Chapter 29
“Is today the first time I’ve ever been to your palace?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m even happier—because you came to see me.”
Then I suddenly noticed Francis, standing alone behind us. Joshua and I were eating something together, but he was just standing there by himself.
Because of the light coming through the window, he stood on the right side, half in shadow. So the sunlight neither blinded nor warmed him.
Even if what happened with my sister was her own affair, the thought that he might be trying to be considerate of me made me feel strangely uncomfortable.
Perhaps because of the habits I’d picked up from the Emperor, I found myself offering him something without thinking.
“Ah.”
He looked down at me in surprise, and suddenly I felt a wave of embarrassment. My hand holding the fork froze in midair; I even forgot to breathe.
Damn it. If you’re going to refuse, then just refuse already!
I felt like I couldn’t breathe—and then he smiled.
This bastard is laughing at me! …But why does he have to look that good doing it?!
‘Please kiss me too. Then I’ll tell you.’
I know it’s because he looks like that man! Get a grip! The Emperor is the only one on my side! My sister tried to kill me—and she made my face like this!
I have to break this damn game and get my real life back!
I can’t lose seventy million because of some seductive men!
Damn charming men! Damn them! Their chests—
Ah, no, no!
“Thank you.”
He took the bite from me, his hand wrapping firmly around mine. For a moment, I forgot this was reality.
Act natural. Pretend it’s nothing.
“Is it good?”
He nodded while chewing, his cheeks puffed out. So cute—no, no, not cute! Not cute at all! How can someone 190cm tall be cute?! But he was! Damn it!
“Gasp!”
My mind kept going blank. It was exhausting just trying to think straight.
“You—you have something on your mouth.”
There was sauce at the corner of his lips, so I said it. Then he bent down toward me.
“Please wipe it for me. It’s your fault, after all.”
The brown sauce clung to his bright red lips, which curved into an almost sinful smile. Our eyes met—he was way too close. Red alert! And yet he wasn’t stopping. A firetruck, not a car!
Flustered, I forgot the napkin and wiped it off with my hand instead.
His lips were red and soft. I should’ve pulled back immediately, but the touch was so vivid that I lightly brushed over it—and then he kissed my fingertip.
“Your Highness, it seems we share the same scent.”
His long red lashes trembled; he looked away for a moment, then met my eyes again. I didn’t understand what he meant—until I did.
“Oh, uh, yesterday…”
“I can smell your scent on me.”
Those seductive lips curved even more dangerously, his smile bewitching.
And yet his expression looked so innocent, as if he didn’t know what he was doing.
Clang!
I snapped back to my senses.
Joshua had dropped his glass of water. It shattered, sunlight glinting off the pieces.
“I’m sorry, my lady! M-my hand slipped!”
While I stared at the mess, servants appeared and quickly began cleaning it up.
When I looked back at Joshua, he looked terrified again.
Was he afraid I’d take back my earlier kindness because of his mistake?
“It’s fine. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“No, my lady. Are you—”
“I’m fine too. Now, let’s eat before it gets cold.”
I smiled, and Joshua smiled back. I tried to pull my hand free to eat again—but Francis didn’t let go. When I looked up at him to signal that he should, I realized he wasn’t looking at me. He was glaring at Joshua.
With eyes that looked ready to burn him alive.
“Why are you looking at him like that?”
“Because he dropped it on purpose.”
“What nonsense is that?”
I stared at him in disbelief, but he just looked wounded.
That look won’t work on me!
There’s no way Joshua dropped it on purpose—he could’ve hurt himself!
As expected, it seemed the stolen goods had been sold off and replaced with similar items.
“So even after combining all this, it still adds up to more than what’s listed?”
“Yes.”
Maybe they’d gotten scared of being executed and bought replacements for what they stole?
How little must Princess Gracie have cared for her servants to steal right under her nose?
Seriously, if you were going to ignore them anyway, why bring them here!? People shouldn’t be like this!
“Didn’t I say anyone whose records don’t match will be beheaded?”
I said it with a smile, and Joshua looked terrified again. But this time, he stayed quiet—maybe because of what Francis had said earlier.
Cute.
“You there.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness!”
A tall servant with freckles and brown hair bowed deeply.
[Deyon / Lesser noble
: Entered the imperial palace six months ago
▼ Cannot tell lies.]
“So, you’re Deyon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why is there nothing listed under your returned items?”
The document Berden had given me listed each servant’s age, name, and what they’d returned.
There were forty-nine people before me.
