13 - The Crown I Will Take From You
Chapter 13
The reasoning she had laid out in a whirlwind was not wrong.
However, the fact that the timid and foolish Princess Medeia had figured it out was unbelievable.
Catherine, momentarily dazed, blinked. She quickly regained her composure and nodded.
"...Yes, of course. I will bring the Physician later... and visit you."
However, Medeia could confidently say that, contrary to her words, she would never bring the Divine Physician to see the Queen Dowager.
"Sister, Mother went all the way to Kazen with great difficulty to bring the Divine Physician for you. Aren't you being too dismissive of her sincerity?"
Birna pouted.
"Aunt personally? Even if it's been extended, it's a time of war, would that meticulous Siseo (Lord) have allowed it?"
Medeia opened her eyes as if startled.
"Birna! I told you to refrain from unnecessary words!"
Catherine, her face changing, sharply scolded her daughter.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Proper procedures were followed, and his identity is certain. He is merely visiting Baldina first as the chief physician of the Kazen delegation that will visit soon."
Catherine smoothly made excuses, then wore a melancholic expression.
"But, to doubt the identity of the Divine Physician I brought, I am a little disappointed."
"......"
"If I may be so bold, I dare to think of Your Highness as my own daughter. But are you perhaps trying to distance yourself from me due to the machinations of immature individuals?"
Catherine dabbed at her tears. The sight of the beautiful Duchess wiping away tears tugged at the heartstrings.
The new Maids standing by the wall exchanged glances.
They had heard that the Duchess had taken care of the Princess with utmost devotion since she was young.
They had even heard that she hadn't had a third child for the sake of her niece, so they felt sorry for her being treated coldly by the Princess now.
Catherine also knew what kind of stories would circulate among the Maids.
She pressed her eyes more intensely.
The more Medeia's words spread inside and outside the Royal Palace, the more it would add to her infamy.
That the Princess of Baldina was not only foolish but also ungrateful.
"Is that really so?"
Medeia asked. Her calm voice was the complete opposite of Catherine's tearful act.
"Forgive me, Aunt. Your words are touching, but they don't resonate with my heart."
"Sister! Why are you being like this today? How can you say that!"
Birna snapped back.
"Is that so?"
Medeia stared at her intently.
"I cannot agree."
The moment Birna met her eyes, shining with a pale light, she unconsciously flinched.
"If Aunt really thought of me as her own daughter, she wouldn't have let the Head Maid treat me like this."
"Your Highness, what are you talking about?"
"You know. What I've been going through since I clashed with the Head Maid."
"......"
"The rumors that have spread throughout the Royal Palace couldn't have bypassed the Duchess's family. Look at the newly changed Maids here, they noticed my few uncomfortable words, but didn't they notice that all my Maids have been replaced?"
The Maids' eyes turned to Catherine. After hearing the Princess's words, the Duchess's contradictory reaction seemed strange.
Catherine was flustered and frustrated, feeling like she was about to burst.
It wasn't that she didn't know. All the existing Maids had been replaced, and new eyes to monitor the Princess had been brought in.
She hadn't been able to bring up the story because the Princess had cornered the mother and daughter before she could even mention it.
Growing desperate, Catherine rose from her seat and approached Medeia.
"The Head Maid is my close friend, so I understand that it's difficult for you to properly discern the truth between me and her."
"Your Highness, that's not it..."
"So I didn't want to point it out, thinking I understood your intentions."
Her monotonous voice spread unreservedly over the cold air of the Royal Palace.
"Isn't that why you brought the Divine Physician to me, out of guilt for not stopping the Head Maid's tyranny?"
"Surely not! I, we, Claudio, are always on Your Highness's side. My friend or anyone else is not more important than Your Highness."
Medeia shook off Catherine's outstretched hand.
"Well, Aunt. Forgive me for leaving first, I really don't want to see either of your faces any longer today."
Her coldly chilled green eyes scanned Catherine's entire body.
"I want to believe that the words you've said to me so far aren't all lies."
Her beautifully made-up face, the subtly sparkling black pearl necklace, and the delicately embroidered lace on the hem of her dress.
Each detail was carefully crafted.
In other words, Catherine had the leeway to do so.
"Would you have been so calm if Birna had suffered this fate?"
Catherine was speechless.
"It seems that the harsh reality that you can treat me like your own daughter, but I can never truly be your daughter, is awakening me."
"Your Highness! Wait a moment!"
Medeia shook her head and left the room.
Catherine tried to grab her, but she couldn't dare to bring back the Princess who had left like a whirlwind.
"Why did you have to say unnecessary things!"
