After the grand show, they leave the site, walking into the palace grounds.
They face Eastward and walk towards their new residence, which was literally one of the normal sized concubine gardens. It seems like the Empress's Palace was taken by Concubine Lotus ever since the start.
They step into the small courtyard.
Kate was the first to stand up to the unfairness, "Your highness, this is so unfair and wrong! You're the Empress and you get this type of residence?"
"Don't worry, I didn't expect much. Also, just because a room is smaller and less luxurious doesn't mean it's bad and will stay this way." Violetta responds.
The young maid's eyes shine with brilliance, "You mean, that you're making this place better, your highness?"
Violetta gives a smile and nods, "Of course, Kate. Also, don't call me your highness anymore when we're in private. Just call me Violetta, same goes to the two of you."
"Um… can I still call you big sis?" Chris asks, on hand in a fist covering his mouth.
'Absolutely adorable~' Violetta looks at Chris, her cheeks turning pink, "Of course!"
She gives him a big hug. Chris looks at Delta with a smirk and gives her a thumbs up as if he won something coolly.
Delta facepalms, shaking her head.
The group walks into the courtyard where they're greeted by Maya and the maids.
"Your highness," Maya curtsies with a hint of the evident surprise in her eyes.
Since when did the sheltered princess dye her hair?
The maids behind Maya all curtsy, but don't say a word. Their disrespect and prejudice was quite apparent. Their disdainful gazes check her up and down.
As Violetta watches them closely, she feels a flow of their nasty thoughts.
'Jeez, who does she think she is, all high and mighty. She's just an ignorant princess who's never been outside before.'
'I can't believe we have to take care of such a person, if it wasn't for Concubine Lotus's command, we would never come. Ah, it was so much better and amazing being with Concubine Lotus, attending to such a dreamy hunk of an emperor-'
At the exact moment the maid was thinking of her 'dreamy hunk', the scene she saw when she was spying on her mistress and the hunk in bed appeared.
"Pfff-"
Violetta covers her mouth with her hand.
'Damn, this maid is wild! And hunk? More like a hunk of junk! Honestly, not my cup of tea at all, and any doctor could tell the way he developed his muscles and six pack by controlling his diet is not healthy at all.'
"Are you feeling okay, your highness?" asks Delta.
"Yes, I'm fine," Violetta replies, speaking for the first time in front of the maids.
The cold and elegance in her voice immediately makes the maids straighten their backs.
As if enchanted by her aura, they gracefully serve the princess to her rooms.
On the other hand, Violetta was inspecting the poor, old courtyard and the decorations.
'Oh, so this country really is like ancient Chinese Dynasties. I had my doubts at the entrance and it really took some time to figure that out haha….
So the Jun Empire is basically ancient Asia, while Beria Kingdom is ancient Europe. Lol, the perks of having a private hacker in your last life. I guess my weird I-can-see-negative-thoughts power is like a substitute.'
The entranced maids guide the newly arrived group through the small courtyard. Although clean, the courtyard and rooms are really smaller than expected. It really made Violetta doubt if Chinese dramas show bigger courtyards or if she's just being mistreated. But it was most likely the latter.
It was amazing how there were no glass windows. Kate kept wowing about it, somewhat in contempt. Violetta had to somewhat agree, since glass is a) very very cool and pretty b) gives a sense of sanitation c) and she's a doctor.
The tour only lasted for a good ten minutes.
They pause at the side table where Violetta sits down.
"Your highness, the knights will not be able to escort you here because of traditions in the Jun Empire. However, after training, they will replace the substitute guards guarding you right now," Maya reports, monotonously.
"So be it," Violetta says nonchalantly, "Also, please brew me some tea."
She looks out of the window in a picturesque scene like those in famous paintings and dramas.
Once the maids walked out of the courtyard to find tea to serve, they snapped out of their daze and start to bite their fingernails with regret and hatred.
"What the heck was that? She's so creepy, to use a curse or something!"
"I know right, that was definitely some sort of weird voodoo, she made all of us like zombies or something!"
What straightforward blaming! If Violetta was here, she'd definitely laugh until her stomach hurt, being like, "Hun, haven't you heard of something called disposition? That's why you had those lovey dovey eyes around your hulk!" Sadly, she did not hear, or else, there would be a good show.
Coming back with B-grade tea, they serve their new empress perfunctorily.
"Leave us," Violetta commands with a cold voice.
This time the maids did not become entranced, as they were shooting daggers at the princess who pretended she didn't notice.
Kate pouts the moment they leave them, "How dare they look at you with such disrespect, your high-"
Violetta shoots her a glance.
"Ah, ahem, V-v-" a faint pink appears on her cheeks as she looks at the encouraging looks around her, especially her dear princess.
"Violetta!"
Violetta chuckles, amused, "Mm."
Delta takes the time to respond to Kate's complaint, "Violetta didn't retaliate because they can't do anything anyways."
"Not quite right, they can, and I'm waiting for their little tricks. There's also no need to retaliate from such petty things," Violetta corrects and adds inside her mind, 'I've been bored after being trapped for so long...I'm getting a bit rusty'.
Violetta frowns as she looks at the B-grade tea, "Jeez, just because that concubine is taking the A-grade tea doesn't mean I can't either."
She sighs at the absurdness.
"I bet it's that bastard emperor's doing," Chris joins their conversation.
"Mm, well since they aren't going to provide me with A-grade tea doesn't mean I can't brew it myself."
"Violetta! Allow me to!" Kate offers immediately.
Kate walks towards the chests of belongings, pulling out some herbs and tea leaves that were souvenirs from the Demigod Society.
Meanwhile, Chris stands around dazed. Though unnoticeable, he's been like this ever since they pretty much stepped into the palace...