Chapter 95 – But I Have No Regrets
The trial took place in the capital city’s Gervianen Square. A little before noon, Patrizia stepped into her carriage wearing a blue dress. Since the trial today was in demand of a death sentence, everyone in the kingdom was allowed to attend.
“We’ll arrive in about 5 minutes,” Raphaella announced next to her, and Patrizia laced her fingers together and silently closed her eyes.
She would soon be at Gervianen Square, The place where her family met their demise in her past life. However, this time she was the queen, and the one who was to feel the slice of the guillotine’s blade was not her, but Rosemond. Patrizia quietly laughed at the irony.
A large crowd had amassed for the trial. Though this particular trial was public, Rosemond’s previous trial was a private one because they needed to keep the assassination attempt on the Emperor a secret.
“It’s Her Majesty the Queen!”
“The Queen has arrived!”
The crowd began to shout as they saw a carriage bearing the Grochester and royal family crests move through the square. Patrizia got out of the carriage with a blank expression. She could see the figures of the Emperor and the other nobles, but not of Rosemond.
The people around her bowed in respect as she made her way to the Emperor. She greeted the one person who did not kneel down in front of her—Lucio.
“The Moon of the Empire greets His Majesty the Emperor,” Patrizia said.
“Was your journey safe?” Lucio asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It was fine.”
It only took about thirteen minutes to get to Gervianen Square from the Queen’s Palace. She found his question funny, but she did not smile.
“When will the accused arrive?” she asked.
“It’ll be soon. I just received notice from the palace.”
As if on cue, a shabby carriage could be seen entering the square. When it finally stopped, Rosemond stepped out with two guards at her side. The people who saw her immediately began to curse her.
“That woman tried to kill Her Majesty!”
“A mere daughter of a baron should have been grateful to rise in ranks out of the grace of Her Majesty! But she must’ve gotten greedy.”
“Guess she’s receiving her punishment now.”
Rosemond heard every single insult that was thrown at her, yet continued to confidently walk in a dignified manner. She arrived at the middle of the square, upon which the two guards forced her down on her knees. Both her hands were tied behind her back, and she had no choice but to comply. Her eyes were as proud and fierce as ever, but she couldn’t hide her anxiety, something that Patrizia noticed immediately. It was the same anxiety that she herself felt right before she died. The fear of death that couldn’t be hidden no matter how much of a brave face one put on. The Emperor began the trial.
“Since the criminal has arrived, we will now begin the trial.”
While Patrizia had full investigative authority, the trial was run by Duke Vasi. He began to speak in a low voice.
“The trial of Marchioness Rosemond Mary Lune Ethylaire will begin.”
“Wait, Your Majesty.” Just then, the words of a noble could be heard. “Why is Duke Ephreney absent? Are they not the adoptive parents of Marchioness Ethylaire?”
“Duchess Ephreney filed for a divorce this morning at six o’clock,” Patrizia responded in an indifferent voice. “Though it has not been decided yet, if the two divorce, then the Marchioness Ethylaire will no longer be the daughter of the Ephreneys, but the daughter of the Hedwigs. The only ones who can give input to the trial are those ranked as count and higher. How could he attend such a trial when he doesn’t even know what his familial situation is?”
The crowd began to grow loud again at this bit of unexpected news, but Duke Vasi quickly quieted them down.
“Alright, please be quiet. If there are no other objections, then we will resume the trial.”
Duke Vasi then turned towards the front and began to speak, clearly enunciating each word.
“On the 10th of September in the 986th year of the Imperial rule, an assassination attempt was made on Her Majesty the Queen of the Mavinous Empire. Thankfully, Her Majesty was able to survive due to the competence of the Imperial guards. The second wave of guards was able to capture two of the assassins that attacked Her Majesty’s carriage, and the assassins confessed that the accused was the one who hired them. In addition to His Majesty’s testimony, Her Majesty the Queen has declared Marchioness Ethylaire as the criminal.”
Duke Vasi then looked down at Rosemond, who was wearing a fierce expression.
“Marchioness Ethylaire, do you admit to your crimes?” Duke Vasi asked.
“This is injustice. This is slander! Everything has been fabricated. The confession, His Majesty’s testimony—everything!”
“Marchioness Ethylaire, please calm down. If you have no evidence to back up your claims of falsified testimony, your punishment will only become more severe.”
Regardless, her punishment would be death. Patrizia was not about to let go of such a prime opportunity. Rosemond gritted her teeth. For whatever reason, Duchess Ephreney filed a divorce, throwing both the Duke and January to the streets. The only person that could have helped her was Duke Ephreney, but he did not send a single person to help his adoptive daughter, nor did he even show up to the trial. Rosemond furiously struggled against her restraints.
“Marchioness Ethylaire, do you refuse to admit to your crime?”
“I have done nothing wrong! This is all that wicked Queen’s trap to make me see my demise!”
