go, Your Majesty?”
“The best way is not for Duke Ephreney to be punished by the Emperor, but by Duchess Ephreney. Wouldn’t that be the perfect downfall?” Patrizia continued with a smile. “It wouldn’t be bad if the nobles were to start gossiping either.”
“Then, how can I help you?”
“I heard that Duchess Witherford has a wide circle of acquaintances in high society.”
“Ah, yes…” Duke Witherford blushed slightly, and Patrizia slowly smiled. The beginning of all troubles was a rumor.
“Exaggerate this content a little more and start some gossip. As you know, the more people talk about a rumor, the louder and wilder it tends to grow.”
Duke Witherford gave a nod. “I fully understand what you mean. How do you intend to inform the Emperor and Duchess Ephreney of this…?”
“Duchess Ephreney will be taken care of by the Young Lady Grochester, and as for His Majesty…”
I have to finish everything myself. The person who started it had to tie the knot.
“I think I will take care of him, Duke Witherford.”
Yes. This really was time to end it.
***
“Do you think we haven’t been meeting enough these days?” Rothesay said with a grumble. His demeanor was strangely cute, and Petronilla giggled quietly.
“I’m sorry, Ro. I have been doing some important work lately…”
“Well, it can’t be helped…” Rothesay said, dropping a light kiss on Petronilla’s forehead. “I miss you so much that I can’t do anything recently,” he whispered.
“Hahaha.” Petronilla burst into laughter at his expression of affection. She shook her head as if she could not stop him. “Where did you learn to say that?” she teased.
“My parents always say this to each other.”
So, all this man’s sweet nothings were from the Bradingtons. They must be a good couple.
“I want to live like that too,” she confessed.
“Don’t worry Nilla.” Rothesay offered an affectionate smile. “I take after both of my parents, so I can do it all day, nonstop.”
“So, are you proposing now?” Petronilla said with a mischievous smile, and Rothesay replied with a sly look.
“Of course, but I have no mind to make do with this kind of proposal. Do look forward to it. Are you looking forward to it?” he added.
Petronilla answered him frankly. “Hmm…To be honest, a little?”
“Oh no. I’m in trouble,” Rothesay smiled, showing his white teeth. “This isn’t a proposal, Nil. You can look forward to it though.”
“You’re confident when I haven’t even accepted yet.”
“If it doesn’t work,” he said gently, “I will do it until it works.”
“…”
Petronilla’s throat felt thick with emotion as the sincerity of his words filled her body. This happiness she felt at this moment was incomparable to anything in the past. She fought to keep the tears from brimming over her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Truly.
***
The next day, Patrizia boarded her carriage in anticipation. She hadn’t seen her hometown for the past several months.
“How long has it been?” Patrizia said with an eager expression.
“Are you that happy, Rizi?”
Mirya remained in the Imperial Palace, while Raphaella accompanied her as her escort. Patrizia nodded, her mood lifting for the first time in a long while.
“I haven’t seen them in months. I’m so excited.”
“Yes. You have been through a lot in the past few months,” Raphaella said sympathetically. “Let’s stay until late at night.”
Who knew when Patrizia could come home again. In short, it was a breakup without promise. Patrizia nodded in agreement with Raphaella.
“Of course. Wouldn’t you be bored though?” Patrizia asked.
“Nilla will be there along with you and even Marquis and Marchioness Grochester. How can I be bored? If I have nothing to do, I can just sleep. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“That’s a relief.” Patrizia leaned back slowly with a warm smile. Raphaella watched her and spoke in a sympathetic tone.
“You can sleep now, Your Majesty. You haven’t slept much lately.”
That was inevitable, as Patrizia was quite overworked. She smiled faintly like someone trying to ask for understanding, then quickly fell into slumber.
***
By the time Patrizia opened her eyes, the carriage had reached the Grochester residence. Raphaella got up and opened the door first, and Patrizia descended the carriage carefully. The first people she saw were her parents, and she headed towards them with a bright smile.
“Mother, Father.”
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, the Moon of the Empire.”
But instead of hugging their lovely daughter, the Grochesters respectfully bowed to her. She could understand why, but she could not help but pout.
“I’m here as the daughter of House Grochester, not as Queen of the Mavinous Empire.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that Your Majesty is the royal mother of the empire.”
“Please do not be too upset, Your Majesty. This is also a courtesy we wish to extend as your subjects.”
“Let’s go inside Mother, Father.” Patrizia smiled mischievously and went inside the house with her parents. Then, she spotted Petronilla running out of her room.
“Rizi?”
“Nil.” Patrizia greeted her sister with a grin. It had been a long time since she saw her at home, not at the Imperial Palace.
“Why were you rushing?” Patrizia asked.
“I overslept last night.”
Patrizia understood why—Petronilla must have stayed up late with the young lord of Bradington—and she laughed. “Can we expect good news soon?”
“It’s not like that!” Petronilla fiercely denied. She must have misinterpreted Patrizia’s question, and Patrizia giggled.
“I’m talking about marriage.”
“…I know.” Petronilla blushed and looked down. She spoke in a shy voice. “We can talk later… Shall we eat first?”
***
Patrizia’s stomach was filled until bursting at lunch that day. She was never starved at the Imperial Palace, but Marchioness Grochester constantly kept insisting that she eat. Fortunately, Patrizia did not gain weight easily so she ate it with confidence, but she found it hard to breathe at the end of the meal.
Patrizia enjoyed a cup of sweet tea for dessert, then had a private meeting with her father in the drawing room shortly after.
“So, Rizi. Is it worth living in the Imperial Palace?” Marquis Grochester asked. Patrizia answered with a look of disappointment.
“For someone who is curious about that, you never come to Imperial Palace at all.”
“I thought you’d understand, my dear,” the Marquis said with a gracious smile. “As you know, nothing good will come out if we stay close. I don’t want to trouble you. Not to mention the Imperial Family and His Majesty. I can’t afford to cause him unnecessary worries.”
“But you can still visit me. It’s not like you’re doing something bad.”
“What’s important is not to appear that way to others.” Marquis Grochester offered another reassuring smile. “Anyway, how is your life in the Imperial Palace? I’ve only heard bits and pieces.”
“You already know about it.” She gave him a smile. “My relationship with His Majesty is distant, and I’m busy arguing with Marchioness Ethylaire.”
Although she pretended to be cheerful, Marquis Grochester quickly picked up the tone of her words. He shifted his slightly perplexed look into something more affectionate towards his daughter.
“I’m sorry that I cannot help you.”
“Why are you sorry, Father? I’m the daughter of House Grochester.” She calmly shook her head and refuted what he said. “I’m grateful enough that I inherited this bloodline.”
“More importantly, is your relationship with the Emperor still distant?” He tilted his head questioningly. “From what I heard, His Majesty’s favor is not with Marchioness Ethylaire anymore…”
“…”
For a moment, Patrizia was taken aback.