How dare you use violence in front of me.

Without any fear.

I stared intently at Catherine.

Even though she knew I was looking at her, she continued to snap at Rosie.

Oddly enough, Catherine who struck looked more enraged than Rosie who was slapped.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m the First Consort now. I’m no longer someone the Second Consorts can speak informally to!”

“Oh, we’ve been speaking informally since childhood, so I forgot… I’ll be careful next time…”

Rosie had a dumbfounded expression at Catherine’s sudden slap.

Rosie apologized while holding her slapped cheek with both hands.

“What next? There is no next!”

Catherine glared and shouted loudly.

“If you understood what I said…”

Catherine’s hand slowly rose, then mercilessly struck Rosie’s cheek again.

“From now on!”

Slap-.

“Speak formally!”

Slap, slap!

With the last words, Catherine slapped both of Rosie’s cheeks alternately.

“Hoo, do you understand?”

Catherine’s violent tendencies were not very surprising.

But it was hard to watch her mistreat someone she had known her whole life in high society worse than a servant, just because she became the First Consort.

Even though Rosie was a lower-ranked consort, she was still officially the emperor’s consort. How could Catherine treat her so carelessly unless she was crazy?

Moreover, Catherine was intentionally ignoring my presence as the empress.

“Not going to answer?”

Catherine raised the hand she had just slapped with threateningly, displeased with Rosie’s hesitant attitude.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Lady Catherine…”

Rosie finally bowed her head and spoke formally to Catherine.

Rosie’s tears fell to the greenhouse floor.

Surely she’s not crying from pain after just a few slaps?

It sounded loud but didn’t seem that painful?

I looked at Rosie crying pitifully, then reconsidered.

I shouldn’t judge by my own standards.

Right, it’s not fair to compare the toughness of ordinary noble ladies to mine.

“That’s right, Rosie. If you had done that earlier, you wouldn’t have shown such an unsightly scene in front of Her Majesty the Empress.”

Catherine finally spoke with a satisfied expression.

“Catherine.”

I called her quietly in a rather solemn voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for startling you. But people who don’t know their place need to be taught like this.”

From Catherine’s expression, it seemed like she was saying it for me to hear.

“Tsk, tsk tsk… How could you slap someone’s cheek with such paper-thin hands.”

When I clicked my tongue rhythmically, Catherine’s eyes widened.

“What are you looking at.”

“Pardon?!”

“Not knowing your place.”

I said to Catherine with a smile.

Catherine’s confused eyes moved busily before she asked me.

“Your Majesty? What are you saying…!”

“Can you not reduce the size of your eyes a bit?”

“…My eyes?”

“Yes. I’m not someone you can stare at so openly either, am I?”

“Your Majesty, what on earth…!”

“Ah, reduce the size of that mouth too.”

I smiled at Catherine who was gaping with an incredulous expression.

Then I returned to a serious expression and recalled what Catherine had just done to Rosie, giving it right back to her.

“If one doesn’t know their place, it’s the virtue of those above to teach them even by hitting, and the duty of those below to realize even by being hit.”

“?”

“Do you agree?”

“Yes, that’s… Ack!”

Thud-!

In good conscience, I struck the side of Catherine’s head rather than her cheek.

Indeed, the sound of hitting the side of the head was much duller than slapping the cheek.

It’s not satisfying to hit.

But if I had slapped Catherine’s cheek, it would have swollen up instantly as if punched.

So I gently applied force to the side of her head, which wouldn’t show any swelling or bruising even if it did swell up.

And with my left hand at that.

Ah, I’m too soft-hearted, this is troublesome.

I clearly hadn’t put my full strength into my palm, yet Catherine who had been standing in front of me flew off to where her lady-in-waiting was.

How dare you swing your hand so carelessly when you fly off like a falling leaf in the wind?

“My lady, oh my! Are you alright?!”

Catherine’s lady-in-waiting caught her mistress as she flew towards her and collapsed.

I quietly observed Catherine, wondering if perhaps she was pretending to be fragile.

She seemed dazed, as if experiencing pain she had never felt before.

Well, when would a noble lady have ever felt such shock and pain?

She probably only ever slapped her own servants or slaves.

Rosie was frozen with a more shocked expression than when she herself had been slapped by Catherine.

