Empress Delilah’s presence alone was nauseating. She exuded a regal aura, but not one that is fair to others. It was oppressing. She was truly a snake waiting to sink her teeth into Genevieve and render her helpless before swallowing her whole.

She messed up Veronica's breathing, causing her to revert back to her old ways. Her sweat hit the ground, as she kept her head low.

Veronica's eyebrow twitched. She must be enjoying this if she's not telling us to rise yet.

Footsteps approached behind the fake princess, and she felt a small towel over her shoulders. She turned around to see the two sisters, Bailey and Neila, providing aid.

“We greet her majesty, the empress. Our apologies for interrupting,” Bailey started, curtseying. “We noticed that Princess Genevieve was having a hard time and had to assist.”

Neila did a small curtsey before Empress Delilah, before using the towel flung on Veronica's shoulder to wipe off her sweat, “You should always have a towel on you while training, your highness. You never know when you have to present yourself on such short notice.”

It was honestly cute how the two of them helped lighten Veronica's mood, “I'm glad that both of you are around to get me out of a bind. I appreciate you two.”

Their act allowed Veronica to lift her head. She took the towel away from Neila and nodded to her, signaling that her service was no longer needed at the moment. She quickly understood, going behind the princess, where Bailey stood. They both kept their eyes low, showing utmost respect and avoiding eye contact of any kind.

Delilah kept a fake smile on her face, “It looks as though I've caught you at a bad time, your highness. However, I've never allowed these maids to be at your side.”

She eyed the two girls who stood behind Veronica, pointing her fan at them, “Did you forget that I’m in charge of who tends to you, my dear princess? I understand that you woke up only yesterday after a month.”

The empress made it sound like Genevieve had lost her mind. She was ready to answer the question but realized that Nate hadn’t risen yet.

Wow, how petty.

“Sir Nate would be better off explaining the situation,” Veronica told her, uncrossing her legs and getting a bit more comfortable on the ground. “Unfortunately, I’m still trying to catch my breath from training. I hope you don’t mind.”

Delilah was slightly annoyed, “Ah, yes. Knight Commander Nate Bulliard. I heard that you were the one who locked up my maid in the first place. On whose orders?”

Nate lifted his head, “Your majesty, I’ve been ordered to lock up the perpetrator by her highness, the princess’ orders. His majesty, the emperor reinforced this ruling and allowed the princess to take charge of the investigation and distribute consequences as she sees fit.”

Delilah’s grip on her fan tightened, “I see… But how does this explain the two little maids? As far as I’m concerned, they have no connection to this case.”

Nate kept his facial expressions under control. “Punishment for causing harm to a member of the imperial family is grounds for execution, your majesty. That means whoever is associated with the criminal will also be punished, be it family or other accomplices.”

He turned his attention to the girls, “These two are the culprit’s little siblings.”

Her eyes widened. She immediately scanned the both of them, trying to find resemblance. Veronica made sure to read the expressions on her face.

Does she know something…? 

Sir Nate took this opportunity to continue while the empress was distracted, “Since the case falls under the jurisdiction of her highness, the princess, any and all persons related to the investigation also do, your majesty.”

“I'm sorry for the inconvenience this may cause,” Veronica lied through her teeth. “I chose these girls to serve me when others have failed to follow simple directions.”

“Even so,” Delilah watched her temper. “To allow relatives of a criminal to serve you, your highness? Are you interested in holding slaves?”

Veronica gave Empress Delilah a very disapproving look. It nearly took her aback, “I ask that you please don’t misunderstand my intentions, Empress Delilah. I’m not that kind of princess, nor will I ever be.”

Each time someone brought up the word, or anything remotely similar to it, Veronica’s face would scrunch up. She hated the concept. It was something she never experienced back in her previous life, but she knew the horrors. It never truly went away either. It was just disguised as something else with little-to-no compensation or little-to-no escape.

Veronica couldn’t help but let her distaste show.

She accidentally let a tone slip that made even Nate shudder. This was Emperor Isaac’s own flesh and blood, alright. She made sure to get her point across clearly. If it weren’t for her weak stature and the lack of mana, Nate would have automatically tried to convince Emperor Isaac to make her the Crown Princess. Ephraim wouldn’t be able to stop him either.

Too bad for Veronica, she has to play dumb for a little while until she’s strong enough to hold her own.

But maybe her tone was a little too much. It gave the empress a reason to act as though she’s been rejected, “My dear princess, are we no longer close?”

If it were up to me, we wouldn't be close at all…

“I feel so hurt,” Delilah tapped her fan on her cheek. “I shouldn’t be just finding out about this horrible crime against you. Do you not know how worried I was?”

Veronica knew the empress was faking, but didn’t detect any lies. Just finding out? There were plenty of witnesses…

There's no way that the empress wouldn't hear that commotion Veronica started. She literally dragged the girls’ sister, Riley, by the follicles of her scalp. Down multiple flights of stairs. Her writhing pain and pleas echoed throughout the hallways. Everyone saw.

Did someone shut them up? If so, then who? It couldn't be Emperor Isaac. Nate wouldn't have had the time to keep things underwraps when Veronica gave him the order to throw the girl in the dungeons.

Was it Ephraim? He was only told to have the steak-soaked suppressant examined by one of the research towers. Would he really have the time to keep everyone quiet about the incident? Is the incident even worth keeping quiet?

“I'm surprised that you're just now hearing about this, your majesty,” Veronica spoke truthfully. “I made quite an uproar about it to his majesty, the emperor.”

“But not to me?” Delilah faked looking hurt. “You know that you could always come to me. Especially when it comes to one of my own doing wrong by you.”

Veronica's mouth almost curled to a smirk. That’s a fucking lie.

She fixed her face, “Forgive me if it looks that way, your majesty. I've been quite restless lately.”

Delilah put her fan away, “I’m afraid that you’ve been more than just restless. You’ve become extremely wary as of late. It makes me a bit sad.”

Veronica decided to play along. “Sad? Whatever do you mean?”

Delilah placed a hand on her cheek, letting a few drops of crocodile tears fall, “Why, before we had to regretfully put your lifeless body in a casket, you came to me for everything.”

Veronica wanted to raise an eyebrow, but thought against it. It was true that Genevieve would go to Empress Delilah for troubles concerning her poor health and loneliness. However, it was all orchestrated by her from the very beginning.

The girl had mana. The empress knew this and decided to suppress her and went through lengths to keep her under her thumb. It was only a matter of time before the neglected eldest daughter of the emperor broke down and relinquished her deepest thoughts to her captor.

What confused Veronica was when Genevieve's mana erupted and how come only the empress knew of it. Was the emperor really that oblivious when I came to his child? Is he also like this with his two sons?

Maybe he wasn't a good parent. Still, for someone as strong as Emperor Isaac, he's rather dense.

“While it is true that I came to you for everything, your majesty, there are times when one must make a decision on their own,” Veronica shook her head.

“Even so, to not seek my counsel over something that pertains to your life… Not even your training with Sir Nate…?” Delilah didn’t look at him as she brought up his name.

“I felt that I didn't need counsel for something like this.” She stared at the empress. “I've been sick in bed for a long time and decided that enough was enough.”

“We could've thought of other ways while still taking into account your poor health, Princess Genevieve.” Delilah dared to scold her in a motherly-tone. “To train with the notorious Knight Commander, Nate Bulliard…”