Renata continued to stare at the horror filled faces of the maids who had finally noticed the knights and then their eyes fell on the emperor.
"Your majesty, there is some kind of misunderstanding. We have come here with the princess. Since the sun was shining after a long winter. We only wanted her to get some warmth.
She.."
"Are you talking about me?" Renata who was sneering in her heart blinked and acted like a dumb child who did no understand that the maid was making excuses.
"Mistress, did you forget that you were angry with me because I wanted to read the story book? You took the book from me telling me that I would ruin it and when I did not listen, you burnt the book in anger and locked me in the dark room.
You did not bring me with you. I was hungry and scared. So, I ran out of the window. See, i even got injured while doing that.'' She had deliberately scratched her body from the thorns in the backyard shrubs and got a nail wound on her feet so that she looked more pitiful.
Though the blood had dried, it still stained her dress and body and she looked pale with all that hunger. She was looking so miserable that even if maids wanted to make excuses for her poor condition, they did not have any.
"That.. we were just trying to discipline the princess, since she was talking back. We were about to bring her here after some time." she replied nervously as she felt the looming aura of the majesty covering her entire being.
She never knew that facing him could be that scary!
"So you are disciplining the princess and one and only heir for the seat of the empire to apologize to you for taking a story book and even forcing her to call you mistress. Huh?
Can you explain how you deserve to be spoken formally, much less being treated so high and mighty when you are just a mere maid!" a mere maid? She wanted to remind him that she was also a noble, the wife of a viscount but she did not dare to raise her head or speak in front of him when he was being this cold and harsh.
The only way she thought of was apologizing..
"That.. I only wanted to train her so that she knew how to behave in front of other nobles. I may have crossed the line in the process but my intentions were in the favor of the princess.
I wanted her to grow well even in that dark palace where no one came to meet her. I apologize for my low intelligence and wrong decisions." she bowed her head while holding her dress in a poised manner.
Though she had not behaved well, she was not the only one who did that. He was responsible at the first place for keeping his one and only child locked in the dark palace.
Who was he to blame her? She was seething with anger but she could not show it. It was all Renata's fault. If only she had stayed in the dark room, the maids would have taken out after a few days. Why was she here to create a fuss! Did she think she would get rid of the punishment because she was with her father now.
It was just a momentary attention. She had got it because so many eyes were on him. He would just give her a warning and then let go of her.
And then she would teach Renata a good lesson for this stunt. She only needed to apologize well and make sure that his rage subsided.
"I will make sure that it will not happen again, your majesty. I have been serving the princess for a long time and know what is good for her. I might have forgotten that I am just a maid while caring about her like my own daughter.
I would reflect on my actions well, your majesty. I request you to accept my apology and let me serve you dinner in the palace I take care of to show my sincerity." she added when she did not hear any reply. The man was already reconsidering his orders. If she would speak a few more words, then he would give in and let her go.
Later, she could fill his ears with words when he could have dinner in the princess palace. She was sure that he hated his daughter. Or, why would he not come to see her even once in these three years.
When the empress died, the princess was taken care of by the maids. She had a wet nurse to feed her milk and maids to play with her but never had her family with her. And now he was suddenly here as a father!
What a joke! She was never going to believe that he cared about Renata.
"If i did not know any better, i would have thought that the palace belongs to you not my daughter the way you have invited me into it.
Have you forgotten your place completely after living there for a while leisurely?
And as far as it is about teaching manners to this girl. She did not need them. She is the only ruler of this empire. Who is going to scold her even if she would burn the whole capital city.
And for trial, why don't I let her burn the estate of Viscount to show you that she holds the ultimate power. Huh?"