I was slightly worried that this incident might make Rosie fear me, but even if so, it couldn’t be helped.

Seeing no movement from Catherine, I approached her wondering if perhaps she had fainted with her eyes open.

Catherine then frantically scooted backwards on her bottom, trying to increase the distance between us.

“Catherine. Thank me.”

“!”

Catherine looked up at me with terror-filled eyes.

“Thank me for striking your lacking head instead of your pretty face.”

“…Y-Your Majesty! You can’t do this to me!”

“I can’t? Why not?”

Catherine just chewed on her lower lip at my question.

I spoke in an utterly kind tone.

“Your sins were great.”

“What sins have I committed?”

“The sin of daring to raise your voice in front of me, whose mind and body are already so weak.”

“Huh? W-what are you saying?”

“The sin of slapping one of His Majesty’s women, and even frightening the greenhouse plants.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your crimes are quite varied, but I’ll let it slide lightly just for today.”

I straightened my slightly bent waist in front of Catherine and patted my back.

“Your Majesty is weak in mind and body?!”

Catherine shouted at me as if asking what nonsense I was spouting.

“Look, see how my hand trembles like this.”

I raised my left hand that had struck the side of Catherine’s head and shook it severely.

In truth, it was itching from holding back from hitting her more, but either way, my hand was indeed shaking.

“Huh?”

Catherine laughed in disbelief.

“Huh? Hu…uh?”

I stopped shaking my hand, clenched my fist, and looked down at Catherine with an emotionless gaze.

Catherine flinched and clung tightly to her lady-in-waiting’s arm.

“Should I forcibly pry open that square mouth of yours that only speaks harsh words, and stuff an apple in it?”

“How can you say such vulgar… no, such cruel things?”

“Vulgar? Cruel?”

“Saying vulgar was… a, a slip of the tongue.”

“It feels very strange to hear such words from someone who possesses both vulgarity and cruelty.”

“What do you mean I possess both of those things?”

Catherine flared up as if splattered with filth.

I shouted back at her heatedly.

“The cruelty! Did the First Consort not just demonstrate it through her eyes and actions?”

“…!”

Catherine glanced up at Rosie standing behind me, then seemed at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing.

“Do you not know that one can tear apart, scratch, and trample others through words, gazes, expressions, and movements? If so, then you are indeed vulgar.”

“I, I don’t understand what Your Majesty is saying.”

“Ah, did I strike your head too hard, stopping what little function it had? But I didn’t even hit that hard.”

“Are you trying to humiliate me in front of the servants?”

Catherine snapped venomously.

“No.”

“No? Clearly Your Majesty is humiliating me right now!”

I raised my hand again to stop Catherine’s words.

Well, sorry to say this, but

“You should speak correctly. I’ve been openly insulting you all this time. Not trying to humiliate you.”

“…Your Majesty, I will never forget today’s humiliation!”

Catherine said, her whole body trembling.

Anyone watching would think she was a loyal subject who lost her country.

“Just try to forget it!”

I immediately retorted, raising my voice just as she had.

“Then my hand will fly, not to the side of your head or cheek, but straight to your face.”

“Heok!”

Catherine’s eyes and mouth widened in shock.

I still have important things to say. It’s too early for such a breathless reaction.

Having no choice, I watched Catherine’s nostrils flare for a moment before continuing.

“Just as you sat down so hard on the floor, the day my fist flies straight to your face, that high nose of yours will also sit down!”

I spoke solemnly to Catherine, as if delivering words from an oracle, looking down at her.

“And that high nose will never rise again!”

Catherine quickly covered her nose with both hands.

“…H-how can you say such harsh things!”

Did I speak too much like a prophecy?

Catherine showed an unnecessarily strong belief in what I said, as if it might happen at any moment.

“I don’t want that to happen either. So Catherine, what should we do now?”

I gave her one last chance.

“I, I raised my voice in front of Your Majesty today. I will be… careful from now on.”

Catherine said, lowering her head slightly.

It was obvious she was apologizing reluctantly, but I got an apology in the end.

Catherine was gripping the skirt of her dress tightly, swallowing her anger.

“I’ll be watching from now on. I’ve started to like that upright nose of yours, so I hope you’ll manage it well.”

