Lady to Queen

0Petronilla revealed her will to her parents in the evening when she returned to the estate of Marquis Grochester. Of course, the Marquess of Grochester had to be shocked by her words.     

"Nilla, is everything I heard just now true?"     

The Marquess of Grochester asked in a blistering voice. Of course, it wouldn't be so unfortunate for Nilla to help Lizzy help her to live on in the Imperial Palace.     

However, she did not want her daughters to become so closely linked to the Imperial Family and was hoping this wouldn't happen for her. Petronilla's sudden decision was enough to upset her.     

However, in response to the Marquess' reaction, Petronilla was still adamant.     

"Yes, Mother. I'm going to enter that maid. You aren't going to be against it?"     

"No way. But it is surprising. You surely didn't even want to be a Queeness a while ago. I thought you were thinking of building a wall against the Imperial Palace like Lizzy had done."     

"..."     

My mom seemed to still be ignorant of the events, but her heart was still unchanged. She still did not like the Imperial Palace, and she did not intend to step in officially. However, there was only one reason she had made such a bold decision.     

'Patrizia.'     

Lizzy was alone in the bloody Imperial Palace, and she felt uneasy to leave her sister alone there. She didn't feel comfortable at all, so if that was the case, she thought that it would be better for her to keep her sister's side as a maid.     

Anyway, it wasn't too bad either since she was not the Queeness or the Queen. It wasn't a place where the maid could get married to the Emperor as well.     

"It's not that I'm going to be a maid for a lifetime, and I'll be able to work freely, Mother and Father. I don't know what you're worried about, but nothing will happen."     

"I didn't think of it like that, Nilla. As I said before, I was just a little surprised. Like… You seem to have become a different person."     

"..."     

Petronilla laughed bitterly. On that day, the situation might have been different if she hadn't seen what she did at the Imperial Palace. But she was already a witness, so she couldn't ignore it. Petronilla said only in a volumeless voice.     

"I guess I have gotten old too."     

Petronilla immediately entered the palace as soon as her sanction came through. It wasn't that complicated, because Patrizia had taken care of it. There were no required conditions when allowing the Empress' relatives or sisters in as maids because it was not such a special thing in the Marvinus Empire.     

Petronilla, who first entered the Empress Palace as a maid, happily greeted Rafaella, who was guarding Patrizia's side as a knight.     

"Ella, I've heard the news, but it really is good news. It's even better to see you here like this."     

"Me too, Nil. This is the first time since our Empress' wedding reception?"     

Rafaella lightly embraced Petronilla and greeted her warmly.     

"Welcome to the Empress Palace. And more welcome to you who entered as a maid."     

Actually, she had been bored these days because there weren't any maids her own age. Petronilla chuckled and smiled towards Rafaella who was giggling. Rafaella was still the same.     

"Is it possible to know a little bit about my sister's Majesty's day, Mirya?"     

However, it was Patrizia herself, not Mirya, who returned with the answer. She said in a bored voice, "There is nothing special, sister. I work all day, drink tea sometimes, then work again. I often take a walk and chat with the maids."     

Thankfully. Mirya, who was standing next to her as she made that comment, laughed and added one thing, "You read books often. Thanks to this, I have become very close to Lady Berthling these days."     

Viscountess Berthling was a noblewoman who was in charge of the library as the librarian. At the end of Mirya's words, Patrizia smiled and then put an end to the topic.     

"That's all, Nil. Most likely, Nil won't have anything to do with these."     

"The work, it isn't hard?"     

"It was difficult at first. Now, it is doable."     

Anything for the first time was difficult. In fact, Patrizia had never encountered the affairs of the Imperial Family in the past, so it was a great challenge for a beginner like her. Anyways, they said time was medicine, and now she was gaining some freedom from this tight life.     

"I haven't prepared for anything other than the last meeting with the wives of the envoys. Ah, no I have one more thing soon. Right, Sir Rafaella?"     

"..."     

"Sometime soon, a hunting competition will be held by the royal family. You probably know this as well Nil, but the prize is 100 billion gold."     

She was a little excited. Like the knight she was, it seemed to be quite interesting for those in this side. Patrizia smiled and asked her jokingly, "Can I look forward to this time, Sir Rafaella?"     

"Don't expect too much, Your Majesty. But I will try my best."     

For Your Majesty's honor. Rafaella, who had answered energetically, remembered something and asked Patrizia with a slightly wide-opened look.     

"Right, but will Your Majesty also participate this time?"     

"Me?"     

"Yes, Your Majesty. You know how to ride a horse. You know how to handle archery."     

"Oh my, really Your Majesty?"     

Mirya asked in amazement, and Patrizia laughed awkwardly. Rafaella's words were true. She knew she could ride a horse, and she could shoot with a bow. Of course, she wasn't very good.     

"I learned briefly in the past. With Nil. Right, Nil?"     

"Yes indeed. But it wasn't that good. However, Her Majesty was at a high level."     

"Oh my, are you serious?"     

Petronilla's exaggeration made Patrizia's cheeks blush. She could just do a little bit. Shamefully when compared with Rafaella. Of course, Rafaella jumped around when she heard this.     

"I'm not a Lady, but Your Majesty's escort and knight, so I have to be more skilled than Your Majesty. If you are at a level comparable to me, Your Majesty should go with me to the military exercise hall right now and practice with me."     

"That's right, Your Majesty. Aren't you greedy? Sir Rafaella is not an unskilled fighter."     

For some reason, Patrizia laughed awkwardly at Mirya who looked at her with a warm smile and scratched her head. Soon after, Rafaella asked her as if urging her, "So, Your Majesty, are you going to participate? Perhaps the Emperor will also participate if there were no surprises."     

"..."     

At those words, there was a silence that spread amongst the four people.