Chapter 71

Tarkan's reaction was different from what was expected.

It must have been because he was too shocked. He probably couldn't have imagined it even in his dreams.

The maids smiled at Tarkan and reached out their arms to him.

"Your Majesty, we plan to serve you tonight, just the two of us."

"Please, enjoy yourself."

Even as they pressed their bodies against him, Tarkan showed no reaction.

Thinking he might be hesitating, they whispered into his ear, blowing gently.

"It's fine. You're going to be the king of Ailugo, after all. When you become king, you'll have many concubines, won't you? It's just a bit early, that's all."

"Even the princess is with other men, so it would be good for you to do the same, Your Majesty."

At that moment,

Tarkan's golden eyes flashed like lightning.

"Ah!"

The maids had no idea what had happened.

Their whole bodies ached. They hadn't been hit, just dragged out. It must have been that, but they weren't sure.

They couldn't even breathe properly out of fear.

When they came to their senses, they were thrown to the floor outside the bedroom.

'Why...'

They couldn't understand.

What was wrong with their actions?

They were sure it would work on Tarkan.

Then,

A cold, bone-chilling sound was heard, making their hair stand on end.

Tarkan had drawn his sword.

The maids trembled as they saw the blade gleam blue under the moonlight.

"You dare to mock your master. You must pay for your crime."

With their limbs stiffened, the maids tried to crawl away.

But the blade was already at their throats.

"No, can you even pay? Your lives are not enough to make up for it."

As Tarkan tightened his grip on the sword, a soft hand grabbed his arm.

Aristine looked up at him and patted his arm.

Tarkan's jaw tightened.

Wasn't she the one who should be more angry than him?

Why was she patting him and saying it was okay?

"Princess, Princess!"

"Please, please, please save us...!"

The maids, with tear-streaked faces, clung to Aristine's skirt.

"Are you asking me to save you now?"

Aristine asked, feeling bewildered.

"Wow, you guys are really something, aren't you?"

The maids felt ashamed, but now wasn't the time to be picky.

"We were wrong, please..."

"Of course I'll save you. Why would I kill you?"

Hearing this, hope began to bloom on the maids' faces.

"Then—"

"My respected father will take care of it."

Thud.

Their hearts sank.

The hope that had started to grow on their faces quickly turned to despair.

The maids knew best what kind of person the emperor was.

He was the one who had driven his own daughter to the brink.

"Of course, you'll have to face the judgment of the people first."

Aristine looked around.

Palace servants and all kinds of people who lived in the palace were gathered, looking at the maids with disdain.

Even the small incidents with Tarkan were turned into stories; how much more so for this?

"Since you wanted to be the center of attention instead of me, it's a good thing."

Aristine smiled brightly like the moon and looked down at the maids.

"Congratulations on achieving your dream."

"Princess!"

Diona rushed into the room.

"I heard the news. Are you okay?"

She looked at Aristine with worried sea-colored eyes.

Aristine was somewhat surprised to see Diona.

What had happened to her that she would come so urgently?

"You worrying about me like this is unexpected."

Diona flinched and checked Aristine's expression.

It was a veiled threat.

'Could she know that I put the idea in the maids' heads?'

But Aristine's smooth, expressionless face was as unreadable as always.

Diona forced a smile.

"Of course I'm worried. Any citizen of this country would be, right?"

"Hmm..."

Aristine hummed and rested her chin on her hand.

It was touching that she was so worried.

'But coming to me so early in the morning without any warning is a bit much.'

It was a bit rude, but if she was worried, she didn't want to point it out.

Aristine thought this, but Diona was sweating bullets from her ambiguous reaction.

"Besides, I have a personal relationship with you, Princess. I'm much more worried than a stranger would be."

Diona put her hand on Aristine's arm, pretending to be close.

"I didn't know you cared so much about me after you stormed out last time."

Diona's face stiffened.

She had been angry because Tarkan had called her constipated and had a sensitive gut in front of everyone.

The memory flashed before her eyes, and she gritted her teeth.

But she couldn't be angry with Aristine now.

"That was—"

"I know, you had to go to the bathroom."

Aristine patted Diona as if she knew everything.

At this point, Diona couldn't tell if Aristine was being sincere or mocking her.

Either way, it was embarrassing and infuriating.

Diona tried to calm her trembling breath and smiled at Aristine.

"This Diona always thinks about you, Princess. I was so shocked to hear what happened last night."

"Anyone would have been shocked."

She had incited Rosaline, so she had expected the maids to cause trouble.

But she never imagined they would sneak into the bedroom in their underwear.

"How could such people exist? Even if they were strangers, it would be outrageous, but they are the maids of the princess..."

Diona criticized the maids more passionately than Aristine.

"Truly vulgar and shameless. It's surprising that they could even plan and execute such a thing."

Aristine, who had been watching Diona's indignant expression, said casually,

"You must be suffering a lot."

Diona's face turned red.

'What does she mean by that? Surely not...?'

But even if she didn't want to think it, Aristine's words were clear.

She was mocking Diona for pretending to have nothing to do with it after using the maids to seduce Tarkan.

To Aristine, who knew the truth, Diona must have looked like she was putting on a one-woman show.

