Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 28: Watch me

"Your Highness, please allow me to recount what happened. I was present when everything happened," Concubine Yvonne said.

"Go on," Nicholas said tiredly; he was already having a headache.

"Forgive me, Your Highness, it was I who suggested Lady Evelyn go out on a walk with me to enjoy the night air and do some exercises because she was feeling stuffy and the baby wanted to enjoy some air. Who knew we would come across this malicious maid who would push Lady Evelyn just because she was talking about what happened earlier in the empress’ courtyard? Your Highness, this maid is too bold; it was as if she was following the instructions of someone else," Concubine Yvonne said.

Luciana’s eyes flashed at the underlying meaning in Yvonne’s words: Who else would instruct Dora if not her mistress? They were accusing her.

"Your Highness, may I allow my maid to also recount what happened? It would be best to listen to all sides of the story, right?" Luciana said, trying to keep her composure even though she really wanted to slap concubine Yvonne right there.

"How can a lowly slave’s testimony be more important than that of a noble?" Concubine Yvonne tactlessly said.

"Nick, I will only listen to what you say. Can Dora recount what happened?" Luciana asked, causing everyone to gasp at the form of address. Was the princess consort crazy? How could she call the prince in such an informal way? The prince is going to teach her a lesson just now for being so brazen.

But to their surprise, not only did the prince not punish or warn her, but he even agreed,

"She can go ahead," he said. Nicholas didn’t know that what he had just done would cause all the maids to begin to look at the princess consort in a different light. And Evelyn would begin to see just how great a threat Luciana’s presence was in her quest to win Nicholas’ heart.

"Dora, tell me, what exactly happened?" Luciana asked.

"My lady, I was standing at the entrance of the courtyard and watching the paths to see if I’d catch a glimpse of you returning when Ruth said the prince was going to kill you because you wanted to harm the empress. I was so worried I couldn’t take it anymore."

"I was on my way to the prince’s courtyard to plead on your behalf and testify that you were innocent and that I’m willing to die in your place when I met Lady Evelyn, who asked where I was going. I told her I was on my way to find you and she began to call you all sorts of names I dare not repeat."

"I had not even spoken when someone pushed me from behind. I tried to steady myself from the abrupt push and tried not to knock her down because I knew she was with child, but the distance between the both of us was too close, so even though I tried my best, my fingers brushed her clothes a little, and she began screaming and calling me vicious for pushing her and attempting to make her miscarry. She had been insisting I confess you were the one who ordered me to push her, but I refused. She told Rhoda to whip me, and that was when you arrived, my lady," Dora said.

"Your Highness, this maid is spewing lies; please investigate and give me justice; Concubine Yvonne is my witness; nothing like what this maid said is true," Lady Evelyn said with righteous indignation.

"Yes, Your Highness, this maid is lying; she had turned the story around in her favor. Your Highness, please, you must investigate." Concubine Yvonne also added. If it was found that Lady Evelyn was lying, it would mean she was also lying, so she must insist on her story to the end.

"Dora is not a liar; if she said it happened, it only means it was true. Your Highness, please judge fairly," Luciana said.

"Your Highness, I believe in the princess consort’s character; I believe her maid would also be an upright person." Concubine Sheila finally spoke for the first time that night, causing Lady Evelyn’s gaze to darken; Luciana turned to look at her with a grateful look in her eyes.

"After hearing both sides, this is my decision. Take her away to the disciplinary bureau and punish her with 20 lashes for pushing Lady Evelyn," Nicholas said emotionlessly, and Luciana widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Nick! Dora didn’t do anything wrong. Please have mercy," Luciana cried, feeling heartache for Dora. The guards came to drag Dora away, and Luciana tried to follow them, but Nicholas gave Peter and Adam a look, and they restrained her; all Luciana’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

A subtle smile graced Evelyn’s face when she saw Dora being dragged away. ’She knew it; this child in her womb was her ticket to get close to Nicholas. Ha! As for the princess consort, she will soon become an eggless chicken; she would be akin to a man and would lose Nicholas’ favor sooner or later.’

"And you," Nicholas said coldly, turning to Rhoda,

"For not giving the princess consort the needed respect. Send her to the disciplinary bureau and punish her with 50 lashes. It would straighten her out and make her pertinent," he spat coldly and turned to leave.

The shock on Lady Evelyn’s face was triple what was on Luciana’s face just a moment ago.

"Yo... Your Highness, please have mercy; Rhoda won’t survive 50 lashes," she said, stammering.

"Then you should have trained her better and taught her how to respect her elders," Nicholas said without any hint of emotion in his tone.

Truth be told, if one were to compare the age difference between Luciana and Rhoda, she was at least a decade older than the princess consort, but who cared? According to the hierarchy, Luciana was in a higher position than her.

Nicholas was already in a bad mood after realizing how today’s decision would make Luciana resent him again after he had gotten close to her after spending a whole day with her. Next time all of them would think carefully before making him angry. No woman could plot against him and get away with it.

He walked to Luciana and leaned in to whisper into her ear, "We are in public; keep your composure. Stop causing a scene and obediently come with me."

Luciana realized the truth in his words and reluctantly nodded.

"Tell them to let me go," she said.

Nicholas nodded at Peter and Adam, and they released her. Luciana silently glared at Evelyn and walked away emotionlessly, only to feel Nicholas’ hold on her wrist. She endured it until they were out of sight and earshot before she pulled her hand from his grip.

Nicholas hadn’t expected that she would throw a tantrum when they were still on their way, so he had held her with less strength in a leisurely manner.

"Please forgive this servant; I will return to my quarters," she said, bowing, and turned to leave.

"Don’t you dare walk away from me, Luciana," he said authoritatively, but this time, Luciana didn’t obey.

"Watch me," she declared determinedly and continued to walk away.