Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 108

Meanwhile, an ominous wind of change was blowing through the Royal Palace in Heidi’s absence.

The King, who had reviewed the report from Hitchins Estate, wore a satisfied expression.

“I just received word from the Viscount of Hitchins. He says Heidi’s proposed method is providing substantial help.”

The King looked around at the ministers gathered in the room as he spoke. He straightened his shoulders with a triumphant expression.

“Didn’t I tell you she would do well? I said Heidi definitely has the qualities. Even her eyes showed she was extraordinary.”

The Prime Minister replied with a faint smile.

“She is extremely intelligent and diligent as well. She personally went out on foot to see the reality of the estate’s people with her own eyes and listened to their stories. That was exactly what I hoped to see from this inspection.”

“I agree as well. Anastasia’s attitude was certainly graceful, but Heidi presented solutions to the problems.”

The King said as he looked around at the ministers.

“I think it’s time to make a decision about the succession to the throne. As you have all requested many times. I will decide and announce it soon, so keep that in mind.”

At the King’s words, surprised expressions spread across the ministers’ faces. The faces of both princesses flashed through everyone’s minds one after another.

Would it be Heidi, or would it be Anastasia?

The time of decision was slowly approaching.

* * *

“His Majesty praised Princess Heidi greatly at the dinner with the senior ministers.”

“….”

“It seems she earned many points with His Majesty through her activities at Hitchins Estate. The reputation of Princess Heidi among the ministers is also gradually improving.”

The handmaiden who delivered the news quickly left after gauging Anastasia’s mood. As soon as she exited the room, the sound of crashing objects echoed throughout.

“Aaah!”

Anastasia screamed and swept everything within her reach onto the floor.

“Princess, please calm down…!”

“How dare a lowly maid tell me what to do!”

Anastasia threw a glass that was sitting on the side table toward the maid.

Crash!

The glass narrowly missed the maid’s face and shattered into pieces against the wall.

“Eek!”

One of the fragments flew and left a deep cut on the maid’s cheek. The maid, whose face was torn by the shard, screamed and collapsed.

The other maids rushed over upon hearing the sound, but none of them could easily enter the room.

Anastasia’s hysteria had recently reached its peak.

Her attempts to damage Heidi’s reputation by bringing up her past as a maid had somehow fizzled out, and Lawrence, the fiancé she had carefully selected, openly took Heidi’s side and volunteered to become her ally.

All attention and focus had been stolen by Heidi, who had been running around in maid’s clothes in the countryside like Hitchins Estate, and as a result, she was being pushed back in the line of succession.

It had been a mistake to believe the King’s words that he would love both daughters equally and swear to heaven that he would treat them fairly in all aspects. In the end, he was just an ordinary man for whom bloodline was most important.

“A mere maid who hasn’t even been in the palace for a year!”

The sparks of anger toward Heidi fell on the maids around Anastasia. Whenever rage boiled up, Anastasia used the maids beside her as targets for venting her anger.

At first, it was just slapping faces and making them kneel, but recently the severity had become increasingly cruel.

One day she struck a head with a teacup, and another day she administered severe whipping until clothes were completely torn.

The terrified maids fled in droves, and Anastasia’s East Palace began to struggle with a shortage of workers.

Eventually, one of Anastasia’s handmaidens went to Clovis to plead.

“Please help us, Viscount. If even one more person quits, there will be a major gap in serving the Princess.”

Then Clovis replied in an irritated voice.

“What more do you want me to do? Bring people even if you have to pay extra. Isn’t it simple?”

“They refuse even if we double their wages. No one will come. Right now I’m barely managing by bringing maids from my own family to help with chores.”

The handmaiden looked Clovis straight in the eye as she spoke.

“Instead of that, please use your influence. We need an experienced and skilled maid who can handle Princess Anastasia.”

* * *

An experienced and skilled maid who could handle Anastasia.

It seemed like it would be easier to find a legendary unicorn, but surprisingly, Clovis already knew such a person.

Clovis sighed deeply and pulled his robe hood down low.

‘I never thought I’d have to come to this terrible place again.’

Taking a deep breath, Clovis descended the dark stairs for quite a while. As he went down to the underground where not a ray of light entered, an unpleasant stench pierced his nose.

Clovis covered his nose with his sleeve and walked along the long corridor. He stopped in front of a solitary confinement cell he had visited once before.

“….”

Inside was Sheila, gaunt and haggard. For a moment, Clovis couldn’t recognize her.

The original Sheila had been a tall, well-proportioned beauty. Though not a noble, she had an aristocratic air due to her upright posture and elegant features. In fact, there had been several nobles who had taken a liking to her and offered her the position of mistress.

But in the current Sheila, none of that refinement and healthy beauty could be found. She had lost so much weight that she was skin and bones, and her hair was dull and lifeless without any luster.

“Sheila Emmett?”

When Clovis cautiously called her name, the woman who had been crouched and lying in the darkness slowly raised her body.

It was a chilling sight, like a corpse moving. Her miserable appearance was pitiful enough to evoke sympathy that hadn’t existed before.

Clovis muttered as if sighing.

“…Oh, Sheila.”

“Clovis.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Sheila laughed weakly.

“Yes, it has. It’s been a long time.”

Clovis cleared his throat.

“You can rest easy now. I pushed myself and used some influence. I’ve managed to get you out.”

Sheila’s eyes lit up.

“…I’m being released?”

Clovis raised his eyebrows as he answered.

“It’s more like conditional parole than complete release, but… anyway, it means you can get out of this filthy prison.”

A light of joy appeared on Sheila’s face. She asked in a voice filled with anticipation.

“Is this Princess Anastasia’s will?”

“Well… it is for Princess Anastasia’s sake. The Princess will probably be happy to see you too.”

Clovis lowered his voice to a whisper.

“To be honest, Princess Anastasia’s situation isn’t very good right now. Now more than ever, the Princess needs a loyal servant like you by her side. Your heart to support the Princess hasn’t changed, has it?”

“Of course not.”

A strange gleam flashed in Sheila’s eyes. A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

“As long as Princess Anastasia needs me, I will remain loyal to the Princess forever.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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