She felt ashamed and embarrassed, but her concern was greater.

'How did she find out? There's no evidence... '

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Aristine, seeing Diona's sudden silence, tilted her head.

'I said she's suffering because her boyfriend is popular, so why is she reacting like this?'

Is she moved by my understanding?

It seemed so.

Aristine gave Diona the most affectionate smile she could and patted her shoulder.

"Stay strong."

Diona's face, which had been red, turned pale.

'She's playing with me!'

She was a master at finding the most infuriating way to mock someone.

Diona's lips trembled with anger and humiliation.

Aristine nodded approvingly at Diona's trembling.

'She must be moved by my comfort.'

Of course, this only made Diona angrier.

"A, by the way, Diona."

Diona glared at Aristine without responding.

"The maids said something interesting."

Diona thought, 'I was worried about how she found out, but it was just the maids' testimony?'

Then it would be easier.

In her conversation with the maids, Diona had been careful not to leave any incriminating evidence.

"What did they say?"

"They said you helped them."

"Me?"

As expected.

But Diona frowned, pretending to be genuinely surprised.

She turned her head, feeling humiliated just by hearing it.

"I think I understand why you're trying to frame me."

Diona clenched her fists.

"I never imagined the maids would try to seduce His Majesty Tarkan."

She spoke with such sincerity that she seemed like an innocent victim.

"I thought they were struggling to assist you, and I just told them what His Majesty Tarkan likes."

She had prepared an escape route, of course.

"I thought I was helping you. The maids said the same thing."

'Well, how about that? This is the truth, at least on the surface.'

Diona smiled inwardly and looked down at Aristine.

She thought Aristine would be frustrated by the lack of evidence, but to her surprise, Aristine showed no reaction.

"Can you testify, then?"

"Me?"

Diona was taken aback and looked at Aristine.

"Testify. About what you discussed with the maids."

"About what we discussed?"

Diona's mouth hung open.

〈Right now, the only reason His Majesty Tarkan shows any interest in you is for the night.〉

〈Men are like that, you know? If they can't satisfy their desires, they'll look for other women.〉

〈Lingerie is His Majesty Tarkan's preference.〉

The words she had said flashed through her mind, making her dizzy.

She had insulted not only Aristine but also Tarkan.

If this came out, it would be the end.

'How... Did the maids say that much?'

She had to deny it outright.

People would believe her more than the shameless maids.

'But... Seeing the princess act like this, does she have other evidence?'

Anxiety crept over her.

"Um? Will you testify?"

At Aristine's words, Diona swallowed hard.

But it would be more suspicious if she refused here.

If Aristine had no physical evidence and was just testing her based on the maids' words,

'Refusing here would be the same as admitting my guilt.'

"Of course, I will."

In the end, Diona had no choice but to answer with a choked voice.

* * *

★The True Identity of the Princess's Maid!

★Maids Who Dared to Covet the Master's Husband

★Princess's Maid Sneaks into the Couple's Bedroom in Lingerie

★After Brodie, Another Maid?

★Palace Servants' Testimony: "Always Disrespected the Princess"

★The Princess's Endurance for Peace

All the daily newspapers prominently featured the outrageous acts of Aristine's maids.

People were furious, and the maids were considered traitors who deserved to be lynched.

Who are the shameless maids? Their identities revealed

Tabloids even investigated and published everything from the maids' personal lives to their family backgrounds.

This process uncovered family business fraud and tax evasion, further enraging the public.

'Evil ones threatening the angel of peace!'

'Our poor and delicate Princess!'

'We must protect our Princess!'

It was somewhat embarrassing to admit that she had been oppressed by her maids.

While some people sympathized, others whispered that she must be incompetent if she couldn't even handle her subordinates.

But Aristine's situation was different.

She was a symbol of peace.

'The Princess, who loves peace, endured this alone to prevent a national conflict.

'How could she, with her delicate body...'

'She never showed any sign of distress, truly strong-willed.'

The newspaper editorials, testimonies from palace servants, and knights' accounts were all favorable to Aristine.

The general public, who accepted these, were also on her side.

They were completely smitten with the small, fairy-like Princess, unlike themselves.

Aristine's delicate features stimulated people's protective instincts.

Moreover, they had shared the thrilling moments during the wedding parade when Aristine was in danger.

Even recently, the maid Brodie had tried to harm Aristine.

Their protective instincts only grew stronger.

"How about it, Princess?"

Rosaline smiled confidently and looked at Aristine.

The newspaper she brought also featured an article about her.

The maid who loyally served the Princess, Rosaline

Loyalty was present

The last pride of Silvanus, Rosaline

It was from a minor newspaper.

While other newspapers focused on Aristine and the maids who committed the act, Rosaline's inclusion was surprising.

'She must have been interviewed directly.'

Aristine smiled.

It was even more amusing to see an article about Jenikarina's fashion in a corner.

She reached out to Rosaline.

Like petting a successful hunting dog, she stroked her head and chin.

Rosaline, though embarrassed, accepted the touch obediently.

Seeing her emerald eyes filled with expectation and greed, Aristine smiled.

Well, a successful hunting dog—

'Must be put in the pot.'

Forget about a husband, I'll make money.