Chapter 92 – She Was Abandoned
Meanwhile, Rosemond’s mental state was in shambles when she heard that the assassins confessed and that her trial was scheduled. She anxiously walked around in her cell like a person gone mad.
“What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?”
Now that they confessed, there was nothing that she could do. The Emperor wasn’t on her side, and the Darrow family had no reason to help her. It was then that she thought of the only option she had.
“I need to get help from Duke Ephreney!”
As if she had forgotten that Duke Ephreney already knew of the situation she was in, Rosemond hurriedly called for the prison guard.
“What is it?” the guard asked, looking annoyed.
“I need to write a letter. Get me a pen and some paper.”
“Her Majesty the Queen has ordered that you will receive nothing other than food. I cannot do that, ma’am.”
“Please! I can’t even write a letter?!”
“No, you cannot.”
No matter how many times she pleaded, the guard repeated those words like a parrot. When Rosemond realized that her one and only hope was dashed, a look of despair shadowed her face. However, she suddenly had what she thought to be a brilliant idea.
“I need to get out.”
“I cannot let you do that.”
“My younger brother has died! Prince Ephreney passed away recently. I need to go.”
She planned to use his death. Rosemond put on the most pitiful face that she could muster as she begged guard.
“Let me attend my younger brother’s funeral. Can’t you tell that to Her Majesty?”
“…”
At those words, the guard made a sour face as he sighed before speaking. “I will ask her, but it will be difficult to obtain permission for a felon.”
“You can still ask her, right?”
“Please wait.”
With that, the guard disappeared. Rosemond prayed that the Queen would allow it and believed that, so long as nothing unusual happened, that she would receive her approval. Even if one was a felon, it was customary in the kingdom to allow them to attend the funerals of family members. Moreover, she still hadn’t been put on trial, nor had she received punishment yet.
*
“She wishes to attend a funeral?”
Patrizia’s face twisted into displeasure when she heard the guard’s words. She could tell that Rosemond was planning something, but she also knew—frustratingly so—that she didn’t have an excuse to deny Rosemond’s request. That woman still hadn’t been tried for her crimes, and even if she was, it was law to permit felons to attend funerals of family members. Patrizia sighed heavily.
“Well, I suppose it won’t matter.”
“It appears that there was an argument in the Ephreney household last night, Your Majesty,” Mirya whispered into Patrizia’s ear after having stayed quiet. “I believe it was because of that concubine and her son. There isn’t any other heir to the Ephreney name now.”
“If Duchess Ephreney finds out about the concubine’s connection to Marchioness Ethylaire, even she would find it difficult to tolerate the two. It is the utmost importance to reveal the relationship between the two women.”
Petronilla, who was reading a book next to her, spoke. “Don’t worry. I have already prepared for that,” she said flippantly. “The Duchess is most likely going to find out about their relationship today… as well as the reason why she married Duke Ephreney.”
“She’s going to be in considerable shock.”
“Of course she will.” Petronilla nodded before adding, “Her life is quite the unfortunate one.”
That’s that, Patrizia thought. If that happened, then Rosemond’s life would crumble without Patrizia playing a single card in her hand. She was a little disappointed at the realization, then she turned to Mirya.
“Grant her permission to attend the funeral. However, make sure to assign four to five guards to her so that she doesn’t try to run away.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I will relay this to the guards.” Mirya stepped away, and then Petronilla addressed Patrizia.
“What do we do if Duke Ephreney decides to throw Madam January and her son aside?”
“If that’s the case, then January will be the one to reveal Duke Ephreney’s dirty secret,” Patrizia replied at the hypothetical scenario. “Regardless of how it goes, we won’t have to be the ones to do it.”
“When do you plan on telling His Majesty, Rizi?”
“…”
At Petronilla’s question, Patrizia closed her mouth momentarily before opening it again.
“If things go well, I don’t think it’ll be necessary to tell him. It’s not exactly pleasant news.”
“Yes.” Petronilla agreed shortly before a worried expression crossed her face. “That aside, you look tired.”
“I know,” Patrizia replied with a sigh. “I am tired.”
“Shouldn’t you rest a little?”
“Other than that…” Patrizia continued in a dry voice, “this entire situation is overwhelming and difficult.”
“…”
“I want this to be over with already.”
“You…then—”
Petronilla opened her mouth to say a few words, before refraining. Patrizia simply stayed still. Though Petronilla finished her sentence inwardly, the words never left her mouth.
