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~Chapter 40~
“Then why did you suddenly disappear so late at night?” Silvia pressed.
“That’s…”
Viviana avoided Silvia’s gaze, hesitating.
At that, Silvia turned her sharp attention to Dahlia.
“Did you threaten Her Highness? Why can’t the princess answer for herself?”
“I never did anything like that.”
Dahlia looked calmly at Silvia, meeting her eyes without fear.
“Last night, you made a big deal about diplomatic immunity, and now you just stroll into the princess’s palace. Leave at once!”
“I was invited as Princess Viviana’s friend. Isn’t that right, Bibi?”
“Yes. I invited them.”
Viviana answered clearly, her eyes meeting Silvia’s with confidence.
Silvia, looking betrayed, tried to convince the princess. “Your Highness, you don’t really know what kind of people they are. That girl hit me last night! Look at my face!”
She showed off her swollen cheek.
Viviana stared in shock between Silvia and Dahlia.
Dahlia gave Viviana an awkward smile, then turned to face Silvia directly.
Silvia, now sure the princess was on her side, wore a smug expression.
But Dahlia spoke first, eyes steady:
“Maid, please bring Monet here.”
“W-who?”
Silvia stuttered, caught off guard.
“Monet, the maid. She stole something from me. I need to get it back, so bring her here.”
A satisfied smile flickered on Silvia’s lips.
“Oh, I always knew that girl had sticky fingers. What did she steal?”
Dahlia took a deep breath, trying not to show her irritation.
“I’ll tell you after I see her myself. Please bring her.”
“I can’t do that. I’ll deal with her myself for her bad habits.”
Dahlia’s face hardened.
“And why do you get to decide? She stole from me. Bring her, now.”
“No. She’s part of my palace, so I’ll handle it.”
The tension grew. At last, Viviana spoke up in a small but clear voice.
“Silvia. Bring Monet.”
“Your Highness! I am your nanny!”
It was the first time Viviana hadn’t called her ‘nanny’ but by her real name. Silvia was stunned.
Viviana closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then met Silvia’s gaze.
Her eyes were firmer than before.
“I know. But this is my palace, not yours. So this is an order. Bring Monet.”
Silvia looked at the princess in disbelief.
The girl who always obeyed her now stood her ground.
She bit her lips, glancing around nervously. All the palace’s knights, maids, and servants were watching, and even noble guests from another country were present. She had no choice but to obey the direct order.
“…As you command.”
Silvia gave a stiff bow and signaled to a maid.
Two maids disappeared, then returned a while later dragging Monet by both arms. Monet’s head was bowed, and one ankle was twisted at an odd angle.
“Monet!”
Viviana tried to rush to her, but Silvia blocked her path.
“Your Highness, don’t go near. She’s dirty.”
Dahlia’s hands shook with anger at Monet’s awful state.
It was worse than she’d been told—Monet’s ankle needed help right away.
“Send the child to me,” Dahlia said, voice shaking with fury as she tried to stay calm.
“No. She may have stolen from you, but she belongs to my palace. I’ll deal with her myself.”
“So after beating her like this, you’re going to punish her more?”
Dahlia looked at her in disbelief.
“Hmph. Bad deeds deserve punishment, don’t they?” Silvia sniffed.
Dahlia’s eyes burned.
“That’s right. Bad deeds should be punished.”
“Now you’re making sense. So what did she steal? I’ll find it for you.”
Dahlia replied, her voice clear and precise so Silvia would hear every word:
“She stole my heart. Monet stole my heart.”
Silvia’s eyes widened.
Is this girl crazy?
“Why? Do I look crazy to you?”
Dahlia gave a dazzling, gentle smile on purpose.
“….”
Silvia’s eyes trembled, speechless.
“Annie, do I look crazy to you?”
Dahlia asked Annie with a sincerely curious look.
“No. I saw how upset you were when Monet was hurt,” Annie replied calmly.
“I saw it too,” said Cole.
Silvia stared at them all, speechless. Are they all crazy?
She regretted bringing Monet out. Even if she ran the palace, this wasn’t something she wanted others to see.
“Take her back where she was,” Silvia snapped.
“Yes,” the maids replied.
The maids started dragging Monet away, but Viviana stepped in front of them.
“Don’t do that!”
The maids froze, startled.
“Your Highness!” Silvia tried to get closer, but Dahlia blocked her path with a blank face.
“What are you doing? Move!” Silvia shouted.
“When did I block you?” Dahlia replied with a shrug, shifting to block Silvia each time she tried to pass.
Ignoring the chaos, Viviana locked eyes with each maid holding Monet.
“Let Monet go.”
The maids hesitated, looking to Silvia for direction.
“You’re my maids, not Silvia’s. If you won’t listen to me, you can leave the palace.”
Viviana’s voice grew stronger, even as it trembled at first.
“S-sorry, Your Highness!”
The maids, shocked, let go of Monet’s arms.
Monet, half-suspended, collapsed to the floor.
Viviana rushed to her and called softly, “Monet, are you okay?”
Monet pushed herself up with her hands, raising her head.
Her face was bruised purple and green, but her orange eyes sparkled gently at the princess.
“I’m okay, Your Highness.”
Monet forced a smile to reassure her.
Tears pricked Viviana’s eyes.
If I can’t protect this small child, what kind of princess am I?
Her chest ached as if someone was stabbing her with needles.
“Don’t cry, Your Highness. I’ll protect you.”
Monet started to wipe Viviana’s tears with her sleeve, but embarrassed by her dirty clothes, pulled her hand back.
Viviana quickly caught Monet’s small hand.
“Yes. Protect me. I’ll protect you too.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
They smiled at each other, eyes shining.
At that moment, Silvia stormed forward, raising her hand as if to hit Monet.
“How dare you touch the princess with those filthy hands!”
