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As the Emperor’s Queen, the Silver Lily, my position was quite ambiguous.
Normally, I should receive treatment as someone above a count.
But that was only when the Queen’s position was solidified.
Although rumors of the Emperor’s first queen were spreading, it had only been a few days.
I was still considered a mere lady who could lose the Emperor’s interest at any time.
To others, that was.
“No way. This… W-Where did they find?!”
Staring at me, Lady Melliot couldn’t help but repeat the same words over and over.
Yes, I know how you feel, but.
I didn’t plan on doing something so stupid as kicking away an opportunity that had come to my own feet.
“Lady Melliot.”
I called slowly to the woman who had yet to greet me and was staring at me with a dazed expression.
She flinched in reaction, but that was it.
I raised my eyebrows, watching her show no form of respect toward the Queen.
“Dovea.”
“Yes, Miss Silver Lily.”
“It seems Lady Melliot isn’t in good condition. I’ll close my eyes to her disrespect once, so can you tell her whether she has something to say to me or not, so she can come back the next time?”
After saying that, I turned my body around.
Lady Melliot must have been taken aback at my actions, which showed I had nothing more to listen to or see, for she gasped.
“W-Wait…! What are you doing right now?! Do you mean to say that you won’t see me?”
Her sharp voice was full of anger, jealousy, and futility.
The multiple layers of emotions I could feel from her showed me very well just what kind of emotional state she was in right now.
It was clear she wasn’t normal, so I felt pity for her, but oh well.
I have no plans on going easy on you.
“Dovea.”
I called Dovea again rather than responding to Lady Melliot directly, telling her to convey my words because I had nothing more to say.
Dovea, understanding what I wanted immediately, bowed her head slightly before approaching Lady Melliot.
“Lady Melliot. Miss Silver Lily states that it seems your condition isn’t good, so you should come again next time…”
“Silver Lily!”
But it seemed she couldn’t even hear Dovea’s words.
Dovea paused, but like the sincere maid she was, she resumed speaking to carry out my command.
“…She said she would overlook your disrespect once, so please come back next time.”
“Ha! Next? Next time? Did you just tell me next time?!”
It was only then that Lady Melliot turned her gaze to Dovea.
“And what? Disrespect? Who are you to look down on me like this?!”
Slap!
It was a single moment.
A sharp sound filled the sitting room, followed by silence.
The only sound you could hear was the sound of rough breathing.
But it seemed her rage had not been released, for her hand came up once more.
Who knew she would be so impatient?
I retract my statement that I pitied her.
I couldn’t stand to watch this any longer, so I let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.
“Lady Melliot.”
My low voice caused Lady Melliot to freeze where she was, hand still in the air, before turning her gaze to me.
Similar silver eyes.
It didn’t leave me feeling good.
“I’ve already told you that I’ve let your disrespect go once. That means.”
And similar silver hair that shone in the sunlight.
Did Hadel waver when he saw that?
A million thoughts filled my head in a single moment. I slowly began to feel angrier.
Why did I have to feel such emotions? had
“That I wouldn’t let your disrespect go a second time, My Lady.”
Even if this woman threw a temper tantrum in a fit of rage, she couldn’t hurt me.
That was the thing about status.
She couldn’t physically touch me even if she was mentally looking down on me.
Not to mention, this was deep inside the Imperial palace, the Queen’s abode.
That’s why she slapped Dovea, who had a lower status than her.
She had probably assumed that because of the rumor of my common background, I would be easy to obtain information from and break the spirits of.
“The fact that you touched my head maid is equivalent to an insult to me.”
“Hmph, how is that an insult to you?”
“There’s no way a lady from a viscounty didn’t learn Imperial law.”
“How dare a commoner discuss Imperial law…?!”
“By saying that, are you insulting the Valkirino Duchy?”
“E-Eek!”
Lady Melliot’s face darkened as she crumpled up her expression into a frown.
Seeing her tremble to the tips of her fingers, it was clear she was filled with rage.
Standing indifferently, I turned and shouted to the maids who were standing there, unable to do anything.
“Maids of Lily Palace, what are you doing?”
I spoke with a slightly angry tone in response to the duchy people’s stares.
“His Majesty the Emperor’s Queen has received insults, and the high-status duchy has received insults. I was generous enough to forgive her the first time, but she has crossed the line.”
