Lady to Queen (Webnovel) - Chapter 224

[Side Story: The Fourth Episode]

“It means that I have nothing to gain from knowing about that fact.” After Rosemond showed a graceful smile, she said, “It seems that I do not really need to worry about this. So you do not have to worry, either.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“And stop reporting useless information to me, Glara. There are already so many things I need to think about these days…”

“Yes, I will refrain from doing so. I am sorry, Your Majesty,” Glara apologized in the most courteous manner possible, then proceeded to immediately complain to herself internally. -It was not so long ago that you told me that if anything happens, I was supposed to report it right away!-

Surely she seemed to be less alert now than before she became the Empress. Looking at it in a good way, it meant that she had found peace of mind, but when looked at in a bad way, it meant that she could become a target for others to prey on at any time.

“By the way, where has Lorraine gone to?”

The sparks suddenly seemed to be aimed elsewhere. Glara asked, “Your Majesty, why are you searching for Lorraine?”

“I had told her to let the Countess of Galvelis know that I need her to visit me for a dress that I will wear to His Majesty’s birthday celebration banquet. Why is she so late?”

The Countess of Galvelis was the leading dress designer in the Marvinus Empire. The problem was that less than thirty minutes had passed since Rosemond had sent Lorraine on that errand.

Glara found this to be absolutely ridiculous, but managed to hide her reaction as she calmly reassured Rosemond, “Your Majesty, please wait a little longer. It has not been that long of a time since Lady Witherford has gone on her way.”

“If I call for someone to come to me, then they should hurry over right away! You do not think that I am being looked down upon because I am a mere daughter of a lowly Baron, do you?”

“Your Majesty, there is no way that could be the case.”

Recently, this inferiority complex of hers had been intensifying for the worst. People may have a lot to say about her origin in their own minds, but at the very least, they would not voice thoughts of that kind in front of her. She was running the Inner Palace with decent enough skill. Although her luxury spending was a little on the extravagant side, or if being totally honest, a lot on the lavish side…

Glara comforted Rosemond with a friendly voice, “Lady Witherford is not such a person that would be capable of doing something like that. Your Majesty knows that as well, and sees through her; is that not why she is now serving Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty, Lady Lorraine has arrived!” they heard the voice of the maid from outside the room.

Glara showed an obvious smile. -To be able to come back so early!- That was certainly good for both Glara as well as Lorraine. It meant that Rosemond would no longer be in a bad mood and feeling offended. However, it was a mystery why Rosemond did not look too pleased, even after they heard the maid’s announcement.

Soon the door was opened, and Lorraine entered the room. As usual, her face was wholly expressionless, with a semblance of a smile due to the slight lifting of the corners of her mouth.

But Rosemond seemed to be unhappy even with that. Rosemond told her in a sharp voice, “You are late.”

When Lorraine heard this, for a second she thought that she had heard wrong. She had managed to return in a little over thirty minutes, and it could not be perceived as a long time. Moreso, this had been the result of her trying to not fall under the Empress’ scrutiny. -And yet to say that I have arrived…late?-

Lorraine answered Rosemond’s question with her own, without realizing it. “I am sorry?”

“…Are you talking back to me right now?”

“No, I am not but…Your Majesty, I did my best to come back as swiftly as possible.”

“What on Earth does it mean when you say everything that you want back to me and claim you are not talking back in the same breath?” Rosemond asked as she drew a cold smile on her face.

Lorraine was at a loss for words at that moment. Basically, the Empress had no intention of listening to her in the first place. As soon as her thoughts went this far, Lorraine lost all of her motivation to explain. She decided to be wise with her next course of action.

“…I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

“Unless you are looking down on me because I do not come from a lofty noble status as you do, you cannot behave in such a manner. Do you not think so Lorraine?”

“Your Majesty, I have never held a notion of that sort.”

When Rosemond heard the slight nuance in Lorraine’s tone, stemming from the feeling of being stuck in an unfair situation, Rosemond’s eyes shifted viciously. She shouted in a furious voice, “How disingenuous you are!”

“…”

“Where is the Countess Galvelis?”

“…She is waiting outside.”

“Bring her in. You leave now.”

There was no way that the whole exchange could not be heard from outside the room. Lorraine went outside and encountered the Countess of Galvelis, who looked at her with an expression of pity. At the very moment of receiving that gaze, Lorraine could feel herself losing control over her temper and overall rationality being broken.

-How dare you make me suffer through so much degradation as this?- Lorraine was quietly raging inside. The greatest revenge she could have against Rosemond was not going back inside right away and slapping her across the face.

Lorraine quietly cooled down and walked outside of the Imperial Palace. In front of the Imperial Palace gate was a carriage that had been sent from her father, the Duke of Witherford. Lorraine climbed into the carriage and told the carriage driver her desired location in a low voice, “To the estate of Duchy Efreni.”

—–

The Duchess of Efreni was surprised by the announcement of an unexpected visit from an equally surprising guest. She asked, “Who did you say is here again?”

“The person is Lady Lorraine, Duchess.”

“Butler, are you referring to the Lady of Witherford?”

“That is correct Duchess.”

“Escort her in, then.”

There had not been much interaction between the two women overall. Moreover, they were not close enough to visit without any prior word of the intent to do so. Even as she had on a questionable expression, she ordered a maid to prepare refreshments.

Pretty soon, the Lady Lorraine of Witherford appeared in front of the Duchess of Efreni, full of elegance and poise. She greeted the Duchess politely, “I have visited without providing any notice, Duchess. Please forgive my rude behavior.”

“Not at all, Lady Witherford. Do we share a relationship that requires nitpicking to a degree like that? Do not worry about that.” The Duchess of Efreni, having said that, blatantly stared at Lorraine before opening her mouth again, “…It appears like there is something you have to say to me, so it would be better to go into the drawing room.”

“I do not plan on staying for a long time, Duchess.”

“That seems to be the case.” The Duchess of Efreni broke into a grin as she ushered Lorraine into the drawing room. She sent all of the servants away so that the two of them could truly be alone in a private space. She smiled more brightly as she said to Lorraine, “It seems there is some kind of an important story that must be told. Am I right? If not, I know that Lady Witherford is not someone who would go against decorum in a manner such as this.”

“I think it is fortunate that it seems I will be able to communicate easily with you, Duchess. Then I will go ahead and just get directly to the point.” Lorraine showed a dry smile as she asked straightforwardly, “What do you think of the current Empress?”

======

Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED