Chapter 51

Chapter 16. Breaking the Bed

"Lady Rosaline."

Brodie swept her hair back and smirked.

"You were wagging your tail for the princess just a moment ago."

"Didn't you try to avoid talking to us, who can't even serve our mistress properly?"

The other maids crossed their arms and lifted their chins.

Rosaline looked at them and placed her cup of coffee on the table where the maids were sitting.

The maids flinched and looked at her.

They thought she would leave with her pride hurt, but it seemed she was ready to fight.

However, Rosaline's actions were different from their expectations.

"Ladies, do you believe that?"

Rosaline smiled and sat down.

"Could you really think that I, Rosaline Presten, would become a dog to a madwoman who isn't even fit to be a princess?"

A crooked smile appeared on her face.

Brodie and the other maids stared at her with wide eyes.

It was the Rosaline they knew.

But they couldn't believe it.

Kneeling before the princess and barking was shocking, but how fiercely she had fought against them before.

Rosaline didn't show any signs of anxiety despite their suspicious gazes and instead crossed her legs leisurely.

"Have you forgotten what I did to the princess?"

How could they forget?

Among the maids, Rosaline was the one who had made Arisitine's life the most miserable.

Even when other maids caused trouble, it was Rosaline who was behind it.

There were royal orders, and there was a leader.

The atmosphere quickly heated up.

Tormenting the princess during the tedious and exhausting carriage journey was a kind of game.

Brodie's eyes filled with suspicion.

She was the first and the most active in tormenting Arisitine, yet she had slipped away and attached herself to the princess.

Especially, the maids were feeling uneasy.

Given the situation, they couldn't help but think that Rosaline was using them as bait to save herself.

Of course, they would never admit that it was a way to survive.

"Of course, I remember. And you shamelessly became the princess's lackey."

"Would I do that if I liked that wretch? I was just trying to find the princess's weakness, like a tongue in her mouth."

Weakness?

The maids' eyes wavered.

It was a plausible thought for the cunning and shrewd Rosaline.

The cornered maids wanted to believe it.

Rosaline had found Arisitine's weakness.

"Brodie, your face is so bruised."

Rosaline reached out and gently touched Brodie's cheek.

Brodie flinched.

Though it had mostly healed, the burn marks on Brodie's face were still visible.

Even if they were hidden by makeup, they felt rough to the touch.

She had thought they would be completely healed when they arrived in Irlugo, but that was a miscalculation.

The healing ointment was effective, but it couldn't erase the scars.

When she asked for a mage or a priest to be called, they asked if she had the money.

It was humiliating.

To be questioned about money.

"I am a lady-in-waiting to Her Highness, Princess Arisitine, the future Queen of Irlugo! Irlugo should treat me with the utmost care."

"Perhaps. But you are not the princess herself, are you?"

"If you really want it, ask the princess. We will follow her command."

Asking Arisitine for help hurt her pride, but she couldn't live with this face.

But.

"Oh, you should have been more careful."

Arisitine looked at Brodie with a sympathetic expression.

"You boiled the water, poured it into the teacup, and then carried it full of boiling water. Why did you do that?"

Brodie flinched at these words.

Arisitine was pointing out why she had brought the boiling water when it wasn't necessary.

Her heart sank.

Arisitine, leaning on the table with her cheek in her palm, tilted her head and said in a lazy tone,

"I thought you were going to pour it on me."

Brodie couldn't say anything.

The only option was to exclaim, "No, no way!" and flee the room.

Since then, she couldn't bring up the burn again.

If she did, the topic of boiling water would come up.

"I have to get back at her."

Rosaline whispered.

It was a soft and sweet whisper, like a devil's temptation.

Despite knowing she should be suspicious, she couldn't help but be tempted.

She wanted to give that arrogant princess a taste of her own medicine.

Would the princess still act so confidently if she had a disgusting burn mark on her beautiful face?

"Look at her, getting so full of herself just because she's getting a bit of royal treatment in Irlugo."

Rosaline spoke sarcastically, pointing at Arisitine's room with her chin.

"In Silvanus, she was treated worse than a street beggar."

The other maids listened silently to Rosaline's story.

"She seems to think she's the Second Princess."

As she continued, Rosaline became more agitated and slammed the table.

The coffee cup rattled against the saucer.

"How dare she? A hunting dog? Oh, me!"

Rosaline snorted and glared at the door.

Her breath was full of resentment.

The maids, who had been silently watching, exchanged glances.

'Somehow...'

'Yeah, she seems sincere.'

'It's hard to believe she's this sincere.'

This wasn't an act. It couldn't be an act.

"Do you know how much we hated Lady Rosaline all this time?"

"That's right. We were really hurt."

The maids glared and vented their complaints.

"I'm sorry. I thought it was the best way to find the princess's weakness."

"At least give us a heads-up."

"I thought I had to deceive even my allies to succeed."

The maids nodded in understanding.

Given that they had fought with Rosaline to the point of pulling each other's hair, it would be hard to forgive her under normal circumstances.

But this was a special situation.

The knights had left, and Arisitine's influence was growing daily.

In such a situation, having someone like Rosaline, who was highly combative and ruthless, on their side was a great relief.

Moreover, it seemed to confirm that not attaching themselves to the princess was the right choice.

With lighter hearts, the maids asked Rosaline,

"Did you find her weakness?"

"From the way she revealed the truth to us, it seems she did."

