The maid clicked her tongue in disgust. "How shameless. Not only does she slap you, she even talks back!"
"I AM talking back!" I snapped. "Because I'm RIGHT!"
The lady finally lowered her hand from her cheek and looked at me properly for the first time.
Her eyes… were strangely sharp under those long lashes.
Not the eyes of a delicate noblewoman.
More like—
a predator who had just spotted her next bit of entertainment.
She stepped closer, slow and elegant.
"You," she said softly, "are quite bold… for a commoner."
"I'm not bold— I'm ANGRY!" I shouted. "And I'm not a commoner, I—"
I choked on my own words.
…Oh no.
I almost revealed I'm the princess.
"N-No! I mean… I am! I'm totally common! Very common! Extremely poor and common!" I blabbered like a madwoman.
The maid stared at me as if I'd lost my mind.
The lady leaned in even closer, her face inches from mine.
"You saw something you shouldn't have," she whispered.
"And now… you think we will simply let you go?"
My whole body froze.
The maid drew a dagger from under her skirt.
I instinctively took a step back. "W-Wait—WAIT! Let's calm down—"
The lady's lips curled into a smile as she raised her knife and pointed it at my neck.
"And on top of that," she said, her voice sharp, "you dared to slap me… a noble! And yet here you are, sitting instead of kneeling and begging for your life!"
"You have a lot of courage, huh?!"
I instantly dropped to my knees. "I-I am so sorry, Your Lady! Please forgive this lowly commoner!"
The knife pressed lightly against my neck.
"I-I will do whatever you want, just please don't kill me!" I begged, heart hammering like it wanted to escape my chest.