Chapter 59 (1/2)

Chapter 59

Agnes entered and bowed deeply.

“Your order has been carried out, your highness.”

Samantha was still away, and I expected her to be back in an hour or two. I sent Elza and Luis to go plan out and prepare my outfit and jewelries for tonight. It would take them a little while.

As I expected, Agnes was the first one to return. It was just her and I in the room.

This was what I was waiting for.

I tried to make sure my voice was even. Not too high or not too low.

Emotionless.

“I assume his highness is coming to my room tonight? Since you heard what I said to Lisbeth earlier.”

Agnes looked up at me in surprise.

After a brief silence, she asked me politely, “Are you ordering me to let the emperor know about this situation?”

I shook my head.

“No, there shouldn’t be a need for that. You already reported to him.”

“…”

The silence was unpleasant.

After searching my face with her grey eyes, Agnes asked me, “Why would you think that, your highness?”

I answered calmly, “Because you overreacted when I mentioned the princesses.”

Agnes was my number one suspect. It made sense.

At first, I had difficulty narrowing the suspects down. It could have been anyone. However, yesterday, when I showed interest in the dowager empress’ daughters, it was Agnes who reacted angrily. That same day, Lucretius asked me about the same princesses.

It was too good to be a coincidence.

I said to Agnes, “I am lucky to have someone like you who works so tirelessly. I now have no need to ever tell his highness anything or send him a message because of you. Isn’t that right, Dame Dotrya?”

“…”

I surprised even myself with the coldness of my voice and statement. The moment I stopped calling her Agnes and addressed her as “Dame Dotrya,” a huge gap was created between us.

“…”

Agnes continued to look at me silently. I couldn’t tell at all what she was thinking or feeling.

Agnes was better than even Samantha at hiding her feelings. Her face was always blank, especially when it involved the dowager empress Katleyanira.

The woman who killed her beloved empress Beatrice.

Her adopted sister.

I chose her to serve me because I thought her anger against the dowager empress would help me. I never imagined this would actually backfire. I didn’t consider the degree of her fury; it was so great that if necessary, she was willing to betray me.

Agnes bowed calmly and replied, “I did let his highness know, and if you feel I have done something wrong, I am only happy to receive your punishment.”

I felt relieved that I guessed correctly.

I said to her, “I have no right to punish you.”

“Pardon?”

When Agnes looked up at me curiously, I smiled lightly and replied, “You work for the emperor, so how could I dare to punish you?”

“…!” I added slowly, “But this is my home, my wing. I rule this place, and I cannot have people I can’t trust to serve me.”

For the first time, Agnes became pale.

“Your highness!”

I didn’t even blink. I said to her coldly, “You may go back to Lonez if you wish, or you can go to the emperor’s quarters. Where you stay is none of my concern, but you can’t stay with me here.”

“Your highness!”

I ordered calmly, “Please leave my place today. That is all I have to say.”

Agnes bit her lips. She screamed at me desperately.

“Didn’t you tell me you will make the dowager empress pay for what she did?!”

“Yes I did, and I still plan to. I will defeat the dowager empress.”