"Birna not enough to discuss marriage yet! The child is not old enough!"
"So isn't it really surprising? How could such a young girl come up with such terrible thoughts? What will the Queen Mother think if she finds out about this?"
The Prince Regent glared at the Minister. His handsome eyes narrowed.
"Really, that disease. Is it true that it is because of Birna?"
"What do you mean?"
"No, given your usual behavior, it could have been another reason. But now that they're only targeting my daughter, I can't help but feel unfair."
This time it was the minister's turn to glare at Duke Claudio.
"Duke, don't forget what I have in my hand."
"Are you threatening me now? I don't think you have any weaknesses in my hands?"
"I just want to let you know that we are allies that will be together for a long time. It seems that the Duke was not aware of it because you were dragged by the blood of your own flesh and blood."
"You're the minister who can't come to your senses over this one thing!"
"What?!"
Both sides fought tightly, unable to back down even an inch.
***
"Where is Birna?"
The Prince Regent returned home and looked for Birna fiercely.
"Ah, Father..."
And as soon as he saw his daughter startling and shaking at the sight of him, he walked away at a brisk pace.
Slap-!
Birna held her cheek and opened her eyes wide. For her, it was the first time getting hit with a hand-held sword.
"Honey!"
Catherine also opened her eyes in surprise.
"Do you know what the hell you did? Why did you touch Medea so needlessly and create this scandal!
The Duke of Regent let out his old anger that he had been pushing away in front of the minister.
"Didn't I tell you to be careful when she fell from a horse? Are you not even listening to what your father said?"
"Well. I..."
"Don't be silent. Don't plan on going anywhere for a while, just stay in here. I don't want to see you!"
Birna burst into tears.
"Why did you hide such a big thing from me!"
Catherine, who found out the whole story belatedly, first reprimanded Birna.
"Things are not good, Mother. Since the minister's disability is because of Birna, he is asking Birna to be his wife."
"What? That's nonsense!"
Then Birna, who was crying, had a fit.
"No! If that's going to happen, it's better to die!"
"You be quiet!"
"What does your father say?"
Catherine continued to ask Samon.
"Of course, you said you could never do that, but the minister's side is taking too strong a stance."
"..."
"I can't pretend to be the minister like this... What should I do?"
After losing the chief maid, Cuisine, there was no Prince Regent who controlled the palace with both arms strong.
In order to exert the same power in the palace as before, he had to grab Minister Etienne's feet and tie them up.
"Minister Etienne has never failed in negotiations. We must move first before your father is persuaded."
Catherine quickly headed to her daughter's room.
Sheila, a close maid, was cleaning up the mess that Birna had made.
“Ma’am..?”
"Catch that kid."
Catherine's maids held Sheila still.
"From now on, write as I call you."
She put a quill in Sheila's hand and forced her to write a confession.
"I wrote everything. Madam, I will ask for forgiveness on behalf of Lady Birna, just this once-"
Catherine's eyes shone coldly.
"Yes. It is your fault for not serving your master well, so I am blaming you for your shortcomings."
"Save me, save me, ugh-!"
Before Sheila could beg for her life, Catherine's maids poured poison into her mouth.
Birna froze.
Sheila is Birna's close maid who has taken care of her since she was young.
She thought that if they were caught, her mother would give her a beating or deduct a few months' salary, but she didn't know that she would kill Sheila so suddenly.
Her mother, who was always kind, disposed of her maid without blinking an eye.
"Uh, Mom..."
"It was Sheila who was drugged, not you. When you got into trouble, she got scared, confessed his sin, and died. Got it?"
Catherine calmly recited it as if to remind her to remember.
"I hope you come to your senses now, Birna. It's time for you to grow up."
"..."
"Birna, pack your bags. You have to leave tonight."
The maids packed Birna's luggage in perfect order.
"Uh, where?"
"Stay at the convent for a while. And you send that body to the minister. With the confession."
Catherine spoke firmly and left the room.
"Miss Birna seems very shocked. Is it okay if I leave her alone?"
"It's okay. Let her cool off. The maid has a heavy mouth on her lips."
"You have been raised preciously your whole life, but I wonder how much hardship it must have been for you to live in a barren convent..."
The head maid wiped her eyes worriedly.
"Even though it may be difficult, the priority now is to avoid the minister's eyes. She voluntarily left for the convent, but would he even bring my Birna back?"
Would it be a good idea for her to send her daughter, who was just like herself, far away?
But now was the time to make a bold move. The worst situation of marrying a minister had to be avoided.
"All of this would not have happened if that child had listened to me just once."
Catherine sighed.
"Is it because she resembles him that she doesn't know what to do and burns like fire? It's good to be passionate, but ugh, really..."
The head maid was quite puzzled.
Speaking of passion, isn't Duke Claudio a person who is closer to cold water than hot fire?
"What can I do? It's impossible for her to swallow only the good and spit out only the bitter, so I, as her mother, have no choice but to take care of her."
Anyway, Catherine was terrible to her children.
She cherished her son, Samon, as if he were her own life, and she had nothing to say about Birna, who looked just like her.
Catherine headed to her husband's office.
"Honey. Are you really going to grant the minister's demands?"
The Prince Regent looked 10 years older due to how much mental energy he had used up overnight.
“Birna...”
Although Birna was a childish child that only she knew, she was the youngest daughter whom he loved.
No matter how big a mistake the child had made, she could never be sent to the minister.
"Etienne, given his eccentric personality, might try to continue his lineage by using the Count's relatives instead of me."
Because he only thinks of a woman's purpose as a seedbed.
Claudio slammed the desk.
"I can't let my daughter live like that for the rest of her life. She can never be sent to someone like that!"
Catherine was somewhat relieved. She was worried about what would happen if she gave her daughter to the minister, but she was glad that her husband was a man who was protecting her baby.
"I sent Birna to a convent."
"Yes?"
"The dead maid will be returned to the minister to apologize. It may be a last resort, but since he sent us to find the real culprit, he will no longer be able to ask for Birna as his bride."
"Good job. After all, it's you. You moved wiser than me."
The Duke of Regent praised his wife's bold decision.
Catherine lowered her eyes in obedience and gently patted her husband's arm.
"So say it again carefully. The minister will also try to find an agreement at some point."
***
The Princess's palace.
"Your Highness, Tom told me that late last night a carriage came out of the duchy of Claudio."
Birna is probably riding in that carriage.
Did you run away in advance to avoid the minister's magic?
Her aunt definitely had a quick sense.
Medea gazed at the dim light of the lamp that illuminated the twilight evening.
"I'm sure my aunt will try to end it like that."
If it's for the sake of her daughter's future, she doesn't care about other people's lives. She only felt pity for the maid who died unexpectedly.
"Then what happens? Will the conflict between the two ends like this?"
"No way."
Medea will take advantage of this situation as long as she can.
"Send a letter to Umberto and tell him to let the minister know. Birna ran away to a convent."
How much can the minister's pride can endure when he is being mocked right in front of his eyes?
"And Birna's dead maid. Let's see if there is anyone in her family who wants to become our spy."
There is no friend more trustworthy than one who shares a grudge.
They will become Medea's ears and inform her of the Duke's circumstances more enthusiastically than anyone else.
Neril lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Highness."
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