Episode 37
Reina leaned on the crutches brought by a maid and approached Lady Mary.
She’d been too complacent.
Thinking the rebellion was three years away, she believed she could gradually weaken their power.
She thought it would be better for Dahlia too.
But she never imagined Lady Mary would act so brazenly, endangering both Dahlia and herself.
Finding no reason to spare her anymore, Reina asked coldly.
“You said it was out of loyalty?”
“…”
“To whom are you truly loyal? Who is the real object of your devotion?”
“You think I’m a spy? My loyalty is solely to Lady Dahlia. Don’t slander my devotion…!”
As Lady Mary bristled and began to defend herself, Reina cut her off.
“You’re wrong. You’re loyal to Dahlia’s power. If that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t have done something to endanger her.”
“I…!”
Lady Mary was about to protest again, her face full of indignation.
Slap!
A sharp sound rang out as her head whipped to the side.
Stunned by the sudden sting on her cheek, Lady Mary looked dazed, unable to process what had happened.
Then, another strike hit like lightning.
Smack!
The second blow to the same spot made her head spin.
Glaring at Reina, who had slapped her twice, Lady Mary couldn’t utter a word.
She sensed that speaking again would bring worse consequences.
Reina’s aura was formidable.
Biting her lip, Lady Mary lowered her head.
Seeing her subdued, Reina continued.
“I tried to overlook your dislike for me. I judged you wouldn’t harm Dahlia, at least.”
“…”
“But you crossed the line. I can’t keep you near Dahlia anymore. Leave Crensia Castle today. If you ever appear before Dahlia again, be prepared for the consequences.”
Fired!
At the sudden declaration, Lady Mary glared fiercely.
If this had gone as planned, everything would’ve worked in her favor.
And it was all ruined because of this unexpected princess!
“What authority do you have to fire me? That’s the Young Lord’s decision!”
“No. The household affairs of the Crensia family are under my jurisdiction. Do I need anyone’s permission to dismiss an untrustworthy servant?”
“Hah! That position no one acknowledges?”
“…”
Her biting words chilled the room. Cornered, Lady Mary’s remarks grew reckless.
“This marriage was hastily arranged without the Council’s approval, wasn’t it? If His Grace hadn’t backed you, that seat would’ve belonged to a northerner. You show up out of nowhere, giving orders—did you think we’d take kindly to it? If you hadn’t tried to push me out, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Unable to listen any longer, Aiden stepped in.
“Enough, Lady Mary. Don’t you realize it’s fortunate Her Grace is handling this? If Brother had found out first, it would’ve been worse, not better.”
But that only fueled her anger.
Lady Mary shrieked shrilly.
“I’m disappointed! Even now, you side with an outsider? You’re no different, Young Lord. A few words from her, and you’re completely taken in, siding with her!”
“Lady Mary!”
“What did I do so wrong? My lifelong loyalty to Crensia, and this is my reward—a disgrace? Her Grace isn’t even dead!”
Lady Mary spewed words without restraint.
“Hah…”
Aiden sighed, rubbing his forehead.
He’d considered intervening for old times’ sake.
Since Reina seemed to want a quiet resolution, he’d stayed silent.
But with Lady Mary turning the tables, oblivious to the mercy shown, defending her further was impossible.
He’d never seen this side of her.
To think he’d kept such a person near Dahlia filled him with mixed emotions.
Reina said nothing despite Lady Mary’s barrage of insults.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“What?”
As Lady Mary stopped shouting and panted, Reina turned to Rose.
“Rose, get a switch from Lady Mary’s room.”
Rose, who’d been watching cautiously, looked stunned.
“Me?”
She was still under suspicion.
Reina might even think she was complicit with Lady Mary, yet her gaze held no doubt.
“Hurry.”
“Y-Yes, I’ll be right back.”
At Reina’s urging, Rose started to leave the parlor, but Lady Mary scoffed.
“Pointless. I threw that damn switch away long ago!”
Her defiant tone froze the room.
Rose stared at Lady Mary, dumbfounded.
‘She’s completely lost it. Is this because it’s all over anyway?’
Honestly, being fired was lenient.
If it were Kaiden, it wouldn’t stop at dismissal—he’d do worse.
Lady Mary’s boldness likely came from not knowing Kaiden well.
From Reina’s perspective, this was a considerate punishment.
Watching Lady Mary kick away her own fortune, Rose hesitated, glancing at Reina.
Even to Rose, who’d often disrespected Reina, Lady Mary’s arrogance was striking.
In contrast, Reina’s calm demeanor was almost terrifying.
What was she thinking?
“So?”
Reina rose quietly, as if she’d expected this.
She took a decorative sword from the parlor wall and approached Lady Mary.
Everyone looked puzzled, unsure of her intentions.
The sword seemed too heavy for her to wield with one hand.
Then, Reina drew it from its scabbard. The sharpened blade gleamed under the light.
She struck it against the floor with a thud and said.
“Then this is all I have. Will this do? As you can see, one wrong swing could take your head.”
She’s serious.
Rose instinctively knew Reina wasn’t bluffing.
The icy atmosphere was chilling, especially since Rose had once dismissed her.
How could someone who seemed incapable of harming an ant speak so calmly?
Her nonchalant threat, as if she’d killed before, terrified Lady Mary instantly.
“H-Huh!”
She gasped, staring at the sharp blade.
“I-I didn’t throw it away! It’s in the third drawer of my bedroom!”
Her pathetic appearance was contemptible. Reina glanced at Rose, who sent a scornful look, and ordered quietly.
“You might make a pointless trip, so bring it yourself.”
Frozen, Lady Mary hurriedly left the parlor.
Rose looked at Reina with a strange expression.
Swish! Crack! Swish!
The sharp sound of the switch cutting through the air echoed in the parlor.
Reina silently struck Lady Mary’s calves.
Her legs were already bloodied.
“Ugh.”
Lady Mary bit her lip, her face etched with humiliation.
She felt ashamed for revealing the switch’s location out of fear.
But the atmosphere was so menacing that she endured the blows silently.
As if disciplining a student, Reina delivered fifty lashes for her defiance.
At first, everyone was skeptical, but after thirty strikes, they all held their breath.
I’m SO glad she did more than just fire her. Honestly, if it had been me, becquse she involved an innocent child, I would have passed on the final punishment to my husband aka Kaiden who would quietly deal with her. This woman will definitely come Back to start more trouble