“Is that all? She didn’t even pull her hair! She even asked if she was hurt!”
The maids exchanged skeptical looks.
“Come on, no matter what, aren’t you making this up a bit too much?”
“I’m serious! My friend said she came out of the princess’s palace unharmed that day!!”
At the same time, another maid opened her mouth with a suspicious look.
“Actually, I heard something too.”
“What is it, what is it?”
“I heard that the princess ordered a large amount of purification elixirs from the Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute this time.”
“Purification elixirs?”
The maids’ eyes widened.
“Those purification elixirs, I heard she ordered them to be sent to the Azure Sword Knights Order.”
“…to the Azure Sword Knights Order?”
“Yeah. I even heard that she gave the researchers jewels as a token of encouragement for their hard work.”
The maids’ faces were filled with confusion, as if they were facing a cosmic absurdity.
‘That’ Cassia?
The extravagant princess who was so obsessed with luxury that she never wore the same jewelry twice.
She’s giving away her jewelry collection as a gift to her inferiors?
And on top of that, she’s supporting the Azure Sword Knights Order with purification elixirs?
Purification elixir is a drug known to be more expensive to manufacture than the same weight of gold…
This must be.
“It must be because of Sir Romanov.”
The three maids spoke at the same time.
No matter how wicked the princess might be, she must be sincere in her love.
“Still, she made sure to insist that it be distributed to the entire knight order, not just Sir Romanov.”
“Yeah, yeah. Why did she do all these good things?”
Even though it was a clear attempt to curry favor,
Still, it was something that the usual arrogant and selfish Cassia would never have done.
But then.
“What are you all so cheerfully talking about?”
A cold voice cut into the conversation.
The startled maids quickly turned their heads in unison.
“Yo-Your Majesty the Empress.”
An elegant lady as graceful as a lily was looking at the maids with sharp eyes.
Despite having a grown son, she still had a youthful and delicate beauty as if she had transcended time alone.
Even as a maid, her beauty alone had captivated the emperor’s heart in an instant.
The empress.
However, at this moment, there was no trace of her usual delicateness in her demeanor.
Because her beautiful face was contorted with anger.
“Really, I didn’t realize you were all so naive.”
The Empress let out a sneer, making sure everyone could hear her.
“Just because that bitch Cassia has been quiet lately, you’re all chattering about how she’s changed.”
TL/N: BITCH?! LOOK WHO’S TALKING:/
“Yo-Your Majesty the Empress.”
“If you continue to speak so recklessly, I will personally deal with you. Understood?”
The Empress glared fiercely at the maids, raising her voice sharply again.
“Leave at once!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The maids scurried away like sparrows doused in cold water.
Left alone, the Empress bit her lip firmly.
‘What is that bitch Cassia thinking?’
She was the only bloodline left by the late empress and the only legitimate princess of the current Astrid Imperial Family.
Moreover she had Duke Diaz, the head of the North, as her maternal uncle. So, even the emperor, her father, couldn’t completely get rid of Cassia.
Cassia was the greatest obstacle to Fernando’s eventual ascension to the throne.
Thus, the Empress and Fernando always saw Cassia as a thorn in their side.
However, since Cassia was such an airhead, they had always thought, ‘Surely, Cassia won’t be able to surpass us.’
‘Perhaps I’ve been too complacent.’
Recently, Cassia had been holed up in the princess’s palace, idly eating snacks and wasting time.
That much was understandable.
Cassia’s eccentricities were an everyday occurrence.
But.
‘Purification elixirs, purification elixirs.’
Deep wrinkles formed on the Empress’s meticulously cared-for, unlined forehead.
The fact that Cassia was using her own money to support the Azure Dawn Knights with purifying potion.
‘This could definitely improve Cassia’s reputation.’
After chewing on her lips for a long time, the Empress finally made a determined decision.
‘I need to see that bitch Cassia.’
She was determined to find out what Cassia was up to and what her real intentions were.
* * *
‘Ah, I’m so happy.’
I was currently wrapped up in my blanket like a caterpillar, indulging in all sorts of snacks.
“This luxurious life is just… too good!”
I munched on a macaron and sprawled out on the bed.
On the table within reach were colorful high-end macarons and various cheeses.
It was my favorite sweet-and-salty combination.
For drinks, there was a refreshing sparkling strawberry lemonade.
What? What? Eating cheese and macarons together is considered weird?
Who cares?
All that matters is that I enjoy it.
“Sigh, really… this is heaven on earth.”
For now, it was a time of leisure.
I was lazing around because the purification elixirs I had ordered from the Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute were not yet complete.
The day those purification elixirs will be shipped to the Azure Dawn Knights…
‘I’ll be going north too!’
So I was doing my best to slack off.
If I become the administrative officer of the Azure Dawn Knights, won’t I have to work my ass off until about 5 years before the world’s demise?
The thought of waking up at the crack of dawn and going through military training…
‘Huh, why are my eyes suddenly getting wet…?’
Just then, a sharp voice pierced my eardrums.
“Until when are you going to live like this, doing whatever you want, for heaven’s sake?”
Huh?
I blinked my eyes.
‘This voice?’
I poked my head out of the covers and looked up.
And there, I saw a noblewoman looking down at me with her eyes narrowed.
Even at middle age, she was still as fresh as a lily…
“Your Majesty The Empress?”
No, what is this lady doing here?
“You’ve been cooped up in your room for days on end, wasting your time… How can you call yourself an imperial princess like this?”
The Empress, who was staring at me with a look of disapproval, continued speaking as if to be heard.
“Your brother is working so hard for the country even now. Tsk, tsk…”
On top of that, she clicked her tongue as if she pitied me.
And then she spat out more words…
“I really can’t understand What kind of mindset you are living with?”
Well, I’d like to say that right back to her.
Suddenly coming to the Princess’s Palace and doing whatever you want, giving me a headache out of the blue!
What kind of mindset are you living with?
As I stared at the Empress with a fiery face, she began to berate me in a fierce voice!
“Isn’t this too extravagant?”
Eh, me?!
This is ridiculous, I’m totally wronged here.
Compared to the original Cassia, I haven’t spent even a fraction of the money!
“If you’re going to accuse someone of being extravagant, shouldn’t you at least explain the situation so that I can understand?”
As I asked this while lying down, the Empress’s beautiful face turned red.
“Really, how long are you going to lie down and talk? Get up!”
“Your Majesty, who barged into my room without even sending a notice, is certainly very polite.”
I retorted back in a way that befits a villainess, and the Empress’s face turned into one that looked like she wanted to grab me by the back of the neck and throw me down…
No, why did you start the fight first?
I chuckled inwardly.
“Sigh, don’t talk. It’s not the first or second time you’ve been stubborn.”
The Empress, shaking her head, opened her mouth as if to be magnanimous.
“I heard you ordered purification elixirs from the Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute this time.”
“Yes, I did. So what?”
As I asked this while still lying down, a vein popped out on the Empress’s forehead.
“Surely you don’t intend to send those Imperial Supernatural Abilities Research Institute… to the Azure Dawn Knights?”
“Yes, I do.”
As I answered without blinking an eye, the Empress narrowed her eyes.
“Aren’t you acting too recklessly? Do you even know how much a purification elixir costs?”
“Of course I know the price. I ordered them myself.”
“No, Cassia, don’t you even know what a metaphor is?!”
The Empress couldn’t hold back any longer and raised her voice.
Her face was so red that it looked like a well-ripened tomato.
* * * *
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Being a Scoundrel in reputation is good when you can be flippant like this lol