Making an Example

"Just what are you doing?"

From her unladylike position on the ground, Mavis did not even have time to accuse the man of mistreating his elders when she caught a glimpse of the piercing gaze, sending shivers down her spine.

Caleb was already a very terrifying man with a suffocating aura but he reigned himself in as much as possible while standing guard at the Princess' door. Most people who had attempted to see the Princess would take a single look at him and go in the opposite direction so he did not believe it was necessary to utilize the entirety of his aura on regular people.

Now, however, it was clear that he had chosen to forego such courtesy after witnessing this old woman's attempt of attacking his master's woman. His orders from the Duke were strict - do not allow any harm to come to the Princess. He had mostly expected the danger to come from other nobles but he did not expect that a mere maidservant would be so bold.

Regardless of the Princess' origins, she was still a member of the royal family. Not that long ago, her status was completely unparalleled even by the children of the Empress. Even a single unpleasant thought towards her warranted death!

Caleb was beyond flabbergasted at the sheer audacity of this maidservant and roughly yanked her up by the arm. He did not even wait for the response of the maid and asked Dione directly, "Your Highness, how would you like me to punish this insolent servant?"

Mavis's shock at being treated so unceremoniously quickly evaporated when she heard that this lowly guard wanted to punish her.

How dare he! Just who did he think he was? Was either of these people qualified to punish her? She may have only been a commoner but she had once been the Empress Dowager's exclusive maid and now served Princess Valerie diligently. Her status among the other maids was obviously much higher than anyone else's and she had long grown accustomed to looking down on others.

"Unhand me!" She hissed out, fire basically sprouting from her eyes. She flared about frantically but was completely unable to free herself from this man's iron grip, which tightly restrained both of her hands behind her back.

The sense of superiority in her bones and arrogance in her expression did not flatter the least bit despite her disadvantageous circumstance. Mavis truly did not put Princess Dione in her eyes at all. She still believed that just the fact that she was a maidservant belonging to Princess Valerie was enough to make this illegitimate princess cower in fear and not dare to go too far.

In fact, she was already thinking of ways to get back at this insolent girl for having the audacity to lay a hand on her - she would torture her worst than death himself! Did she really think that just because the Gods did not have eyes and engaged her to the Duke mean that she was untouchable now?

Her crazed gaze fell on Dione. She would have to teach this ignorant half-breed that there are some things she should know to never strive for in this life - the position of Duchess Devland being one of them!

In truth, Dione did not want to get on her sister's bad side any more than she already had. She did not expect the maidservant to still dare to throw her weight around in front of her even after acquiring the position of Duke Devland's fiancé.

It seems like no matter what title she held, she was still less than the dirt in the pig's pen to this old woman. Had she bowed her head and treated her with the respect she earned by birthright, Dione would have considered leaving the past in the past. It was not that she was cowardly but that she did not wish to use the Duke's name and power when dealing with such insignificant people.

But now, what was the point of being generous?

Seeing that Dione was taking a long while to speak, Mavis believed that she did not have the heart to punish her. She laughed in disdain, "Ah, have you finally come to your senses, girl? Quickly, quickly, tell this hooligan to release me and I will not be so harsh in reprimanding you."

Princess Dione did not look at her, she did not wish to waste her breath communicating with such a brainless creature. Instead, she motioned for Marianne to come to her side and whispered something into her ear.

Marianne's face lit up immediately and she nodded feverishly at the Princess' orders. With large strides, she stood directly in front of the older maidservant with a bright smile adorning her face.

Mavis felt a bad premonition.

Soon, that premonition became a reality when her head snapped to the side, pain exploding in her cheek. This cheeky maid had just slapped her. Her mouth fell open in disbelief, "How dare you—!"

Marianne did not stop there. She slapped her again and again. She slapped her so much that her hand began to sting and turn red but she still did not stop.

Mavis tried quite desperately to flail about and escape from the onslaught of torment but she was held in place by Caleb whose grip on her did not budge. In the end, she could not even move half an inch! She could only bitterly take this beating while not being able to fight back.

The bedchamber was filled with the sounds of the old maid's ugly wails and the crisp, sharp slaps delivered to her again and again. Though Dione swore to herself that this punishment was simply to make an example out of an unruly maid, she could not help but think that this was music to her ears.

She elegantly sipped the tea that had been made for her earlier and enjoyed the scenery outside her window. When she had finished with her tea, she gave an order for Marianne to stop.

Mavis had long since passed out, her face swelled up like a pig's head. There was a trail of blood seeping out from her mouth, spilling onto the otherwise clean marble floor.

"Shall I deliver it back to its owner?" Caleb questioned. He was still very surprised at this little Princess' cruelty but he did not think that it was misplaced or overboard. What use was a servant that did not know their place? Had it been the Duke, her left would already be taken - this was considered very generous in his eyes.

Dione shook her head "No need. Just grab some passing servants and have them drag her back along with the letter."

It was better this way. After all, how could she possibly make an example of this servant if there were no others to see it? This could also count as stripping Mavis of her dignity even more - since when had she ever been in such a sorry state since entering the palace under the Empress Dowager?

Princess Dione knew that this action would very well incite the anger of her elder sister but she did not care. It was she who was provoked first and besides, since when had Valerie ever intended on being civil with her? She may not have made her move yet but it was impossible for her to stay still for long.

Princess Valerie knew how to throw around her position as a legitimate daughter very well and had always gone out of her way to embarrass her. She was sure that this tea party would be no different. Then, so be it. She'll shamelessly use the position as the future Duchess Devland to anger her to death!