Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 137
“This is your doing, isn’t it? I know everything.”
Princess Mia glared at Kaitlyn with an icy expression, something she had never shown before.
“What did I do to deserve this—ugh!”
“How dare you talk back?”
A sharp slap rang out, turning Kaitlyn’s head to the side. She held her stinging cheek, eyes wide in shock.
“Did you think I’d like it if you used magic to manipulate men into acting like they were in love with me?!”
Did she really just hit me?
Kaitlyn let out a bitter laugh.
“You may think I’m an airheaded girl, but I do have things that matter to me.”
“And what would that be? Your pride?”
“Kaitlyn.”
“You said you wanted to marry well and settle in the empire. What’s the problem with granting that wish?”
“Your shallow tricks will eventually be exposed!”
Kaitlyn swallowed her pride, feeling stung by the accusation. Mia sneered at her.
“You think you’re sitting on top of everyone, pulling their strings, don’t you? But who’s the one in the dark right now?”
“Watch your mouth, Princess Mia!”
Mia was stunned by Kaitlyn raising her voice.
Who did she think she’s shouting at?
Mia found it ridiculous how Kaitlyn dared to act so condescending. Anyone watching would think Kaitlyn was the princess. Kaitlyn herself probably thought she was more valuable.
Mia had been letting things slide until now, finding it amusing to watch the girl inflate her ego. But it had been a mistake.
“You’re just a foolish girl who would’ve been discarded ages ago if not for Keith, and now everything’s falling apart because you don’t know your place!”
“What?”
“I’ve received word from our homeland. If you don’t return immediately, Keith’s body won’t remain intact. Stop messing around. You don’t want your twin’s corpse fed to the animals, do you?”
Keith had always mediated between Kaitlyn and the royal family. Kaitlyn might not know, but the only person the royal family truly trusted was Keith.
At the mention of Keith’s name, Kaitlyn erupted in a fit of rage.
“If you so much as touch Keith—!”
“Keith is already dead. What’s left is just a piece of meat.”
“No!”
Kaitlyn ground her teeth. She could tolerate many things, but not anything involving Keith.
Mia scoffed before continuing.
“Do you know who Jeff Bertrand is?”
“Bertrand…”
“Yes, Jeff Bertrand. Seems like you have an idea. Thanks to him, Brubewein will run out of food by spring. The new business he started caused the value of our goods to plummet, and the merchants were told never to trade with us again. Once we distribute the winter supplies we’ve prepared, the royal family and the people will all starve!”
“…….”
“Thanks to your reckless meddling, your brilliant talents have become utterly useless, Kaitlyn. The value of the goods we could have secured with your help has been reduced to nothing. Naturally, you’ve also become worthless.”
Mia looked down at Kaitlyn with a momentary glance of pity.
That brief look was more humiliating than the slap on her cheek.
“I’ve always known you looked down on me.”
“…….”
“We grew up together, and I thought of you as a friend, but you always considered me foolish. It didn’t bother me. I wasn’t as smart as you, and I wasn’t as capable either.”
“That’s…”
“You probably felt it was unfair that I received better treatment just because I was the king’s daughter. But no matter how much smarter you are, the reality remains that you’ll eventually have to bow your head to me. No matter what you think deep down, that won’t change.”
Because that’s the grace that royalty is meant to show.
