Lady to Queen (Webnovel) - Chapter 228

[Side Story: The Sixth Episode]

—

After a short while, Glara brought over the food on a number of plates that were covered with lavish decorations.

Rosemond asked with a look full of joy on her face, “There seems to be quite a variety on the plate. What type of dish is this?”

“It seems to mainly be comprised of the seafood dishes that Your Majesty loves. I asked the chef specifically, hoping this would help improve Your Majesty’s mood.”

“How commendable of you.” Rosemond drew a wide grin as she carefully lifted the silver cover from one of the dishes sitting on top of the table. But before she could open it all the way, Rosemond could not stand the wave of disgust and dropped the cover. Her face turned ghastly pale as more rounds of nausea hit her and she made vomiting motions without anything actually leaving her mouth.

“Blargh!”

“Your Majesty!” A shocked Glara quickly approached Rosemond’s side so she could check on her condition, “Your Majesty, what is going on? Your Majesty!”

“The food…the smell.” Rosemond struggled to speak, as she had to use all her strength to bring out each word, “It is so repulsive… Are you sure that this was made from seafood?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Blargh!”

Glara explained to Rosemond with her face showing she was ready to burst into tears, “It is Your Majesty’s favorite octopus dish. Do you not care for the smell, Your Majesty?”

“This is strange… When it comes to an octopus dish, I can never hate that… Ah!” At the moment, Rosemond’s eyes flashed brightly. She mumbled in a voice that seemed to float, “Surely it is not… Can it be…?”

“Yes? Your Majesty, why are you… Ah!” Only then did Glara’s face brighten as she finally caught onto what Rosemond was thinking about.

Rosemond burst into a fit of laughter.

—–

Lucio did not entertain the idea of bringing in a new Empress after Rosemond had been dethroned.

People gossiped amongst themselves that the Emperor must have been shocked by what had happened in such a relatively short amount of time.

For those who were conspiring in rebellion, it did not matter much to them, because it was beneficial for them if the Emperor remained quiet for the time being.

—–

Two weeks later, the day of Rosemond’s execution had arrived.

“After the Empress was dethroned, His Majesty the Emperor has not been able to regain his senses, I hear.”

The Duke of Witherford lifted his face, completely devoid of expression, slightly at his daughter’s words. He was in a carriage with his daughter, making their way to the execution site. It was being held at Gervianen Plaza, located in Khaud, the capital. He replied, “This is already the second Empress to be dethroned in this year alone. Besides, His Majesty cared so much about the dethroned Empress. In a way, it is only natural that he would be in such a state.”

-I am not sure about that,- Lorraine muttered to herself. She did not think something like that was natural. Rather, she thought the Emperor’s behavior was beyond foolish. He could not even choose a decent enough woman, which was why things had turned out the way they did.

The Duke of Witherford stopped speaking, his expression seeming to indicate that he could read the inner thoughts of his daughter. “Selecting a spouse is difficult for both men and women, Lo. It is quite common to make a mistake and meet someone that may end up ruining your life,” the Duke Witherford explained, and after a short pause, commented, “Oh my. It appears that we have already arrived.”

The carriage gradually slowed its pace, and the two people inside prepared to get off once they reached their stop. When the carriage door opened, the Duke of Witherford was first to get out, and then escorted his daughter off.

In addition to the father and daughter, there were a huge number of people that had gathered at Gervianen Plaza. Of course, all of them had gathered at the execution site to watch the dethroned Empress Rosemond’s life end. Many of the people were already raising voices of criticism toward her, when she had not even appeared yet. Thanks to them, the inside of the plaza was far from a solemn atmosphere, and it looked more like some kind of a marketplace.

“Bring in the dethroned Empress.” At some point, Lucio’s shaky voice could be heard throughout Gervianen Plaza.

After a while, Rosemond appeared at the execution grounds, soldiers accompanying her on both sides. The inside of the plaza had been extremely noisy as it was, and became even more energized by her appearance.

“It is that witch! The witch has appeared!”

“Die! Die!”

“That woman killed the innocent dethroned Empress!”

Rosemond was listening to all of the unfiltered poisonous words and looked surprisingly at ease. She appeared to everyone as if she bore relatively confident attitude, and had committed no crime.

Lucio, who was observing her countenance, felt his insides being burned down. Even though she had committed acts that were too heinous for words, she was the woman that he had truly loved with all of his heart at one point.

He slowly opened his mouth as he went ahead in condemning Rosemond, “Dethroned Empress Rosemond Mary La Phelps plotted a wicked conspiracy so she could frame the previous Empress Petronilla Laura Les Grochester, leading to her death. Such a crime is an immoral act that does not fit the qualifications of the Empress, the Mother of all the people in the Empire, and at the same time deceived the Imperial Family of the Marvinus Empire, including the Emperor. So I, Lucio Carrick, George De Mavenus will…” Lucio finished the sentence with a voice that continued to shake, “…I will order her death to be carried out by execution, in the name of the Emperor.”

“Your Majesty,” Rosemond called out to Lucio with an elegant smile at that precise moment.

Lucio stared at her with his reddened eyes. His lover did not show even the slightest ounce of panic or fear as she faced the gravity of death.

“Your Majesty cannot execute me.”

With these words, the inside of the plaza became noisy again. Most of the content was ‘What is she talking about?’

The Duke of Witherford, who had been calmly listening, asked on behalf of Lucio, “What are you talking about, dethroned Empress?”

“It is exactly as I have said, Duke Witherford. I am saying that no one in the Marvinus Empire can harm me,” Rosemond spoke confidently, “In my womb, there is a fetus that carries the blood of the Imperial Family of the Marvinus Empire.”

“That is complete nonsense!”

Screams were pouring in from all sides of the execution site. Lucio watched it all in a manner that was fully unaffected by their reactions.

However, all the nobles except him were thoroughly taken aback.

One of the nobles then raised an objection, “Can you prove that? If those words of yours turn out to be false, then the added crime of trying to deceive not only the Imperial Family, but the entire Marvinus Empire, dethroned Empress Rosemond!”

“When I was in Phelps Palace, I suffered from severe morning sickness. I could not exactly get a confirmation due to the fact that I could not call for a doctor…” Rosemond’s eyes shone brightly as they widened further, “Let us call for an Imperial physician and check it out, then. Would it not be nice to hear the results in a place where everyone has gathered together?”

“…”

—–

Eventually, an Imperial physician was summoned from the Imperial Palace and proceeded to examine Rosemond meticulously. After some time had passed, unexpected words rose from the Imperial physician’s mouth, “She is not pregnant.”

As those words were uttered, a scream burst out of Rosemond’s mouth, “That does not make any sense!”

***Translator’s Note:

To all the readers of Lady to Queen, I apologize but there will be no further chapters this week. I have lost a member of my family and will be needing this time to mourn. I appreciate your understanding and patience during a difficult time.

-Haeli

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED