Chapter 201: Chapter 101 (1) – Sincerity Within the Truth

“What?” Lucio exclaimed, jumping up from his seat with a pale face.

The Chief Maid placated him, “Your Majesty, please take it easy.”

“Are you telling me the truth?”

“Yes,” the Chief Maid answered his question calmly. “From what the Imperial court physician has said, it is not that severe.”

“… ” Only after hearing her words did Lucio collapse back into his seat, like a man whose legs had given out completely. The Chief Maid observed his behavior, then quietly bowed her head and stepped out of the room as she had always done.

Once he was alone, he covered his head with trembling fingertips. “… Damn it all.”

-This is the worst…-

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-This is the worst…-

“Ah… ” Patrizia released another groan and grabbed onto the blanket. Truly, this was the worst for her. -Hopefully, I will be better by tomorrow…-

If that did not happen, she would fall behind on her workload. There would be no situation as difficult and troublesome as that…

“My throat is parched!” Patrizia muttered as she groped her way across her bed. Although she tried to get up, her body lacked the strength necessary to stay up, and she kept falling down. Thanks to that, the only thing that would pop out of her mouth was a slight moan. “Ah…!”

-This is annoying,- Patrizia thought to herself. She tried to catch hold of the bed by clawing on the blanket, but she could not grab onto anything firm. She was simply wasting the little energy she had left.

‘I have to call for Mirya…’ The problem was that her weak voice was not loud enough to be heard. The Imperial court physician had dropped by earlier, and she had taken the medicine he had prescribed, so she did not understand why she was in such a state. Patrizia grunted as she used her hand to get a grip on the blanket again.

“Haaa…” Just when even her mind was starting to cloud up, someone opened the door to her room and entered.

-‘Who is it…?- “Who…”

But she did not hear the answer to her question; before she could finish her sentence, Patrizia closed her eyes and lost consciousness.

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-It is cold.-

Patrizia slowly opened her eyes. Someone was sitting by her side. She faltered before she managed to reach out and grab hold of that person’s collar.

“… Is it you, Mirya?”

“…” There was no answer. Patrizia blinked. Her vision started to become clear and the person who entered her line of sight was…

“Your Ma-…”

“Have you woken up?” The man who asked the question looked somewhat emaciated. Patrizia blinked once again.

“Why is Your Majesty here…”

“I heard that you had fallen ill.”

“…”

-What does that have to do with you?-, Patrizia wanted to say, but unfortunately, there was no strength left in her to do so. She let out a small groan as she said to him. “… Please leave my room…”

“I knew you would say that.”

“…” Patrizia paused for a moment, and stared at Lucio. It was dark so she could not see his face well, but he appeared to have become quite haggard even with just a glance. -Was he originally this gaunt?-

“Well, since I got to see you wake up… I have been worried.”

“Why…”

“I had wondered if you might have gotten sick because of me.”

“…”

Obviously, that could not be possible. Patrizia bit her lips without realizing it. -Is he being foolish, or just plain stupid?-

“That is simply ridiculous,” Patrizia told him in a stage whisper.

“You are right. However, you never know.”

“It is a relief that Your Majesty is alright, though.”

“Right now…” he asked her in a shaking voice, “…are you worrying about me?”

“…” Patrizia did not say anything in return; she closed her eyes, and as a result of her silence, Lucio seemed to be somewhat touched.

His voice continued to shake as he continued on, “…Thank you.”

-Useless words.- Patrizia clucked her tongue mentally. As she thought, a cough snuck out of her mouth.

“Ah…!” At her sudden fit of coughs, Lucio was not himself; he was taken aback and flapping around.

Patrizia’s face twisted into a small frown as she reassured him, “I am alright.”

“Shall we call for the Imperial court physician?”

“I am alright!” Patrizia spit out the words as if she was hammering a nail down. “I am truly fine. I also already took the medicine given to me.”

“…” At those words, Lucio gazed at Patrizia with a crestfallen face.

Patrizia stared at the state he was in for a long time, and finally asked in a weak voice, “Why did you come here?”

“I believe I already told you a little while ago.” He whispered as he gently swept her scattered hair down. “I heard that you were sick and ran over here. I was worried.”

“… Is this intentional?”

“Perhaps, it could very well be. Maybe I wanted to gain your favor a bit. I am quite… opportunistic, it seems.”

Patrizia watched Lucio muttering to himself with a bitter expression on his face. “If you intend to blame me for how I am acting like this… that is fine, I welcome it.”

“…”

“It is fine to say anything you want to me, so just get better first. This is a request.”

“I am fine.” Even as Patrizia said that, she began to cough again. After a while, she repeated herself with a sheepish expression. “I am fine.”

“Lie only up to that point. Because right now, you are clearly not fine.” He let out a brief sigh as he continued, “It seems that I am in the way of your rest. If you are feeling uncomfortable, I will leave the room.”

“…”

“If you do not want me here, I will never again come back. So just… get some rest.”

Patrizia did not say anything in reply, and Lucio left the room as if it was a familiar occurrence. When the door was closed and she was left alone, Patrizia made a small sound, as if she suddenly remembered something, “Ah…”

The coat, she needed to return it to him. Patrizia raised herself up from her spot so she could deliver the words she had forgotten, but it was not so easy to accomplish because she felt extremely heavy. Shortly thereafter, Patrizia collapsed again and exhaled a sharp breath with difficulty. “Haaa… damn it all…”

As she made a pissed-off expression and squeezed the blanket with all her might, someone then walked in from outside the room. It was Mirya. When she discovered Patrizia struggling, she ran over to Patrizia quickly, a startled expression on her face. “Oh my goodness, Your Majesty!”

“Ah…”

Mirya helped Patrizia up and said to her, very upset, “Why did you not call for me? I am sorry, Your Majesty. I should have placed some maids inside the room as well, but I thought it might interfere with your rest…”

“Do not worry, I am alright. More than that, can you bring me a glass of water?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED