"What do you mean, Grand Duchess Rowena Ernest de Erica?" replied the Emperor.
"The Kingdom of Cretia is famous for its criminal and poverty factors and also the Luxerzo Kingdom is famous for mystical beasts that often harass and kill local residents. Isn't that a very bad gift to give to a hero who founded the empire?" Rowena said.
His Majesty laughed loudly again after hearing Rowena's analysis. "Turns out you really are a genius as you say. You are very similar to someone the Empress and I knew when we were little. So somehow I feel confident that you can handle the problems there like that person?"
"In addition to your appearance that looks the same as him, your face is also very similar to that person," continued His Majesty the Emperor.
"You mean I look like Lady Erica Odelette de Edelle, that empress of the kingdom of Edelle?" replied Rowena.
Before His Majesty the Emperor replied to Rowena's words, an incident occurred. A party guest who is the king of the Vintana Kingdom wrapped his arms around Rowena's neck and pointed a sword at Rowena's neck as a warning or threat to the people there.
"King Vintana, quickly remove your sword from that lady!" Emperor's orders.
Instead of lowering his sword, King Vintana drew his sword closer to Rowena's neck. Then the followers of King Vintana also began to withdraw the war. If you count the total, there are forty-five followers of King Vintana. The Imperial soldiers also drew their swords and surrounded King Vintana and his followers.
Everyone there started running and screaming in panic. In contrast to Prince Helios, Sir Damian, Sir Cedric, and the people who participated in the war tended to just stand still watching the commotion. The followers and King Vintana didn't know they were holding the wrong person. Those people are only looking for death.
"Put down all your swords. Otherwise I will cut this lady's beautiful neck," threatened King Vintana.
Being threatened, all the Imperial guards were forced to let go of their swords. Everyone who had been running was just standing still stiff and scared.
"I never thought that as emperor, you would do such an unreasonable thing. How could you give the position of Grand Duchess to a weak girl like this? Aren't you too naive to trust your son so much? The prince will give him a high position when she arrives at the imperial palace," said King Vintana incessantly.
Rowena, who was already irritated by the nonsense of King Vintana, immediately nudged her stomach and grabbed the sword that was in the hand of the obnoxious old man. Now things have turned 360°.
"That mouth of yours is absolutely trash. What right do you have to judge whether or not I deserve to be a Grand Duchess? Then how do you know if I ever sold my body to the prince of Helios? It's the people in your kingdom who are naive because they can make an old man who likes to talk nonsense a king." Rowena pulled the hair of the king of Vintana who was lying in pain on the floor and cut off his head in just one slash.
After finishing executing King Vintana brutally, Rowena smirked at all the followers of King Vintana who were starting to get scared seeing the cruel act that Rowena had just done to their leader. Without waiting any longer, Rowena killed them all quickly. It didn't take long for forty-five of King Vintana's followers to die immediately with their heads and necks disconnected.
Rowena's dress, which was originally white, turned red because it was splashed with blood. Both her face and body were covered in blood. Rowena threw her sword on the floor. She walked gracefully towards the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, it seems I have to go home early because my body is covered in blood. I hope that you and all the guests here can continue the party as if nothing had happened a while ago. May you always be blessed by the gods, Your Majesty. " Rowena smiled and walked away.
Rowena took Sir Damian and Sir Cedric's hands with both hands and then quickly left the room. Everyone who saw this was completely shocked. They didn't expect the sweet, weak-looking woman to turn out to be a vile and cold-hearted woman, very much in line with the rumors circulating.
Elsewhere, Rowena had arrived at Sir Damian's mansion. The servants who saw it were taken aback. How come? Because when she left, Rowena already looked beautiful in a white dress studded with diamond powder and now her whole body and dress are even dirty because of splattered blood. The maids who served Rowena immediately took Rowena into the bath to be cleaned immediately. Sir Damian and Sir Cedric were chatting and strolling around the garden while waiting for Rowena to finish cleaning her body.
Moments later Rowena appeared behind them in a plain white chemise dress with her hair tied in two braids. "We're not going to be punished just for coming back early, are we?"
Sir Cedric hit Rowena a little hard on the back. "Shouldn't you be worried about the sadistic murder you have displayed in front of His Majesty the Emperor as well as the guests present?"
"You should have restrained yourself, my brother," said Sir Damian.
"At first I wanted to too. But that old man was busy blabbering that I got my title because I sold my body to Helios and you know what I hate the most in this world is when people accuse me with accusations that have no proof," answered Rowena.
"Yes, I think the news of King Vintana's rebellion and your brutal murder will be a hot topic for the other nobles," said Sir Cedric.
In the midst of their conversation, the head housekeeper Sir Damian came to interrupt their conversation. "Milord, there are documents that you must complete as soon as possible."
"Alright, I'll finish it right away," Sir Damian replied.
"Don't stay up too late and sleep well. Good night Rowena," Sir Damian said softly as he stroked Rowena's head.
Rowena smiled and replied, "Okay, good night too. Brother don't work too hard either."
Then Sir Damian and the housekeeper left together leaving Rowena and Sir Cedric alone in the flower garden.
"Isn't being a noble very troublesome? Why does His Majesty the Emperor have to give me the title of nobility when the life of being the sister of Marquess Squella isn't too bad for me either," Rowena grumbled.
"Hey, don't talk like you're a genuine commoner who just got a noble title. After all, you were originally a princess of a kingdom too. I think having your own peerage is also the right thing for you."
"Really?"
"Of course. You are well versed in every field that men have studied so far and your etiquette is also superior to that of any other woman in the empire."
"If a Cedric says that, it probably means that I'm really well suited to be a Grand Duchess."
"That's up to you. Then I'll go back to my house first. See you later, Rowena."
"Do you need me to take you to your house?" Rowena offered.
"No need. After all, my mansion is across from Damian's," said Sir Cedric
"All right then. See you later, Cedric." Rowena waved her hand at Cedric who had walked away.
Rowena still didn't want to go back to her room. So she decided to take a tour around the flower garden in Sir Cedric's residence. She touched one by one the red Camellia petals that were there. Until she came to a bunch of roses. She observed the flower carefully then touched the petals gently. Then she crushed the flower in her hand so that the palm of her hand bled profusely due to the thorn in the rose's stem.
"My step towards achieving Edelle's destruction is drawing near. Just wait quietly my dammit father."