Lady to Queen

Chapter 196: CHAPTER 98 (2) – To Endure Living Without You

Petronilla left the Empress Palace earlier than usual in the afternoon to make a surprise visit to the estate of Count Bradington. At that time, someone called out to her.

“Lady Grochester!”

“Who might you be?”

“His Majesty is looking for you.”

“…” Petronilla was puzzled at hearing that Lucio was looking for her. Was there any reason for him to be searching for her? After getting a second shot at their past lives, there had not been any contact between him and her. Petronilla asked, “What might be the reason…?”

“Since it is His Majesty’s intention, I do not know.”

“…” Petronilla nodded silently. She did not know what occasion called for his searching for her, but she could not disobey his request for her presence. She accompanied the maid calmly.

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“Your Majesty, Lady Grochester has arrived.”

“Escort her in.”

The door opened at the end of the brief reply. Strangely enough, Petronilla felt no tension as she entered. In her past life, crossing over this door caused her to tremble so much, as she could not help but be overwhelmed with excitement. Her feelings, or lack thereof, remained consistent even after seeing Lucio, her husband from her past life.

Petronilla gave her greeting to Lucio, “I greet the Great Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor. Glory to the Marvinus Empire.”

“… Take a seat.” He offered her a chair; Petronilla sat down gracefully at the table. Petronilla thought about how this was the first time she was sitting face to face with him since their previous life, and asked him the purpose of the visit. “What is the reason you called for me, Your Majesty?”

“… The Empress has…” he began in an afflicted voice, “She has asked to be sent away from the palace.”

“… Is that not a natural development?” Petronilla replied in an apathetic manner. “Since she has had to experience such issues at the Imperial Palace, it is not an unreasonable request asking to be sent away from the palace.”

“Do you want the Empress to leave the palace, Lady Grochester?”

“If that would mean there would be no further ups and downs in my younger sister’s life,” Petronilla answered cynically, “then I agree, and most likely my parents will, as well.”

“… Now I….” He spoke as if he was begging, a distressed expression on his face. “I cannot live on without the Empress.”

“…” Petronilla did not say anything. What more was there to say in this situation? He would certainly be able to live without Patrizia by his side. But that would be on the outside, and as for the inside… well. Petronilla thought that she did not know that much.

“So you have called for me to ask me to turn around the heart of my younger sister, Her Majesty?”

“I am not that shameful, my Lady,” Lucio sighed briefly and asked Petronilla. “The Empress… does she have anything that she likes?”

“…”

Petronilla almost laughed at Lucio’s words, but barely managed to endure holding in a laugh. The day that such a man could ask about that had finally arrived. Petronilla asked in turn, “What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“I do not know much about the Empress. Before I even got to know her, I committed a grave sin against her.”

“…” -So you actually do know,- Petronilla muttered to herself.

“I cannot send the Empress away from the Imperial Palace. But that does not mean I do not want her to be happy.”

“Your Majesty has a lot of greed.”

“… I am aware of that,” he mumbled, a bitter look on his face. “I am trying to make my own efforts. I called for you because I need your help.”

“What exactly are you curious about?”

“What the Empress likes, as well as dislikes. Anything related to the Empress, all of it,” Lucio dropped his voice into a whisper. “If I asked the Empress, I did not think she would provide me with an answer.”

Lucio was prudent. Petronilla agreed; she thought that Patrizia would probably not tell him.

“My little sister…” Petronilla conveyed calmly, “…she likes strawberries. She likes sweet desserts. She is not an extravagant and wasteful person, so an expensive dress or jewelry will not move her heart much.”

“…” Lucio, who had been quietly listening, began to write down what Petronilla was telling him on a piece of parchment paper. Petronilla almost burst into laughter as she watched him do this, but the strength of his sincerity managed to barely hold back the laughter. She wondered if there had ever been such a side to him…

“What she dislikes…” Petronilla almost said, ‘she dislikes Your Majesty,’ but caught herself and quickly changed her words. “There is not much. Except for lying. There is no food that she will not eat, as she is not picky. Perhaps the most important thing in improving the relationship with her and Your Majesty would be…” Petronilla gave a long pause before she advised him with earnestness. “Your Majesty, the Emperor’s heart and sincerity. Her Majesty, my younger sister, will not treat something lightly if it is full of sincerity.”

“… Thank you.” He expressed his gratitude, and Petronilla could see that his words were heartfelt.

-Yes, just like this.- Petronilla broke out into a grin. “Has this been helpful?”

“Your words telling me to be sincere were the most helpful.” He spoke like a person who had achieved enlightenment.

Petronilla stared at him for a while and then added one more thought. “It is the most simple, and probably the most difficult thing to do…”

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The first thing Lucio did after Petronilla left was to find the Imperial Chef of the Central Palace. The Imperial Chef welcomed him politely, even though he was secretly surprised by the Emperor’s sudden visit, as they had never met before. “I greet the Great Sun of the Empire, His Majesty. Glory to the Marvinus Empire.”

“I stopped by regarding a certain request I have for you.”

-What kind of request was so important to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor that he would personally come and deliver it?- The Imperial Chef hid his puzzled expression and replied, “Please let me know whatever it may be, Your Majesty, as I will be very much obliged.”

“I want to learn how to make some desserts from you.”

“… I am sorry?” The Imperial Chef’s eyes widened.