The maids wondered if alcohol had accidentally been mixed into the tea, such was the nature of Selina’s words. Even for a favored consort, the comments she just made were too risky to ignore.

No matter who was listening, caution was always necessary. Those serving in the Empress’s palace could turn their backs at any moment, and the head maid, well-versed in court politics and long-serving in the palace, knew this all too well. She approached Selina carefully yet firmly.

“Even in private, one must maintain respect for Her Majesty the Empress. And speaking ill of others’ misfortunes, especially within the palace, is dangerous.”

“I should make things clear this time. The Countess of Derrent’s daughter, wasn’t it?” Selina inquired.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the head maid replied.

“Still unmarried, from a fallen house, and only in the palace due to the Empress’s grace.”

A vein throbbed on the head maid’s forehead. What was Selina made of, knowing all yet still probing? There was nothing more frightening than malice wrapped in innocence. Selina, radiating a transparent but sinister gleam, crossed her legs and sat comfortably.

“This time, let’s make it clear. Are you the Empress’s person, or mine?”

“Yours, Your Highness,” the head maid replied hesitantly.

“Then you’ll follow my command.”

Selina glanced at her disdainfully and set down her empty teacup. She gestured for the head maid to pour more tea.

Silently, the head maid filled the cup. Tension permeated the air. Selina, glaring at the filled cup, suddenly pushed it off the table.

The cup shattered noisily, the deep color of the tea seeping into the floor. The maids glanced at each other, hesitating to call for a cleaner.

“No need. Clean it up yourself,” Selina commanded.

The head maid, recalling her past duties for the royal family, stooped to pick up the shards. But in an instant, Selina stood up and stepped on the maid’s hand.

“Aah!”

A scream filled the Empress’s palace. The white floor stained with blood and tea. The maids turned pale and hesitated to approach the head maid.

“All of you would suffer the same fate if you help!” Selina threatened, causing the maids to back away.

With the cup shards embedded in her hand, the head maid looked pitiful. Watching the scene, Selina sat back with a mocking smile.

“This hand can no longer serve me. I’ll need a new head maid. I’ll speak to His Majesty directly.”

“Then, as my last words, I have something to say,” the head maid uttered through her pain.

“What is it?”

“Your current power is not of your making, but given by another. Remember, careless wielding will eventually strangle you.”

Bleeding, the head maid walked out alone. Her composed exit left Selina staring blankly. In a fit of rage, Selina threw another teacup to the ground.

“Don’t stop me! You’re all the same. You think I don’t know you share the same thoughts as her? Everyone looks down on me and my family. They say the Diobe house, having sold out the country, is now trying to rise again by selling its daughter!”
The maids tried to intervene, but Selina thrashed about in a near-frenzy, pushing them away. Raw anger burst from her as she turned her head sharply.

“At least my father and I are better than those who stab in the back and gossip. Right? Even if it seems mercenary, at least we are loyal to His Majesty, in body and soul!”

The maids, covering their mouths with their hands, trembled. In their short lives at the palace, they had never witnessed such a moment of madness. Selina grabbed a few flowers from a vase and swung them towards the maids.

“This is the result. The flowers surrounding me, the tea before you. It’s the power I’ve gained through my efforts. No one can look down on me, no one!”

Well-groomed and existing like a single, beautiful flower, she must have caught the Emperor’s eye through her efforts. It was love earned through hard work. A world built on love was solid, unbreakable.

As long as Claudius existed, Selina’s power would be eternal.

Gradually regaining her composure, Selina noticed the maids, still terror-stricken, looking for cues on what to say or do next.

Her gaze fell on the blood and tea-stained floor. Surprisingly, she smiled starkly at the eerie stains.

“The floor’s dirty. Go call someone to clean it.”

The maids couldn’t wait to escape the room. As their hurried footsteps faded, Selina lifted her head. The room, now filled with the scent of flowers, was again hers alone.

“It was inevitable,” she muttered, justifying herself. The reasons behind the head maid’s departure and her wielding of power felt natural. It had to be so.

Staring at the red stains, Selina sat back down and calmly poured herself another cup of tea. The still-warm beverage was placed before her again.

“…An interesting idea just came to mind.”

It was a new maid. Iliad put down her pen and turned her head.

“Her Highness the Empress has invited you,” the maid said.

“The Empress?”

“Yes. She wishes for your company this afternoon for tea and conversation.”

“Understood. Tell her I will attend.”

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.