Chapter 71 I Am Your Husband

With a miserable expression, Lucio stared down at his Queen lying in hisbed. Shelooked gaunt and haggard, and her eyes were closed in sleep. A bandage was wrapped around the wound on herfoot. Hecarefully called out her name in a bleak voice.

Patrizia

He spoke quietly, knowing that she would get angry just from hearing his voice. Lucio hung his head in distress.

I I

Just what have I done toyou? Whata cruel joke I've played on a woman that I know nothing about,Lucio bitterly thought to himself, tears falling from his eyes. He wished to atone for his sins, but it was already too late. She already despised him, cursed him, scorned him

A pained expression crossed hisface. Isthere even a way he began.

For me to atone for my sins?

Would there even be apoint? Foryou and forme? Wasthere anything else that I could do about these feelings of affection that showed up far too late?Lucio closed his eyes and chewed on his lip.

There is no way for you to forgive me, someone who has hurt you so many times.

That'sright. Don'tever forgive me.

Despise me. You can resent me. If you want to kill me, then doit. Ifthat can alleviate your pain and suffering even a little bit, then please do it.

All I ask is that you stay by my side like this.

It's fine if all you can feel towards me is brutal hatred. Even that is more than I deserve fromyou. Soembrace those feelings and forever stay by my side. Don't leave me.

It's fine even if you think of me as selfish.

After all, I've always been a terriblebastard. That'swhy it won't matter to me if you revileme. Juststand next to me as myqueen. Iwon't ask for your heart. All I ask is for your physical presence next to me.

That'll be enough for me.

For such a cruel person as me, even that would be considered a blessing.

The first thing that Patrizia saw when she opened her eyes was sunlight on a bright whiteceiling. Whenshe fully came to, she furrowed her brow.

Am I

She sprang out of bed and onto her feet, but a sharp pain from her foot made her grimace. A groan escaped from her lips.

Nngh

She bit her lip to hold back thesound. Shelooked around, stillfrowning. Damnit, this was a place that she was all too familiar with.This is

You're awake?

The emperor's bedroom. Patrizia inwardlycursed. Thiswas the bedroom of her husband whom she scorned, and what was worse is that she slept on top of hisbed. Just in case, Patrizia looked up and down at her body just in case.

Haaah thankfully, nothing seemed to have happened.If something did happen, then she would have done nothing else but bite her tongue until she bled to death.

Why am Ihere? sheasked.

Lucioreplied. Ididn't kidnap you, so don't worry.

Patrizia's mouth didn't even twitch at hisjoke. Whyam I here? she asked again.

The one who was running around barefoot in the dead of night was you, Queen, notme. Itshould be me who is asking you what you were doing, he pointed out.

I remember that as well, YourMajesty. Ibelieve you're missing the point of my question. Patrizia continued in a coldvoice. WhatI'm asking is why I woke up in your bed rather than my own.

I'd like to hear your answer, she prompted.

Because, obviously, I carried you here, he answered.

Why did you carry me here?

Because you wereinjured, Luciosaid stubbornly.

Stop giving irrelevant answers, Patriziasnapped. Iknow you're capable of understanding what I mean, so I'll askagain. Whydid you carry me here? To your bedroom instead of my own?

He paused. If I have made you uncomfortable, I apologize.

Yes, Your Majesty. I'm veryuncomfortable. Themoment I opened my eyes and realized where I was, I was uncomfortable to the point that I wanted to take my ownlife. Afterwounding him with such words, Patrizia gave a sharplaugh. Whydid you carry me here?

Because I wanted to.

How selfish ofyou. Wouldit have killed you to consider how uncomfortable I would have felt when I woke up to this?

I apologize.

Enough. It's not like that's the only thing that you should be apologizing for, Your Majesty. Patrizia gave a cynicalsmile, andLucio's face turned solemn in reply.

Ngh! With a grunt, Patrizia staggered. Trying to stand on her own sent a jolt of pain throughout her entirebody.Damn it, to be so incapacitated with a simple injuryshe thought irritably. Suddenly, she felt someone support her at her elbow.

Be careful.

It was him. Patrizia stubbornlyresisted. Ican go on my own.

Don't be ridiculous.

At the very least, it would be a better choice than having to rely on you, she muttered before giving a sadsmile. Pleaselet go of me.

No.

Your Majesty! she angrily exclaimed, but he was adamant in his decision.

You can say and do whatever you want to me, but you can't go alone with this injury.

It's mybody. Youhave no right to interfere.

I am yourhusband. AmI not allowed to even be a little concerned?

