The crowd parted for Tanya and me to leave.

"I was surprised that you even apologized to that toad and his tiara." Tanya scoffed.

"Haha... Well... I guess it would have been better to lower my pride and apologize to Gray and Yuan... After all, I did commit some unforgivable offenses..." I replied, worn out.

Reflecting on what the novel said, Priscilla always found ways to screw Yuan over. With lowly methods such as placing sharp objects on her seat, shoving her into lockers and down stairwells, spilling ink on her uniforms, throwing and trashing her stuff around the classroom, lacing her food with laxatives, and so on... Many people [who read the light novel] loathed Priscilla because of this.

"My lady, if you are still upset about those two, I can cut them up with my threads."

Tanya shot me a look full of confidence.
I felt a twinge in my heart, maybe it was out of loyalty?

"Er... Tanya, there is no need to do that..." I replied.

Ah, yes. I remember now. Tanya's nicknames were the "wired widow" or the "steel thread maiden" because her main weapons were [mainly] thin, steel enforced wires.

"Are you sure my lady? I will cause them to experience the same mental grief as you did."

Tanya looked smug.

"Yes, Tanya, I'm sure."

I sighed. Today was very tiring for me.

"Oh, my lady, we must see your father before you retire to your chambers tonight."

Guh--- Not the current emperor!

The last thing I wanted after dying and being condemned was being lectured by Priscilla's father! God, I just want to sleep in a huge, soft, comfy bed~!

"Alright, then... Let's go to... father..."

I reluctantly gave up. If this is my fate, so be it.

"Let's go, my lady. A smart choice."

Tanya led me to the king's study. Once we arrived, Tanya did a low bow to show her respect towards the king.

"King Carolus Penelope von Shuli the III [third], my lady has arrived to see you." Tanya said.

"Yes... Let her in, Miss Tanya." The king replied.

"Yes, your highness."

I stepped inside only to see a worn down, tired looking old man sitting on top of a large, dark oak, red velvet study chair.

"Priscilla Penelope von Shuli."

I flinched. His voice is cold [as ice] and sounded unaffectionate. I felt my body start to shake, as if it was instinctual.

"Y-Yes, father?"

I felt my hands trembling. I didn't want to make Priscilla's father unhappy in any sort of way. And.... If I recall correctly, then Priscilla would have had her status as a Princess revoked and would have been sent to the monastery... after... this.... incident... After a year living there... she commits suicide.... out of sheer loneliness... 

Oh no.

If I screw up, then I'm seriously doomed!

I really do have to avoid that fate, no matter what this novel throws my way.

"I received a message from school today on the magi-crystal projector..."

"What did they say, Father?"

"Causing a ruckus, bullying lady Yuan, and disrupting classes? ... Just what the hell are you thinking?"

Ah. This again.

Just why did Priscilla bully Yuan? After all, Yuan was the most innocent here.  

...

Oh, I remember now. After reading an extra side story from Priscilla's point of view, Priscilla was jealous that Yuan was stealing all of Gray's attention. In the end, it was only pure spite that lead Priscilla to make the decision to bully Yuan. The real reason Priscilla fell in love with Gray was never specified in the novel. Perhaps, the author that made this popular light novel, hated Priscilla Penelope von Shuli as much as everyone else did. Or, the author had only made Priscilla's character the way she was only for the plot to move forward.

"Tell me, my insolent daughter, what has made you cause this foolish ruckus?!" The king roared. 

The glass of water that is on top of the king's desk cracked.

I flinched. I should be careful to choose my words with special care. After all, I don't want to anger Priscilla's father even further [than he already is].

"... My actions were made out of petty jealously, Father," I said, quietly. "Nothing more, nothing less."

The king sighed a tired and heavy sigh.

"You would have never apologized in front of others and you would have been on your knees right now, begging me for forgiveness. What has changed?"

"My dear father, I have reflected on my actions these past few days and I have realized that those actions have harmed Yuan and have disrupted many of my classmates' days. I apologized to everyone because I had realized that it would have been beneficial to make everyone not scorn and hate me even more."

The king looked a little shocked and taken aback by what I said.

"Yes, I see. I too, believe that may have been the best course of action."

I sighed in relief.

"Will you forgive me for my sins, father?" I asked.

"... I will let this slide once. If you ever do something like this ever again... I will place you into solitary confinement. Do you understand me, Priscilla?"

I nodded my head slowly and said, "Yes, father, I understand."

"Good, you may go to your chambers and rest for the day."

The king seemed a bit satisfied from our interaction.

"Yes. I thank you again, and may god shine his light upon the empire."

Tanya bowed to the king and left his study.

I did a quick curtsy towards the king [to pay my respects] and followed Tanya.

"Color me surprised, my lady. You responded quite nicely towards his majesty," Tanya said, sounding proud. "Normally, you would have been in tears and shaken up by now [after we left the study]."

"Really now, Tanya?"

"Yes, really, my lady."

We walked in silence on the rest of the way towards Priscilla's chambers.

                                                                                   ◦○◐◑○◦

Once we arrived, Tanya helped me change into casual wear and commanded the nearby servants to prepare me a meal.

"Quite the rough day we had huh, my lady?" 

"Yes, Tanya. It was very tiring for the both of us."

We sat in a suffocating silence as I ate the hearty meal.

"Hey, Tanya?"

"Yes?"

"What day and year is it?"

"It's **** 20th, ****. Why, did you seriously forget what day it was today? You were looking forward to today, all year!"

Hmm? Was today really that special?

"... Yes. Why is today important?"

