Chapter 4 Showing Her Authority
The princess crossed her arm together, imposing that she had authority as she talked, giving out their offences.
“That one over there!” She points toward Soha who has been glaring maliciously at the princess all these while.
“Her offence is that she taunts her fellow maid and has been throwing a death glare at me since the beginning of this matter.” She explained and shock crept into Soha’s face. All the coloured drain from her face as she wondered how the princess knew she had been glaring at her.
The head court lady turned to Soha.
“You wench! you are still sitting down!” The head court lady fired terribly at Soha not minding her condition, making Soha drop down on her knees immediately.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“Please forgive me, Your highness.” She apologized.
“Hold it!” The princess warned- shushing her.
“And that one!” She pointed at So Young.
“She slandered her fellow maid, and also accused me of making false accusations when actually she was the one giving out fake accusations” She snapped at So Young mercilessly.
So Young also dropped down to a kneeling position and raised her gaze slightly from the floor.
“I am sorry You…..” She was unable to complete her statement when the princess glare stopped her and she gulped down nervously.
The little princess was probably only two three feet in height but he sounded like an old soul not to mention imperious.
“Those were their crimes. what did you think we should do?” she demanded seriously, staring at So Young with pointed indifference.
The head court lady croaked in a low voice.”They do not deserve to be shown mercy for disrespecting Your highness. I will make sure they get their appropriate punishment”
“What is this appropriate punishment you are talking about?” She asked, crossing her arms underneath her corset.
“They will be cane,” The head court lady declared.
Murmuring among the crowds as everyone has piteous looks on their faces.
“I don’t think they deserve that?”
“What did you mean, Your highness?” The head court lady asked in confusion.
“I will forgive them for their rude behavior toward me because if I really want to punish them for that, then everyone here deserved to be punished along with them” She replied, her gaze scanning the crowds.
Panicking, all the other court maids bows their heads and apologized “We are sorry, Your highness”
“You don’t even know your offence and you are asking for forgiveness” she scoffed rhetorically.
“None of them paid their respect to me when I came in. I am sure they would try to make an excuse that they didn’t know me since this is their first time seeing me, but can’t they recognize me through my dressing and grace?” she added, referring her question to the head courtlady.
“Please forgive us, Your highness.” They apologized again, with their head bow.
“I agreed with you on one thing though.” she said, turning to the head court lady whose head is still bowed.
“That maid needs to be flogged,” She pointed at So Young.
“Not because she tarnishes the dignity of the internal court’s but because she disrespect me. She need to be punished for that”
“I beg your pardon,” The head court lady said.
“I should forgive her like other but I can’t forget what she said to me. How dare she call me a little brat” she glared malicious at So Young.
At that moment it was as if her mind imploded. All coloured drain to her face as she considered the pain she will pass through once a lash landed on her. Her face blanched. She bows her head and apologized In trembling voice. “I’m sorry, Your highness. I truly am. I didn’t mean to accuse you like that. As you can see I didn’t notice your highness spontaneous unmerited gift on time, and I wouldn’t dare try to argue or lay an accusation on you. You are an honorable person unworthy of me to disrespect.”
“How dare you make an excuse after committing a cardinal sin?” she glared at So Young with flaming eyes.
“Have mercy on me, Your highness” she stuttered. “I.. I.. mean to but… but… i.. she…” She doesn’t know what to say.
The princess merely looked contemptuous as she stared at So Young, a trembling figure. Is that all it takes for you to crack under pressure? you seemed pretty brazen when you were framing another person earlier.
“I can’t go back on my words. take her away and cane her fifty times.” she ordered.
“Yes Your Highness,” Two of the maids bow. In one long stride, they dragged her up.
She tried to struggle to get out of there grip but to no avail, after all they have overpower her.
“Your highness please show your mercy” She pleaded loudly as the maid dragged her out.
Her voice echoed as the princess could still hear her voice from outside the laundry room.
“Too noisy” The princess mumbled silently.
“And for the other maid. do not give her wage for a whole year”
“Yes Your highness” The head courtlady nodded.
Not paid wage for a whole year? This made Soha blood run cold, and she was ashen-face as she thought Wildly. No, if I don’t get paid for a whole year, then I won’t be able to pay my debt. I can’t let that happen.
“Your highness, I really need….”
“Should I make it two years?” The princess cut her off coldly.
Gulping convulsively, she shakes her head slowly lowering her gaze back to the floor.
Almost immediately a deafening silence fell over the room. Everyone was amazed by how the young princess radiated such unquestionably and intimidating authority even though she was only a child. She is, indeed, from the royal family. There’s no doubt about it.
However the little princess couldn’t be bothered about what the other thoughts of her as she turned to eye Na jihye curiously, and at that moment she seemed to have shield her icy demeanor.
Na ji hye too held her gaze steadily.
The little princess has shell-pink lips and while her features are yet to set, she was already quite the delicate and beautiful little woman. She looked stoic when she didn’t smile, but it was precisely how stern she looked that made her all the more endearing, so much that one would be filled with the urge to pinch her chubby cheeks.
“Deduct her salary for four month” she ordered, staring at Na ji hye.
Everyone gasps at the sudden change of behavior of the princess. They are all surprised the princess would still give Na ji hye punishment since they believe she was on her side.
“Your highness, what did she do wrong?” The head courtlady asked surprisedly.
“For fighting in the palace to the extent of wounding her fellow maid. I can’t overlook that” She replied, her gaze not leaving Na ji hye down.
“The reason why your punishment isn’t severed is that, since she was the one who frustrated and mocked you. it is only natural that you get angry. so I will consider this reckless behavior of yours as an act of nature” she added.
“Thank you for your boundless generosity, Your highness.” Na ji hye bow.
She turned around to leave. All the maids bow courteously.
She was about to reach the door when suddenly she turned back.
“I almost forgot, All the maids that were in the laundry before the fight, sent them to the stable to clean the horse dung.”
The head courtlady raised her head up. “Why?” She asked.
“Must you always question me?” She snapped at her.
“Just do as I ordered. That is their punishment for testifying falsely against her. ”she pointed at Na ji hye.
With that she dash out with her maids trailing behind her.
Everyone released a breath they didn’t know they were holding.
“Go to the stable after you are done with your laundry.” The head courtlady ordered the maids.
“Yes My lady” They chorused and the head courtlady left with the other court lady trailing behind her.