Karina lay in bed, dazed. Jeremiah had not come to Karina for several days. Her heart was heavy. It was as cold as a glacier, and then it boiled like lava. The despair and misery that overflowed like an explosion at any moment pierced her heart. The pain that tore at her like a mess came rushing in. The sadness that had gone too far turned into anger and hatred, consuming her. The unbearable emotions continued, suffocating her.
When she felt like she was going to die from suffocation, she felt like an empty shell as the helplessness and emptiness surged in like waves.
"Oh my. This really pisses me off."
Karina's maid grumbled as she left the bedroom.
"How many days has it been like that?"
"It looks like she's protesting to get some attention."
"Anyway, I guess she's become quite good at annoying the people around her."
One by one, the maids who had gathered began to gossip about Karina, who showed no reaction as if she had become an idiot.
"It really varies."
"That's why she gets ignored. She acts like a fool."
"So, wouldn't His Highness the Grand Duke be tired of it too?"
"If you think about why you are being treated that way, the answer will soon appear."
They didn't even close Karina's door properly and stood in the middle of the hallway chatting among themselves. Their careless behavior made it clear to her in the room, but Karina didn't react at all. However.
"How frustrated Caroline must have been to try to connect Jeremiah with the Saintess."
'What...?'
Karina flinched at the unexpected story. The word Saintess rang in her ears. She came to her senses dimly and listened to the maids' conversation.
"That's true. His Highness the Grand Duke is still young and handsome, so even if he gets divorced, it won't be that big of a deal."
"Because it was a marriage that was forced upon us by imperial decree."
"If the Saintess had been the archduchess from the beginning, there wouldn't have been any of this trouble in the first place. How much good would the Saintess have done for the North and the archduchess?"
The maids gathered together to praise and glorify the Saintess. Karina's fingertips, which had been hanging limply, began to gain strength.
"When did Lady Caroline meet the Saintess?"
"I heard she had tea time together at the temple on the last blessing day."
"That's right. As soon as she came back that day, she said that she liked the Saintess so much. She said she wished it had been the Saintess who became the Archduchess instead of Karina."
Karina's expression hardened. She couldn't believe that Caroline, who she thought was on her side, would say such a thing, even though she was sometimes a bit mischievous. But there was no reason to lie when the maids were talking amongst themselves. She got up from the bed, feeling greatly confused and embarrassed.
The closer she got to the door, the more she could hear the maids talking outside.
"Perhaps that's when she started preparing to bring the two of you together?"
"Caroline, she's really amazing too."
"Don't be ridiculous. You don't know how hard she worked to connect the two of you."
"Hmm?"
"You know, the jewelry made from the finest emeralds that Lady Caroline cherishes so much?"
"Oh, that one? It's really expensive, and it sparkles completely differently from other gems."
"They said she gave it to the Saintess."
"Oh my God! Caroline gave the Saintess that precious thing? She really meant it!"
"That's right! That's why I said everything."
Karina felt her blood boil. She knew the emerald jewelry that Caroline had very well. She had boasted about it every chance she got, saying it was a 'one-of-a-kind piece made by the jeweler Paulo'. And yet, whenever Karina tried to touch it, it was the very same gem that had worn away at the mere touch.
"It seems like things are going well for you two since His Highness the Grand Duke has been visiting the temple often these days."
"I think so. Whenever he stops by the temple, he always brings lavender with him."
"A person who had never seen flowers in his life even placed one in his office. Doesn't His Highness have feelings for the Saintess?"
"Come to think of it, the Arch Duchess has been acting like that since he came back from the temple a while ago."
"Did you notice something then?"
"Lady Caroline sent her to the temple on purpose so that she would notice. She's really cruel."
The maids were laughing amongst themselves. Karina felt like she had been hit hard in the back of the head.
"Last time, Lady Caroline gave the Archduchess a potpourri made from dried flowers."
"I guess Grand Duchess liked it so much that she carried it around with her all the time, right? How funny."
Karina's clenched fist trembled. Her clenched fist turned white because she had used too much force. Karina, who had gotten close to them, asked.
"What did you just say?"
"...!"
The maids who had gathered and were chatting were startled by Karina's sudden appearance. However, they immediately turned their heads away from Karina's gaze and acted as if they hadn't said anything.
"I asked what you said."
Karina asked again.
"I didn't say anything?"
One of the maids shamelessly lied with an expression of ignorance. Karina's eyes sank coldly. Up until now, she had endured the maids' secretly ignoring her and treating her lightly. However, Karina no longer felt the need to do so. Without hesitation, she slapped the maid who had lied so shamelessly on the cheek.
