Lady to Queen - Chapter 100 - Forever, If That’s What You Desire

Chapter 100 – Forever, If That’s What You Desire

“So you ate it all, Your Majesty?”

At Raphaella’s words, Patrizia’s face briefly flushed red. Mirya gave her a look, but Raphaella only barreled forward.

“Isn’t His Majesty’s determination quite admirable? He managed to do something that he’s never even touched before.”

“But he’s still someone who made someone else shed tears of blood,” Patrizia said coldly.

Raphaella fell silent, and Patrizia continued on walking with an unreadable expression. Though she came out for a stroll to soothe her indigestion, the weather wasn’t particularly great for an outdoor activity. It was a little chilly. Mirya noticed Patrizia trying to suppress a slight shudder.

“Your Majesty, shall we head inside now?” the knight asked.

“…I’m still fine.”

“What if you catch a cold? Let’s hurry inside,” Mirya urged, and Patrizia had no choice but to walk back to her palace. It was then that she spotted a figure nearby. Patrizia’s body went rigid. Unlike her reaction, that ‘someone’ looked pleased upon seeing her.

“Queen.”

Lucio hurried over in her direction with a bright smile on his face. Patrizia took a few steps back. What’s with him all of a sudden… An awkward smile stretched on her face, and she bowed to him when he arrived.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor…”

“You can drop those formalities. Are you on your way back from a walk?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, but I was heading back in just now.”

“Ah…” His expression dropped, looking the image of a kicked puppy. Raphaella couldn’t hold in her amusement at the drastic change and giggled quietly, while Mirya jabbed her in the side with her elbow.

Patrizia shifted uncomfortably. “Then I shall excuse myself…”

“Um…” Lucio grabbed Patrizia as she turned to leave. “I know you’re busy, but…would you walk with me for a little bit?”

“…”

While Patrizia hesitated, Mirya and Raphaella quickly excused themselves.

“Your Majesty, my father is waiting for me, so…I will excuse myself.”

“Please stay with His Majesty. I shall go and prepare for your sleep.”

“No, wait—” Patrizia started, but before she could say anything more, the two hurried off for their other plans. She helplessly watched them leave, while Lucio’s baritone voice broke through her thoughts.

“Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked curiously.

“…”

Patrizia didn’t respond, and Lucio thought that that was for the better. She started biting into her lip. Seeing that, Lucio inadvertently raised his hand to gently touch her lips.

“Don’t hurt yourself like that,” he murmured quietly.

“Ah…”

Patrizia looked at Lucio with slightly shocked eyes. Why’s he needlessly acting so kindly… She gently pushed his hand away.

“Is there something you wish to say to me?”

“…The brownies. Were they good?” he asked quietly.

“…”

He wouldn’t have asked that unless he knew she ate them. Looks like Mirya relayed the news. Patrizia sighed inwardly and decided to be honest.

“It wasn’t that bad for a beginner,” she admitted.

“Thank goodness,” Lucio said in relief.

“Doing something that you normally wouldn’t do…how do you expect me to react to that?”

“I told you.” He slightly turned his head to look at Patrizia. She kept her gaze fixed in front of her as she walked, but Lucio, undeterred, continued to lock his eyes on her. “I was going to try.”

“Through a simple batch of brownies?” Patrizia asked coolly, but Lucio paid no attention and continued to speak.

“That’s not all. I wasn’t planning on stopping after doing one thing.”

“You don’t plan to end it here, huh.” Patrizia snorted. “You say that as if you’ll keep doing this forever.”

“If that’s what you desire.”

“…”

“Then I plan to do it.”

Patrizia’s expression shifted at that one sentence, but Lucio didn’t notice. After all, they say that a man in love was rather dense.

Patrizia kept her face neutral. “That’s a rather far-fetched statement, coming from the Sun of the Empire.”

“I should at least do this much to atone for my sins towards you.” He then continued with a bitter expression. “If this isn’t enough, then I’ll just put in even more effort.”

“It’s so sudden for me,” Patrizia said, her voice shaking. “Hearing you say that you love me all of a sudden, it feels like it’s a joke.”

“It’s not all of a sudden.” Lucio spoke calmly. “It’s already been some time since I first told you that I love you. It’s just… you never listened to it.”

“…”

“I’m not trying to blame you. Your situation…would definitely have made it difficult for you to accept my feelings.”

“It is right now as well.”

“I know,” he agreed. “That’s why I’m trying my best right now.”

With those words, he then took off his jacket and placed it around Patrizia. She remained as still as a mannequin.

Lucio whispered from behind her shoulder. “You look cold.”

“…”

“If I’m being meddlesome, I apologize.”

“What if you catch a cold because of me?” Patrizia said, then turned to finally look at Lucio. “Will you resent me if that happens?”

“Resent,” he repeated quietly. “Even praising you for the rest of my life wouldn’t be enough for me.”

“…”

“There’s no way that I’d be able to resent you.” He straightened the collar on her before speaking in a low murmur. “You’re the one who can resent me. I have no right to do that.”

