"Where did the tiger come from? I never permitted anyone to keep a tiger in the Harem. The one keeping this tiger better confess before I decide to take care of you all."
The princess sounded angry and upset.
All three Concubines flinched at her angry tone and backed away from her.
It was in their best interest not to anger the princess.
'As long as we do not confess crimes, the princess cannot blame us. Let's put the head maid forward as a scrape-goat and think of a way out later.
"Sister Yunjin, I will tell you everything. The one who brought the tiger out as entertainment was the head maid. Head maid, step out instantly and explain this."
Concubine Alex was quick to wash her sins away and pin them on someone else.
The poor head maid, who followed her orders, looked terrified of the princess.
"Princess! Please forgive me! I was just following orders. I-"
"How dare the headmaid try to taint the noble princess! Guards, make sure you end her life at once."
The guards seemed involved in tiger smuggling, so they wanted to avoid getting caught.
They were quick to behead the headmaid before she could open her mouth.
Blood smeared all over the princess's face as a loud yell echoed around the tea ceremony.
Everyone tried to find the origin of that screen, only to realize that it was coming from the screen.
Sui finally discovered the tiger and tried to escape it. But anyone could tell that she was struggling to get away.
"W-We should help her out, right?"
"But what can we do? We cannot go against a tiger! Besides, we'll just be losing a servant. Why does it even matter?"
"I've heard things about her. She's not even a servant but a slave. It will not matter even if she ends up dead."
Everyone looked content to let Sui die, not noticing how their words made the princess angrier by the second.
They only noticed something wrong when Princess Yunjin kicked the table away from herself and into the water screen, making it ripple.
Before it could get back to normal, she grabbed the magical core and dismissed the magic.
"You all take too long to make decisions. I've decided that I will take care of this myself. There is no need to follow me around, either."
The gathering came to a halt at the princess's words.
They could not react as they watched the princess enter the forest.
When anyone realized what happened, they were too late to stop the princess. All they could do was run after her, hoping that it would not be too late.
The guards had difficulty keeping up with the princess, but they somehow managed to catch up to her.
They blinked as they watched the princess holding a slave up by her legs. The height difference between the two prevented the slave from touching the ground.
"Princess-"
One of the guards asked, but the princess made an annoyed face and extended her hand and the slave into their care.
"This is enough. She is injured here, so treat her wounds before bringing her into my office. Also, do an investigation to see where that tiger came from."
The princess ordered, leaving the guards with no choice but to follow her will.
"..."
The slave looked up at the guard, her black eyes dull and lifeless. They looked unnatural, causing the guard to try and look closer.
A flash of gold passed through those eyes before the save was being shaken by someone.
"Stop looking at her and treat her wounds."
The princess ordered, finally letting the servant go.
The poor girl collapsed as soon as her feet touched the ground, and the guard could also make out the hint of red beneath her feet.
"Hey, are you alright?"
The guard asked, trying to make the child lower her guard.
The princess glared at him the whole time, making the guard uncomfortable.
"Are you talking to me? I think…I'm alright…sorry, I'm just tired and hungry…I will go to sleep now."
"Oi! Don't fall asleep-"
The child was asleep before the guard could talk to her.
'Shit! The slave is unconscious now. Do I have to carry her out of this forest now? I don't want to touch her. But the princess ordered me to, so what choice do I have?'
The guard made a disgusted face and reached out to touch Sui.
He was more than aware of the looks he was getting from the people around him. But he still decided to reach out and hold the slave up…
…Only for the child to be snatched away from him.
The guard was about to scold the one who played this prank, but his words were caught in his throat as soon as he started to form a word.
'T-The princess? Is she carrying the commoner? Why would she ask me to help the slave before and then change her mind?'
The guard needed clarification but did not want to ask the princess what she was doing.
It was better to keep quiet and follow the princess's decision.
By the time they all made their way back, the tea ceremony was long over, and the nanny was one to break this silence.
"Princess, don't! You already broke the decorum once. You should be more aware of your company!"
The nanny tried to reason, but the princess knocked the door of her palace open with her foot.
Before anyone could enter through the door, the princess closed it behind her.
Everyone was too stunned to say anything, so they waited for the princess to open the door.
The front door opened, and this time, the princess extended her face and neck to look at everyone.
"Princess, you are-"
"Send for a doctor. If anyone other than the doctor tried to enter my palace, they would find their head rolling around on the ground. I will not spare anyone, no matter who they might be."
The princess did not take specific names, but everyone could tell she was talking about the nanny when she said that.
"But, Princess Yunjin, I-"
And just as quickly as the door had opened, it closed again, leaving everyone to complain outside.