Chapter 4

Besides, every word I said made perfect sense, leaving her with no comeback at all.

Agatha was so angry that she couldn't catch her breath and started coughing hard.

Hilda hurried over, patting her back and helping her breathe easier. "Please, Lady Agatha, calm down. Don't let this make you ill."

With tears glistening in her eyes, Hilda looked at me and said, "Celina, I get that you're angry, but Lady Agatha is your elder. How can you talk to her like this?

"Prince Simon is working day and night for the country. Even if you don't care about him, you should at least think about the Giffard family's reputation. Making such a scene won't do anyone any good."

What a classic manipulator, pretending to be so understanding and pure, but always scheming underneath.

Hilda placed all the blame on me with just a few words. I was labeled as disrespectful to my elders, someone who ignored the bigger picture, and caused trouble.

Sure enough, Simon's expression softened a little. He looked at me, his eyes full of expectation.

He said, "Celina, Hilda's right. Just apologize to my mother, and we can work things out."

He thought he was handing me an easy way out, expecting I'd just take the bait and let it go.

But he forgot. Compromise had never been in my vocabulary.

I looked at him and suddenly laughed. "Prince Simon, do you honestly think I showed up today just to talk things out with you?"

Simon was momentarily stunned.

I rose slowly and closed the distance between Hilda and me. She instinctively stepped back, her eyes darting with panic.

I gazed down at her and said, "Let me ask you straight, Hilda. Who gave you the right to stick your nose into my family affairs?"

Hilda's face went pale. "I... I'm only concerned about Prince Simon and Lady Agatha," she replied.

I sneered and said, "Concerned? Is it Simon's power you're after, or the status you get from cozying up to Agatha?

"You live under my roof, spend my money, and now you want to snatch my man and scheme for my position. Who gave you the guts?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the air like a blade of ice, making Hilda flinch.

She gave Simon a pleading look, silently begging for help.

Simon immediately moved to stand in front of her, shielding her from me.

He snapped, "That's enough, Celina! Hilda is carrying my child. She's going to be the next princess consort. What gives you the right to question her like this?"

I watched Simon stand up for Hilda, my gaze colder than ice.

I scoffed. "The next princess consort? That only counts if I, the rightful princess consort, sign the divorce agreement.

"As long as I hold the title, Hilda will always be a mere concubine without name or status! No, not even a concubine. She's just a mistress. Nothing more than a thing that could be traded away!"

"You!" Simon was shaking with fury, barely able to contain himself.

Behind him, Hilda looked unsteady on her feet, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Agatha finally caught her breath.

She jabbed her finger at me, barking out her command. "Guards! Slap her face! Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of Duke Ronan, you insolent little brat!"

A bunch of burly servants closed in on me, ready to do Agatha's bidding.

Avril turned white as a sheet and jumped in front of me, trying to protect me.

But I calmly pushed her aside, my expression unchanged as I locked eyes with Agatha.

I said, "Lady Agatha, you'd better think this through. If I really take that slap, my father's report will be sitting right on King Aldric's desk tomorrow morning.

"Then it won't just be a private matter between our families anymore.

"It won't just be about family drama anymore. It'll be about you and Prince Simon disrespecting the late king and oppressing the people who served him."

Agatha's hand froze in mid-air. Her anger faded, replaced by fear.

She knew I wasn't bluffing. My family wielded far more power than Agatha ever realized.

My father, Ronan Howell, might be old, but his protégés and former officials were scattered throughout the imperial court.

I had two brothers. One commanded the military forces in Lanercost, while the other defended the northern frontier.

If things really got ugly, Simon, a prince whose power was still shaky, wouldn't even be worth worrying about.

The hall was plunged into a dead silence.

I approached Simon and stopped in front of him. I said, "You have three days left. By then, I'll take every single thing on that list. Not a single item will be missing. You'd better watch yourself."

With that, I didn't spare them another glance. I headed straight out of the hall, Avril following close behind.

This time, no one dared to stop me.

The news that Simon and I had completely fallen out spread like wildfire through Lanercost overnight.

Rumors and gossip swept across the city, smothering everything else.

Some said I was crazy jealous, couldn't tolerate a pregnant woman, and that Simon kicking me out was exactly what I deserved.

Others claimed I was greedy, planning to grab every last thing from the Prince Simon Manor in the divorce, making a scene, and showing no shame.