“…”
It seemed that she couldn’t get through to them with just words. With a sigh, Patrizia addressed everyone in attendance.
“I’ll ask all the nobility here today. Attempting to assassinate the Queen is most certainly a serious offense. Even the law states that such a crime must be punishable by death. I order for her execution for her blatant antagonism against the Imperial family, and I intend to make this an example for any future insurgents. Are there any who object?”
“…”
No one spoke a word. Taking their silence as an answer, Patrizia then turned towards Lucio.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, there appears to be no objections from any of the nobility.”
“…”
“The sentence for Your Majesty’s concubine who has attempted to assassinate this kingdom’s queen is execution. Do you approve of this?”
“…I do,” Lucio said.
“Your Majesty! How could you do this…!” Rosemond screamed.
Rosemond acted as if she was the female lead who had been abandoned by her husband, as if she had already forgotten about what Lucio had told her before. Upon recalling those events, a bitter expression crossed Lucio’s face. Meanwhile, Patrizia wanted this to be over with as quickly as possible. In a somber voice, she declared,
“Then in the name of the Queen, Rosemond Mary Lune Ethylaire will be executed. The execution will be held in two days. In addition, she will be stripped of her Ethylaire surname, and if the Ephreneys do not give up on her adoption, then they will be sentenced to death as well.”
Patrizia then turned to Mirya and ordered her to find out the Ephreneys’ position on the situation, and the trial ended there. Rosemond was sentenced to death, and she will lose her life on the execution grounds in two days. She let out a sharp scream upon this realization.
“Kyaaaa! No! No!”
She needed to become queen. No, she needed to become the queen dowager. That way, no one could ever try to take advantage of her again. Execution? That was not her fate! That was Patrizia’s! She continued to protest, feeling she was wronged.
“This is injustice! Injustice, I say!”
However, her cries were to no avail. The trial was already over, and everyone had witnessed the unsightly actions of a wicked girl.
Two guards seized both of her arms again before forcing her back into the shabby carriage she arrived in. She was officially a condemned criminal now. Patrizia watched as Rosemond was dragged away and when the door of the carriage had closed, she let out a sigh, her face lined with exhaustion.
*
Meanwhile, Petronilla went to visit the Ephreney estate in lieu of attending the trial at Gervianen Square. Nothing seemed to have changed inside the residence. If Petronilla didn’t hear from Patrizia that the Duchess had filed for a divorce, she would have been none the wiser as to whether anything had happened in the household. The butler guided her to the living room, and shortly after, Duchess Ephreney entered the room. Petronilla quickly stood up from her seat and greeted her.
“Duchess Ephreney, it’s been a while.”
“Lady Petronilla.”
Even though it had only been a few days since Petronilla last saw her, Duchess Ephreney looked worse for wear.
“Are you alright? You seem to look even more exhausted than the last time,” Petronilla asked.
“A lot of things happened as of late.”
After having said that, Duchess Ephreney requested two cups from the servant girls. It was sweet orange milk tea—a far cry from Duchess Ephreney’s preference of bitter tea. Petronilla noted that despite the Duchess’ indifferent expression, the Duchess was still disturbed from all the previous events. It wasn’t surprising. What woman would be fine after learning that she married the person who had raped her?
“You look quite grim.”
“I filed for divorce this morning.”
“Oh dear.” Petronilla feigned ignorance. “What brought upon such a decision…?”
“It’s quite a long story.”
Duchess Ephreney avoided the topic, and though Petronilla knew what Duchess Ephreney wasn’t saying, she kept her mouth shut. Everyone had something that they don’t want anyone to know. In any case, Petronilla already knew what it was, and it would be despicable for her to pry it out of the Duchess. The Duchess already had enough scars on her heart from the ordeal.
“Then the Duke is…”
“The divorce will be processed quickly. According to the servant girl, Her Majesty was already looking over the filing. That man has gone to his younger brother’s territory.”
There was no way that he would have gone there on his own volition. The Duchess must have chased him out.
“The title of Duke will be transferred to my maternal cousin. He’s known in the family to be quite smart, so I’m sure he’ll do fine with the inheritance.”
“Then will you become the esteemed mother of the household?”
“Yes, but I have no regrets.” Duchess Ephreney explained, a bitter expression on her face. “I am much too old to try to find another husband, and my one and only son is already dead and buried in the ground.”
The Duchess looked to be more at peace than when Petronilla first entered the house, but Petronilla knew that deep down, the Duchess’ heart was like a barren wasteland. Petronilla put on a sympathetic face.
“I’m not alright, Lady Grochester,” Duchess Ephreney said upon seeing her expression. However, it gives me a little solace to think that there’s nothing I can do about the situation.”
“…”
“I have done everything I could. When I was married to that man, I did everything I could for him and my son. Even though both of them have met an untimely demise, that is not my fault.”
“Duchess…”
Just then, someone knocked on the living room door.