# The Silent Loyalty
"Are you really not going to talk? I don't want to do this either. Just say you want to leave—that's all!"
Crack.
The whip screamed through the air and bit deep.
— Ugh.
"Do you need to see your own blood before you come to your senses? Even if you die here, no one will know! Not even your precious mistress! You'll die like a dog in a ditch!"
Neril kept her eyes narrowed as Jenna swung the whip again, breathing hard.
The girl didn't seem to understand that silence only stoked rage higher.
"Fine. Let's see how long you can keep your mouth shut."
Crack.
— Ugh.
Neril's groan was barely audible as the lash struck again.
"You're in this mess because you picked the wrong master. Such a loyal little knight!"
## That's right. My master.
Neril's thoughts drifted as she stared into empty space.
When the Princess had collapsed, blood streaming from her forehead, Neril's heart had seized in her chest.
Please be safe.
Would Her Highness even notice Neril was gone when she woke? Would she look for her?
Neril almost laughed at herself.
She wasn't gentle like the other maids. She didn't know how to flatter or charm. Medea disliked her for being terse, blunt, speaking out of turn.
It was foolish to imagine such vain hopes.
Precious Memory "Sister, are you sick? Dea will give you this. Don't cry."
A small hand offering a fern leaf. The Princess had been so young she probably didn't even remember.
But from that moment, Neril had decided to serve Medea for the rest of her life.
"How about you come serve under me?"
"Don't bother her anymore."
That day, Neril had caught the Princess's eye and been selected for the Royal Guard instead of being expelled from the palace entirely.
So she'd wanted to stay by Medea's side. To repay even a fraction of what she'd been given.
Will Her Highness survive the palace without me?
The thought spiraled into endless worry. The palace was a battlefield of ambition.
The Prince Regent, the Queen Mother, even the lowliest servants—all of them hoped the young Princess would crumble.
"If you keep this up, you're really going to die!"
Crack.
Neril's vision began to blur under the relentless strikes. She fought to keep her eyes open, to stay conscious.
A small figure appeared before her.
Is this goodbye? Is the Princess coming to... or is death finally here?
"Your Highness?"
But the vision didn't fade. It remained, solid and real.
Neril blinked.
Rescue "How did you get in here?!"
Jenna's startled voice sounded distant, muffled.
Bang!
The Princess snatched the whip from Jenna's hand and hurled it to the floor.
The dreamlike vision crystallized into reality.
"What are you doing!"
Jenna shouted without thinking, forgetting for a moment she was addressing royalty.
Then awareness crashed over her, and she felt a flash of panic—but no, this was only Medea. Harmless, foolish Medea.
She relaxed.
"That's what *I'm* asking."
The Princess's voice was colder than Jenna had ever heard it.
"Who gave you permission to take my maid and beat her?"
"No, Your Highness, you misunderstand. Wait—who let you in here?! Who is responsible for this?"
As Jenna's panicked voice rose, the Princess turned to the maid hovering behind her.
"Bring Neril to me."
The maid hesitated.
Everyone who worked in the royal palace knew Jenna was a confidant of Madame Cuisine, the head maid. Cross Madame Cuisine, and you'd find yourself scrubbing chamber pots in the coldest wing of the palace—if you were lucky enough to keep your position at all.
"Now."
But Medea held the maid's leash at this moment. Even half-hearted royalty was still royalty.
Displease the Princess, and you'd be dismissed entirely. Better to endure some hardship than lose a position that paid gold coins during lean times.
The maid made her choice.
The maid hurried over and helped Neril to her feet.
Neril's condition was wretched. It was a miracle she was still breathing after being whipped for half a day straight.
— Ugh.
"Oh my God."
The maid gasped when she felt Neril's right arm—it hung at an unnatural angle, the elbow grotesquely swollen.
"Haa."
Medea took in Neril's state and let out a slow breath.
"You think you can take whoever you please? You! Put her back down!"
Jenna glared daggers at the maid.
"Then answer me."
Medea's voice cut through the room.
"Who authorized this punishment?"
