Chapter 70
“Is that all? I heard she didn’t even grab anyone by the hair! They even said she asked them if they were hurt afterward!”
The maids exchanged uneasy expressions.
“Hey, come on… aren’t you exaggerating a bit too much?”
“No, it’s true! My friend said she walked out of the Imperial Palace completely unharmed that day!!”
Another maid spoke up with a doubtful look.
“Actually… I heard something too.”
“What is it? What is it?”
“They say this time Her Highness the Princess ordered a massive supply of purification elixirs from the Imperial Psychic Research Institute.”
“Purification elixirs?”
The maids’ eyes widened.
“You mean those elixirs? The ones they’re sending to the Blue Radiance Knights?”
“…To the Blue Radiance Knights?”
“Yeah. And apparently she even sent jewels as gifts, saying the researchers had worked hard and it was a token of encouragement.”
The maids looked as if they were facing some incomprehensible cosmic mystery.
Her—Kasia?
The same extravagant princess who was obsessed with luxury—so much so that she never wore the same jewel twice.
That same princess was sending her own jewelry collection as gifts to subordinates?
And supporting the Blue Radiance Knights with purification elixirs?
Those elixirs were famously so expensive that even their production cost exceeded the weight of gold…
This was definitely…
“It must be because of Sir Romanov.”
The three maids spoke at once.
No matter how vicious the princess was, it seemed she was at least sincere in love.
“Still, I heard she ordered that not just Sir Romanov, but the entire knight order should receive them.”
“Mm-hmm. Who would’ve thought she’d do something good for once?”
Even if it was obviously an act done with personal motives…
Still, it was something the usual arrogant and selfish Kasia would never have done.
And then—
“What are you all talking about so happily?”
A cold voice cut into their conversation.
Startled, the maids immediately paled and bowed their heads.
“Y-Your Imperial Highness…”
A noblewoman as elegant as a white lily stood there, her sharp gaze piercing the maids.
Despite having an adult son, she looked as if she had transcended time itself—pure, fragile, and eerily youthful.
Even as a consort, her beauty alone had captured the Emperor’s heart.
The Imperial Consort.
However, there was nothing of that usual purity in her expression now.
Her beautiful face was twisted in sharp irritation.
“I didn’t think you all were this naïve.”
She let out a mocking scoff.
“To think you’d be so easily fooled just because that girl Kasia has been quiet lately.”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
“If I hear you speaking carelessly like that again, I will personally punish you. Do you understand?”
Her voice cut through them like a blade.
“Leave!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The maids scattered like birds splashed with cold water.
Left alone, the Imperial Consort bit her lip.
Kasia that girl… what is she thinking?
The only bloodline of the former Empress, and the sole legitimate princess of the current Astrid Imperial Family.
Not only that, but she also had the Duke House of Diaz—the northern power—behind her as maternal relatives, meaning even the Emperor could not completely discard her.
A future obstacle to her son Fernando’s ascension to the throne.
That was why the Imperial Consort and her son had always treated Kasia as an eyesore.
But because she had always been so empty-headed, they had assumed she would never become a threat.
Maybe I’ve been too careless.
Recently, Kasia had locked herself in her palace, doing nothing but eating snacks and wasting time.
And that, in itself, was expected.
Kasia’s eccentric behavior had always been normal.
But—
Purification elixirs…
Deep wrinkles formed on her smooth, carefully maintained forehead.
Using her own funds to supply the Blue Radiance Knights with purification elixirs…
This could… improve Kasia’s reputation.
After a long moment of biting her lip in thought, the Imperial Consort finally turned with resolve.
She needed to meet Kasia.
She had to find out what that girl was really planning.
Ah… happiness.
Right now, I was wrapped up like a caterpillar in a blanket, devouring snacks to my heart’s content.
“This luxurious life… is just too good… aaaah…”
I crunched down on a macaron and melted onto the bed like jelly.
On the table within arm’s reach were colorful high-end macarons and various cheeses.
My favorite sweet-and-salty combo.
For drinks, there was a chilled strawberry ade with fizzy carbonation.
What? Eating cheese with macarons is weird?
I don’t care.
If it tastes good to me, that’s all that matters.
“Haa… this really is heaven.”
It was what you could call a grace period.
The purification elixirs I had ordered from the Imperial Psychic Research Institute had not yet been completed.
The day those elixirs were delivered to the Blue Radiance Knights…
I’ll be heading north too!
So I was doing my best to laze around.
If I became the logistics officer of the Blue Radiance Knights, I’d be crawling through hell until the world ended five years later.
Waking up early, training, military life on repeat…
Why are my eyes suddenly tearing up…?
Then a sharp voice pierced my ears.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing… living so freely like this?”
Huh?
I blinked.
That voice…?
I poked my head out from under the blanket and looked up.
There she was—a noblewoman looking down at me with narrowed eyes.
Despite her age, she was still like a white lily—elegant and pure-looking…
“…Imperial Consort?”
What is she doing here?
“Locking yourself in your room for days, wasting your life like this… how can you call yourself a princess?”
The Imperial Consort of the Imperial Consort stared at me disapprovingly.
“My son is working hard for the kingdom even now. Tsk…”
She clicked her tongue as if I was hopeless.
And then she continued—
“I have no idea what kind of nonsense is going on in that head of yours.”
Honestly, I’d like to say the same thing to you.
Showing up uninvited and immediately lecturing me like this—what kind of logic is that?
As I stared at her in disbelief, she suddenly escalated again.
“You’re far too indulgent!”
Me?? Seriously?!
This is outrageous. I’m being wronged.
Compared to the original Kasia, I’m barely spending anything at all!
“If you’re going to accuse someone of being indulgent, shouldn’t you at least explain what you’re talking about properly?”
Still lying flat on the bed, I shot back.
The Imperial Consort’s face turned red with anger.
“Just how long are you going to keep lying down while speaking so rudely?!”
“And you barging into my room without even sending notice is very polite, I suppose?”
As expected of a shameless villainess, I fired right back.
The Imperial Consort looked like she might faint from holding in her rage.
“Haah… I shouldn’t even bother. You’ve always been hopeless.”
Shaking her head, she spoke again in a condescending tone.
“I heard you ordered purification elixirs from the Imperial Psychic Research Institute.”
“Yes, I did. So?”
Still lying down, I answered casually.
The Imperial Consort’s veins popped.
“You really intend to send those elixirs to the Blue Radiance Knights?”
“Yes.”
Without even blinking, I replied.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Aren’t you being far too reckless? Do you even know how expensive purification elixirs are?”
“Of course I do. I ordered them myself.”
“What—Kasia, do you not understand what a figure of speech is?!”
She finally snapped, raising her voice.
Her face had turned so red it looked like a ripe tomato.
