Neila held a shocked expression on her face, still embarrassed, “Y-You don’t need to worry about me, princess. I haven't done anything to deserve dinner yet.”

Says who?! Veronica was slightly annoyed by that answer.

Neila slightly jumped. Veronica realized that she might have been making a face that possibly scared her. She calmed down a little.

“I’m sorry,” She sighed. “I’m not a big fan of people who don’t eat when they’re hungry. I want to like you, you know.”

There was a slight glimmer in the little girl’s eyes, “You’re too nice, your highness.”

Veronica waved it off, “Yeah, yeah. There’s still pastries on the table if you want to take them.”

Bailey blinked, getting up on the floor, “My apologies, your highness, but isn’t that food poisoned?”

She shook her head, “Not everything was poisoned. It was just the main dish.”

And I purified everything too. Nothing is poisoned anymore…

The little one’s eyes grew wider. Veronica raised an eyebrow.

Why does it seem like she can read my mind?

Neila, who was bad at hiding her expressions, hurriedly ran to the table and picked up a few macarons. In one swift motion, she shoved it in her mouth. To Veronica, she looked like a squirrel trying to shovel acorns in her cheeks.

She almost couldn’t hold in her laughter, “PFFFTT!!”

Bailey seemed to be getting the wrong idea, “Neila! Spit that out!”

Poor Neila tried to reassure Bailey by waving her hands in front of her frantically, still chewing on the abundant supply of macarons in her mouth. The interaction between the two siblings caused Veronica to burst into a fit of laughter. Happy tears stuck onto her lashes.

When was the last time she was able to laugh like this? It had been too long.

She clutched her stomach, waving to Bailey, “No, no. It’s a misunderstanding. She’s okay, Bailey.”

She didn’t seem all too convinced so Veronica grabbed one of the macarons and bit into it, “See? I’m not going to hurt you. I actually have a guilty conscience.”

When Bailey finally relaxed, she grabbed some of the macarons as well and started nibbling on it. The two sisters had engaged in a small conversation about the tasty pastries and Veronica sat and watched.

Thank goodness. No food will be wasted and these kids can actually put some meat on their bones. I call this a win.

She did a little victory dance in her head. Now Veronica didn’t have to cry herself to sleep, knowing that the food would rot away in a trash bin somewhere.

Coincidentally, Neila looked at her arms and lightly pinched at what little meat was dangling off her bones. Just for safety measures, Veronica kept her thoughts hidden. She didn’t want to scare her.

She may want to speak to Riley, though. If Neila can really read minds like she thinks, then there’s a good reason why that maid had done what she did.

“Oh,” Veronica got the girls’ attention. “Since the two of you are supposed to be my hostages, I’m going to keep you close.”

With crumbs around their mouth, they looked at the princess. Bailey swallowed, “Are we going to be your slaves, princess?”

H-Huh…? I’m s-... What?!

Veronica shook her head in bewilderment, crossing her arms up in front of her in the shape of an ‘X’, “Absolutely not. I’m a princess, not a degenerate.”

Neila flinched, “Riley is considered a criminal, your highness. It’s only right to assume-”

“Whatever your sister does, does not affect your station, period,” Veronica placed emphasis on her words. “You did not conspire with your sister to poison me.”

She put her arms down, “How many times must I tell you that I have a guilty conscience? Must you assume the worst with me? I feel rather offended.”

They both flinched and bowed, “Our apologies, your highness.”

“If you truly wish to apologize,” Veronica walked over to them and knelt at their level. “Then become my personal maids.”

Both girls were uncomfortable that a royal got on their knees for them. It’s not everyday that someone of a higher status tries to see eye-to-eye with a commoner without looking down on them. In this case, it was a princess. It’s an honor to even be in her presence to begin with.

But here she is, trying to reason with them.

Neila spoke up, “Even though Riley is considered a criminal, you’re willing to consider us your persons…”

Veronica looked at her, “You don’t honestly believe that your sister is a criminal all on her own right? I’m simply holding you to that statement.”

