10 CHAPTER 5 (2). THE SECRET GARDEN

"Emp…!"

Patrizia, startled by her own voice that had sprung unannounced, blocked her mouth. She didn't know why, but she didn't think she should be discovered there.

Patrizia soothed her beating heart as best she could, and then slowly turned her gaze to the Emperor. It was ridiculous that the master of the Imperial Palace would not know this place, but it was shocking that he would come to this place alone. There must be more spectacular support throughout the Imperial Palace.

But what was the reason he came here at this time? Now the Empress contest was happening at the time, but it wasn't wrong for him to take a walk during the three hours given to the Queeness.

But what was puzzling was that the distance from the palace where the competition was taking place was not so close. What does this place mean to him? Patrizia looked at the Emperor with a look that she could not understand.

He stood there for a while and seemed to think of something. If there was something special to it, his expression wasn't empty... His facial expressions changed numerous times. At one point, he wrinkled his face as if he were recalling a memory that wasn't good, and at another moment he was smiling as if he was recalling a pleasant memory.

She didn't know what he was thinking, she didn't want to know honestly, but the problem was that she had to get out of this place and get back to the palace. To return to her original position, she had to pass where he was. She bit her lips impatiently, thinking that she might go over the time if she wasn't careful.

Fortunately, the Emperor walked away from her view. She showed herself from behind the rose bushes only after he had completely disappeared. Then Patrizia, who once again confirmed that no one was there, sighed with relief.

Ah, she had hidden for no reason. She felt uneasy. Patrizia hurriedly fixed her disheveled clothes from hiding and quickly headed to the competition.

All three given hours had passed. Of course, Patrizia didn't know the right answer. The Marquis of Grochester had probably told the answer in her previous life, but time - a whopping three years - had passed and she had forgotten. She just decided to answer anything and relaxed her mind.

She briefly considered the correct answer, and then wrote on the given paper with a black pen with '"love." When it came it was like a lamb, when it touched you it was like a hawk, and when you passed it was a stone-like thing, that was love. When it first comes it is soft like a lamb, but when you touch it, then it is sharp like a hawk.

But if you pass it, this would eventually become as painful as a stone. She had never loved, but it was like the love that her sister Petronilla had in her previous life.

The first love that came like a lamb passed and sharpened, and it ended in pain. Patrizia's face darkened as she felt depressed thinking about her sister.

"Hmm... just one person gave the correct answer."

The Duke of Witherford caused a disturbance with his words. Patrizia did not expect that she had gotten the correct answer. Soon the Duke of Witherford revealed the one with the correct answer.

"Queeness Trisha, congratulations. The only one who answered correctly."

"I thought you'd be the only one who is right."

This was the first thing Rafaella said when they returned to their quarters. Patrizia just laughed. She was not so smart. Patrizia said.

"Why? Lady Trisha is a smart person. I knew she would be right."

"Smart she is. But who would have thought she would be right."

When it first comes it is soft like a lamb, but when you touch it is sharp like a hawk.

But if you pass, it will eventually be as painful as a stone. The answer was years. Patrizia contemplated on the correct answer. Three years ago, time was as gentle as a lamb for her and her family. But the next three years were a series of sharp times. After all, everything that passed, it was a stone-like, painful memory. Patrizia laughed wryly at the appropriate answer.

"I don't know who gave it, but it's a great question."

"That's true. By the way, we're finally ahead of the last part of the competition."

"..."

Patrizia pulled her mouth up a little and laughed. After the last part, she could return home. Of course, it may be the opposite result. Three years ago, it wasn't just Trisha who got it right today. At that time, Nilla also had the answer.

But today she couldn't guess it correctly, so it was almost for certain that Queeness Trisha would become Queen. Patrizia remembered how the nobles had gossiped that the result had been determined, and opened her mouth.

"She was the only one to get the problem right, and the family is better than the rest of the Queeness. If a twist doesn't happen, the Queeness Trisha will become the Queen."

And she wanted that to happen. She was really tired of the royals now. Neither the emperor, Mrs. Phelps, nor the position of Queen. She volunteered to be a Queeness instead of her sister just in case, but she was desperate not to be unfortunate enough to become Queen.