“In the end, what kind of servant are you teaching?”
While Giovinetta grumbled in frustration, Delfina helped me stand up. I adjusted my skirt and spoke.
“Keep it polite, Giovinetta.”
“What?”
“I told you to keep polite.”
I repeated in a calm voice. Chuyện cô ta xem thường tôi là một chuyện, nhưng việc cô ta dám vô lễ với Cesar thì tôi không thể chịu đựng được.
“Cesar is not a servant.”
Even though the old outfit might confuse Giovinetta, I completely understand that. Tuy nhiên, dù thế nào đi nữa, một Hoàng tử của Đế quốc cũng không phải là người ở địa vị để bị Giovinetta đối xử như một tên gia nhân.
"Cesa… r? Could it be His Highness the Great Prince?"
The look of defeat was clear on her face. I didn't miss that moment, straightened my back and adjusted my posture. No matter what, I am also a Prince Concubine.
“And please use honorifics with me.”
"What?"
Hearing that, Giovinetta's expression immediately distorted. I heard something cracking from the blade of the fan she was holding.
“Do you dare to cause trouble and blaspheme?”
I deliberately lowered my voice lazily, whispering sarcastically.
Bấy giờ, Giovinetta mới nhận ra thực tại, vẻ mặt như thể nuốt phải con bọ thật sự là một cảnh tượng đáng xem.
“What are you doing?”
I raised my chin, signaling her to quickly say hello.
“You really…”
Giovinetta's face was sometimes red and sometimes pale. But this is the Royal Palace. Unlike when there were only two people, this public place had many witnesses. She had to kneel down to bow to me.
“The glory of the Iron Cross… I greet your Highnesses.”
Looking at that scene, I felt a distorted sense of gloating. Of course, the fact that she had to kneel like that did not erase the long-standing hatred. On the contrary, feeling victorious just because of something like that is strange.
However, this can be considered the price to pay for her being disrespectful to Cesar. Luckily he didn't prosecute, but calling a member of the Royal Family a servant is a serious crime.
“Vinh quang của Thập Tự Quan Thánh Sắt. Tiểu thư Giovinetta, mong rằng lần sau cô sẽ giữ lễ nghi hơn. Vậy thì, ta vào trong nghe chi tiết câu chuyện nhé.”
I instructed in a solemn tone, and Giovinetta did not respond. I ordered the nearby servant to lead her into the living room.
At that moment, Cesar walked up to Giovinetta and placed something in her hand.
"This."
“What, what… is that?”
What lay on her palm was the worm that Cesar had just dug up. It was wriggling in her hand.
“Ah ah ah!”
Giovinetta let out a shrill scream and then violently threw the worm away. Immediately, Ave rushed in to peck at the worm.
“Dirty, so dirty!”
Witnessing the scene of a chick pecking a worm in half right before her eyes, Giovinetta's face turned pale. She pretended to faint, then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and pretended to vomit.
“Ha ha.”
Witnessing this entire satirical play, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey! Evil! What the hell are those things!"
She screamed in indignation, forgetting all about her face. Even though I heard angry screams from behind, I still walked without turning back. I tried to keep my limp steps from collapsing.
In the end, Giovinetta postponed the meeting, citing the disarray of her clothes.
“What, what is that…”
Mercedes had secretly followed and monitored Irenea for several days, but the scene before her eyes made her unable to believe it and had to swallow hard.
Of course it is. Her precious prince was sitting on the dirty ground, playing with insects.
She wanted to rush down immediately and scream, asking what they were doing. Her insides felt like they were on fire.
“What the hell are you two doing with our Prince!”
She gritted her teeth and made a sound
sprinkle
small. When they read books or teach etiquette in the name of "education", she had no reason to interfere. But this time is different.
In Cesar's hand was a dirty bird she had never seen before. It was not a pet bird, but just an ordinary poultry chick.
She could not bear the thought of such a filthy thing being placed in the Prince's noble hands. So disgusting that she wanted to scream immediately. Truly, this girl is nothing but an annoying person.
“Are you trying to drag Cesar through the mud like you.”
Outrage made her eyes darken. Ears ringing.