"That's—"
Jenna flinched under Medea's gaze. Those green eyes glittered with something sharp and cold.
Medea had slain countless demonic beasts and lesser dragons. She'd survived the brutal struggle for the imperial throne and navigated the Empire's deadly political intrigues.
Even trapped in this young body, even returned to the past, the predator's instinct honed through fire and blood remained.
What kind of child has eyes that look like they could devour you whole? Did the Princess always have this... presence?
Jenna couldn't remember. She'd always seen Medea with her head bowed, eyes downcast.
"Take her out."
Jenna's shoulders trembled involuntarily, like prey before a beast. She clenched her fists and forced her voice to work.
"N-no! Where do you think you're going?!"
Servants who followed Jenna, along with others drawn by the commotion, gathered in clusters along the corridor.
But none of them dared step forward, cowed by the intensity radiating from the Princess.
"You can't leave!"
When no one came to her aid, Jenna grew desperate. She moved to physically block the Princess's path.
The Head Maid At that moment—
"Your Royal Highness, what is the meaning of this disgraceful scene?"
A delicate hand retrieved the whip from the floor and returned it to Jenna.
Madame Cuisine. The head maid.
Despite lacking noble blood and having somewhat limited experience in palace service, she held the highest position overseeing the inner palace.
Behind her rise stood Medea's uncle, Duke Claudio.
She became my uncle's hands and feet, along with the Minister of Palace Affairs. Without those two, my uncle could never have controlled the palace.
This woman had made Medea's life in the royal palace a living nightmare.
"Your Highness, we will see the girl returned to you safely. You've only just risen from your sickbed—you mustn't overexert yourself."
The head maid spoke as though to a simpleton, not even waiting for Medea's response. She was already gesturing for servants to escort the Princess away.
"What are you waiting for? Attend Her Highness back to her chambers."
"Madame Cuisine."
Medea's voice rang clear.
"Why did you take my maid without my knowledge and have her beaten?"
The head maid paused, eyebrows rising.
"Whipping someone without a fair trial or investigation. Since when has the royal family been so lawless?"
The head maid's expression flickered with surprise.
This was the first time the timid Princess—who could be swayed by a single maid's opinion—had raised her voice.
"Your Highness, I am honored by your concern."
Madame Cuisine's tone remained respectful, but condescension dripped from every word.
"However, before she is your maid, she is a servant under my jurisdiction. As chief servant to Valdina's bloodline, I must properly discipline those in my care."
She met Medea's gaze without flinching.
"Neril was not only negligent in her duties to Valdina's royal line, she caused injury to Your Highness. Her offense is grave indeed."
The head maid sighed, as though explaining something obvious to a particularly slow child.
"We servants serve Valdina's bloodline above all else. We can only do what we believe is best. Does that answer satisfy Your Highness?"
Though she spoke of servitude, the mockery in her eyes was unmistakable.
Alas, God is sometimes unfair. Why must someone as capable and dutiful as myself bow to such an idiot?
"Well then, escort Her Highness back to her chambers."
"Madame Cuisine."
"*Yes*, Your Highness?"
The sigh was audible, barely concealed irritation.
"How strange your words sound."
Medea spoke quietly to the woman who stood there bristling with impatience.
"You've mentioned serving Valdina's bloodline repeatedly."
"Yes. It is my duty as a servant of the royal family."
"But as you well know, there is not just one person of Valdina blood in this palace."
The head maid went still, staring at Medea.
The girl who had lain unconscious for days now gazed back with eerily clear eyes.
"There's my grandmother, the Queen Mother. My uncle, Prince Claudio. My great-aunt, Princess Lorraine. My uncle by marriage, Monte. And all their children—you couldn't count them on two hands."
Medea's face remained expressionless.
"Tell me, is there any servant in the world who can truly serve so many masters?"
Silence.
"Let me ask you directly, Madame Cuisine."
To whom is your loyalty pledged?
Which of Valdina's many bloodlines do you truly serve?
End Chapter 2 ## The Silent Loyalty
"Loyalty cannot be divided. Choose wisely."
[ Continue to Chapter 3 ]