Chapter 441: I Want To Meet Your Master

Chapter 441: I Want To Meet Your MasterOriana stepped into the Queen’s chamber and found the Queen seated at the edge of her bed, visibly displeased as she reprimanded someone. "Leave. I have no desire to see you."

"Your Majesty, please try to compose yourself," the woman facing her responded politely, but it seemed to irk the Queen.

"You... Go away," the Queen snapped, but her tone changed when she noticed Oriana’s presence. "O-Oriana?" She was visibly surprised.

Oriana remained composed and directed her attention to the woman standing before the Queen. This woman, named Karla, still appeared calm and gracefully bowed to Oriana. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Oriana’s countenance remained cool as she addressed Karla, "As expected, I find you here, Karla."

The Queen quickly regained her composure and adopted a serene facade. "Oriana, how did you come here? My attendants didn’t inform me..."

Oriana shifted her gaze from Karla to Julien. "Are you upset, Your Majesty, that I entered without prior notice?"

The Queen managed curve her lips into a smile. "Not at all, my dear. I just didn’t anticipate you visiting at a moment when I was a bit agitated with my attendant."

"May I inquire, Your Majesty, what your attendant did to upset you so that I may punish her on your behalf?" Oriana redirected her gaze toward Karla. "You won’t mind if I punish you instead of Her Majesty, do you?"

Karla was well aware of Oriana’s sharp tongue and hesitated to respond, looking toward the Queen. However, Oriana continued, "I do not need to ask your permission even if I wish to discipline a lowly servant like you, so you need not trouble yourself with an answer."

Julien, looking at Oriana, interjected, "It’s alright. It wasn’t a significant issue. I will handle it."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Oriana acknowledged. "I came here to discuss something of great importance, so I won’t waste my time on this servant."

"Alright," the Queen agreed, her gaze turning cold as she looked at Karla. "You may leave."

Karla didn’t move. "Your Majesty, your health is not in the best state. I recommend you drink the tea I’ve prepared. It’s not advisable to jeopardize your health. You can converse with the Crown Princess later."

Oriana observed their exchange in silence.

The Queen’s expression grew colder, and she responded, "I am fine. I don’t need the tea."

"Your Majesty, you are aware of the consequences when you refuse this tea," Karla’s words were polite, but they carried a subtle warning that both the Queen and Oriana could discern.

The Queen pressed her lips together, and her hands unconsciously gripped the edges of the mattress. She took a deep breath to regain control of her emotions and addressed Oriana, "My dear, if you don’t mind, I need to take my medication and rest. Can you return later?"

"Of course, I don’t mind, Your Majesty, as your well-being is of the utmost importance," Oriana replied, turning her attention to Karla. "But as a physician, I must see what kind of medication you are taking."

"You’re a physician?" the Queen inquired, and Karla also glanced at her.

Oriana removed her veil, revealing her face and causing both the Queen and Karla to express shock.

"You..."

"Yes, Your Majesty, you’ve recognized me correctly. I am Orian, who used to serve as Prince Arlan’s personal aide. I was within the palace in the guise of a man, but I am also Oriana Verner, Prince Arlan’s betrothed."

"How..."

"I don’t have the time to explain everything at the moment, Your Majesty," Oriana remarked as she moved toward Karla. "So, what type of medication is this?"

"Her Majesty experiences bouts of agitation and struggles to maintain her composure, so this medication helps to stabilize her mental state. As a queen, she needs to maintain a calm and steady mind, so she can’t afford to miss this medication."

Oriana smirked and asked, "Do you take this medication regularly as well, Karla?"

Karla appeared puzzled, prompting Oriana to clarify, "You seem to remain unusually composed, even in the face of extreme provocation. It appears this is due to the effects of this medication."

"I do not need to take any medicine, Your Highness. As a servant, I am obligated to endure whatever comes my way from my masters. I have no right to lose my temper," Karla responded calmly.

"In that case, as you claim you can only endure what is imposed upon you, I ask you to take this medication."

Karla’s hands trembled upon hearing the request. "How can I..."

Julien looked at Oriana, unsure of her intentions but willing to see how it unfolded.

Oriana clearly noticed the scared reaction of Karla and smirked. "Because I am ordering you to," Oriana declared and then moved to sit beside the Queen. "Your Majesty, you don’t mind, do you?"

Julien shook her head. "Please, have a seat."

Oriana settled comfortably on the edge of the bed next to the Queen and glanced at Karla. "What are you waiting for?"

Karla turned her gaze to Julien. "Your Majesty..."

"Drink it, Karla," Oriana interjected, her patience wearing thin.

