Grabbing the hot kettle of the teapot, Princess Asteria instantly poured the hot drink into Lady Ludke hands, which she couldn't help but yell at.
Everyone was stunned, frozen at their places. Lady Ludke's hands were almost burned now and looked like a second-degree burn.
"I hope I made my self clear enough. Anyone who dares to harm Roselle, speak up so we can deal with it as early as possible."
"And anyone who wants to get in the princess way will be under my hands." Said another voice and she turned to look at no other than Lord Eros.
"Eros, what are you doing here?" Asteria whispered to him.
He smiled smugly, "Supporting you, of course."
Just then, a plate fell and Lady Roselle panicked, grabbed the piece, and ended up scraping herself.
Princess Asteria instantly dropped the kettle and went to Lady Roselle for rescue. Lord Eros walked with her and tried to help.
Just then, a loud deep voice appeared, along with her maid.
"What is happening here, princess Asteria!" She looked behind her and saw King Xander with a disappointed look at her with Mistress Geneva beside him, smirking at her.
She instantly stood up and muttered a curse under her breath, glaring at the concubine. Wow. She must have expected this.
Asteria gulped, looking for a way out but saw her brother Apollo appearing. "Brother! Help me take Lady Roselle to the infirmary!"
Prince Apollo blinked, "But why me-"
"Just go! I need to deal with things here." She ordered and her older brother nodded and carried Lady Roselle to the infirmary.
William, the chancellor, which is Lady Roselle's brother instantly ran to her. "What happened to my sister?"
"Lady Ludke slapped her and-"
Princess Asteria wasn't even finished when William instantly ran after Prince Apollo who was carrying his sister.
"You're not getting away from this, Princes Asteria." King Xander's voice stopped her. "Duke Ludke's daughter is suffering. What did you do to her?"
She just bit her lip, not sure how to answer that.
"Princess, what happened?" Prince Galician appeared just in time and Asteria asked him to take the lady to the infirmary too.
She stood up and finally faced her father, "Father, they were attacking the duke's daughter." She pointed to the remaining ladies who were frozen in shock and nodded.
But the king looked at her with suspicion, "Out of everyone here, you're the only one unwounded. I know you're lying, Ria. I expected something greater from you, my daughter. Let's have a talk on my study."
She gasped. No way, this is the first time that the king didn't believe her!"
Princess Asteria glanced at the ladies who were ushered to their carriages.
"You're bullying the noble ladies, aren't you?" Her father asked. "And you sent a poison to Mistress Geneva."
She gaped at that, "What? How could I when I'm busy-"
"Someone saw your maid leaving her room." Her father said, stopping her.
Well, of course, it was her. She asked her maid to deliver it in advance, but she should deny it as possible.
Mistress Geneva's hand clung to her father's arms as she softly said. "Be easy on her, she's just a child dear. Maybe it's not her or someone is playing pranks on me. Your daughter loves me too much to even attempt on doing that, right dear?"
Asteria swears she wanted to grab this old hag's hair right there and then. She breathed deeply, maintaining her temper, "It wasn't me. And I even invited her to my tea party."
The king shook his head, "It's good that my concubine didn't come, or else you would have hurt her further."
"What? Are you really believing some woman than your favorite daughter, father?" She asked, feigning tears.
"Don't you dare call her some woman? Have some respect." Scolded the king. "Seems that I was too easy on you cause you were my favorite. I have to discipline you. "
I really thought I was the king's favorite and I got her trust. Guess I was wrong. This old hag has more convincing skills than it irks me. What did I do to make the king like this?
"It's my fault." Lord Eros, who was just quietly standing beside her, spoke up. They all turned to see Lord Eros.
She raised her eyebrows at him, "What?" And gave him a signal that says "what are you
planning?"
Lord Eros whispered to her, "You owe me this one." Before approaching the king.
"Let me punish her." Said The concubine." Said Mistress Geneva but the king stopped her.
"No, let's hear what Lord Eros have to say.
Lord Eros bowed, "I am the witness of the scene. Let me explain to you everything so both sides won't get hurt, your majesty."
The King breathed in and decided first before nodding, "Let's talk in my study."
Asteria watched as Lord Eros didn't waste a moment and obeyed the king. The two then left, leaving her alone with the concubine, Mistress Geneva muttered a curse under her breath. "Tsk, that suitor of yours."
Princess Asteria smirked, "What? Sad that your plan of getting rid of me got canceled?"
Mistress Geneva "I'll wipe that smirk off of your face the moment the king decides your
fate."
She laughed at the concubine's face, "Good, at least I now know your intentions with me."
****
VITA'S POV
Sometimes, I wonder how feisty and energetic her highness is. She's not like any other princess. And I am certainly happy that I get to serve such lady like her.
She's very talented, and carefree.
But sometimes, I wonder if she is really from this world by her choice of words.
I sometimes do not get what she means and I'm scared that she would easily replace me with the others.
I know how nice she is, but I just can't help think about it.
And right now, as I watch how she fight the noble ladies, it makes me feel very proud of her and at the same time, scared of what his majesty's punishment to her.
Lady Pallardy's maid, looked up at me and down and gave a disgusted look at me.
I gasped. How dare she? If my master don't let anyone bully her, neither am I!
"Excuse me, Lady Pallardy's maid, but what was that disgusted look for?" I asked in a sharp tone, raising my eyebrow and trying to intimidate her with my fierce gaze.
Lady Pallardy's maid clicked her tongue, "What kind of lesson are you teaching your master? She's too...barbaric for a princess!"
I felt as if a nerve cracked inside me, and I gave her a silence look, "Barbaric? How dare you mutter that in the same sentence as the princess! If anything, it's you who look barbaric!"
She just snorted, "Tsk, guess an apple doesn't fall far from a tree. If the master is barbaric, her maid is too."
I instantly reached and slapped her stupid face, making her stop.
She tried to hit me back but a hand stopped her.
I looked up and saw it was Prince Ares himself.
I instantly looked down, my heart beating fast. Goodness, this playful brother of my master! What is he doing here. Since he caught me fighting here, what if he tells his majesty of my behavior and will have me replace? Oh no, I can't risk losing this position!
"Excuse me ladies, especially you, Lady Pallardy's maid. Where the hell did you think that badmouthing my sister is okay? And worse, in the palace itself?"
Lady Pallardy's maid was shocked to even stutter a word as she gulped. Then suddenly, she bowed to her knees, "Forgive me! Your highness! I-It was this maid's fault!"
My eyes widened, preparing to explain my side when Prince Ares raised his eyebrows, "Really? From what I could hear, you were the one who started triggering her using such foul words."
"I apologize, I'll never do this-"
"Tsk, you should have thought about that before spilling such words. Such a shame. My father will hear about this incident, Lady Pallardy's maid. I'll make sure you won't ever step foot in this palace for having the nerve to even talk bad about my sister."
Lady Pallardy's maid looked like she pissed on herself and was about to cry as she ran away.
Prince Ares chuckled, watching as the maid left us alone.
Now that I'm alone with him, silence fell. I gulped, wanting to say something but he then leaned in and whispered on my ears, "I'll keep my lips shut and won't tell a single soul about this."
My cheeks instantly redden as I could feel his breath fanning my face. I bit my lip and tried to make out some words, "T-Thank you, your highness."
He patted my head like a dog and "I'm Asteria's brother. You can just call me Ares."
"But…your highness."
"Alright, gotta go and report to father about this maid's bad behavior. I'll make sure she won't ever step in this palace again for bad-mouthing my sister like that." As he said that casually, he then left to enter the palace and I was left dumbfounded.