Hah! And since when have you ever been concerned overme? Patriziaresponded with a cold smile. I heard that you are no longer close to MarchionessEthylaire. Whyis that? Have you tired of her? Do you need another woman in your bed at night now?

It's not like that, Lucio protested.

Then what is it? she asked, her voicetight. Whyare you being like this to me? You're the one who stepped all over my heart and destroyed my self-esteem. I can't understand for the life of me why you would suddenly act like this.

Lucio didn'treply. However,Patrizia was able to read hissilence. Shescoffed before inwardly muttering,That's right. If you had an inkling of a conscience, you wouldn't dare say those words to me. That is, if you're not a useless piece of trash.

Let me go, she repeated.

Queen,please, hebegged in a nervousvoice. Youcan do whatever you want to me, but you mustn't move with that foot of yours.

Preach somewhere else, why don't you.

I'll call the ladies of the Queen's Palace. You can't go alone.

Do as youplease, repliedPatrizia as she closed her eyes in resignation.

In the end, Patrizia returned to the Queen's Palace with the help of her ladies-in-waiting. She neither made the ladies-in-waiting take responsibility for their actions, nor did she scold them for doingso. Thegirls, in turn, didn't ask any questions. The matters of the previous night were buried and left alone.

In a way that was unlike her, Petronilla contemplated and fussed over the dresses in her wardrobe.

Is this a little toorevealing? shewondered as she held up a white dress with a slightly lower v-neck.

A servant girl replied as if the notion wereridiculous. No,My Lady, it most certainly is not.

You're telling methisisn't?

At Petronilla's reaction, the servant girl was at the end of her rope.What, do I look like a foreigner?!

My Lady, if you go out in the street, you can see other ladies wearing dresses that have even lower fronts andbacks. Areyou sureyou'renot the foreigner?

Is is thatso? Petronillaasked awkwardly, to which the servant girl noddedvehemently. Witha sigh, Petronilla dropped the dress onto the ground. Just why was she getting all worked up over something like this?I feel foolish.

Just pick whatever, she mumbled tiredly.

Pardon me? But you said that it was a date.

Getting worked up over this is simply foolish, Petronilla said, her expressiongloomy. Idon't want to worry over it any more.

The servant girl looked at Petronillaincredulously. Whatwas she saying?

My Lady, by any chance, have you had your heart broken before? Why would you say something like that?

She acts like she's been divorced before,the servant girl murmured to herself.

Petronilla gave a smile.Such peaceful words. How mild the term divorce sounds.

Just choose aaanything forme, Petronillasaid.

Ultimately, Petronilla wore a somber greydress. Theservant girl grumbled under her breath about how no one would wear something like this for a date, but Petronilla had no intention ofchanging. It was quite the hassle putting a dress on and off.

Just then, she heard the sound of the door openingdownstairs. Petronilla,who was at the top of the stairs, looked over towards and saw the butler opening the door, then a well-dressed Rothesay walkingin. Seeinghis handsome figure made Petronilla's heart skip a beat, but she leisurely descended the stairs. Rothesay, upon seeing her, turned bright red.

Beautiful.

Sir? Noticing his flushed look, Petronilla asked worriedly, Are you not feeling well?

No, I feel wonderful, he said softly, almost whispered. You just look so beautiful, I feel like I've fallen for you again.

It seems he's rather blinded with infatuation,Petronilla thought.

Marchioness, itis your most fertile time of the month.

Rosemond smiled at the palace doctor'sverdict. Todaywas the day she had the highest chance of getting pregnant.

Good, and what of the medicine I requested? she said with an exuberant expression.

I have brought it with me, the doctor said, before holding out a small, white envelope towards Rosemond. Rosemond accepted the medicine with a satisfied smile, before continuing in a cold voice.

You must never tell anyone about this If you do, not only will I die, but you will as well. Understand?

Yes, Marchioness.

You're dismissed.

As soon as the doctor left, Rosemond smiledagain. Themedicine that she blackmailed the doctor to bring her was none other than an aphrodisiac.

Now what's the most effective way to give this to His Majesty, hm? she said in a wicked voice.

Marchioness, I have brought a bottle of His Majesty's favorite wine.

Glara came into the room holding an expensive-looking winebottle, andRosemond nodded in acknowledgement.

Good, keep it somewheresafe. It'llbe useful later. Have you prepared my dress?

Of course I have, Marchioness.

Perfect.

It was a dress commissioned from the red-light district specially fortonight. Evengay men wouldn't be able to resist falling for the charms of a woman wearing this dress.

Humming, Rosemondhanded the aphrodisiac to Glara. After telling her to keep it safe, Rosemond began to plan on how to seduce the Emperor tonight.