Crack!
"..."
A sharp slap sounded. The maid who had been hit glared at Karina with a face of shock as if she couldn't believe what was happening. The expressions of the other maids standing nearby were not much different.
"What... what are you doing right now!"
The maid who had been hit covered her cheek and screamed with a distorted expression. Karina raised her hand again without changing her expression. And she struck with all her might.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
"Ahh!"
This time, instead of stopping at just one, she continued to strike the same cheek repeatedly. Then, the maids next to her surrounded Karina and stopped her. The maid grabbed Karina's arm and said,
"Stop it! Are you in your right mind?"
"If Lady Caroline finds out about this, she won't stay still!"
Karina found their words funny.
"What if Caroline won't stay still?"
A snicker and a mockery escaped her lips.
"She's going to hit me back just like I hit that insolent maid who insulted me behind my back?"
Karina nodded to the handmaiden who was holding her arm and gave her orders.
"Let go of this. Before I cut off your wrist."
It was a voice that was as cold as the Arctic blast, chilling you to the bone. The maids hesitated at Karina's aura which gave off an eerie feeling somewhere.
"You seem to have forgotten who I am. I am the daughter of Marquis Millainer, who serves His Majesty the Emperor right next to him. If you dared to insult me and think you could get away with it, then you are truly absurd."
Karina roughly pulled her arm away and boasted about her family's prestige.
"It wasn't thanks to Caroline that you were able to survive without any trouble, even though you acted so arrogantly in front of me. It was just because I kept you alive. I don't need to watch you fools who don't even know that and keep running wild anymore. Right?"
But even with her warning, their attitudes did not change easily. This was because the maids had long been aware that Karina could be treated as an inferior.
"Are you ignoring our family now?"
"No matter how powerful the Marquis of Milliner is in the capital, you must be respectful when you come to the North!"
"That's right! Are you doing this because you trust in your family's power?
"Yes."
Karina didn't deny it. Instead, she smiled brightly, raising the corners of her lips.
"As everyone in the world knows, I was able to marry the Grand Duke through the power of my family. Even the Grand Duke couldn't refuse and followed me. If the Grand Duke's family can do the same, what can you guys do? Why can't you?"
It was the first time in her life that she had ever threatened someone with her family's power, but perhaps because of the situation or the state of affairs, it came out more naturally than she had thought. Karina continued to speak calmly.
"I wanted to show you the power of my family. You guys have never experienced it before."
The flat voice without any highs and lows seemed to be saying that it was really nothing, which made it even scarier. In fact, Karina's words were not an exaggeration. The power of the Marquis of Milliner was formidable. The maids looked at each other with frightened expressions and kept their mouths shut.
"Why? Are you a little scared now?"
Karina laughed as if she found it funny.
"If you feel wronged, go back and tell your family. That I hit you. And complain to the Milliners. They'll accept you anytime."
Of course, the word "accept" did not mean that he would simply pay for the treatment or apologize. She meant that he would not stay still, so if you wanted to protest, go ahead.
"I'm also curious to see how far your family can go."
Karina immediately called the butler and gathered all the servants of the Grand Duke's household. She mercilessly cut down the maids who dared to speak carelessly in front of them. Caroline and Jeremiah happened to be away on business, so no one could stop her. From that day on, Karina completely changed.
At that moment when Karina was wandering in her dream, Mikhail carefully laid her down on the bed in his room, holding her in his arms.
"Ugh...!"
Outside, Max was groaning with a strange expression. He rushed to Mikhail, who had come out after confirming that Karina was fast asleep.
"Are you crazy? Are you really crazy!!"
He was in agony, tearing at his hair.
"Bringing the Arch Duchess here... What would you do if the Lord of the Tower found out!"
Max's head was already spinning at the thought of cleaning up.
"What's wrong with bringing Karina?"
Mikhail asked with a look of concern. Max was speechless at his absurd words.
"And if you just stay quiet, the teacher won't find out."
Mikhail was at peace.
"You are talking nonsense. Do you think the Lord of the Tower doesn't know that you brought an outsider to the Tower? He probably already knows."
Max snapped back. And as expected, as soon as Max finished speaking, the Lord of Magic Tower appeared, laughing.
"Our disciple brought an outsider?"
Pavel, the owner of the magic tower, looked at him with interest as if his young son had brought a friend home for the first time.
"I came here just to see who it is."
"...!"
Max's face turned pale. He felt his lifespan diminishing in real-time.
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