Lady to Queen

"Yes, that is what they say, Your Majesty."     

At Mirya's response, Patrizia said nothing more. When her footsteps finally reached near the vicinity of the Central Palace, Mirya asked carefully, "Your Majesty, are you not going to the Central Palace?"     

"Why should I stop by?"     

Patrizia asked in a dry voice and soon closed her mouth. Anyways, this was the man who almost sacrificed his life for her. Patrizia sighed briefly and then turned towards the Central Palace without giving any indication. This was just purely a visit to the sick.     

At the appearance of the Regent Majesty in the Central Palace, the maids looked flustered. It was really funny that this was the reaction towards the Empress looking for the Emperor, even though it was natural.     

The fact that the relationship between the couple was not so good was already known in the Central Palace. After all, the fact that the Emperor favored Rosemond was known enough. She asked a question.     

"Is His Majesty in?"     

"Yes, Your Majesty. What is the reason for your visit?"     

"I came to see His Majesty. Can I go in?"     

"Of course."     

The door opened with a courteous greeting. Patrizia went in awhile, pledging to herself not to think about anything as much as possible, but it was unstoppable for the thought that kept springing up. Patrizia exhaled in a frustrated manner and muttered without her knowledge.     

"Anyways… It is not unnatural to care."     

Patrizia slowly approached his side. His figure was still lying there as if dead, just like in the cave at that time. What was he dreaming of? She wondered what kind of dream he was having to still not have awakened.     

It made her concerned. And come for no reason.     

Patrizia sighed. So, please get up quickly. Don't bother someone by making her concerned. Don't make her busy. Patrizia scanned Lucio with a deepened look. In this short time, he looked skinnier than before.     

Why did he get hit by the arrow for her stead?     

Did he really got hit by the poisoned arrow out of guilt? An Emperor of an Empire, stupidly. Patrizia stood up suddenly from her seat. If she stayed there anymore, she felt like she would feel the same as she did before.     

She walked away hurriedly without looking back. But clearly, some emotions were interfering in between the steps. What was that?     

Patrizia was not curious. No, to be exact, she had decided not to be curious. Nothing changed from her being curious.     

Was there anyone that could give an honest answer. That was why questions without answers were not something she embraced. It would end up being her who got tormented.     

Patrizia erased all of her foolish thoughts and walked on again. When she went out, she felt like the maid was looking at her with an expression wondering why she was already coming out, but Patrizia didn't care, but only gave a short comment for her hard work.     

She started walking again. She left behind a short unrealistic sentiment in this place. It was time to crawl back into the fierce and dense reality...     

The work of the Outer Palace and the work of the Inner Palace did not differ greatly in character. However, the intensity of workload was much more difficult because they were being worked on simultaneously.     

Nevertheless, this was something she had to do. It wasn't something she wanted to do, and it wasn't something she had to try to do well. It was just something she had to do. Patrizia had never experienced the consequences of not doing so but was able to guess enough.     

Thanks to this, her dark circles could not be erased from under the eyes, her eyes were always empty from the lack of sleep, and her mouth was frozen in a drooping state.     

Naturally, the people around her—other people that included Petronilla, were worried about her, but couldn't stop her either. Because they knew the results that would follow if she couldn't do the job well.     

Patrizia had been rubbing the corners of the worn-out paper and was looking at documents related to the additional budget for the welfare of the poor this year. It was then that Rafaella entered the room.     

Patrizia immediately covered the paper documents.     

"Sir Rafaella."     

"Your Majesty, I have returned."     

It seemed she hadn't participated in the long search on the hunting grounds without effort, as she seemed much thinner in the few days they hadn't seen each other. Patrizia instantly felt sympathy towards her, but soon calmed herself and asked her a question.     

"I was flustered because there was no news. What happened?"     

"I am sorry, Your Majesty."     

She apologized as if she couldn't raise her face, and continued reporting.     

"We looked into everything that could provide evidence, without missing a single ant, but I apologize. There was nothing that could prove to be clear evidence. It was as if nothing had happened."     

"That cannot be."     

Patrizia shook her head.     

"Then how could the assassins get into the hunting grounds? As you know, the only way to enter the hunting grounds is to go past the place where we first entered. So that is why the forest was deliberately designated as a hunting ground."     

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your words are correct. However…"     

Rafaella bit her lips with a defeated face and offered something to her. It was a map. Patrizia accepted it and asked in a puzzled voice, "What is this?"