Chapter 25 (2/2)

Samantha was a very intelligent woman.

The room was tense as the beautiful aroma of tea filled the air. I learned to really enjoy a good cup of tea thanks to Samantha. She was an excellent tea brewer.

The first person to break the uncomfortable silence was the Duke.

He wiped his sweat off his forehead and greeted me politely, “Bina… I mean your highness… How have you …”

Well, he tried to give me a greeting, but I interrupted him rudely, “Yes, I have been doing VERY well. THANKS TO YOU.”

I emphasized the words as much as possible. I smiled even wider.

They sent me here expecting me to have an unhappy life.

When someone was betrayed or used, different people react differently. Some people would react loudly with anger, frustration, and pain. They might scream or slap someone. In a Korean TV series, people often threw cold water or hot tea at the culprit.

The emperor told me I could do anything I wanted to these people.

There were so many bad things I could do to them. However, I couldn’t send them to jail or execute them since what they did to me wasn’t illegal. Besides, to the outsiders, the Bonafit family probably still looked like generous people who adopted me and took care of me.

If I punished them publicly, I knew I would look cruel and unfair. I also didn’t really want to send them to jail or execute them. Perhaps, the extent of my anger didn’t go that far. The worst I could think of doing was to throw hot tea at their faces.

Well, maybe I could shave Lisbeth’s beautiful golden hair.

However, I knew very well these weren’t good ideas. If I did these things, I would look petty.

I didn’t want that. They wanted to protect Lisbeth at all cost. That was the truth. They spent a lot of resources on me to accomplish it.

I knew they expected me to have a terrible life here. Unexpected things happened, and my situation changed dramatically, but I wasn’t sure how much they understood of it.

A little over a year ago, I was Sa Bina, a weak desperate girl with nothing.

Now, I was finally a somebody. I wanted to show them how much I had changed. I wanted them to see that I now had the best life anyone could hope for.

In addition, I knew the emperor was watching me to see what I would do. He let me know of the Bonafit family’s arrival at the very last minute on purpose. He obviously wanted to see how I would react, and what I would do in such short notice.

He also gave me the freedom to react as I wanted. He was testing me like a lab rat. Since I knew this, I wouldn’t act impulsively.

I smiled broadly and explained, “This is one of the many gifts the emperor gave me as a wedding gift. It tastes so much better than the tea I used to have in Aeal colony.”

“I, I see.”

The Duke and the Duchess frowned visibly.

I smiled in satisfaction. I knew I was being childish, but I couldn’t help enjoying this situation.

I would belittle them as much as possible. As the emperor explained, Aeal was such a small insignificant colony. Everything I had here was better than anything they owned.

The tea tasted especially sweet today.

Lisbeth, sweet stupid Lisbeth, exclaimed, “Yes! I agree! It tastes so good, and you look so pretty, sister!”

“Thank you, child.”

I knew the Duke and his wife never considered me their family. However, what I hadn’t expected was for Lisbeth to be this empty-headed. She replied.

“You’re welcome! I am so excited to be here! Soon, I can wear beautiful clothes like you and live here in the castle, right?”

…What the hell was she talking about?