"Again?"
Liana, who had just finished dinner with everyone, paused in the hallway before the stairs. Gloria and the others were standing at the bottom of the staircase, glancing toward the area where Liana stood with Juria, who was now bowing in a respectful, nervous posture.
Juria kept her eyes fixed on the floor, fidgeting slightly as she averted Liana’s serious face.
"I... I’m sorry, Miss Liana... but... the patient... umm... requests your presence... again."
Liana rolled her eyes and let out a weary exhale before biting her lower lip and glaring hard at her.
"What is it she wants this ti?"
Juria shivered, feeling the weight of Liana’s gaze even though Liana hadn’t done anything overtly threatening.
"U... um... she said... she has sothing she urgently... umm... wants to ask. She says she needs to... umm... confirm sothing with you, Miss Liana."
Liana let out another long exhale and crossed her arms, shaking her head.
"That’s what Kalea said before. Saying she needed to confirm sothing, and yet when I got there, all she did was chat. Sigh... what a troubleso patient." Liana pinched the bridge of her nose.
anwhile, Gloria, standing at a distance, just smirked.
Felicia leaned in and whispered to her. "Big Sis Liana is scary. Look at how nervous that girl is."
"Oh, hush, Felicia. That’s just how Liana always is."
Mimi tilted her head. "Nya? Isn’t it the sa with you, Nee-sama? Back at the Royal Palace, you were always strict about rules, regulations, and everything. Even the maids’ dresses had to be perfect, or you’d scold them."
Felicia widened her eyes and glared at Mimi. "I don’t think I was that bad..."
Mimi giggled, running around to hide behind Gloria’s back while sticking her tongue out at Felicia. "Nyaaa~ You were always like that!"
She puffed out her chest, mimicking Felicia’s posture and tone with exaggerated seriousness.
"’That maid’s dress is improperly pressed! The hem is crooked! And you there! Soldier! Your armor is dull! Do you think shining the tal every morning is optional? It is a reflection of your discipline!’"
Felicia’s eye twitched. Her expression shifted from annoyance to sothing far more regal, the cold, practiced authority of a princess who had spent years enforcing order.
She stepped forward, her voice dropping into a asured, aristocratic tone, each word precise as a blade.
"Let us be perfectly clear, Mimi. A royal household does not function on goodwill and good intentions alone. It functions on discipline. When a maid presents herself before the throne with a wrinkled collar and dust upon her hem, she does not rely embarrass herself, she insults the crown she serves. When a soldier’s armor bears a single tarnish, it signals to every foreign envoy that our standards have slipped. That we are lax. That we are complacent."
She took a breath, her chin lifting.
"And I shall not permit such complacency under my watch. The Beastkin Royal Palace did not earn its reputation through leniency. It earned it through excellence. Every fold of fabric, every polished buckle, every precisely asured bow, these are not trivialities. They are the threads that weave the dignity of a nation. To neglect them is to unravel that dignity, thread by thread, until nothing remains but chaos and sha."
She glare at mimi who now hiding behind gloria.
"And you, Mimi. Don’t forget you are also a princess. The youngest daughter of our proud father and mother, who are also a cherished friend of our future father-in-law. The way you speak, the way you carry yourself, it reflects not just on you, but on our entire family. A princess must embody grace, poise, and dignity in every word and gesture. She does not slouch, she does not whine, and she certainly does not hide behind others when confronted. She stands tall, speaks with grace, and ets every gaze with the dignity her title demands."
She paused, brushing down the sleeve of her long princess-styled pajamas in a proper, refined manner.
"Just look at how the Armand maids, staff, soldiers, and officers carry themselves. Everyone we have t in the Armand Estate conducts themselves with discipline and pride. Their uniforms are immaculate, their manners are flawless, and their dedication is unwavering. They do not need constant reminders because they hold themselves to the highest standard. That is what I expect from myself. And that is what I expect from those around ."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Just look at our Big Sis Liana. And Gloria. See how they carry themselves with grace and authority. They do not need to raise their voices to command respect. Their presence alone demands it."
She paused, her gaze steady.
"So yes. I was strict. And I make no apology for it. Because a princess who does not hold her household to the highest standard is no princess at all, but rely a girl wearing a crown she has not earned. And as a future wife of the Prince of Armand, it is our duty to uphold that standard, not just for ourselves, but for the honor of our husband and the nation he will one day lead."
Mimi blinked, slowly retreating further behind Gloria, peeking out slightly while averting Felicia’s serious face.
"Mou! I was just saying, nya! No need to be that strict..."
Gloria chuckled softly and shook her head.
"It’s been so long since we saw that side of you, Felicia. The real princess of the Beastkin Royal Palace."
Just as Felicia was about to continue, Liana arrived and stood in front of them, letting out a soft exhale.
"Gloria, you and the others go rest first."
"Hmm?" Gloria tilted her head and glanced at Liana. "You’re not going to sleep?"
"Not yet. That girl is requesting again. I wonder what she wants this ti."
Gloria smiled and shook her head.
Liana tilted her head in confusion when she saw Mimi hiding behind Gloria. She then turned her glance toward Mimi before letting out another long exhale.
"Felicia?"
Felicia turned and bowed gracefully. "Yes, Big Sis?"
"Don’t bicker too much, and please try to relax a little. I prefer the usual, softer Felicia we know from the day you joined our family."
Felicia smiled, her expression softening. "I will try my best, Big Sis. Old habits die hard, but I’ll rember to be more... relaxed."
"Mm, good. I’m going to the next building, so you all head upstairs first, okay?"
"Mm... we’ll be going now, Liana."
"Mm..." Liana glanced around. "Where’s Young Master?"
"Ah? Him?" Gloria chuckled softly. "He said he wanted to check on Buddy. When we offered to join, he said not to worry, it wouldn’t take long."
"This late?" Liana’s eyes widened before she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sigh. Young Master is always like that. He really can’t sleep unless he sees his Pekko at least once before bed. It’s like a daily ritual for him." She paused. "So where’s Delya?"
Gloria smiled. "She was choosing a chocolate jar that Lady Mother showed her. Perhaps she’s still chatting with her over hot chocolate."
"Oh. Okay. I’m going now. Don’t wait for . I’ll check on Young Master first before heading to see that girl."
( End Of Chapter )
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