Lost her mind

Daryl finds the situation rather odd. It's the first time in his life as a priest that the Pope has requested such a peculiar order. He has been stationed outside the prayer hall for 4 days now. Being a 5-star priest, he could last a month without food and water if needed.

"I wonder who the lady was," Daryl muses to himself, observing her as she emerges from the prayer room. Judging from her distinctive ashy white hair, she must be a member of a royal family. 

Suppressing a yawn,Daryl opens the door and the Pope speaks from inside the prayer room, sounding exhausted. Daryl wonders what transpired during these past few days.

"Daryl, lead the lady out. Discreetly," the Pope instructs.

"As you wish, your holiness. Follow me," Daryl replies, closing the door behind him as he guides her back through the secret pathways of the cathedral.

Once outside the cathedral, she retrieves a communication crystal to call for her return. A few minutes later, a Gilcha lizard arrives. Daryl can't help but snort inwardly; she's definitely royalty.

As she climbs onto the Gilcha lizard, something around her neck catches the morning light and sparkles. Daryl's eyes widen in astonishment.

"That's the sacred holy item!" Daryl thinks to himself, recognizing the necklace. Only the upper echelons of the church know about the Necklace of Phases. It's a legendary piece, made from crystal said to be directly blessed by the goddess herself. Legend has it that the first Pope threw it into the fountain in the prayer room, but it was never found again. Daryl had always believed it to be a myth.

The realization hits him like a bolt of lightning. "That lady, who is she?" he wonders, stunned by the significance of the necklace she wears.

*

After a well-deserved nap, I wake up four hours later starving. I ring the bell for food, and 20 minutes later a maid enters, pulling a trolley laden with dishes. She places the trolley by the side of my bed, and I eagerly lift the cover, only to be met with a repulsive sight.

This sludge, this disgusting-looking thing, is supposed to be my dinner? I can't help but find it humorous. The previous Lucina might have accepted this, but I'm not her. I grew accustomed to luxurious meals in my previous life. I can't fathom how those novel characters who try to blend in manage it, because there's no way I'm going to accept this.

"Is this my dinner?" I ask the maid, who meets my question with a haughty expression.

"Of course," she replies curtly.

"Then tell me, who am I?" I inquire further, noticing her confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asks, clearly puzzled.

"Fine, then tell me who you are," I lean back on the bed, observing her closely. She must sense that something is amiss because she lowers her head.

"I am your exclusive maid, your Highness," she responds with a lowered voice.

"Ah ha! Repeat that! 'Your Highness'! You just said that, didn't you?" I exclaim, standing up from the bed. I stretch and smooth out the wrinkles in my dress, realizing how tired I must have been to sleep in this heavy garment. Mental note: find a progressive designer as soon as possible. 

I turn to face the maid, who is now trembling with apprehension.

"Kneel. It's an order," I command, my voice firm.

She complies and gets onto her knees, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"That's a good girl, aren't you?" I say, noting her fear.

Without hesitation, I stride towards her and channel all my energy into my palm, delivering a powerful slap across her face. She recoils, crashing into the trolley, and the repulsive sludge that passed for food covers her completely.

Ow. That hurt my arm.

The sound of the slap must have been quite loud, because the so-called guards rush into the room. I can't help but scoff at their incompetence. Here they are, finally noticing something after I've been missing for nearly five days. Did they think I was surviving on air during that time?

"Your majesty, we heard a sound," says a big-nosed guard as he enters the room, followed by his companion with a prominent forehead. They take in the scene of the maid on the floor.

"I was just teaching her a lesson. I'm glad you're here. Call everyone in my palace, from the maids to the cooks to the guards. I'm waiting," I command.

The guards, big nose and big forehead, hesitate for a moment.

"Aren't you bold? Are you defying an imperial order?" I challenge.

That strikes a chord with them. No matter how I've been treated, it doesn't change the fact that I'm royalty, and defying royalty is punishable by death.

They snap out of their hesitation and quickly run out of the room to fetch everyone as ordered. I walk over to the chair by the vanity, feeling a pang of hunger despite the recent commotion. I glance at my reflection in the mirror, taking a moment to admire myself.

Twenty minutes later, Mr. Big Nose and Big Forehead return with the assembled staff. I stand up and walk towards the maid, dragging her across the floor by her hair. I stop in front of the gathered crowd and drop her unceremoniously at their feet.

"Now that you're all here, I have something I wish to show you," I announce to the confused group of staff members. 

Heading back into the room, I pick up a sharp hairpiece from my jewelry and return to the maid. She trembles as I squat down to be face-to-face with her, but she avoids my gaze. Gently, I turn her head to face me.

With a swift motion, I drive the sharp hairpiece into her palm, causing her to scream in pain.

Are you trying to make me deaf?!" I look down at the blood gushing out of her hand, oh dear some of it has splashed on me.

Furious, I press my foot down on the hairpiece embedded in her arm, causing it to sink deeper and eliciting louder wails of pain from her.

"If you scream one more time, your head will be gone," I threaten, my voice laced with anger.

Instantly, she quiets, and to test her resolve, I press my foot onto the hairpiece again. She only manages to whimper in response, fear evident in her eyes. 

That's better.

Turning to the rest of the staff, I take in their terrified expressions with satisfaction. None of them dares to meet my gaze, and the only sound in the room is the whimpering of the maid on the floor.

"My little show is over now," I announce coldly, my voice cutting through the tense silence. "I'm going to have a soak in the bath, and when I'm out, I expect to find this place in perfect condition and my dinner served."

Walking confidently through the mini-crowd of staff, I can feel their eyes on me, all with their heads down, none willing to face me. This is how royalty should be treated, I think to myself with a hint of satisfaction.

Entering the main bath area, I'm greeted by the comforting warmth of the water, heated by the fire crystal and kept clean by an auto-filtration system. It's reminiscent of the heated pool back in my penthouse, albeit on a smaller scale.

I quickly undress and slide into the water, letting out a contented sigh. This is the life, I think to myself, relaxing in the soothing warmth of the bath.

*

Your highness." I'm woken up by a soft voice. I open my eyes and see two maids, I leave the mini pool and I'm being dryed with an extremely soft towel and some sweet smelling oil is being rubbed on my body. I could get used to this.

I head into my room, the bed, the curtains, the beddings have all been replaced and there's a wonderful full course meal waiting for me by the bedside.

I have my dinner, send the maids away and clock in for the day. I can't help but wonder what rumors will be spread about me tomorrow, I think with a smile and head into slumber.

*

In the maids' quarters, a group of them gather to discuss the recent events.

"I'm telling you, the third princess has gone mad!"

"It was horrifying, she had this eerie smile while covered in Jane's blood."

"It's like she was possessed or something."

"I doubt I'll sleep tonight, those screams as she stabbed Jane still echo in my ears."

"The look in her eyes... she seemed like she was ready to kill anyone in her path."

A few maids overhear the conversation, and soon the whole palace will be buzzing with the news that the third princess has lost her sanity.