"After all, you wouldn't forget such an important day dear to your heart? Today is your 1st anniversary of being engaged to the toad-I mean- Gray."

Ah.

AW, SH*T.

I just now [conveniently] remembered a journal entry from Priscilla at the end of one of the novels [as an extra].

The date was marked as the 20th of ****. Within that entry, it mentions how Gray had condemned Priscilla in front of many other students on their 1st anniversary. Due to that incident and all of Priscilla's sins, Priscilla was placed on house arrest by her father.

"I'm starting to doubt that you are really my lady," Tanya shot me a suspicious glance.

"Ah, well, Tanya, you see, it was a very busy day today and I had no time to think about my anniversary with Gray at all~!"

I started to shrink down in my seat. It was way too early for Tanya to find out, after all.

"Yes, it was a busy day, but you would still have tried to make time for this occasion. After all, you were very dedicated to marrying Gray."

"Ah, yes, now I remember, haha!!"

Tanya narrowed her eyes at me.

"............"

"...Okay... my lady..."

I looked away from Tanya quickly and sighed in relief. 

That was too close.

"My lady, if you are done with your meal, I shall take it away."

I turned back towards Tanya and said, "Yes, please do that."

"It shall be done," she replied.

Tanya quickly swiped the plates away and put clean plates on the table.

"Now then, shall we have dessert, my lady?"

I nodded. I was curious on how the sweets will taste like.

"Of course!"

Tanya grabbed the tray of sweets from the food cart and set them down on the table.

"Thank you, Tanya."

"It is no trouble for me, my lady."

I started to pile the sweets on top of my plate. As I was doing so, I looked at the empty seat in front of me.

Tanya and Priscilla's relationship wasn't that close, even in the novel. Tanya only defended Priscilla because she only felt pity for her and didn't want to be scolded by the king as well... After Priscilla was sent away to the monastery, Tanya had the decision to go along with Priscilla to the monastery, but all she did was scoff and decline that decision.

"I don't want anything to do with that lunatic anymore," Tanya said in disgust.

...

Humph... I've decided, it was time to re-tame Tanya, for myself!!

A totally evil and mischievous plot formed in my head. Tanya absolutely loved sweets, and asked for them every time she did a task well. I am going to bribe give her with sweets [and also give her whatever else she wanted] for her mission reward(s). Bit by bit, I am going to turn Tanya over to my side... This was the first step I had to take in order to not be sent to the monastery~! 

"Is there something wrong, my lady?"

"Ah, I just thought that it would be a bit lonely eating all of these sweets here by myself."

"Yes, and?"

"And... There's too much to finish by myself... So, Tanya, sit here and eat some with me."

"Are you sure? This is your meal after all."

How considerate of Tanya~! She seems like such a selfless person~.

"Oh, but I'm afraid that I will waste food. Won't you help me finish it, Tanya?" 

I made sure to make my tone of voice sound as pitiful as possible. 

"But, my lady, I already ate and brushed my teeth."

"What's wrong with re-brushing your teeth afterwards?"

"But, what if there is poison in the sweets?"

"I will taste it first to make sure they aren't"

Wasn't it your job to protect me, Tanya?!

I saw that Tanya wasn't biting the bait I had laid out... I scanned the plate in search of Tanya's favorite... 

Ooh, bingo~. 

Macarons, Tanya's absolute favorite dessert.

[Apparently, they were a delicacies brought in by the 1st generation of summoned heroes.]

"There are some delicious sweets mixed in, along with macarons... Your~ absolute~ favorite~."

I saw that Tanya started to drool a little and resist, but the temptation of the sweets was too powerful!

"... Ah, fine! You are so helpless, my lady~! I will help you finish it~!"

Mission successful~! This tiny step is now done. I placed the extra plate in front of the vacant seat as Tanya sat down.

"Make sure to eat your fill, okay? I would hate to see all of these soft, sweet, and delicious delicacies wasted~."

"Yes, my lady! You are too kind to this maid!"

Tanya started to quickly and elegantly grab as many sweets the plate can fill. She started to scarf them down all quickly.

I stared at Tanya until she caught me looking at her. Her face flushed a bit, embarrassed by her quick eating.

"Oh my! How brazen and inelegant of me! I apologize for my unseemly manners. I cannot hold myself back when I eat sweets..."

I giggle a little. So, Tanya has this side to her too... Her description in the novel described her as being this cool headed, skilled, and elegant maid.

"It is fine, Tanya. Make sure to eat carefully though, to avoid choking on the sweets."

Tanya's eyes widened a little.

"How considerate of you, my lady. Thank you." 

Tanya let loose a little smile.

"It's no problem. After all, I can't have my personal maid and guard die on my watch."

I returned Tanya's smile. 

After we finished the sweets, Tanya turned to look me in the eyes.

"My... lady..."

I was startled by her abruptness. Was she going to go off on a tangent on how a terrible person I am? Oh, I hope that isn't the case...!

I returned her gaze....

"Yes, Tanya?"

"Something in you has changed.... Whether you have matured mentally, or otherwise. Maybe you are starting to use your head a little? Or, perhaps, you are someone else entirely after all... Whoever or whatever you are, I will try to help you a bit in the near future."

"Truly, thank you, Tanya. You are very reliable and useful to everyone in this castle."

"It makes me happy to hear that, my lady."

"Let's start over again. Tanya, please treat me kindly!"

"With pleasure, my lady Priscilla!"

We held out our hands and shook them.

I felt a giddy feeling within my chest. Was it happiness? Or was it a new found relationship with another? If so, it really is a nice feeling to have someone else (other than yourself) to rely on.