Chapter 36

I've been keeping you waiting!

I want to start writing Chapter 2 little by little!

I plan to post one episode every three days, so please look forward to it!

"Y-You, Lady Asaria...!"

One of the maids stepped back in awe, speaking with a tearful voice.

I, Asaria Jil Spencer, smiled slyly at the sight.

"It's your fault, you know? You were being disrespectful to me, the daughter of the Duke of Spencer."

"I-I wasn't being disrespectful at all...!"

"No, you were. That's why I had to do this to you."

I showed her what was behind me and told her,

"Choose one from these... it's an order."

"I-I can't, Lady Asaria. They're so...!"

The maid looked at what was behind me with eyes that seemed to be seeing something terrifying. But those eyes also seemed to... sparkle a little.

"Come on, choose one—your favorite from these jewels!"

There were beautiful jewels, mainly necklaces and brooches, that I had ordered from a famous jewelry store.

"Are these really okay, such expensive items!?"

"I said before that I would give you a special bonus, didn't I? You have to choose one from these."

"I haven't contributed enough to the Duke's household yet, so I can't accept such expensive items."

"It's fine because I, the daughter of the Duke, am giving them to you. Besides, buying this much won't hurt the Duke's household at all. If you don't take them, it will look like you're underestimating the Duke's household's wealth."

"I-I don't think that at all!"

"Then choose one quickly."

When I said that, she hesitantly walked over to the jewels, her eyes shining as she looked at them.

There were over a dozen other maids in the room, and the ones other than her had already chosen a jewel. They were all looking at what they had chosen with great joy, holding them carefully.

"I've never seen such a beautiful and wonderful necklace before!"

"The brooch I chose is also incredibly beautiful, isn't it?"

"Is it really okay to receive such wonderful things...?"

Everyone was talking happily, but some of the maids were also looking at me with concern.

Before I returned, I had been very rude to the maids.

So some of them still had doubts, but I had changed after my return.

Having peace of mind is truly a wonderful thing.

Finally, the one who had been hesitant until the end made her choice, and the maids looked at me, holding their jewels carefully.

"I'm giving these to you as a special bonus. I hope you will continue to serve the Duke's household well."

"Y-Yes! Of course! We will do our best in our work from now on!"

"Yes, I hope you all do well."

When I saw the maids all respond strongly with "Yes!", I nodded.

It has been about two months since I returned.

I'm glad I could finally give the maids their special bonuses. Before I returned, it must have been difficult for them to deal with my unstable mental state.

As an apology and thanks, I decided to give everyone a special bonus.

I decided to become a true villainess, but it's to get back at Crown Prince Lewis and the Holy Maiden Oline.

It's more convenient if others don't think of me as a villainess and instead see me as a likable daughter of the Duke.

"Maimi, which one did you choose?"

"I chose a necklace! Lady Asaria, can I wear it even when I'm in my work uniform?"

"It's fine as long as it doesn't get in the way."

"Thank you!"

This girl seems braver than the other maids and talks to me without being intimidated. She seems to be around my age and almost feels like a friend.

...A friend, huh.

Come to think of it, I don't have any friends.

The young ladies who surround me at tea parties aren't really close friends.

It's difficult for the daughter of a Duke to have friends.

There are various positions and the noble hierarchy always gets in the way.

Well, I'm not really troubled by not having friends.

"Next, we need to get new maid uniforms. It's getting cold now that winter is approaching, so we need to get new ones."

"Are you going to buy us new maid uniforms!?"

Their maid uniforms are quite thin, so it's difficult for them to hang laundry outside in the winter.

I think one of my followers runs a boutique, so it might be better to buy them there.

I said I would go to that boutique, so I need to keep that promise.

"Maimi, are you coming with me?"

"Of course!"

I left the room, receiving "Thank you!" from the maids, and called out to my personal knight, Lauro, who was standing guard outside the room.

"Lauro, let's go."

"Yes, Lady Asaria."

We said that much, and Lauro followed behind me. It has become natural for him to be behind me.

I remember Maimi and others once said, "Lauro doesn't seem like a knight, more like Lady Asaria's guard dog."

I have thought that before and sometimes still do.

But Lauro's skills are real, and he is stronger than me, so he is the perfect personal knight.

I wonder if he could even beat my brother Ivan in a one-on-one fight?

I think Ivan would be better at fighting beasts, though.

