Chapter 96 – Do You Like That Man?
The voice of a servant girl could be heard from the door.
“Madame, a person from the palace is here.”
“Who is it?” Duchess Ephreney asked.
“It is Lady Mirya Prinksy.”
“Marchioness Prinsky? What’s the occasion?”
“It is regarding Princess Ephreney.” At those words, Duchess Ephreney slightly furrowed her brows. “It seems that Her Majesty the Queen has sent someone here,” she explained to Petronilla.
“The Queen likely sent Lady Prinsky regarding the termination of Princess Ephreney’s adoption,” Petronilla said calmly before getting up. “I believe I must excuse myself. It seems that Her Majesty is waiting for me.”
“Yes, Lady Petronilla. Do come visit again. I am rather lonesome these days.”
“I will try my best to do so, Duchess Ephreney.”
After politely bowing in farewell, Petronilla opened the glass door of the living room. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, her eyes locked with those of Mirya’s, who nodded in recognition. After accepting her acknowledgment that everything went well, Petronilla gave a small smile. It was unusual for Mirya to vacate the palace other than the times she escorted Patrizia, but due to the seriousness of the current situation, she came out to run the errand herself.
“Welcome, Lady Prinsky. It’s been a long time,” Duchess Ephreney said when she saw Mirya.
“Yes, Your Grace Duchess Ephreney. I apologize for not keeping in contact.”
Mirya sat down in a graceful manner, while a servant girl quickly cleared the table and replaced the cup of orange milk tea with a fresh one. In contrast to the conversation with Petronilla, Duchess Ephreney went straight to business.
“What brings you here?”
“Marchioness Ethylaire’s trial had just ended. She has been stripped of her marchioness title and surname, and she is to be executed in two days.”
“That was rather quick.”
“There is no reason to delay the punishment of a traitor. I heard that you also had some business to attend to today…”
“I’d rather you not bring that up, please.”
“Yes, Duchess. That is not the reason why I’ve come here. I apologize if I have offended you,” Mirya politely apologized before informing the purpose of her visit.
“Her Majesty the Queen has been greatly angered by the situation caused by Princess Ephreney. Her Majesty warns that if you do not relinquish your adoption of her, it will be difficult for you to avoid punishment as her adoptive mother.”
“As you know, Lady Prinsky, my husband is no longer the Duke of the Ephreney household. Princess Ephreney was brought into the family purely because of my husband’s will. She has no relation to me.”
“Duchess, if that is the case, then…”
“I am just as enraged at Lady Rosemond as Her Majesty and have no interest in protecting her under the Ephreney name, Lady Prinsky. I shall relinquish my adoption of her. Is the process complicated?”
“No, Your Grace. Since we have received Your Grace’s permission, the complications of the process are not important. I shall inform Her Majesty of your stance on the matter.”
“Yes. Please do so, Lady Prinsky. I have heard that James Hedwig has given much grief to Her Majesty when he was still Duke Ephreney, and I fear that Her Majesty would extend those disagreeable feelings towards the entire Ephreney family. He is no longer related to this house,” Duchess Ephreney said.
“Her Majesty will most certainly understand once I explain, Your Grace. Please do not worry.”
“Thank you, Lady Prinsky.”
“Then I will take my leave and relay the information to Her Majesty.”
Having finished her business, Mirya quietly got out of her seat, and Duchess Ephreney grabbed her hand out of courtesy.
“Already? You haven’t even finished your tea.”
“Her Majesty has been very concerned over the matter, so I must hurry and tell her the news.”
“I see. She most definitely would be.” Duchess Ephreney nodded in understanding. “How is Her Majesty?”
“Her injuries have healed up rather well. Thank you for your concern.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll send one of my servants to bring an ointment that is good for healing wounds. I feel terrible that Her Majesty was injured due to my wicked adopted daughter.”
“Again, thank you for your concern, Your Grace. Then I shall excuse myself…”
Mirya walked toward the door before opening it silently and heading out, leaving Duchess Ephreney alone in the living room. The Duchess finished the last of her now cooled milk tea before getting out of her seat. Even if she exited the room, she would still be alone.
*
As soon as Mirya arrived at the palace, she informed Patrizia of Duchess Ephreney’s decision. Patrizia relaxed when she heard the answer she wanted. It seemed that this was truly the end.
“I suppose we must inform Princess Eph— I mean, Lady Rosemond of this?” Mirya asked.
“Yes. How is she right now?”
“It’s rather serious.” Mirya shook her head with a sigh. “She continues to screech and insist that an injustice was done to her. The guard keeping watch couldn’t take it anymore and ended up putting some sleeping pills in her food.”
“So she’ll continue to fight until the bitter end, huh,” Patrizia murmured in a conflicted tone before slowly getting out of her seat.
“Rizi? Where are you going?” Raphaella asked.
“I’ll tell her the news. I have some final words to tell her.”