Forty-eight had returned something.
Only Deyon had returned nothing.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“…Because I didn’t steal anything.”
“Really?”
I glanced at Joshua; he looked back, confused.
“How long have you been in this annex palace?”
“It has been half a year as of yesterday, Your Highness.”
He bowed so deeply I worried he’d hit his head on the floor. Adjusting my mask, I looked down at him.
“Then tell me—who do you think deserves to survive here?”
I felt someone squeeze my hand in alarm, but I didn’t pull away. I was sure Deyon would say “Joshua.”
“I think… none of us deserve forgiveness.”
“At least you have a conscience.”
“…”
“While my guest here was living like this, all of you were in on it, weren’t you? Do you really think any of you didn’t know? You’re the most recent one here, Deyon—and you knew.”
Berden sighed, brushing back his gray hair. The neat movement made him look his age.
Maybe he also thought I was the real cause of all this. After all, the Princess of Deirid—brought here as a political hostage—had been treated like a bed slave and cast aside when the night was over. I had never once visited this palace. Of course they would all have despised me.
“Tell me, then. Why do you think I’m doing this?”
“I don’t know, Your Highness.”
“Then you—the head servant. What do you think?”
He was the one who’d stolen the most.
According to Berden’s papers, he’d even taken tableware—teacups and spoons!
“Please, Your Highness! End my life!”
He suddenly dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the floor. The others followed suit, begging in unison.
“Please kill us!”
“Please kill us!”
“Please kill us!”
The echoing chorus filled the room.
I looked at Deyon—he was a beat late but knelt too.
“Yes. If you’ve done something worth dying for, then die.”
I gestured, and the knights drew their swords. I didn’t want to look at Francis, so I focused only on those kneeling before me.
“We’ll display your heads at the palace gates. That’ll be a sight, won’t it?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“N-no! Please, spare us!”
“Please, Your Highness!”
“Have mercy!”
Unlike Berden, who remained calm, the others went pale and screamed in terror.
I liked that. I smiled—and then Deyon shouted:
“Wait, please!”
“What? Want to say your last words?”
“N-no! I beg you to give us another chance!”
“Why should I? My Joshua has been here for years—he’s already given you plenty of chances. Tell me, would you spare the rats eating away at your home after finding them gnawing at your treasures?”
It was all an act. A show to prove that I cared for Joshua.
To show that the once-indifferent Princess Gracie had finally changed.
“E-even rats can be trained, Your Highness!”
“Oh really? And what happens when they bring plague with them?”
It was also the perfect excuse to create loyal servants of my own.
“I’ve heard, Your Highness, that you listen to the pleas of the people in the capital!”
“Sure. But you lot aren’t exactly innocent, are you?”
I scoffed, and he continued, voice trembling.
“Please, just one chance! If even one of us repeats this crime, you may execute us all!”
The head servant said nothing, so watching Deyon step forward was almost entertaining. I suppose even he couldn’t speak up with his life on the line.
“Fine. Then here’s what we’ll do.”
He looked up, hope lighting his face.
“I’ll grant a reprieve, like you said. But if this happens again—all of you will be executed. And your families too.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“Also, instead of monthly reports, you’ll send me daily expense reports through Berden.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Oh, and I’m dissolving everyone’s positions. Deyon, you’ll act as chief for now.”
“What? M-me?”
“Everyone else’s rank will be reassigned by Berden. You can handle that, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He smiled but clearly looked annoyed—probably realizing how much work I’d just dumped on him.
But hey, the Emperor assigned him to me. Might as well use him properly.
“And since I can’t have you using stolen goods, burn everything that was returned.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’ll reallocate the budget. Replace everything with new supplies.”
The grip on my hand tightened—it felt good.
“Until then, you’ll stay in my palace, Joshua.”
Since I live in the Emperor’s palace myself.
[Quest Complete! Tap below to see your rewards!]
▼ Perfect completion bonus granted!
Reward 1. Loyalty events for Joshua Deirid and Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastian have been terminated.
Reward 2. Loyalty of all annex palace servants has reached 100%.
Reward 3. You may now make one wish from Joshua Deirid.
Reward 4. Public opinion of the Deirid Kingdom has turned positive. Additional points can be earned through side quests.
Reward 5. Joshua Deirid now pledges loyalty to Princess Gracie.
Reward 6. “Mirror of Truth” quest unlocked.
Nice! Forty-nine new 100%-loyal followers—three hours of work well spent!
Now I’ll make you all work like dogs!