"Lauro's current uniform is more for winter, but we should buy a cooler one for summer."

When I said that, Lauro tilted his head in confusion.

"...Can't I just take off my jacket?"

"No, you can't. You have the brooch I gave you on the chest of your jacket. So for summer, we need to buy a summer uniform and a summer brooch."

"...I'm fine with anything."

Sigh, Lauro is always uninterested in his own affairs.

"Did you buy clothes for Leo and Lena?"

"Of course, they each bought more than ten outfits with their bonuses."

"Of course... How many did you buy?"

"I didn't buy anything. The clothes I was given at first are enough."

"I thought so..."

I'll have to buy some for Lauro, whether he likes it or not.

After that, Lauro and I prepared to leave the mansion and get into the carriage, but then I saw someone troublesome.

"Oh, Asaria. What a coincidence."

The Crown Prince of the Empire and my fiancé, Lewis Rino Antila.

For some reason, Crown Prince Lewis was by the carriage Lauro and I were about to board, with about three knights.

What kind of "coincidence" is this?

He was definitely waiting for me in front of the Spencer Duke's mansion, by the carriage I was about to board.

Before I returned, Crown Prince Lewis cheated on me and broke our engagement, leaving me in despair.

Not only that, he even helped the Holy Maiden Oline to have me executed.

Now that I have returned, I have no intention of getting engaged to this person, and I have no interest in him.

If I break the engagement, Crown Prince Lewis will lose his first right of succession to the emperor.

That's why he's trying to please me and come to see me like this.

But it's completely meaningless, and even counterproductive.

"Crown Prince Lewis, good day. I have to go now, so please excuse me."

"Wait, since we've met, at least have a meal with me."

"No, I don't have the time for that."

I do have the time, but I don't need or want to spend it having a meal with Crown Prince Lewis.

As I said this coldly and tried to get into the carriage, Crown Prince Lewis hurriedly spoke to me.

"Hey, I'm your fiancé and the Crown Prince. At least talk to me for a bit..."

"Oh, Crown Prince Lewis, didn't you say it was a coincidence? Were you just passing by the Spencer Duke's mansion?"

"Ugh, that's..."

I don't think Crown Prince Lewis would just happen to pass by the Spencer Duke's mansion.

"If you have time to pass by here, why not continue your rendezvous with the Holy Maiden Oline? I won't stop you anymore, so please do as you please."

"Wh-What kind of fiancée suggests her fiancé meet other women? That's outrageous."

Ha? Really, which mouth is saying that?

I can't tell if he's here to please me or to irritate me.

I sighed and tried to get into the carriage, but Crown Prince Lewis approached me.

"Hey, Asaria, wait...!"

"Your Highness, please step back."

As usual, Lauro stepped in between us.

"Ugh, it's you again...!"

Again, I think that's what I should be saying.

"You keep getting in the way! Hey, you guys, get rid of this guy!"

Crown Prince Lewis ordered the three knights he had brought, who were direct subordinates of the royal family, to remove Lauro by force.

I didn't expect him to try to remove Lauro by force.

If that's what he wants, I have to give an order too.

"Lauro, if they interfere, incapacitate them."

"Understood."

When Lauro nodded, one of the knights approached him and tried to grab his arm.

However, before he could grab Lauro's arm, Lauro punched him in the jaw, causing him to fall.

A punch to the jaw can make someone unconscious due to the shock to the brain.

One knight fell, and the other two immediately went into combat mode and attacked Lauro.

They are well-trained and strong, as expected of knights directly under the royal family.

But Lauro is far superior to them.

Ten seconds later, Lauro was standing alone, unharmed, while the three knights were on the ground.

"Who is this guy...!?"

Crown Prince Lewis, who didn't expect the knights to be defeated so quickly, looked pale.

"Good work, Lauro."

"Yes, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

"It's fine. Crown Prince Lewis, we will take our leave now."

We got into the carriage and left, passing by the pale-faced Crown Prince Lewis, who said nothing.

It was a bit of a dampener to start, but seeing Crown Prince Lewis's strange face was worth it.

[Author's Note]

I've posted a new short story!

It's titled "I Was Abandoned as a Sacrifice, So I Sold Myself to a Margrave's Family ~Before I Knew It, I Was Called a Holy Maiden and Adored~"

It's a very interesting and refreshing story!

I've attached a link below, so please check it out!

Thank you!