At that moment, a girl caught Mercedes' eye. She was so beautiful, her smile was just like a little angel painted in a Saint painting.
Amidst the rage, a sudden cool feeling passed by.
“Who is she?”
The distance was too far so she couldn't hear their conversation clearly. However, she realized something. The other girl knew Irenea, and their relationship didn't seem to be very good.
“I have to find out more.”
For some reason, she felt a good omen. Mercedes hurriedly left. Thanks to that, she did not have to witness Giovinetta screaming, which was an unfortunate tragedy and comedy.
"It's beyond words. Marta, did you see what she was doing just now?"
Giovinetta couldn't hide her excitement. Marta, the older maid standing next to her, was afraid that the eldest mistress would slap her because she was so angry, so she tried her best to fan and soothe her.
From the beginning, when the second lady, Your Highness the Prince, said she wanted to meet, Marta predicted that this would not be an easy meeting.
They have always been sworn enemies since they were at home.
However, Giovinetta's excitement did not subside easily.
"Miss, don't be too angry, it will harm your health. Besides, the lady has already told you. In the Royal Palace, you have to pay attention to other people's eyes."
“Huh.”
At this moment, Giovinetta took out the small mirror and turned to look. When she checked to see if her makeup was ruined or if she was sweating, her anger slowly subsided.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but her anger still hadn't dissipated.
“It really hasn't changed, that girl.”
And then, she remembered the image of Cesar, the Great Prince. The way he placed the dirty, disgusting insect on his hand. The rumors about the Cursed Prince don't seem to be false. Otherwise, how could he do that? How could a normal person do that?
At that moment, an elderly woman stood before them.
“Please see your noble person.”
“May I ask… who are you?”
Giovinetta was curious about this mysterious woman who suddenly appeared.
"Ah, please excuse me. I am Mercedes Aronzo, a servant of His Highness the Grand Prince."
“The Great Prince's courtier?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“What is the business of someone like you looking for me?”
Giovinetta remembered that name. Before entering the Royal Palace, she looked through the list of palace personnel through her mother. In particular, the Great Prince's subordinates were very few, so she remembered them even more clearly. Among them was the Prince's wet nurse. Surely this person is that person.
Mercedes looked around then carefully said:
"I know it's rude, but I happened to see you talking to Her Royal Highness Irenea the Princess. I guess you're someone who has some connection to that person."
After witnessing that situation, she still came to me. Giovinetta felt that this person could be of some help to her. She bowed with elegant movements.
“I am Giovinetta Flores. Eldest daughter of the Duchy of Flores.”
Mercedes silently praised in her heart. Truly a perfect aristocratic style.
'This is the true princess of the Duke family. A nobility completely different from that filthy illegitimate child.'
The more Mercedes looked, the more satisfied she was with the Giovinetta in front of her.
'It would be great if this girl became a Prince Concubine.'
Once again, her mind became confused. This is a symptom that has appeared since she had to be away from Cesar for a long time.
“…If only that would happen.”
The truth in her heart popped out without her realizing it.
"Huh?"
“Ah, nothing.”
Mercedes quickly shook her head and suggested to Giovinetta:
“Vì y phục của cô đã bị xộc xệch bởi chuyện vừa rồi, cô có muốn đến chỗ ở của tôi để chỉnh trang lại không?”
Giovinetta hesitated a bit but quickly nodded.
‘I smell something interesting.’
Her extraordinary intuition told her. The Prince's nanny, who was supposed to be on Irenea's side, wanted to see me alone? It's not bad to hear what she wants to say.
Mercedes leads them to a room in the Emerald Palace.
"Lady Aronzo, thank you very much for your help. Thanks to you, I got out of a difficult situation."
Giovinetta sipped hot tea. Normal tea taste. Even though it is a Royal Palace, everything in this Emerald Palace is old. Even worse than the Flores residence at the private residence.
“Bà nói là cận thần của Hoàng tử Điện hạ, nhưng sao bà không ở cùng nhị vị Điện hạ mà lại ở một mình nơi này?”
When Giovinetta quietly opened the conversation, Mercedes immediately took out her handkerchief, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I… I really just want to help you out of my kindness.”
At that moment, Giovinetta immediately felt an abnormality.