I added sincerely in a friendly voice, “You have a nose at just the right height to be knocked down.”

It was a compliment, in its own way.

I gave Catherine a warning look, then turned my head to soften my expression and look at Rosie.

“Rosie, let’s meet again later. We were talking about books earlier, weren’t we? I look forward to a long conversation next time.”

“I, it’s an honor, Your Majesty! I’m so sorry for causing you trouble today…”

Rosie gave me a grateful expression.

I gave her a brief smile, then turned to my ladies-in-waiting and said.

“Let’s return to the Empress’s Palace now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The ladies-in-waiting responded in chorus, louder than usual, and followed behind me.

I passed by Catherine, who was still sitting on the floor.

A moment later, Catherine’s voice wrapped around my body from behind like a chilling snake.

“Last night! You went too far!”

I turned back at Catherine’s voice full of resentment.

After I kindly sent Rinel to her bedroom, what is she saying?

I went too far?

“Catherine, what do you mean? I don’t remember doing anything to deserve such resentment from you.”

I asked in a monotone voice.

Catherine pressed her lips together for a moment, then seemed hesitant whether to speak to me or not.

She seemed conscious of Rosie in front of her.

Catherine finally broke the silence and opened her mouth.

“Yesterday… wasn’t it my first night?”

“And?”

“And… what do you mean? Your Majesty will have more nights with His Majesty than the consorts, but you shouldn’t have blocked at least the first night!”

Catherine’s proud face crumbled pitifully.

What on earth is she talking about?

“Are you saying His Majesty did not go to your palace last night?”

At my question, Catherine laughed hollowly as if she thought I was pretending not to know.

“Yes! He didn’t come.”

Catherine barely suppressed her anger as she replied.

“…I’m sorry to hear that. But I don’t know anything about it.”

Catherine tilted her head crookedly and put strength in her eyes, as if that couldn’t be true.

“Besides, wherever His Majesty goes is His Majesty’s heart. You must know that even though I’m the empress, it’s not something I can control at will?”

“Then where on earth did His Majesty yesterday…!”

Catherine lowered her head and muttered softly.

I wonder that too.

“Catherine, the floor is cold, so get up now.”

I showed an empress-like benevolent appearance, feeling a bit sorry for her.

Perhaps because of the slightly forceful tone, Catherine hesitated for a moment before starting to move her body.

“Uh… oh?”

Catherine tried to get up with her lady-in-waiting’s support, but sat back down on the floor.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry.”

My shoe was stepping on the skirt of Catherine’s dress.

Catherine looked like she wanted to ask if I had been stepping on her dress on purpose, but ultimately didn’t ask.

I was willing to answer honestly if she had asked.

“Here, take my hand.”

Feeling a bit sorry, I held out my hand to Catherine.

It was a hand extended out of consideration.

“Aaack!”

But Catherine screamed as if having a seizure, then

“…Did she faint?”

She collapsed onto the floor.

“My lady, my lady? Lady Catherine!”

Catherine’s lady-in-waiting held her in her arms and shook her vigorously.

“Tsk tsk, she must have been very tired waiting for His Majesty last night. Let her rest her eyes, don’t wake her.”

“Pardon? Ah, ye-yes… Your Majesty…”

“She’ll feel better after sleeping soundly in the greenhouse with its good air. Her senses will return too.”

Catherine’s lady-in-waiting looked up at me, her face turning pale as if she might faint soon too.

“Rosie, you should return to your palace now and put some ice on your face. There’s no need for you to stay here.”

I ordered Rosie, who was standing restlessly due to Catherine’s fainting.

“I, I will do so, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

I nodded to Rosie and was about to turn away when I looked down at the fainted Catherine again.

“To carelessly raise your hand against others. Someone who has probably never extended a warm hand to anyone in her life.”

At my words, Catherine’s closed eyes twitched.

So the fainting was an act.

I smirked at her poor acting skills and just turned away.

I wasn’t afraid of the aftermath of what happened in the greenhouse today.

However, I was afraid that the aftermath coming towards me would head in an unexpected direction.

Because I didn’t want Rinel to be troubled because of me.

As I left the greenhouse, I unconsciously looked up at the sky.

Dark clouds were rolling in over the clear sky.