Chapter 190 - However, I Have No Regrets

“Marchioness Ethyller, are you saying that you will not admit to your crimes?”

“I did nothing wrong! Everything was the work of the wicked Empress in order to trap me!”

“…”

It seemed words would not be enough for her. Patrizia let out a sigh and addressed everyone with a question. “I will ask the nobles gathered here. The crime of trying to assassinate the Empress is definitely the worst kind of felony. Imperial law also states that such a crime should be given the death penalty. I plan to punish her for daring to ruin the Imperial Family by sentencing her to death, and so she can serve as an example to everyone. Are there any nobles who oppose this?”

“…”

No one came forward. Patrizia accepted the silence as a sign of consent and asked Lucio with a dry voice, “Your Majesty, none of the nobles seem to be objecting to my opinion.”

“…”

“I am going to order the execution of one who was once most favored by Your Majesty, as she dared to assassinate the Empress. Will you grant your permission to do this?”

“… I will grant it.”

“Your Majesty! How dare Your Majesty do this to me…!” Rosemond seemed to have completely forgotten what she had said to Lucio the other day, as if she was a heroine of misfortune who had just been discarded.

Lucio recalled the events of that day and felt extremely bitter about the current situation, while Patrizia just wanted the situation to be over as soon as possible. She declared in a solemn voice. “Then, in the name of the Empire, the death sentence is imposed on Rosemond Mary Rune Ethyller. The execution will take place two days from now. Also, she will not be able to use the Ethyller name from this moment onward, and if the Efreni family does not break ties with her, the Efreni family will also not be able to escape punishment.”

Patrizia then instructed Mirya to find out the position of the Efreni family regarding this issue. The trial ended with that. Rosemond was sentenced to death, and two days later she would disappear like the morning dew from the execution grounds. Rosemond screamed as these facts sank in. “Kyaaaa! No! No, it cannot be!”

She had to become the Empress. No, she had to become the Empress Dowager. In doing so she had to make sure no one would be able to take advantage of her. Disappear like the morning dew? That future did not belong to her! That was for Patrizia! She pleaded to the end with a facial expression full of regret. “It is unfair! I said it is unfair!”

But her cries were meaningless now. The trial had already ended, and everyone just watched the villain continue to make a scene. Two guards held her back and pushed her into the carriage. She was now officially on death row. Patrizia watched Rosemond being dragged into the carriage and then let out a sigh with a tired expression.

—

Meanwhile, Petronilla visited the Duchess of Efreni, instead of going to watch Rosemond’s trial at Gervianen Plaza. Nothing seemed to have changed within the home, and Petronilla thought she would not even have noticed something had happened to this household if she had not heard from Patrizia that the Duchess had filed for divorce this morning.

The butler brought her into the drawing room, and soon the Duchess of Efreni appeared. Petronilla quickly rose up and greeted her, “Duchess Efreni. It has been a while since we last met.”

“Lady Petronilla.”

Despite the fact that they had actually seen each other just a few days ago, Duchess Efreni’s face had worsened considerably during that time.

Petronilla asked with a sad face when she took in the Duchess’ appearance, “Are you alright? You seem to be going through a lot more than you did before.”

“There has been a lot to deal with lately.” Duchess Efreni responded calmly, and then asked the maid for two cups of tea. It was a sweet orange milk tea, not the usual type that Duchess Efreni preferred, as she only drank tea that was bitter.

Petronilla realized that the Duchess pretended to be fine while she was in a state of turmoil, and just nodded to herself internally. -She should be like this. What woman would not have complicated feelings over the fact that her husband raped her to get married to her?-

“Your face looks bleak as well.”

“I applied for a divorce this morning.”

“Oh dear.” Petronilla acted as if she had no idea, and asked nonchalantly. “How did such a thing happen?…”

“It is a long story to tell.” Duchess Efreni avoided sayingany more than that. Of course, Petronilla knew what the Duchess of Efreni had not mentioned, but decided to keep her mouth shut. Every human being had a skeleton in the cupboard that they did not want to be exposed, and Petronilla already knew about the secret. It would also be quite cruel to keep asking and get it out of her, especially to someone who already had a huge wound to her heart from the fact.

“Then the Duke will…”

“The application for divorce will be processed quickly. The maid told me earlier that His Majesty is reviewing it positively. That man has left for his younger brother’s estate.”

He would not have left of his own accord, and the Duchess of Efreni must have driven him out of the house. The Duchess continued, “The next in line to be the Duke of Efreni will be my cousin. There is much talk of his intelligence and overall excellence in the family, so I am sure he will do well.”

“If so, will you be retiring as the Lady of the household?”

“Yes. However, I have no regrets.” She continued with a bitter look on her face, “I cannot marry another man at my age, and my only son is already dead and buried in the cold dirt.” As the Duchess spoke, her emotional state appeared more stable than earlier, but Petronilla was saddened as she caught on that her heart was like a wasteland. The Duchess of Efreni noticed her expression. “I am not alright, Lady Grochester. But if I consider that it was all inevitable, I feel a bit more comfortable with that.”

“…”

“I always do my best. I have always done my best with my marriage to that man and the relationship I had with my son. The results for both of them ended badly, but it is not solely my fault.”

“Duchess…”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door of the drawing room.

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED