Balle, Day 25 (2)

Eva had a smile on her face as she took several guards with her to the room where Viola Grandpire was sitting with the rest of the Su'nii enjoying snacks and coffee.

"Su'ni Grandpire, please come with me." She took the incentive of acting very polite and benevolent. Eva knew her actions reflected the character of her mistress, and she would never cast her in a bad light.

Viola looked at the little maid and the guards standing behind her. A cold light flashed in her eyes, but she suppressed it with a tender smile. "May I ask why I need to go with you?"

"Palace rules, Su'ni. Please come with me."

Still, the older woman was adamant. How could Viola not know what was happening?

The moment she had descended from that carriage she had known exactly how that First Princess would be a troublesome character.

Their gazes had clashed first, and there was a restrained animosity in the Su'Adrit's eyes. Viola didn't think that she would hurt Kaelbi, because he was after all her brother, but she herself was fair game and she was not delusional enough to think otherwise.

Did the Sovereign not have a harem of beautiful women already? What would it matter for one more?

Viola deduced that Verinia must know about her history with the late Su'Ailfi. It wasn't enough that the brat was Ravena's exact copy, but on top of that she didn't like her.

For exactly that reason she had invited the Empress of Ginzai to attend Kaelbi's introduction as the Su'Datheram's son. With the empress present, her own standing in court would be solidified by having ties with a foreign court, and the Sovereign would even hold her in higher esteem.

Not only that, but she had arranged for something to cause the First Princess the greatest headache of all time for a woman in her position.

How could a grown woman like Viola Grandpire suffer at the hands of such an impudent little wretch without doing anything about it? Who did that girl think she was?

Eva, on the other hand, was beginning to lose her patience. The other Su'nii in the room were staring at them with intrigued looks and she didn't want to make a scene.

"Su'ni, if you would please…"

Viola shook her head. "I would like to know exactly what you're summoning me for."

Eva's brow furrowed lightly and the displeasure on her face was obvious. She hated this woman as much as her mistress did, but the Su'Adrit was still a woman of tact and care.

As her servant, Eva would naturally represent this virtuous values.

But that didn't mean that she wouldn't serve humiliation on a plate if that's what the other party was asking for.

"You may not have such rules where you come from, but the Sovereign Palace is an autonomous territory with its own guidelines. Women who birth sovereign children are entitled to the Sovereign. As you have not yet been inducted into His Effulgent Majesty's harem, you must be confined to your chambers to ensure your purity."

Viola's fair face went white as a cloud with rage.

Just what exactly was this insolent servant suggesting with her words? That she was ignorant? That she was an easy woman?

Eva noticed the subtle reaction of the other woman and her satisfaction grew. "Please do not misunderstand, Su'ni. Given your history with the Sovereign, this is only a precaution."

Hearing this, any friendly looks Viola had received from the other women in the room instantly became judgemental.

'That's right… wasn't this woman already married when she gave birth to the Sovereign's son?'

'Hmph. So what if she knows Empress Lysirea? Does that change anything?'

None of the Su'nii in the room were saints. In fact, some of them had committed crimes punishable by death at their husband's hands.

They were simply very good at hiding it. That stupid woman was not.

And Eva was directly implying that if given the chance to sleep with a man while entitled to another, she would take it. Just like that, the entire court turned against her.

Viola's entire body began to tremble with the magnitude of her anger. A sweet taste starting to climb up her throat and it became nearly impossible for her to restrain herself from lashing out.

'Verinia Hellfryne you cunning b*tch…'

Su'ni Grandpire stood up from her seat expressionlessly. "I see. Please lead the way, then."

To the untrained eye of anyone else, Viola Grandpire looked calm.

Naturally, as Verinia's maidservant, Eva was different. She saw right through the calm façade, and the smile on her face became as gentle as a cooing dove.

Seeing this, Viola almost felt her liver explode.

"Please come with me." Eva turned around to lead the way back to Viola's bedchambers, which were large and luxurious, just like everything else in the palace. Even the servant's quarters were incomparable.

But, that luxury was as much a mask as the benevolence of the palace's Lady. It was a prison.

Eva left Viola Grandpire in her room and stationed the guards outside with a very stern expression. "Do not let her leave until the Her Sovereign Highness says she may."

The guards glanced at each other. There were three Her Sovereign Highnesses in the palace, but only one of them would give such orders. It was obviously the First Princess. The command could not have been clearer.

They placed their fists over their chests and nodded. "Yes, miss."

Inside the room, Viola Grandpire was seething. If she had to restrain her anger for even one more second, she was sure that her internal organs would suffer irreparable damage.

But what else could she do except swallow her grievances? She didn't have a single ally in the palace but her son, and he was taken far away to live with the rest of the sovereign's children.

Even the servants that constantly surrounded her were given by that horrible First Princess, so she couldn't even show her displeasure on her face, much less express it the way she wanted to.

Feeling faint, she slumped on the seat and placed a hand over her brow.

'No matter. This will not last long. Once Lysirea comes, all of this will end.'