Chapter 8

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: The Crown I'll Take from You

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Red strands scattered with a soft rustle from below Mariyu's shoulder, fluttering down.

"Neril?"

No, what she had thought were threads were locks of her own severed hair.

The glossy red tresses that Mariyu cherished like her own life now lay scattered messily across the floor.

"Kyaaak! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Next time, it'll be your neck."

Neril, sword in hand, issued the low warning.

"Are you insane? Have you lost your mind—?!"

The blade that had been laid flat now stood upright.

The chill of metal against her throat. The sharp sting as it nicked her skin.

Neril leaned in close. Whispering into Mariyu's ear so only she could hear.

"If you ever lay a hand on Her Highness again, I'll break every finger on your hand."

"Y-You..."

Mariyu bit her lip. She never imagined the usually stone-faced, dim-witted Neril could be this intimidating.

Those inorganic eyes, like they had killed before—it sent chills down her spine.

Trembling, Mariyu backed away step by step.

"Neril, shouldn't you rest more?"

"This much is fine."

Even wielding the sword with her left hand instead of her bandaged right, Neril showed no awkwardness.

Medea scanned Neril from head to toe.

She's strong.

Medea had seen countless powerhouses during her expeditions. She might not reach their level, but her eyes had been honed sharp.

Neril had no openings. Even now, with one arm unusable.

If she's this good now, what must she be like at full strength?

She could likely hold her own against a 7-star knight of the Kazen Empire.

Peleus, brother... that's why you sent her to me.

The girl who had whispered something into Mariyu's ear returned with unflinching steps.

"What did you say to turn her face that pale?"

"I told her... to work hard."

"Is that so?"

Whatever it was, to Medea, Mariyu was nothing but a nuisance.

She had no intention of keeping someone who had stabbed her in the back close by.

"From today, you'll attend to my personal needs. And you—handle my dresses."

"R-Really?"

Excitement laced the maids' voices.

Serving the princess directly meant plenty of scraps would fall their way.

I don't know why, but with Mariyu pushed out, now's our chance to get a piece!

The maids couldn't hide their joy at the sudden shift in fortunes.

They bowed repeatedly, tails wagging as they trailed after Medea.

Flattering her to the hilt while badmouthing Mariyu for her ingratitude.

"But, Your Highness, the palace feels off today."

One maid ventured hesitantly, face troubled.

"I went to pick up supplies, and there were piles of dry firewood right there, but they gave us other stuff instead? All of it damp and moldy!"

"That's right, Your Highness. And they told us to carry it ourselves."

"Even the regular maids were told not to enter our palace."

Without the basic palace maids for chores, it all fell to the princess's attendants.

"Looks like the head maid's retaliating after I scolded her yesterday."

Medea nodded knowingly.

"No way... Is it true, then? That you whipped Lady Quizin yourself, Your Highness...?"

The incident had spread through the palace overnight, but the Princess Palace maids hadn't quite believed it.

Now the princess herself had confirmed it.

They glanced back and forth at Neril standing beside Medea. Recalled how the princess had supported the injured Neril yesterday.

"So it really was because of Neril..."

She'd made an enemy of the head maid!

The maids were shocked, but also thought the princess foolish. Did she even realize what it meant to turn someone into an enemy over a mere maid?

But their thoughts were cut short by the princess's next words.

"It's my palace and my people. It wouldn't matter if it were any of you—it could've been Neril or anyone else. No one touches my people without my permission."

The maids faltered at Medea's firm declaration.

"What... what do you plan to do about it, Your Highness? We're just curious..."

Medea pondered leisurely as the maids rolled their eyes, probing.

It's not you they're curious about—it's your master.

They'd clearly been tasked with scouting her movements. Eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"I can't bow to the head maid now."

With a rattle, Medea opened a drawer and pulled out a handful of jewels.

"With her harboring such venom, you'll have it rough for a while. I'm sorry."

The sparkling ruby earrings went to the maid handling personal duties, a gold bracelet to the one for dresses.

To the others, she handed large pieces from the dresser.

The maids' eyes went wide.

The princess had handed over her own jewels to console them.

How could they be so clueless?

Or... did she value them that much?

The weight of the gems and her kind words swayed them.

"If you don't hold out now, she'll think she can kill or spare you whenever she wants."

Unaware of the princess's eyes, colder than ever before.

"Even if I'm a powerless master, I don't want to see you treated the same."

Her pale hand rested over the fists clutching the jewels. Slightly cool, but small and soft.

"I'll ask Uncle to mediate when the time is right. Bear with this incompetent master until then."

Her calm tone and downcast lashes revealed a touch of pathos.

"No, Your Highness. Knowing you protect us, how could we resent you?"

"No matter how the head maid torments us, we'll serve you faithfully. Just trust in us."

Tears welled as the maids chimed in unison.

The feel of the hefty jewels in their hands made them all the more loyal.

"They're all a bunch of bats. You gave them far too much."

After the maids, now far more deferential, bowed and withdrew. Neril grumbled discontentedly.

This place was crawling with lackeys spying on the princess's movements.

Not one deserved the princess's sincerity.

"They're all itching to carry news of Your Highness outside, and yet you reward them?"

"Exactly. Among my maids, you're the only one I can trust, Neril."

The drawer of jewels now empty, Medea remained serene.

"So we need to get rid of them."

"Pardon?"

Medea merely lifted the corner of her mouth faintly at Neril's baffled expression.

Most of the jewels she'd given the maids were gifts from the Claudio Duke and Duchess.

Her uncle and aunt's presents were expensive, with gems large enough to draw gasps.

On the surface, it looked like they doted on their niece.

But up close, the craftsmanship was crude, the oversized stones screaming nouveau riche ostentation.

To anyone who knew jewels, they felt tacky—enough to question the owner's taste.

Parading around official events draped in that...

No wonder the nobles and diplomats had looked down on Medea.

"They'll rush to sell them the moment they leave the palace."

"Oh, that's precisely what I want."

The jewels Medea had given were like megaphones to the world.

Someone would remember the fuss the Regent Duke and his wife had made gifting them to Medea.

Once those jewels hit the market, people would start wondering.

Why a princess of the realm had to hand out her treasures just to placate her maids.

How far could her uncle seal lips?

"For borrowing hands, this is a bargain."

Medea patted Neril's shoulder expressionlessly.

"You'll regret this."

The head maid didn't mince words.

Sand in the food, insect-attracting scents in the linens—she tried everything to make a young lady's day miserable.

All requests to the Princess Palace were blocked at her level.

Visitors were rare to begin with, but cutting off even official traffic turned the palace desolate, like an abandoned ruin.

The head maid intended to isolate Medea completely in this vast place.

I told Catherine not to seek the princess for a while, too.

Let her reflect alone on the cost of her recklessness.

Medea, you've tugged the whiskers of a sleeping lion.

The head maid thrilled in her successful revenge, satisfied.

But what she never dreamed of was,

"Ugh, how long is this going on? Hey, toss this. It's from outside."

"Isn't it too outdated? Moldy and stuff—relic from another era."

That her malicious "gifts" never even reached Medea.