Karla remained immobile. "Your Majesty, you can’t afford to skip this. You know what would happen..."

Julien, who had been tense throughout, was on the verge of speaking up but found her hand covered by a gentle, warm palm, urging her to keep calm and offering comfort. Julien suddenly felt an infusion of strength and paid no heed to Karla’s warning.

Oriana rose from the bed and advanced toward Karla, and in the next instant...

Slap!

Slam!

A resounding slap reverberated through the chamber, followed by the cup of tea being violently smashed on the floor, its contents splattered across the ground. Karla’s cheek bore bright red fingerprints, evident on her slightly wrinkled skin.

"Oriana," the Queen gasped, taken aback by Oriana’s unexpected actions.

"Dare you disobey your mistress?" Oriana glared at Karla. "Dare you threaten your mistress under the guise of polite words? Do you wish to feed her what your true master commands?"

Karla was visibly shaken upon hearing these words and took a step back, facing an angry Oriana. "Your Highness, you are misunderstanding..."

Slap!

Another resounding slap landed on Karla’s cheek as Oriana growled, "This is for lying to my face again."

Karla remained unsure of how to respond to this young woman. "Your Highness, you are mistaken..."

Slap!

"This is for doubting my intelligence," Oriana spat out.

One could only say, whatever the situation, the narcism never left this woman.

Karla found herself at a loss for words and turned her gaze to the Queen, her eyes shooting daggers.

Slap!

"This is for ignoring my previous warning," Oriana declared. "Didn’t I caution you about threatening your mistress? How dare you raise your eyes and intimidate the Queen of this Kingdom?"

Karla felt her cheeks were on the verge of splitting apart from the force of each slap. Whether she said anything or not, this young arrogant Crown Princess would find a way to slap her. Her appearance started to be disheveled, with her hair tied in firm bun, had to loosen up.

"Kneel," Oriana ordered. "Your real mistress should witness how I handle her servant when she exceeds her boundaries."

Karla finally realized there was no point in resisting and retorted, "You will regret what you’re doing. My mistress will not spare you."

"Is that so?" Oriana chuckled. "Didn’t she mention last time who spared whom and how she fled with her tail between her legs?" With that, Oriana placed her hand on Karla’s shoulder and pressed her down, forcing her to kneel. She looked down at the servant and remarked, "And this is how you kneel."

Karla knelt on the floor, feeling utterly humiliated, and glared up at Oriana. "You will be gone soon. Why act so recklessly? My mistress will subject you to a painful death, and I’ll take pleasure in watching."

Oriana chuckled, "You’ve finally returned to your true self, haven’t you? It appears that even that medicine couldn’t help you maintain your facade of calmness."

Karla greeted her teeth, "My mistress..."

"Shut up," Oriana interrupted her and returned to sit beside the still-shocked Queen. Oriana offered an assuring glance to the Queen before turning her attention to Karla.

"Go and inform your mistress that I wish to meet with her."

Julien was taken aback by this request, while Karla smirked. "Do you believe you can meet her whenever you desire?"

"Indeed, I believe I can. Or do you think I would waste my breath conversing with trash like you instead of burying you alive in the ground?" Oriana retorted with ease. "Go and convey to her that if she wishes to see me on the night of the ’New Moon,’ she must meet me now, at this very moment. If you fail to relay my message to her, don’t blame me when your mistress encounters a catastrophic failure and punishes you. I imagine her method of punishment extends beyond mere slaps."

Oriana’s words brought back memories of Karla’s past punishments, and her own painful cries echoed in her mind.

"Still not leaving?" Oriana’s words snapped Karla back to the present.

Karla recognized the urgency and risk in this situation. "I will convey the message to my mistress."

"Leave then," Oriana ordered, and she observed Karla rising from her kneeling position. Out of habit, Karla bowed to the Queen and turned to exit. However, she heard Oriana’s voice call out, "Wait."

Karla halted and watched as Oriana approached her.

Slap!

"This is for ruining that beautiful scarf that Prince Arlan bought for his mother as a gift."

Karla could only clutch her cheek, gritting her teeth in response to the stinging sensation.

"Now you may leave," Oriana instructed, and she returned to Julien’s side.

Karla exited the chamber, leaving Oriana to sit beside the Queen, who remained baffled by the recent turn of events and Oriana’s ability to control Karla.

"Your Majesty, she has gone," Oriana spoke in a comforting tone. "I know you have concerns that force you to obey her, but I also know you are a strong woman."

Julien’s eyes filled with tears. She had numerous questions for Oriana about what she knew and how she had learned about Karla’s mistress. At this moment, though, tears were her only response to the comfort provided by Oriana.