The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 48

She was not the type of woman to swallow mistreatment in silence and suffer alone.

Besides, this entire manor rightfully belonged to her.

"Come, let's take a walk and see what else we can find."

Celia felt a strange surge of anticipation. Could her mistress really unearth more jewelries?

However, Lucia's first destination was the manor's kitchens.

She had woken late today, and the hour for breakfast had long passed.

But what did that matter?

When Lucia arrived at the kitchens, the cooks and kitchen maids were eating their own morning meal. The servants only rested and ate after the masters had been served.

Between bites, they gossiped, and the center of their chatter was none other than Lucia.

"Do you think the Lady will cause a real scandal, ordering us to torment Lady Lucia like this?"

For years, the entire household had believed Lucia was Lady Beaumont's biological daughter. But seeing the outright cruelty now, who could believe they were true mother and daughter?

"The Lady said there's nothing to fear, so we're fine. This is Beaumont Manor, and the Lady rules it. Even if Lady Lucia is betrothed to Prince Jareth, the wedding is a year away. This is still her maiden family. If she dares to alienate them, she'll have no backing when she moves into the Prince's Estate."

Listening from the doorway, Celia let out a cold, mocking laugh.

Given how House Beaumont had behaved over the last two days, they would be lucky not to drag her mistress down, let alone support her!

Their mistress was a woman of terrifying power!

"And just how did Lady Beaumont instruct you to torment me?"

Lucia strolled into the bustling kitchen, her tone light and conversational.

The cooks and maids jumped in fright.

Matron Cassia fumbled her wooden bowl. It hit the stone floor with a clatter, shattering and spilling half a bowl of sweetened almond milk everywhere.

A faint, sugary scent filled the air.

Lucia glanced at the mess and abruptly laughed.

Celia sprang into action. Her hands moved like lightning, delivering a flurry of resounding slaps across the faces of the nearest servants.

"We didn't spit in your food!" Matron Cassia sobbed, tears spilling down her cheeks as she cried innocence.

But beside her, a scrawny, dark-haired maid suddenly turned pale and sprinted for the back door.

She was the one who had spat in the food.

But she had done it with her back turned! No one had seen her!

None of the kitchen staff had seen her, let alone anyone in the Sunstone Pavilion.

How could Lucia possibly know?

"Celia, stop her."

Celia's reaction was instantaneous. She reached out, clamped her hand around the maid's collar, and yanked her violently backward into the center of the room.

"Was it you?"