Lady to Queen

Eventually, Lucio sighed shortly and followed her words. Finally, when everything was ready, Patrizia released Sally who had been tied and rode on her back with Lucio. In preparation for the unexpected, Patrizia chose to sit behind him, and slowly directed the horse onward.     

"Giddyup!"     

The horse started galloping fast. Soon the sun would set, and it would be more difficult to find the way. Even when the day was bright, it was difficult to find the palace due to losing the way in the deep forest, but when the dark came down, that meant being bound to the spot.     

Then, if there were assassins that were tracking them, then it would really be over. Patrizia put a little more strength on her hand that held the reins.     

"I think someone sent assassins to murder me."     

"…"     

Patrizia started to talk about this casually, and when Lucio heard it, he said nothing. Patrizia noticed this and asked him, "You do not answer. Do you know the culprit?"     

"There is no way. But… There is someone that I could guess did this. You are probably suspicious about this person as well."     

"…"     

The immediate answer was not trivial. It was heavy. Patrizia confessed to him after biting her lips without realizing she did this.     

"When Your Majesty lost your consciousness and collapsed, I asked the assassin at the end."     

"..."     

"To tell me who is the culprit"     

"Did he answer it so easily?"     

"He did. Since he was really planning on killing me."     

Patrizia replied calmly, and then asked him, "Who do you think it is?"     

"Is there any significance in my answer?"     

"Yes, there is. I think I should definitely tell Your Majesty this one thing."     

Unlike her calm tone, Patricia's voice was full of anger. Lucio could feel plenty of it. He spits out a name with a distressed expression.     

"Rosemond Mary La Phelps."     

"…"     

"Am I right?"     

"Ah, my goodness."     

She muttered as if she was having fun.     

"Now, Your Majesty has 'finally' learned about it. The fact that she will use any means and methods to harm me."     

"..."     

"I do not know what Lady Phelps means to Your Majesty, and while I do not know it well, but I am aware of the fact that she is a precious person. Simple affection... It was not like that."     

His eyes were like that. There was something that could not be simply explained as affection between a man and a woman. Those who didn't know about the situation could never be a part of it. That kind of bond. Patrizia then closed her chilled eyes and asked him another question, "Do my words seem like a lie?"     

"There is a suspicion, but no evidence. Even if I believe in your words, punishment would be difficult without proof. Whoever it is."     

"I know this, Your Majesty. But even so, there is a distinct difference between Your Majesty knowing this truth, and not knowing."     

"..."     

"I don't know what kind of woman you see in Lady Phelps, but if you were looking at her as a saint, Your Majesty is wrong. Lady does not harm others. She would not even try to steal what belongs to others if so."     

"…"     

"It is Your Majesty's freedom to continue to care for her. I will not interfere with it as I had promised on the first wedding night. But Your Majesty, I have no choice but to change now. The second promise may be difficult to keep. Obviously I had told her that if she did not touch me, I would not touch her, but I never promised that I would stupidly stay still while being victimized by her."     

"…"     

"I will thoroughly investigate the truth. If evidence comes out that proves that her sins are true, then... I do not have to say it for you to know."     

"Okay."     

It was the death penalty.     

A mere Baroness had dared to get rid of the Empress of an empire, and it was the great Emperor of the country who suffered substantial damage. The sin was so heavy that it would be difficult to pay it back, even if the extended families were destroyed. Patrizia changed the topic with an emotionless voice.     

"May I ask you one thing?"     

"Ask me."     

"Why did you get hit by the arrow in my stead?"     

"…Are you curious about that?"     

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am very curious."     

She spoke in a steady voice that did not shake.     

"Your Majesty does not love me, so there is no reason to get hit by an arrow on my behalf. Of course, I would be curious. Why you chose to get hit with an arrow in place of me..."     

"I will put it as paying back a debt."     

"A debt?"     

She asked in a voice that revealed she did not understand, and he replied quietly, "I could not publicize the previous matter, but I wanted to apologize for her. So I got hit in your stead. Is this a good enough answer?"     

"..."     

No, that was not a good answer. It was difficult to judge because she hadn't seen his eyes, but Patrizia didn't think that was it for the reason. Strangely, it wasn't that she could think of any other reasons, but she still thought this way.     

That was probably a given. Because even Lucio, who spoke these words, didn't exactly know the reason why.     

Afterwards, Patrizia drove the horse silently, and it was Lucio who opened his mouth again.     

"You, didn't you say you would tell me?"     

"About what?"     

"The reason why you don't have clothes. You said you would tell me while we were on the move."     

"I thought you might have guessed because I told you earlier. I held onto Your Majesty and threw myself down the cliff. I pretended to be dead, and tore my clothes off to send it down the water, just in case the assassins would chase after us again."     

Whether it had worked or not, there has been no real movement for another chase yet. After Patrizia's words ended, Lucio closed his eyes with a painful expression.