All contact with a criminal on death row was prohibited the day before their execution. Hence, the only opportunity Patrizia had to privately talk with Rosemond was now. At the very least, they should have one last conversation. However, neither Raphaella nor Mirya could understand why Patrizia insisted on this. After going through all of this, what else did she have left to say to that wench? At their reactions, Patrizia gave a weak laugh, as if saying that she didn’t know either.
*
“Bring Duke Ephreney! I said to bring him here!”
Meanwhile, Rosemond, who had just woken from her drug-induced sleep, began to shout again. Patrizia could hear her shrieks from the entrance of the prison. With a neutral expression, Patrizia walked towards the secluded prison cell. Rosemond’s shouts only increased in volume when she saw the queen. Everyone grimaced and covered their ears, as if their eardrums ached.
“You! You think that you’re safe after having done this to me?!” Rosemond shrieked.
“Safe? I am this Empire’s queen, and in two days, you’ll be nothing but a severed head,” Patrizia said solemnly. There was no ridicule or laughter in her voice. She simply spoke those words in a calm fashion before relaying her final words to Rosemond. “It’s futile to look for Duke Ephreney.”
“Why! Who are you to speak to me like that—!”
“Duchess Ephreney discovered that he married her after raping her. The Duchess filed a divorce, and Duke Ephreney— no, James Hedwig, went back to his younger brother’s estate. I intend to process their divorce as soon as possible, stripping him of his current position in the affairs of the Empire. He will continue his days living as a member of the Hedwig family.”
“You…!”
No one but a few people were supposed to know about that secret. Rosemond stared at Patrizia with a dumbfounded expression.
“How could you know…!”
“You’re asking me how I know about it?” Patrizia’s manner remained calm. “That’s not the only thing that I know. I also know the secret that you were blackmailing James Hedwig with, as well as how he came to receive his title of Duke.”
“But how? That’s something only I and Jani—!”
“That’s right,” Patrizia affirmed. “That’s something only you and January knew. I don’t know if you’re aware, but January has also been thrown out of the Ephreney estate, along with her young son, who is not even five years of age. They are penniless thanks to you.”
“…”
“Duchess Ephreney has relinquished her adoption of you. You are no longer Princess Ephreney.”
“…”
“Duke Ephreney likely thought he would remain immune as he didn’t help you, but even that was futile. For he doesn’t have anything left in his name.”
“Even so, there’s still one man that I can harm,” Rosemond said through gritted teeth.
“…”
At Rosemond’s words, Patrizia’s expression darkened. That ‘man’ she was referring to had to be none other than Lucio.
“Don’t do it,” she warned curtly.
“Why?” Rosemond said, her voice high as if she found the situation amusing. “Tell me, Patrizia. Do you even like him? Wake up! The man is a murderer. He’s a bastard who killed his birth mother with his own hands.”
“I cannot blame the man when I didn’t go through the situation myself. Rosemond, you took revenge on the man who raped you, didn’t you? Then you would know. You can’t throw stones at him.”
“So what, are you saying you like him? Foolish!” Rosemond spat.
“I never said that I liked His Majesty. I only feel sympathy towards him.”
“Sympathy!” Rosemond burst out laughing. “You’re crazy if you pity him. How could you even think that after all he’s done? You, who would know better than anyone else…!”
“Enough, Rosemond,” Patrizia interrupted. “That’s not something you have a right to interfere with. If you so much as think of berating him, I’ll off your head before you can even open your mouth.”
“You…” Rosemond growled. “Why are you being like this to me?”
“Why, you ask.” Patrizia couldn’t muster the energy to be surprised, and she replied in the flat voice. “That’s what I want to ask. You were the one who provoked me in the beginning when I have done nothing to you. I never felt the same way towards you. I only wanted to continue living quietly as a queen only in name.”
“…”
“You’re the one who made me like this. Therefore, it’s a given that I act this way towards you, Rosemond.”
“A queen only in name! Hah! What noble words,” Rosemond scoffed before twisting her expression into a sneer. “That position is something that every woman in the Empire covets. And you’re saying you wanted to be a queen in name whilst holding such a position? Don’t make me laugh. As if that’s true!”
“Do you think everyone thinks the same way as you? While it’s likely that most women think that way, I don’t.”
Patrizia calmly brought the conversation to a close.
“It’s all over.”
“It’s not over yet,” Rosemond growled fiercely.
Patrizia lifted her brow. “Are you saying you’re going to try to beget the Emperor’s child now? Even if you were able to, you’ll need at least a week for the pregnancy results to come in. And as you know, your execution is the day after tomorrow. Above all, no one will believe you now. Don’t bother entertaining such outlandish ideas.”
“I need to live. I can’t die like this!” Rosemond declared with wild eyes. “I will definitely give birth to the crown prince and become queen dowager. No one will be able to look down on me again. I’m going to make it so that no one can oppose me ever again!”
“…Rosemond.” Patrizia said the woman’s name quietly. “Even if you’re spared your life now, you can never become queen dowager.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Who are you to…!”
“Because you’re infertile.”
“…”
With those words, Rosemond’s face froze.