"Tell us quickly."

Rosaline deliberately took a sip of coffee to build suspense.

When the maids were sufficiently anxious, she spoke.

"From what I've observed, the princess herself isn't much."

"What do you mean?"

"It means that she can only hold her head high because the palace's core figures and the warriors are treating her as a princess."

The maids nodded, as if they understood.

They, too, had been living in the shadow of Irlugo's palace.

If it were just Arisitine, they would have had no chance.

As evidence, they had been tormented throughout the journey.

"Why would the palace figures and warriors protect the princess?"

Rosaline's green eyes sparkled.

"It's because of His Highness Tarkan."

The maids gasped.

They had imagined it before.

If the person next to Tarkan was them instead of the princess.

The numerous wedding gifts, beautiful silk dresses, and abundant jewels sent to Arisitine.

The palace figures who always served her, the fierce barbarians kneeling before her, and the crowds cheering for the marriage that brought peace.

All of that would be theirs.

That's how it looked to them.

"Her life has changed because of a good marriage."

"From a nobody to a respected princess of the entire country in an instant."

"She really has good fortune."

Before coming here, they had mocked and ridiculed Arisitine for marrying a barbarian.

But they had forgotten all of that.

When the atmosphere was ripe, Rosaline spoke in a honeyed voice.

"What if His Highness Tarkan's heart belonged to another woman?"

Her red lips curled up sharply.

"Right now, he has no particular interest in anyone, and it's just a political marriage, so he's treating the princess well."

"The princess is so stiff and arrogant."

"That's right. Did you see how she held her head high when she met the King of Irlugo officially?"

"How about when she stood firm in front of the princes and princesses to claim her place?"

To them, the political rivalries involved were invisible.

If they had such insight, they would have been standing in Silvanus's social circles.

"A person should be gentle and soft, both to superiors and to a spouse."

"The princess has never even offered His Highness Tarkan a cup of tea."

"She eats all the desserts without leaving any. Shouldn't she leave some or decline?"

The maids spoke, standing tall like peacocks showing off, moving their hands elegantly.

"To be honest, we are better in every way."

"Much better."

The maids exchanged glances.

"We need to make the princess understand her place."

"But in Irlugo, there are no separate bedrooms, and the couple always shares the same room..."

"His Highness Tarkan hardly has any time alone."

The maids, who didn't serve the princess, knew Tarkan's movements well.

"We need to plan for that."

The maids asked Rosaline.

"A plan?"

"Do you have any ideas?"

Huh, Rosaline smiled confidently.

"Come closer. I'll make sure His Highness Tarkan is so captivated by us that he can't let go."

They had no awareness that Tarkan was someone else's husband.

* * *

"Welcome, Princess."

Arisitine smiled at the Queen's welcome.

Even after marrying Tarkan, she was still called "Princess."

"I am grateful for your invitation, Your Majesty."

The Queen of Irlugo had sent a message inviting Arisitine to join a cozy tea time as a new member of the family.

'Cozy, huh.'

Arisitine's eyes scanned the room.

Paellamien, Stalina, and Yenikarina were sitting beside the Queen, looking at her.

It didn't seem like a cozy gathering.

'She's really set on this.'

The envoy had returned, and the journalists who had camped outside the palace were in a lull.

The time for minor conflicts to escalate into international issues had passed, so they had set a date.

"Princess."

Paellamien and Stalina bowed slightly.

"Sister Rine."

Yenikarina smiled and acknowledged her.

"It's nice to see you again, Princesses."

Arisitine quietly sat in the empty chair.

They didn't seem to be playing the childish game of removing seats.

"I'm worried that the palace might be uncomfortable for you, Princess. Are you settling in well?"

Her words clearly indicated that she did not accept Arisitine as part of the royal family.

Arisitine understood and smiled brightly.

"Now that it's my home, why would it be uncomfortable, Your Majesty? Don't worry."

My home.

The Queen's eyes twitched at these words.

But she skillfully hid her feelings with a smile.

"I was worried that you might not have adapted yet, but hearing this is a great relief. Now that you're part of the family, it's fine to use informal language, right?"

Immediately changing her tone to informal and looking down on her was truly the Queen's style.

It wasn't strange for a mother-in-law to use informal language with her daughter-in-law, but Arisitine was still the Princess of Silvanus.

They should use formal language.

However, Arisitine nodded without showing any displeasure.

"Of course. Speak freely, Your Majesty."

Arisitine's nonchalance made the Queen feel strange.

"Sister Rine, congratulations on your marriage. I couldn't properly greet you at the ceremony because it was so busy. Were you disappointed?"

"No, it's fine. I was busy too."

"Yes, you must have been. As you can see, our Irlugo citizens are very lively and enthusiastic. They cheer and celebrate even for small things. They are very positive people, aren't they?"

Yenikarina chuckled.

So, the citizens' cheering for Arisitine's marriage, which was a "small thing," was just due to their nature.

It wasn't because the marriage was special or because they liked Arisitine.

Arisitine's lips curled up at this transparent provocation.

"Yes, I saw your photo in the newspaper."

Yenikarina's smiling face froze at these words.

The "small thing" that people cheered for was her photo.

She was immediately attacked by her own words.

"People were cheering and celebrating."

Just as you said.

Arisitine smiled at Yenikarina's trembling face.

Forget about being a wife, I just want to make some money.