*
Upon hearing that she had received approval to attend the funeral, Rosemond jumped in joy, as if her adoptive brother’s death had given her the way of survival. She knew better than anyone that there wasn’t much time left, so she immediately began to prepare. She was to be escorted by four guards under the Queen’s orders, but Rosemond thought nothing of it. There were bound to be many people at the Ephreney estate, so it would be no trouble meeting up with January in the midst of the crowd.
Rosemond stepped into a carriage used for transporting prisoners and headed towards the Ephreney estate. Her appearance was ragged, as it was difficult to keep tidy after spending days in a prison cell, but it made little to no difference as her unparalleled beauty wasn’t deterred.
The Ephreney estate, which was crowded with mourners, was momentarily disturbed by Rosemond’s arrival, but the commotion was only brief. Though everyone avoided her, they continued to shoot glances at her from afar. Their looks only amplified what with the guards that were encircling her.
While Rosemond was offended by the stares she was getting, there was nothing she could do but to walk indifferently as she scanned the crowd for January. However, the woman was nowhere to be found for some reason. Is she in her room because she’s a concubine? At that thought, Rosemond grew anxious. The guards kept a sharp eye on her—not to mention, there were four of them policing her. It was impossible for her to sneak away. Rosemond’s brain started reeling for other options. It was then that she saw a face that brought her relief.
“Jacob?”
Though she had never met him even once, the only child that would attend this funeral would be Jacob, the son between Duke Ephreney and the concubine. Rosemond quickly strode towards the young boy, putting on an act of familiarity.
“Hello! Where’s your mother? This is no place for a child to be on their own.”
“Who are you?”
The young boy looked at the stranger with wary eyes. Rosemond put on a friendly smile and tried to lower Jacob’s guard.
“I’m not a bad person.”
Pfft. One of the guards next to her couldn’t help but snicker. However, Rosemond ignored him and continued to speak to Jacob.
“You should hurry back to your mother. Where is she?”
“My mother is in her room.”
“Alright. I’ll take you to her then.”
With that, Rosemond further argued to the guards, saying that the boy was ‘only a child.’ Perhaps the guards had children of their own, but they didn’t restrain her. Rosemond took Jacob’s hand and headed towards January’s room before knocking on the door.
“Who is it?” a sharp voice said in reply.
“Are you this child’s mother?”
“Ro…”
January instantly recognized Rosemond’s voice, and she ran towards the door and flung it open. As if she was seeing a dead person come back alive, January looked between Rosemond and Jacob before yanking her son’s hand from Rosemond. Irritation crossed Rosemond’s face at being treated like a kidnapper.
“This child was wandering around the house by himself, so I brought him back here.”
“Thank…you.”
January looked like she had seen a ghost, and she dragged Jacob into the room and immediately shut the door at Rosemond’s face. She knelt down to the boy’s eye level.
“Did that person do anything to you, Jay?”
“No, Mother.”
However, the child momentarily paused in thought before handing something out towards her. In his hand was a crumpled scrap of cloth.
“But she suddenly put this into my hand without saying anything.”
January quickly took the scrap from Jacob’s hand. Though the cloth was in horrible shape, January realized that the cloth was from the ragged dress that Rosemond was just wearing, and she let out an uncontrollable laugh. It was obvious that Rosemond used her dress in lieu of paper. The words were written in fresh blood. It seemed that she wasn’t even given a pen to use.
Dear Jani,
I’m in trouble right now. The Queen falsified a witness to obtain a confession and is now planning to execute me. The trial is in a few days. Inform this to Duke Ephreney and save me. If you don’t, then know that the three of us will meet our end.
Yours, Rose.
“She has the nerve to sign off the letter like that.”
January continued to laugh humorlessly. It was clear that this woman was severely mistaken. Did she think that Duke Ephreney wasn’t helping her because he didn’t know she was in trouble? She had already been abandoned. If anything, Duke Ephreney probably wished for Rosemond’s death to come a day earlier. If she died, then there wasn’t anyone left that could threaten him. And she dares to send such a letter!
This time, Rosemond didn’t even bother to write instructions to burn the letter. The day that people found out about January’s relationship with Rosemond would be the day her life was over. She would be executed on the accounts of being Rosemond’s accomplice, and if that happened, then her poor son would be as good as dead. There was no way that she could do that to her precious son.
Without hesitation, January burned the piece of cloth with the flame of a candle. She would do everything she could in order to erase any traces of her relationship with Rosemond.