“Y-You won’t have us killed…?”

Veronica’s eyes drooped, “No.”

I’ll keep you safe. All three of you.

Neila decided to be bold and hold out her pinky, “Do you promise?”

Bailey looked at her little sister in shock, “Neila, don’t be rude!”

Veronica held out her pinky as well, “I always hold true to my promises, especially a pinky promise.”

They linked their pinkies together and smiled. It took Bailey a little off guard but she sighed. “You’re lucky that her highness is this understanding…”

“Don’t be like that,” Veronica stuck her other pinky out at the other sister. “You look like you need the most assurance.”

She blushed, “I-I’m just looking out for my siblings.” She shyly linked her pinky with Veronica. “Is that so wrong…?”

“Not at all,” Veronica smiled. “Are your concerns alleviated now? I’m going to put you both to work starting tomorrow.”

The girls bowed proudly in unison, “Yes, your highness!”

—

It had been twenty-four hours since Emperor Isaac sent that letter over to the Alistar Ducal. Between then and now, it was the calm before the storm. As he and Ephraim went through more documents today, the door to his office burst open. Standing at the doorway was a very upset Empress Delilah, holding onto a piece of paper.

Isaac kept a straight face, leaning a cheek on his fist, “Good morning, my empress.”

She stomped into the room, “What’s the meaning of this, my emperor?”

She had slammed that same piece of paper right in front of him, covering the documents he was focused on. He stayed unperturbed, as Ephraim rolled his eyes.

“If I may, your majesty,” Ephraim bowed, “Her highness, Princess Genevieve, simply took it upon herself to punish the maid according to her wants.”

Delilah didn’t even look at Ephraim, “You mean to tell me that Princess Genevieve is parading around with the life of one of my subordinates?!”

Isaac squinted his eyes, “My daughter is more lenient than you think. If she didn’t take control of the situation, your subordinate would’ve had their head hanging on the palace walls.”

She flinched, “I-I’m not saying that she’s abusing her right as a princess, your majesty. I ask that you simply understand where I’m coming from.”

“May I remind you of what’s written in the letter? Even though that’s your personal maid, she’s committed a grave offense against a member of the imperial family. She’s unfit to continue her duties and is under surveillance while the investigation is ongoing.”

Delilah bit her lip, “I’m well aware of that, your majesty. What I don’t understand is why you left Princess Genevieve in charge of this investigation!”

Isaac was getting annoyed, “She has every right to be in charge of the investigation of the very person who caused her harm. I’m giving her the right to cast judgment as she sees fit.”

“That right is under your jurisdiction, your majesty! You’re giving the princess powers of the throne?!”

He folded his hands, “And what of it? Princess Genevieve has just as much right to the throne as her brothers.”

Delilah’s eyes bulged from her sockets. Ephraim smirked but kept his emotions under control. It was true that the princess had rights to the throne, but she never showed much interest. Empress Delilah took advantage of the death of the former empress, plus her disinterest, to form valuable relationships with the vassals. The fact that she gave birth to boys simply widened the scope.

It was unprecedented for a woman to take the throne. No other kingdom has allowed such a thing to happen, but that doesn’t make it illegal. Empress Delilah was too complacent, thinking that Emperor Isaac would simply allow only his sons to deal with matters he has no time for.

Now that Princess Genevieve is up and about, with a brand new attitude, the emperor is seeing her in a brand new light.

And she hates it.

Delilah pulled out a fan and covered her face, “My emperor, you misunderstand me. I’m simply worried that our sickly princess is taking on more than she can handle. She briefly awoke from a casket, for goodness sake!”

She fixed her face while covering it, “It should be I, your beloved empress, who shoulders this burden that snuck into the palace and brought harm upon your daughter. Seeing as how the maid was under my watchful eye, I should take control of this case promptly and deliver a swift punishment.”