Catherine scolded Birna and collapsed onto the chair as if crumbling.
She thought she had tamed them so they couldn't escape, but there was no more alarming issue than a beast trying to break free.
'The reason she's suddenly acting like this... there can only be one reason.'
Catherine bit her lip.
"Cuisine, I told you to keep it moderate."
The day the news first came that the Princess had beaten Cuisine, her husband had suspected Cuisine.
How much effort had she put in to change her husband's mind about replacing the Head Maid?
However, Mrs. Cuisine, far from following her words, had retaliated against the Princess with a vengeance.
'You should have at least not been caught!'
Anger towards Cuisine surged in Catherine's eyes.
'I even sent someone separately to comfort her, but she couldn't control her anger and created this mess?'
\ \ *
Late at night, as dusk settled.
Deep within the Administrative Palace, lights were lit. Two figures were reflected in the shadows of the lamps.
"I heard she was a mess? Her face is better than the rumors suggest, though?"
A vulgar laugh echoed through the palace. The chin of the shadow trembled.
It was Count Etienne, the Minister of the Royal Household, boasting frog-like bulging eyes and a corpulent physique.
'That pig-like bastard, with his loose mouth...'
The Head Maid was furious.
"Enough. I heard the Duchess came and slapped you first."
"How did you..."
"Do you think you're the only one with useful ears?"
The Minister chuckled.
"I heard she was furious and poured it all out on you? You should have done better. Now she's not just a friend, but your master. What's the use of resisting if she doesn't listen?"
Mrs. Cuisine swallowed the rising humiliation.
As he said, she had to endure Catherine's anger, who was furious.
[You must be tired, so rest. I will send a replacement soon.]
A short message sent through a Spy.
At first glance, it seemed to be concerned about the Head Maid's well-being, but in reality, it meant she was going to be replaced.
"That's right, you should have kept it moderate. The Regent Duke doesn't want to see his niece being oppressed."
"So, you're saying I should have just endured this humiliation?"
The Head Maid snapped back.
The Minister chuckled.
"Why did you have to pick on the Princess...? You crossed the line several times. Heh. What can you do."
A thick hand patted Cuisine's shoulder.
"Just do as the Duke tells you. How many people do you think are still okay after falling out of his favor? Or you should have worked hard like me and secured your position."
The Minister's advice was galling.
'That unlucky bastard. As if being born with a golden spoon is something to be proud of.'
Mrs. Cuisine bit her lip. Her pride, which the Princess had broken, was already painful, but the Minister's sarcasm made her feel pessimistic, as if even her own situation had become like a dog of the Regent Duke.
'If I'm already out of favor, is there any need to listen to the Duchess?'
At some point, the thought crossed her mind.
If the Duchess was going to abandon her, she couldn't just end up as a dog that barked and stopped.
'I need to find a way to survive.'
"By the way, Minister, how were the children I sent you last time?"
At the sudden question, the Minister raised his eyebrows.
When the Head Maid first entered the Royal Palace, the Regent Duke had given her one order.
To send young, orphaned servants to Count Etienne once a month.
He said he needed servants to assist him.
The Head Maid couldn't understand the demands of the Minister, who possessed overflowing wealth and power, but she did as she was told.
She thought he must have given them other work, and they were living well in his mansion.
But one day, when she discovered the corpses of boys who had died tragically in the Minister's house, Mrs. Cuisine finally understood why the Minister had joined hands with the Duchess.
It was the price for satisfying his bizarre perversion.
However, the Head Maid was a cowardly human being. She was disgusted by their dirty alliance, but she had no intention of sacrificing herself and saving the boys.
"Your discernment is always reliable."
"If you wish, I can send you more. I need to relieve your hard work."
At those words, the Minister's eyes flashed with wariness.
Wasn't this the woman who couldn't hide her disgust for his perversion? Why is she suddenly being so proactive?
"What are you thinking?"
"I can't just die quietly. I'm thinking of going to see the Queen Dowager."
"Aha."
Even a mouse bites a cat, so this woman is planning to completely break free from the Regent Duke's grasp.
"He won't allow it."
"I know the Duke's thoughts. I'm just curious about what you think, Minister."
Count Etienne watched the Head Maid, as if trying to gauge her intentions.
He smirked and crossed his arms.
"What a pity. I have no intention of opposing the Regent Duke."
Would I abandon the Duke just to join hands with someone like you?
The Head Maid's face briefly hardened at his undisguised contempt, but it soon returned to normal.
"Don't you have any intention of becoming the Prince Consort either?"
The Prince Consort?
"...Do you know what you're saying?"
There is only one Princess in this country.
"Me and that little Medeia?"
