Chapter 58 (1/2)

Chapter 58

I didn’t expect Lisbeth to be smart, but this was beyond anything I could imagine. How oblivious could a girl be?

I asked coldly, “So Orlean told you this?”

“Yes! She told me the truth.” Lisbeth looked straight into my eyes and continued, “I am more beautiful than your highness, so once his highness notices me, you will lose your position in power. That is why you kicked me out from the emperor’s office yesterday!”

She was shouting by the time she was finished. Everyone stared at her in disgust.

When no one said anything for a while, Lisbeth must have thought she won. She looked confident as if she was sure she was right.

I stood up quietly and walked towards her. She flinched at first, but quickly straightened her shoulders.

I smiled and asked, “You are saying I’m jealous and afraid of you?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s why I kicked you out yesterday?”

“Yes, that’s what you did.”

“And Orlean told you this?”

“Yes. Orlean is older and therefore wiser.”

I laughed at her quietly. The other maids followed suit and did the same.

I suddenly stopped laughing and asked simply, “Was Orlean there in the emperor’s office yesterday?”

“… n, no.”

Lisbeth’s voice weakened.

“Then wise Orlean made up a story without witnessing the event. She basically told you a lie about me and my thoughts. Well then, she needs to be punished.”

“Pardon?!”

“Orlean didn’t follow us into the emperor’s office yesterday, right?”

Samantha answered quickly, “Yes, your highness.”

“And who asked everyone to leave the office yesterday?”

“The emperor, your highness.”

I continued, “Then Orlean lied about something she knew nothing about. Or… You, Lisbeth, told her a lie so she makes a wrong assumption.”

Lisbeth jumped.

“Pardon?!”

I smiled kindly and asked her, “Which is it?”

Lisbeth’s eyes widened as she realized her mistake.

She now had to make a choice. Either Orlean or she herself had to be punished for lying.

“Th, that is…”

While Lisbeth stammered in shock, I asked Samantha casually, “Samantha, what kind of punishment is given in cases like this?”

She answered coolly, “For a servant, a whipping. For a maid, she will be locked in her room for a number of days, your highness. The amount depends on the amount of time served in this castle.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

I continued to smile at Lisbeth and asked, “So which is it? I need to know, so I know who to punish. Is it you or Orlean?”

“T, the thing is…”

Lisbeth became pale and she started to shake. She looked pathetic, but no one showed any sympathy towards her. She has been causing everyone so much trouble that she was disliked by all.

As the silence continued, Agnes stood up, making Lisbeth jump.

“Why can’t you answer? Is it because it’s you who fed lies to Orlean?”

“N, no!” Lisbeth screamed.

Agnes then smiled kindly and replied, “So it’s not you then.”

“Yes, that’s right. It wasn’t me!”

“Then it’s Orlean who needs to be punished.”

“Pardon? B, but…!”

When Lisbeth tried to protest, Agnes glared at her and asked again, “Then was it you, Lady Lisbeth?”

“…”

“If it was you who told Orlean these lies, then you will be punished.”

“No, it wasn’t me!” Lisbeth answered as she continued to tremble.

Samantha ignored her and asked me, “It appears Orlean is the one who needs to be punished, your highness.”

I answered, “Indeed.”

“How many times should she be whipped?”

I looked at Lisbeth and replied decisively, “30. And for three days, she will be given only one meal a day.”

“Yes, your highness.”

Samantha left with a smile to carry out my order.

While all this happened, Lisbeth didn’t once defend Orlean.

If Lisbeth was punished, the worst would have been for her to stay in her room for a few days. However, for Orlean, she was to be physically punished. Lisbeth knew this, yet she threw Orlean under the bus.

She was a selfish little girl.

I sat down on my chair again. Lisbeth looked around at everyone hoping to ask for help, but it obviously wouldn’t work. When everyone looked at her coldly, Lisbeth seemed to give up.

“…”

Normally, I wouldn’t have done something like this. However, today, I was angry.

I was very angry.

Lisbeth made a huge mistake in picking a fight with me today.

I opened my mouth and said sweetly, “Lisbeth.”

“Y, yes?” She looked up in fear.