Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 137
“This is your doing, isnât it? I know everything.”
Princess Mia glared at Kaitlyn with an icy expression, something she had never shown before.
“What did I do to deserve thisâugh!”
“How dare you talk back?”
A sharp slap rang out, turning Kaitlynâs head to the side. She held her stinging cheek, eyes wide in shock.
“Did you think Iâd like it if you used magic to manipulate men into acting like they were in love with me?!”
Did she really just hit me?
Kaitlyn let out a bitter laugh.
“You may think Iâm an airheaded girl, but I do have things that matter to me.”
“And what would that be? Your pride?”
“Kaitlyn.”
“You said you wanted to marry well and settle in the empire. Whatâs the problem with granting that wish?”
“Your shallow tricks will eventually be exposed!”
Kaitlyn swallowed her pride, feeling stung by the accusation. Mia sneered at her.
“You think youâre sitting on top of everyone, pulling their strings, donât you? But whoâs the one in the dark right now?”
“Watch your mouth, Princess Mia!”
Mia was stunned by Kaitlyn raising her voice.
Who did she think sheâs shouting at?
Mia found it ridiculous how Kaitlyn dared to act so condescending. Anyone watching would think Kaitlyn was the princess. Kaitlyn herself probably thought she was more valuable.
Mia had been letting things slide until now, finding it amusing to watch the girl inflate her ego. But it had been a mistake.
“Youâre just a foolish girl who wouldâve been discarded ages ago if not for Keith, and now everythingâs falling apart because you donât know your place!”
“What?”
“Iâve received word from our homeland. If you donât return immediately, Keithâs body wonât remain intact. Stop messing around. You donât want your twinâs corpse fed to the animals, do you?”
Keith had always mediated between Kaitlyn and the royal family. Kaitlyn might not know, but the only person the royal family truly trusted was Keith.
At the mention of Keithâs name, Kaitlyn erupted in a fit of rage.
“If you so much as touch Keithâ!”
“Keith is already dead. Whatâs left is just a piece of meat.”
“No!”
Kaitlyn ground her teeth. She could tolerate many things, but not anything involving Keith.
Mia scoffed before continuing.
“Do you know who Jeff Bertrand is?”
“Bertrand⌔
“Yes, Jeff Bertrand. Seems like you have an idea. Thanks to him, Brubewein will run out of food by spring. The new business he started caused the value of our goods to plummet, and the merchants were told never to trade with us again. Once we distribute the winter supplies weâve prepared, the royal family and the people will all starve!”
“âŚâŚ.”
“Thanks to your reckless meddling, your brilliant talents have become utterly useless, Kaitlyn. The value of the goods we could have secured with your help has been reduced to nothing. Naturally, youâve also become worthless.”
Mia looked down at Kaitlyn with a momentary glance of pity.
That brief look was more humiliating than the slap on her cheek.
“Iâve always known you looked down on me.”
“âŚâŚ.”
“We grew up together, and I thought of you as a friend, but you always considered me foolish. It didnât bother me. I wasnât as smart as you, and I wasnât as capable either.”
“Thatâs⌔
“You probably felt it was unfair that I received better treatment just because I was the kingâs daughter. But no matter how much smarter you are, the reality remains that youâll eventually have to bow your head to me. No matter what you think deep down, that wonât change.”
Because thatâs the grace that royalty is meant to show.
