Lady to Queen

Patrizia wore a custom-made hunting suit made specifically for today. Every time she had to wear a dress, and it was a new kind of feeling to be wearing a hunting outfit. She smiled with a sheepish look and touched her hair tied up together in a ponytail. She liked it.     

"Your Majesty, how is it? This is a hunting suit specially made by the chief designer from the court. Do you like it?"     

"Yes, it is pretty. Comfortable too."     

Patrizia nodded her head with a look that showed she liked it. Lastly, Rafaella, who was checking out Patrizia's bow and arrows that were to be taken to the hunting grounds, spoke with a satisfied voice.     

"It's perfect, Your Majesty. Now the results depend on Your Majesty."     

"There should not be disappointing results, but I am really worried."     

"Anyways you are so humble."     

Raphaela giggled and passed over the bow and arrow to Mirya. Patrizia had a more serious expression, and inspected herself one more time through the mirror, with a quiver of arrows on her back. It was a look she hadn't seen for a long time, and even though it was surely herself, it made her doubt her own identity. As if to question if she had this side of her.     

"Your Majesty, you must go now."     

At that end, Patrizia woke up from thoughts. Anyways, who she was now, was also a reality. Patrizia smiled brightly and left the room.     

Nobles within the city, nobles who came from local provinces, and members of the Imperial Family, of which the only immediate Imperial heir was Emperor Lucio, were the ones that participated in hunting competitions. Patrizia grabbed Sally's reins and began to walk forward slowly. From the distance, she could see Lucio with some of the nobles. Ah… There was one more.     

"Sigh."     

Patrizia sighed when she discovered Rosemond. She was not even going to participate in the hunting contest, so why did she have to come? Of course, it was none of her business to know what kind of affection they would display in front of her, but Patrizia felt it was very unpleasant just to have to look at her.     

Of course, it wasn't possible to show this side of herself to the nobles, so Patrizia faked a smile and walked over to where the two of them along with the other nobles had gathered. The nobles who noticed her hurriedly showed their manners and bowed their greetings.     

"Empress, Your Majesty."     

"I greet you, Your Majesty."     

"Glory to the Great Empire's Moon."     

Rosemond's face wrinkled into a little frown upon witnessing the treatment that was markedly different from when she had appeared, but that was for a moment. Patrizia, who managed to catch her change, laughed to herself internally and was soon greeted then in turn, with a gentle voice, "I am so glad to see you all like this. I have prepared hard for the tournament, and I hope that it will fulfill your expectations."     

"Hasn't Your Majesty's ability already been confirmed when you met with the team of envoys? We, nobles, do not have any worries."     

Patrizia laughed shyly at the compliment from the Marquis of Bringston, who was a military expert, and Rafaella's father.     

"I do not know how to accept such a great compliment. May I look forward to today then?"     

"What could you expect from this old man? Now my child will be the one to meet Your Majesty's expectations."     

"Sir Rafaella is also a great military expert, but she is not yet ready enough to overcome her father. You are too humble, huhu."     

These warm-hearted words were exchanged back and forth several times since then. It wasn't until the talks with the nobles had ended, that Patrizia spoke with Lucio. She asked Lucio in an assertive voice.     

"I have prepared very hard, but I am concerned that I may have deviated too much from Your Majesty's standards."     

"With you, well, without saying anything, you must have done well. I saw wonderful results when I received the report."     

"Thank you."     

After answering, Patrizia turned her sights on to Rosemond this time. She smiled nonchalantly, and faced Patrizia, and finally greeted Patrizia, "I greet you, Your Majesty."     

"It has been a while, Lady Phelps. It is a pity that you will not participate in this tournament."     

"I normally don't like these events. I also don't have the skills for it."     

"That is a shame."     

Actually, it wasn't too bad, but it was the polite thing to say this. Patrizia changed the topic immediately after having finished saying something she didn't even mean, as she thought it was about time to leave.     

"It seems we should start now, Your Majesty. You should go up on your horse."     

"I will be going."     

Lucio finished giving a short greeting to Rosemond and got on the horse. Rosemond sent him off with an expression that there was no such angel as she in this world, and Patrizia was disgusted and wanted to vomit at the sight of her, although she did not express this outwardly.     

It wasn't just for a day or two, and she should have gotten used to it, but her adaptability was really poor. Following Lucio, Patrizia climbed onto Sally's back, tightly grabbed the reins, and began to slowly direct the horse. The hunting ground for the hunting competition was located in the forest near the Imperial Palace.     

"Hya!"     

Finally, it was the start of the tournament.