CHAPTER 5 (1). THE SECRET GARDEN

Someone was staring at her with a bright smile.

"You should be careful. Are you okay?"

"Ro..."

Patrizia shut her lips before she almost threw "that name" out of her mouth. No. That woman's existence was not officially known. Even though her name was known, who she was now did not know the woman's face. So she had to stay as calm as she could, and not panic.

"Ro... zilde the Crowned Prince. I was trying to pick out a book on him but then. Thank you, lady."

"It's nothing. But Prince Rozilde. You seem to be interested in history. There are only a few nobles who know the name. As you know, he's an unknown figure."

"...Just a little bit of curiosity. I'm embarrassed."

Patrizia smiled unalterably to soften her naturally hardened mouth. Rosemond, who was staring at her, soon moved her gaze toward Patrizia's dress.

Was she a Queeness? She felt disgusted without knowing why Rosemond didn't show this and changed the topic.

"You seem to be a Queeness."

"...Yes."

"But why are you here... isn't it time for the competition?"

"You seem to know a lot, lady."

Patrizia walked quietly away, and Rosemond looked on with a good smile as she did not seem disturbed.

"When you're in the palace, it's natural to hear and see things. I just heard it coming here."

"You are His Majesty's servant then."

This was asked naively as if she knew nothing, and Rosemond laughed piteously. His Majesty's servant. She was not as worthless as that. She was not a simple servant girl as this Queeness said, and was of a station higher. This fact could not be known by this foolish Queeness.

"I'll say it's similar."

However, Rosemond replied indignantly. If the truth was told, this innocent Queeness would be pale from shock and quickly faint. Patrizia laughed and muttered in her reply.

Similarly, because some servants must serve at night.

"Then I'll go now."

Patrizia, who had picked up only one book about Crown Prince Rozilde, ended the conversation. At those words, Rosemond asked Patrizia in a puzzled tone.

"Oh, are you already leaving?"

"Yes. As you said, the competition right now. I had only dropped by for a minute."

She originally intended to be at this place for three hours, but the plan was ruined. The goal of the reborn Patrizia was to try to avoid Rosemond. You don't avoid crap out of fear. You avoid it because it's dirty. Especially crap as dirty as Rosemond

The situation would not be good if she approached her with vengeance. Anyway, who she was right now was completely unaware of Rosemond's identity. Patrizia quickly got out of that place.

In the end, Patrizia had unwillingly kicked away her spot to spend time, walked on while holding only the book about Crown Prince Rozilde. Patrizia was now perfectly alone, as this time it was forbidden to be with serving women.

She decided to go to the garden within the Imperial Palace, where she had loved in her previous life, contemplating where to spend her time. It's a place she had found in her previous life, not easily found by people. It was a spot she sometimes went to when she often came to the Imperial Palace to meet her sister.

There was no one there, as she had expected, and she felt that peace took over her heart. She preferred to be somewhere serene rather than noisy. She sat on the nearest bench she could spot and spread open the only object she had to pass the time. If she finished this whole book, it would take three hours.

Crown Prince Rozilde was the heir to the Marvinus Empire, but due to his acts of debauchery and other outrageous acts, he was removed from that status.

However, apart from his personal life, politically he was a great prince, and his father, who was then the Emperor, made a decision after thinking for a long time. Anyway, the result was about real power.

After having read for around for half an hour, Patrizia felt a rippling drowsiness. But she knew if she fell asleep now, she might wake up more than three hours later. If that happened, someone would come to look for her, and they would see her asleep from reading a book. It was shameful even to think about it.

She stood up on the bench, imagining the embarrassment and holding her flushed cheeks. The best way to avoid being sleepy was to walk.

She walked on and on. Then the lake came into view, and there were roses all around. Patrizia looked at the blooming red rose and recalled Rosemond whom she had encountered earlier.

Petronilla's rival in love from a previous life, a woman who had clearly influenced the destruction of her family. There was no exact evidence that she did this, but Petronilla, who had been naive, had to have been influenced by who was apparently the Emperor's mistress.

Looking at the beautiful rose bushes without a word, she heard footsteps. Of course, Patrizia was flustered. Did anyone find this place? She panicked and hid herself among the bushes without realizing it. She felt she was intruding into someone's secret space for no reason. Soon the owner of the footsteps came within sight, and Patrizia almost made a loud noise when she confirmed who it was.