Swoosh—
As Sista’s words fell, the grand hall once again erupted in a storm of chatter. The Countess and Elia Mongo looked utterly humiliated, clearly not expecting the Princess to so bluntly reject their “generous offer.”
Su Ling was stunned.
She had thought she’d angered Princess Sista and would suffer cruel punishment. Never had she imagined the princess would lie for her.
Why?
She stood frozen, unable to move a muscle.
Sista didn’t seem to care about the surrounding murmurs. She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze sweeping over the room.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” asked Seban, stepping forward anxiously. “Why are you acting like—”
“I’m feeling unwell. I’ll take my leave from the banquet,” Sista interrupted curtly, rising from her seat amidst shocked stares. “Please, everyone, enjoy the rest of the evening.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Seban. Su Ling. And you, a few maids over there. Follow me.”
Seban’s face darkened instantly, but Sista didn’t even glance at him. She turned and strode out of the hall. The butler and the others had no choice but to follow, Seban’s expression twisted with panic.
Once they entered the castle’s public study, the atmosphere turned tense.
Scrolls and maps lined the walls, and in the center stood a large mahogany desk scattered with open books and a delicate feather quill. Floor-to-ceiling shelves brimmed with tomes, from weighty historical records to elegant poetry collections.
Sista sat down on a velvet sofa and lightly tapped the armrest. The others stood nervously nearby, not daring to breathe too loudly.
“Well?” she asked. “No one’s going to explain what just happened?”
Seban immediately stepped forward, eager to justify himself:
“Your Highness, you’re far too kind. If someone like Su Ling remains by your side, won’t it—”
Sista sneered, cutting him off:
“Seban, do you really think I can’t tell whether she’s been tricked or not?”
Seban quickly shifted tactics and threw Phil under the carriage.
“Yes, of course! You’re absolutely right, Your Highness. It’s all that foolish Phil—she’s the one who—”
“N-No! I didn’t know it would turn out like this!” Phil’s face drained of color as she dropped to her knees before the princess, trembling. “Someone told me to do it—I was just following their instructions!”
Su Ling lowered her eyes, looking at the brown-haired cat-eared girl before her.
If those early etiquette mistakes were just petty tricks, then the banquet scheme had clearly gone beyond Phil’s planning capacity. That’s why she now shook so helplessly.
There were three main culprits: Phil, Karsanna, and Seban. Fortunately, their clumsy ploy hadn’t escaped Sista’s sharp eyes, and Su Ling had been spared punishment.
Now, Seban was trying to throw Phil to the wolves to protect himself.
If things were left alone, Phil would take the blame, and Su Ling would walk away unscathed.
But Su Ling didn’t want it to end that way.
She knew if Seban slipped away now, he’d bide his time and strike again from the shadows.
If you want to make Phil the scapegoat, then I won’t let you.
With that thought, Su Ling stepped forward.
“Your Highness, may I offer my explanation?”
Sista raised an eyebrow and gestured for her to proceed. Su Ling took a deep breath and began slowly:
“Your Highness, I know someone tried to frame me, but I think it’s more complicated than just Phil. If she truly wanted to sabotage me, her role as my etiquette mentor was too obvious—it would be easy to trace it back to her.”
Sista nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Su Ling’s logic.
“So then,” she asked, “who do you think is really behind it?”
Su Ling hesitated, then lifted her head and met her gaze.
She looked straight at Seban and calmly stated her reasoning:
“In the court, kitchen operations and ingredient management are handled separately, to prevent abuse of power. Phil and Karsanna only have authority in one area each. They couldn’t have pulled this off on their own.”
“The only one with access to both sides—who could truly carry out this plan—is someone with control over both the kitchen and the ingredients.”
Sista let out a cold laugh, her eyes sharp as blades as they locked on Seban.
“Isn’t that right… Seban?”
“Ridiculous! I would never harm—” Seban stammered, flustered.
“You think I don’t know what you’ve been scheming?” Sista snapped. “You conspired with the Countess to frame Su Ling, trying to replace her with her lackey.”
Seban turned pale. His hands trembled. Though exposed, he tried to stay composed.
“Your Highness, I…”
“No need to say another word,” Sista cut him off. “Your little plan worked out perfectly, didn’t it? You should be proud.
“If I protect Su Ling, I’ll embarrass myself before the King and lose what little noble support I have left. If I don’t, your spy stays by my side. Either way, you win. That was your plan, wasn’t it?”
The old butler’s face went ghostly white. He lowered his head, knowing he had nowhere left to run.
“Get out. I don’t want to see you again,” Sista gritted through her teeth.
“Yes…”
Seban bowed and scurried out.
But Sista wasn’t finished.
“Don’t think I’ll let you off,” she added, voice low and sharp. Her ruby eyes glinted with killing intent.
“You still have the Queen on your side. I won’t touch you now. But later… that might change.”
Seban bowed low and silently left the study.
Once gone, the tension lingered. Phil and Karsanna stood stiffly, unable to meet the princess’s eyes. Tii, meanwhile, stared toward the door, lost in thought.
“Everyone else may leave. Su Ling—come with me,” Sista said as she rose.
Su Ling nodded nervously and followed the princess through the long castle corridor. Moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting pale patches of light on the stone floor.
“In the palace,” Sista said suddenly, her tone cold, “unnecessary kindness is the spark that lights the pyre beneath your feet.”
Su Ling blinked. She didn’t quite understand what the princess meant.
“You deliberately left out those two maids in your accusation, didn’t you?”
“I—I…”
Su Ling’s pupils widened, and she instinctively stepped back.
When had Sista figured it out? Or had she known all along—even before Su Ling opened her mouth?
Su Ling had shown mercy. Seeing Phil trembling so pitifully reminded her of Tii’s near-punishment. She didn’t want another girl to die simply because she was used.
She swallowed hard.
“If I were you, I’d make sure those two disappear,” Sista said flatly. Her voice gave away nothing. “Anyone who poses a threat—shouldn’t be left breathing.”
“Does Your Highness mean… to have them executed?” Su Ling asked carefully. Her back was soaked in cold sweat.
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