Chapter 3

Margery's face turned red with fury. "Hey! I'm talking to you."

"Oh, really?" I shot back, my voice cold. "With the way you're yapping, I almost thought you were some rabid dog from who-knows-where."

"How dare you! My lady is Lord Arthur's only daughter. How dare you speak so rudely," Margery's maid snapped.

Lanette's face darkened. "You're the ones being disrespectful! This is Lady Holly, the Crown Prince's concubine. You don't curtsy when you see her, and you dare to speak so rudely? Is this how Lord Arthur teaches his daughter?"

I let out a cold laugh. "I've always heard Lord Arthur is a paragon of propriety. But look at his daughter, so reckless and ill-mannered. Guess those rumors aren't worth much after all."

Margery's face flushed bright red. She dipped into a shallow curtsy, then shot back, "Dominic said you only became his concubine because you're pregnant. Otherwise, you'd never have made it.

"I've seen plenty of women like you, climbing into men's beds to get ahead. Seriously, have you no shame?

"If luck hadn't been on your side, an illegitimate nobody like you would never have been the concubine."

Lanette's face darkened, but I just replied coolly, "Dominic? Is the Crown Prince's name something you can toss around so casually?

"Lady Margery, who gave you the right to criticize what the Crown Prince did.

"Even if I'm insignificant in your eyes, I'm still royally appointed as the Crown Prince's lower-ranked concubine. The baby I'm carrying is of Herrington blood. If you dare disrespect me, that's an insult to the king."

Margery's face went pale. "That's nonsense! I never said that. That's not what I meant at all.

"No wonder she said you're always twisting words."

My heart sank. She? Who does she mean?

"Who are you talking about?" I pressed.

Margery's eyes flashed. She took a deep breath, paused for a moment, then sneered, "Stop acting all high and mighty. Once you've given birth, you better get lost.

"Otherwise, just wait till I married Dominic. You'll be the first one I kick out."

I squared my shoulders, got up, and walked right up to her with a bright smile. Then, without warning, I slapped her hard across the face.

Right after, I clutched my cheek, staring at her in utter disbelief, my voice quivering. "Lady Margery, why did you hit me?

"Even if you're jealous, I'm still the Crown Prince's concubine. You're way out of line."

Margery exploded with rage. "Lady Holly, you shameless wretch!"

She shoved me violently, putting all her strength into it.

I stumbled backward, my face drained of color from shock. Instead of crashing to the floor, I ended up in a warm embrace.

"Your Highness," Lanette shouted.

"Dominic," Margery blurted out. "Lady Holly hit me. She did it on purpose. Don't let her trick you!"

Margery clung desperately to Dominic's sleeve, but he only had eyes for me.

Staring into those deep, unfathomable eyes, my heart jolted. Something suddenly clicked in my mind, and before I could react, everything went dark. I fainted on the spot.

"Your Highness, you have to take Lady Holly's side. Lady Margery was way out of line. She barged in and started throwing insults the moment she walked in," Lanette reported.

As I slumped into Dominic's arms, I heard Margery babbling, "Dominic, it's not like that. Lady Holly started it. She hit me first."

"That's nonsense. Lady Holly is the softest-hearted person. She'd never get physical first!" Lanette snapped back.

Dominic didn't hesitate. He swept me up into his arms without a second thought.

"Lady Margery, I'll personally inform Lord Arthur of your offense today. You'd better pray Holly is unharmed, or you'll answer to me." Dominic's voice was icy and full of warning.

He strode off, carrying me straight into the carriage.

"Get the doctor," Dominic barked, his voice sharp with urgency.

Sitting in the carriage, I was a bundle of nerves. Crap, what if he caught on?

But we hadn't gone far when his voice sounded from right above my head. "How much longer are you going to keep up this act?"

My heart sank. He had seen through my pretense.

My eyes fluttered, and I slowly opened them, putting on my best innocent act.

"Your Highness, I fainted?" I asked, feigning confusion.

He shot me a smirk, and my nerves went haywire.

"Your Highness, I was wrong!" I blurted out, my voice trembling.

"And what exactly did you do wrong?" Dominic asked.

"I shouldn't have hit Lady Margery," I mumbled. "Please, Your Highness, punish me as you see fit."

Suddenly, he flicked my forehead. I winced and looked up at him, only to hear Dominic say, "Your real mistake was heading out without any guards, letting someone like her walk right up and mouth off at you.

"Your next mistake was handling it yourself. Don't you have a maid with you? Why not let your maid handle it for you? No need to get your own hands dirty.

"Worst of all, Margery's just an official's daughter, and you let her walk all over you. You didn't even act like a crown prince's concubine. Where'd you learn to be so soft?

"Tomorrow, I'll ask Mother to send a senior maid to stick by your side. Can't have you getting pushed around every time you step out."

My eyes widened. "A senior maid?"

"What, you don't want one?" Dominic asked.

"Of course I do, it's just... After what happened today..." My voice trailed off.

"What happened today isn't your fault. Lady Margery dared to disrespect you. I'll deal with her," Dominic said, his voice firm.