I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Elda nervously stammered, then, as if struck by a brilliant idea, pointed a finger. “Oh, right! Delphina, Delphina!”
The way she tried to shift the blame was almost repulsive. I simply chuckled. “I’m talking about you.”
Discomfort rippled through the maids. They all wore expressions of dismay, staring at their own shoes. But I knew they still held me in contempt. Why wouldn’t they? What was there to fear from a princess married off to the monstrous prince, with no one to back her? They likely thought I was simply throwing a tantrum, venting my frustration.
“The Emerald Palace was opened rather abruptly. I assume you weren’t originally stationed here, Elda?”
“N-no…” I didn’t bother correcting her habit of drawing out her words.
“Where were you stationed?”
Elda hesitated. I pressed her again. “Elda. Your station.”
“The M-Moonstone Palace… I was in charge of… attire.”
Maids responsible for attire, handling jewels and fine clothing, were treated relatively well. And the Moonstone Palace was the Empress’s residence. Being transferred from there to serve me in the Emerald Palace could be considered a demotion.
Finally, the threads of this morning’s drama began to unravel.
“Even if you were a maid at the Moonstone Palace, you are now under my command. You will treat me as your mistress.”
“O-of course!” Elda quickly changed her tune, attempting to flatter me. She still hadn’t learned her lesson.
“Who assigned you here?”
“Countess Elvira.” A servant handpicked by the Empress’s confidante. I could safely assume these maids were the Empress’s eyes and ears. I lifted my chin.
“Hmm.” I slowly looked Elda up and down. Her stiff posture betrayed her nervousness. “Your insolence stains Countess Elvira’s reputation.”
“…What?” Mentioning the Countess’s name startled Elda. Not just her, but the other maids as well. The atmosphere shifted, a different kind of tension filling the air.
They clearly feared the Empress’s confidante more than a princess with no backing. They didn’t realize they were only fueling my anger.
“I shall have to speak to the Countess about you.”
“Y-Your Highness!” Elda finally crumbled, clinging to my feet.
“Leave.”
Despite my blatant dismissal, she remained prostrate, tears streaming down her face. “P-Please, Your Highness. I was wrong.”
If it wasn’t me she feared, then I simply needed to introduce a greater fear. Only after I invoked Countess Elvira’s name did Elda confess her wrongdoing. It was all her fault, she sobbed, a foolish mistake.
Mistake, fault, error… Her real mistake was coming to me first thing in the morning, demanding punishment. Whether Delphina had touched my jewels was irrelevant. Such matters were for the head maid to handle, not to burden the mistress with. Elda’s true transgression was testing me, gauging my reaction, assessing my position. If I showed any weakness, they would climb over me, crush me beneath their heels.
‘A bride who marries on a rainy day will shed many tears.’
Wrong. Perhaps their sin began the moment they gossiped about me, sitting like statues on my wedding morning.
Even if this was merely petty revenge for the humiliation I suffered then, I had to meet this challenge head-on. To establish order, to survive in this palace.
“Will you continue this spectacle? I don’t wish to witness any further displays of such impropriety. Leave my sight and depart these chambers.”
“Your Highness!”
“She stole the jewels…”
I did have jewels, given to me by my stepmother, Celestina, along with my dowry. She would have ensured they were appropriate for the Duchy’s standing—impressive, but not excessive—mindful of appearances. I didn’t know the inventory, and frankly, I didn’t care if they were gone. Something else bothered me.
‘Delphina touched Your Highness’s jewels.’ I suddenly recalled last night’s dream. Coincidentally, it featured the same scenario: the weeping maid, Delphina.
I remembered the name. I had definitely heard it in my dream. Was it merely a coincidence, a common name? Or was it something more…?
