Chapter 169: Live to Sienna Pt.169 Seed

SEED

“I don’t know why I’m craving such sweet food these days.”

While agonizing over her craving, Sienna took a bite of a meringue cookie made with foamed egg whites and honey. The crunchy yet sweet texture made her feel good.

At that time, Hain called her urgently.

“Your Majesty! Shaylin is said to have gone to the Empress Arya’s residence again.”

“Really?”

Sienna was glad that she asked Hain to notify her if Shaylin was called by Empress Arya again.

Sienna jumped up from her seat. This time, she decided to be hard on Arya. How could she bully her own person like this?

‘Shaylin is still young and small, there’s not a spot on her to hit.’

Sienna led the knights to her palace.

Knights guarding the gate blocked Sienna. She was angry at the sight of them blocking the empress, but Sienna tried hard to contain her anger.

“I’m here to see the Empress.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“I’ve heard that one of my maids has been called here. So isn’t it the same as the empress calling me?”

“That’s not an appointment.”

The knight stood firmly in the way of Sienna. It was not until after a long scuffle that Arya told him to let her in that the knight stepped aside.

Entering the palace through the door, Sienna looked at him one more time. He was a man who made her feel uncomfortable even though he didn’t look fierce. Sienna thought she felt that way because he belonged to Arya.

As Sienna entered the guest room, Shaylin stood in front of Arya as she thought. Shaylin looked back at Sienna with a very frightened look on her face. Arya provoked Sienna who was looking at her.

“What are you doing in my place? You didn’t even ask for permission to visit.”

“I didn’t come here because I wanted to.”

“Is that so?”

The eyes of Sienna and Arya clashed. Arya had a smiling face, but she had a cold look, and Sienna glanced at her with a fiery gaze, not hiding her discomfort.

Shaylin, who was caught in the middle of it, was at a loss of what to do. How scared she was, her hands and jaws shook to the point where it was visible to others.

“May I ask why Shaylin is here? No, I must ask. Why is my maid here?”

Huff- Arya laughed as if she was dumbfounded. Sienna’s expression became fiercer.

“Oh! Was she a maid of Empress Sienna?”

“Yes. You didn’t know that and you brought her here and scolded her?”

“What do you mean? I was just talking.”

Sienna got even angrier as she recalled the wound behind Shaylin’s neck. It was just a conversation. Sienna even thought that she wanted to do what Arya said was a “talk” to Arya herself. Arya continued as if she felt Sienna’s murderous vibe.

“Why? Are you trying to strangle me again?”

“Well, I’ve never strangled the Empress, but there’s nothing I can’t do if you want.”

The incident was nullified thanks to Carl. Sienna didn’t care if Arya took issue with it. No, it didn’t matter if Carl didn’t cover it up. She could strangle Arya’s tiny neck right away.

“You really are a scary person. Even if you’re a scoundrel, not an empress, I’d believe it.”

“You really have guts. Are you putting the empress of the Empire on the same line as scoundrels?”

Sienna bawled at Arya. Although Arya was the eldest and higher rank than Sienna, the current empress’ authority was ahead of the old empress because of the empire’s priority on the emperor’s authority.

“Oh! I’m scared. Should I at least bow down and apologize?”

“I wouldn’t accept if you apologize. Get down on your knees under my feet and try to bow down.”

Sienna’s words crumpled Arya’s face, who was keeping a smirk on her face until then.

Sienna provoked Arya even though she knew nothing good would come out of it. Whenever Sienna met with Arya, she became filled with anger.

Until now, Sienna has been holding back as much as she could because she thought she could make a mistake if she acted recklessly, but today she couldn’t contain herself well.

“…”

Sienna thought Arya would yell at her and swing her nails, but she didn’t. Arya calmly recovered her smile. Then he bowed slightly to Sienna and apologized.

“I apologize for bringing the Empress’ person without permission.”

Arya did not kneel down and bow her head as Sienna said, but this amount of apology was enough. If Sienna were to question Arya further, Sienna’s reputation would worsen.

Sienna wished that Arya rather had lost her reason and attacked. Sienna was not satisfied but received her apology.

“It’s all right. I also apologize for questioning the Empress without asking her why.”

The two apologized to each other out of courtesy. But everyone in this room knew that they were not truly apologizing.

Sienna and Arya were like wild cats looking to bite each other’s necks. The toenails were hidden, but the glare still remained.

“May I ask why you brought my maid?”

“She spilled water on my clothes.”

“If you threw away your clothes because of my maid, I’ll apologize instead. I wish you had told me when it happened. It would have made sense for me, her owner, to educate her, rather than to call her every time and admonish her.”

Arya did not immediately answer Sienna’s words but stared at her.

“Empress Sienna… you must have a strong faith in her.”

“There’s no reason why I can’t trust my own person.”

“Hahaha, she must be very clever. If she can blur Empress Sienna’s vision and stay by her side.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“She’s a very snake-like bitch. She’s a woman who can always wrap herself around her owner’s neck and spit out venom. I was just calling and admonishing her because I thought it would be hard for Empress Sienna to handle.”

At Arya’s words, Sienna shook her head. She knew that Arya was talking away to plant a seed of doubt in herself.

This will drive a wedge between her and Shaylin. It was clear that Arya planned to plant one of her people in the position if Sienna kicked Shaylin out. It was a tactic that was often used before.

In the past, everyone around Sienna was Arya’s people. Only later did she find out that Arya convinced Sienna by saying that some of her maids were making bad rumors, and she introduced others to fill the spot. Arya organized Sienna’s surroundings so that she could easily handle her.

This would not be the same as in the past.

“There is a saying in a faraway country. Only stray dogs only see other strays.”

Arya’s forehead was crumpled by Sienna’s words. She opened her mouth for a counterattack.

“There’s also a saying that a dog bites its owner’s hand. I warned you, what kind of bitch that is. I’m sure Empress Sienna is the judge.”

“I’m not going to kick out Shaylin.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“No way. I’ll never regret it.”

As Sienna spoke decisively, Arya burst out laughing as if she was having fun.

“I hope you continue to believe so. Until the end.”

Sienna got out of there holding Shaylin’s hand. Arya’s laughter leaked out to the door.

“Are you all right?”

“…yes, I’m sorry.”

Shaylin was still looking down. It would be a natural response because she had been bullied by evil Arya for a long time. Sienna held her hand tight and said, “You must have been having a hard time, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry.”

“How did it happen anyway?”

“While carrying a vase, I accidentally spilled water on her clothes.”

“That’s what happened and you’ve been bullied? I’ve seen a scar on your neck before…”

“I accidentally ruined the Empress’ clothes…”

Sienna was angry because she thought it was not a big mistake to ruin only one of her clothes. She seemed to be lecturing Shaylin with a whip because she likes to use a whip when lecturing her subordinates.

“How long has this been going on for? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry the Empress.”

“Now the empress won’t bother you anymore. You must have been very shocked. You’d better go to the dorm and rest instead of working today.”

Sienna said, embracing Shaylin, who was shivering.

“It’s all right.”

“I’ll tell Hain, so go back and rest right away.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Whatever it was that made her sorry, Shaylin kept saying sorry. Sienna comforted her shoulders and sent her to her quarters first.

“How did Shaylin get into trouble with Empress Arya? She wouldn’t have any reason to stop by the empress’ palace…”

Sienna nodded at the suspicious words of Hain. Sienna used to think Shaylin was just a little timid girl, but she seemed to have a lot of secrets. She didn’t mean to throw Shaylin out as Arya wanted, but she thought she must find out what the secret Shaylin had was.