“…”

“If I could keep you healthy, then catching a cold would be a blessing for me.”

Lucio offered a dim smile, and Patrizia stared at him with clear eyes. This man continues to confuse me. From when we first met to even now, Patrizia thought to herself. That’s why he’s so frustrating, so unpleasant, and… so worrisome.

“Are you alright? Your dress looked a little thin,” Lucio said.

“I am fine.”

“Um…about your birthday banquet.” Lucio hesitated before continuing. “Is there something you want?”

“I said this before, but riches mean nothing to me.”

“No, not that. It doesn’t have to be that. So long as you…stop saying that you’re going to leave the palace, I’ll do anything for you.”

“There isn’t anything I want in particular as of yet,” Patrizia replied dryly. “That might change later in the future, but as for now, I don’t know.”

“Hm…” At her response, Lucio put on a thoughtful expression.

I wonder what’s going on in his head. Is he preparing something again without me knowing? Patrizia was curious but didn’t ask.

“Then—”

When Patrizia looked up, Lucio was looking at her. He gave a pause before speaking.

“—is there a flower that you like?”

“…Roses.” She liked roses. Ironically, that was what her husband’s concubine was named after. Patrizia gave a bitter laugh before reiterating. “I like roses.”

“I heard you. Thanks.”

“You’re not going to do something tacky like send me a hundred roses, right?”

There was a pregnant pause. “…No,” Lucio said finally.

Guess he was. A small smile crossed Patrizia’s face.

“I wasn’t,” he insisted.

“Alright,” Patrizia ceded, as if she were speaking to a child.

Lucio huffed. “This isn’t easy. I’ve never done something like this before.”

“…”

Then you should just give up. That’ll be easier, Patrizia nearly said, but she decided against it. Saying that aloud would have been cruel both for him and for her. Continuing to think about it made Patrizia uncomfortable, and she felt the need to end the conversation.

“I must go in now,” she said.

“I’ll walk you back,” he offered.

“I can go on my own.”

“Please don’t be stubborn about this. If you really hate being with me… then I’ll bring over some guards.”

“…”

“I won’t give up if it’s regarding your safety.”

Patrizia let out a harsh sigh. This man is needlessly stubborn about things like this. In the end, Lucio wordlessly escorted Patrizia back to the Queen’s Palace. It was probably in consideration of her, but it ended up making her more uncomfortable. When they finally reached the Queen’s Palace, Patrizia bid him farewell.

“Goodnight…”

With that, she made to take off the jacket, but he stopped her.

“Take that off inside. You’ll catch a cold,” he said.

“But…”

“Please.”

His voice was gentle but firm, overpowering Patrizia’s stubbornness as she quietly nodded her head. He then turned around to leave, and Patrizia watched his receding figure quietly before turning in.

*

Naturally, if someone did what Lucio did for Patrizia the night before, they would undoubtedly catch a cold. If events followed logic, then it would be Lucio that was sick after he gave up his jacket to Patrizia. However…

“Argh, why me…” Patrizia grumbled.

“Your Majesty, are you uncomfortable?”

The person who caught the cold was not Lucio, but Patrizia. That was rather unfair. She was the one that borrowed a jacket, and she still fell sick.

“Did His Majesty catch a cold recently?” Patrizia asked with a groan.

“Pardon me?” Mirya said. She wore a strange expression, as if wondering why Patrizia was suddenly asking. The lady-in-waiting tilted her head. “No…I don’t believe so.”

Then I didn’t catch a cold by wearing his jacket. So why…?! Patrizia squeezed her eyes shut. She just had to have such horrible luck. A labored sigh puffed from her lips.

“And how is he?”

“I’m sorry?” Mirya tilted her head again, thinking this question strange as well. This time, however, she remained quiet, as if she really didn’t know the answer. Patrizia repeated her question in a weak voice.

“His Majesty…is he fine?”

I’m in this much pain, so I wonder if he’s alright, she thought.

Mirya seemed to catch on with what Patrizia was asking. “Ah, His Majesty the Emperor is well and healthy.”

“Is that so?”

That response put Patrizia in a rather bad mood. He was outside with me, so why am I the only one…? She covered her tired eyes. Her whole body ached with exhaustion.

“Please rest well today. There are no urgent matters to attend to,” Mirya said.

“…I think I’ll have to do that. I don’t want this to spread…tell Nilla to not come.”

“Yes, understood.”

After telling Patrizia to call her if she needed something, Mirya left the room. Patrizia, now alone, fiddled with the blanket with a gloomy expression on her face.

She was lonely.

‘This sickness is making me think such ridiculous things.’

Patrizia gave a slight smile as she blinked. It was then that a familiar piece of clothing caught her eye. She automatically reached out towards it. The warm clothes were soon in her clutches. She held it close to her.

‘It’s warm…’

It had been a while since she borrowed this jacket, and she forgot to return them. Perhaps it was because of the fur on the jacket, but she felt that the jacket was warm. Patrizia took in a deep breath before exhaling. The scent of that man was on it. It was warm yet cold—a sweet yet bitter smell…