Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 122: Did I ask for your opinion?

"Your Highness, I think you should forgive Princess Agatha this one time; she’s still young and might have acted impulsively for a moment there," Lady Evelyn said, and Luciana rolled her eyes at the woman.

’What was she up to again?’ Luciana thought.

Although she didn’t agree with what Evelyn said concerning Princess Agatha, Luciana decided it would be best to sing the same tune as her so that things don’t get out of hand.

But before she could even speak, Nicholas’s words broke her out of her thoughts.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" He snapped at Evelyn and turned to look at Agatha.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

Evelyn’s somewhat bright eyes further dimmed at his remark. Sorrow filled her eyes at his words. She knew he was harsh, but she thought he would give her a little face since they were in public.

It was already so hard that he didn’t pay attention to her even when she was pregnant and had begun to slightly show.

All this was the Princess Consort’s fault. If only she knew how to share and allowed the prince to also keep her company, maybe he wouldn’t be so unfeeling.

Luciana didn’t know her little tantrum with Nicholas would cause such a huge conflict at the empress dowager’s birthday banquet. She only wanted to mind her own business, but it was as if no matter what she did, she was going to be dragged along.

She was afraid he might fling her hand away again, but she could only try and make him calm down.

She wrapped her hand around his large one again and said,

"Your Highness, please, it’s fine... It’s just a cookie; there’s still a lot left in..."

"Why are you like this? Why are you always so cruel to me, eldest brother?" Princess Agatha asked Nicholas, interrupting Luciana’s words.

Seeing the princess consort being bold again and touching her eldest brother made her angry again for no reason, and she blurted out what was on her mind.

’Why could this pretty face touch him and act so close to him, but she couldn’t? She wished she could chop off the princess consort’s hand for daring to touch what belonged to her.’

Luciana watched the young princess’ glistening eyes full of hurt, and her eyes widened at what she saw.

’Princess Agatha was in love with Nicholas! She had feelings for her brother.’

Why hadn’t she realized such an important detail in her previous life? Of course, in her previous life, a scene like this with Nicholas being so affectionate with her in public never happened.

She had always pictured Princess Agatha as a spoiled brat who liked things to go her way, but she had never realized the girl did everything she did out of jealousy. The girl hated her because she had what she was yearning for.

Noble Consort Margaret had been watching the scene unfold for a while but had not wanted to interfere because she thought Luciana would do something to diffuse the situation since she was the cause of it all.

Luciana lifted her gaze only to meet Noble’s Consort Margaret’s gaze on her. Her eyes were full of accusation and disappointment as if blaming her for being the cause of the conflict.

Noble Consort Margaret tried to rise from her seat, but the emperor stopped her; his eyes conveyed the message, "Your presence could complicate things."

David approached the table, seeing his sister’s actions were drawing too much attention.

"Agatha, stop causing a ruckus and apologize to the princess consort," David said, his gaze on Luciana as he spoke.

Nicholas saw David’s blatant stare and wanted to block Luciana from his view with his body, but due to the seating arrangements, it was impossible.

"Second brother!" Princess Agatha whined.

’Why were they all ganging up on her? Why must she apologize to this woman?’

"I don’t think I did anything wrong to apologize. What about this? The princess consort and I would have a contest. If she wins, I will apologize to her, but if I win, there will be no need for me to apologize, but she must apologize to me for this disgrace," Princess Agatha said confidently.

"Don’t you dare; you will apologize to my wife, and my words are final," Nicholas snarled, a hint of finality in his tone.

Princess Agatha cowered, feeling fear at his sudden outburst. His emotionless gaze frightened her. His eyes looked fierce and vicious, like a wild beast that might tear you into pieces. Nonetheless, she craved such eyes to soften when they stared at her.

She had seen it briefly a moment ago; his gaze had softened when he stared at the princess consort. It was so brief that she nearly thought it was her imagination, but she knew what she saw. So she refused to give up.

"Is my eldest brother afraid she would lose?" Agatha asked provocatively.

Evelyn, who had been sipping on her tea, nearly choked at Princess Agatha’s words.

’What a foolish princess,’ she thought.

Even though Evelyn thought the princess was foolish, her heart was full of joy. She hoped someone would put the princess consort in her place, and finally, someone was willing to do it for her.

Luciana began to play the conversations so far in her mind. How did a simple cookie cause such a ruckus? But she knew she must do something, so before Nicholas could respond to Princess Agatha’s blatant provocation, she beat him to it.

"I accept the challenge," Luciana declared.

"No!" Nicholas refused, his powerful voice booming across the hall with authority.

’He knew it; it was a trap. Princess Agatha was full of tricks, and whatever contest she might ask Luciana to do, she was bound to play dirty to make Luciana lose face.’

But Luciana vehemently shook her head at him.

"Please let me do this," she whispered, her voice low for only him to hear, before she added in a clear voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I accept your challenge, Princess Agatha."

Nicholas’ eyes narrowed at her words. Why was she so stubborn? He was trying to protect her, but she had just willingly walked into the trap set by the eyesore. He could only make sure to protect her behind the scenes.

"What kind of contest does Princess Agatha have in mind?" Luciana asked, breaking Nicholas from his train of thought.

Princess Agatha gave Luciana a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes before she said in a demure voice.

"The Empress Dowager has two pet cats who have simultaneously fallen sick and are showing strange symptoms for the past three days. They haven’t been eating recently," she began.

"The Empress Dowager is very sad due to this and is only celebrating her birthday today because arrangements have already been made beforehand."

"To lighten her mood and make her smile again, we could both take a look at one cat each and heal them of whatever sickness is ailing them," she concluded.

Luciana’s eyes widened in disbelief at Princess Agatha’s words.

’The empress dowager’s twin pet cats? Everyone knows the woman treated those pets like her babies. There was a whole entourage of maids who cared for those pets, but Princess Agatha wanted them to use those precious pets as lab rats?’

"This..."

"Is the princess consort backing out after giving her word?" Princess Agatha taunted, interrupting whatever Luciana was about to say.

Luciana had yet to experiment with her gift of speaking to animals like Lord Algrith said, but she could try. Besides, if she couldn’t speak with the cat and understand it, she knew how to brew medicines for human consumption.

Maybe she could ask Lord Algrith for advice and know how to manage the dosage for cats. It would be her first time treating a cat, but she was saving a life, even if it was just a cat.

"Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the mother of the state, has arrived," a eunuch loudly called out, and the main guest of the occasion entered the halls.

She was dressed in the finest silk, with gold and diamond accessories adorning her hair.

She exuded a regal aura, showing both her strength and maternal nature. Since Nicholas’ mother, the empress, held no position in court due to her ill health, the empress dowager’s power was higher than all the women in the emperor’s harem.

She counseled the emperor on most of the important matters concerning the state, and she also served as a role model for the women in the palace and the whole country at large.

At the arrival of the empress dowager, everyone stood up on their feet to show respect to the respected woman. She elegantly walked to the high table and took her seat at the head of the table with the emperor standing at her left a little distance behind her.

She turned to the emperor and addressed him.

"Your majesty, please be seated."

She turned her attention to the remaining people present and waved her hand at them.

"Have your seats, everyone."

Everyone took their seats, maintaining proper decorum, with some concubines of the emperor and the remaining princesses taking their seats in a timid, rather uncomfortable way at the edge of their seats, their postures straight as bamboo.

The empress dowager’s eyes scanned the hall and saw Second Prince David and Princess Agatha standing in front of Nicholas’ table. She saw how everyone’s attention seemed to be directed there and asked,

"What is happening there?"