The maids, blinking for a second after I finished, finally seemed to have understood, approaching Lady Melliot.
“W-What the?!”
“Kya! Lady Lepea!”
As the maids held onto Lady Melliot, her lady-in-waiting, who had just been watching from behind until now, suddenly screamed.
However, this palace was my domain, the Lily Palace. A noble lady who didn’t even have a title of nobility and her lady-in-waiting could do nothing on their own.
I slowly approached Lepea, who was struggling, before smiling at Dovea, who was nervously standing beside me.
“Dovea. Give her back three times what you received.”
“Pardon? B-But.”
She must have been surprised at my words, for although she appeared calm, her eyes widened in questioning.
I put my hand on Dovea’s shoulder and patted her before speaking again.
“One can’t say that the head maid of the Queen, who receives the favor of the Emperor, is of a lower status than a mere daughter of a noble. Go ahead.”
“Aaaack! Let go of me!”
“For you, me, and lastly, the duchy.”
To be honest, I didn’t care whether the Valkirino duchy was insulted or thrown into the sewers, but whatever. They did say that even dog shit could be used for medicine.
I’d gladly use the Valkirino duchy as a tool to slap her one more time; what dependable support they were.
“Hit her three times.”
Dovea did not reply. Lady Melliot was flailing around in defiance but must have run out of energy, for she stopped to glare fiercely at me.
Watching that, Dovea slowly raised her hand.
“…I receive Miss Silver Lily’s command.”
“Y-You! How dare a thing like you-!”
Lady Melliot glared, but she couldn’t finish her words.
Because Dovea’s hand heavily came across her cheek.
Slap!
“Kya! Lady Lepea!”
At this, a slapping sound and a scream filled the air.
After the same sounds were repeated two more times, the Lily Palace was filled with silence.
In the middle of it all was Lady Melliot, who was trembling and grinding her teeth.
“Gosh. It wouldn’t do if your teeth were ruined at such a young age, My Lady.”
I smiled as I met the lady’s eyes.
To be honest, it was a bit unexpected.
She must be a noble lady who grew up sheltered and who would probably be unable to deal with even the most minor of pains, yet she didn’t scream once.
Her sharp silver eyes received my gaze and became distorted.
“I want to rest now. If you have something to say, would you come again next time?”
I smiled and finished speaking.
“Haha! Ahahahaha! Ahahahahaha!”
Lady Melliot suddenly started to laugh like crazy.
The maids froze at her crazed appearance and stepped back.
She didn’t seem like an average psycho.
“Silver Lily! I don’t know where a bitch like you came from, but.”
She had just seen the cost of not showing respect, but her tone of voice remained unchanged. If anything, it had gotten even more disrespectful.
“It’s been me who’s been at His Majesty’s side until now! It’s been me who’s visited His Majesty’s bedroom every night, only me! I received His Majesty’s attention!”
The words she was desperately screaming out were endlessly astounding.
“I was going to become appointed as Empress soon! You’re merely my substitu… cough!”
What was she saying?
Her words were so outrageous that my body reacted first.
My foot automatically kicked out, causing the lady to stumble and grab at her stomach. Her lady-in-waiting then fussed and scampered back to her side.
“My Lady! Lady Lepea!”
I couldn’t let this go any further.
I should have dealt with her and sent her away at the beginning.
I was in a bad mood after hearing such offensive things about Hadel.
“Dovea.”
“Yes, Miss Silver Lily.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
I felt there was no point in facing her anymore, so I turned my back on her.
I had, in a sense, achieved my objective.
This would result in faster word-of-mouth spread regarding how highly the Emperor regarded me.
That ‘She slapped the daughter of Viscount Melliot three times and the Emperor sided with her.’
If anything, Hadel might learn about what transpired and impose probation on the Melliot Viscounty.
No, it would be a relief if he didn’t exile them.
“Oh, and Dovea. Did you say His Majesty was working? I want to eat with him.”
I wanted to see Hadel, and I wanted to ask him about Lady Melliot.
I trusted Hadel, but I had still heard some annoying things, so I needed to clarify things with him personally to feel at ease.
Before leaving the sitting room, I glanced toward Lady Melliot.
She was in the same place, glaring daggers at me.
Hey, I didn’t take him from you.
Hadel was mine to begin with.
tl & pr: youj
Youj: the last two lines!!! ah!!! can’t wait to see what goes down next chapter