Mutual Accusations in the Imperial Study
Reid Donovan watched, stressed, as his guards escorted a group of beleaguered bailiffs. "Princess," he said, looking completely lost, "where are we supposed to lock these guys up?"
The Capital Inspector gig the Emperor had given her was supposed to be a ceremonial title, nothing more. Who knew the princess would actually take it seriously? Now they didn't even have a proper office, and they sure as hell couldn't lock people up in Ashworth Manor.
Cassidy Sterling, perched on her little donkey, just waved them all forward. "Let's go! To the palace!"
Reid had no idea what she was planning, but he didn't have much of a choice. He just sighed and led the prisoners after her.
The palace gates were, of course, under tight security, so Cassidy left the prisoners at the entrance with a few guards from the manor to watch over them. Then, with Auspicious and As-Desired in tow, she strolled toward the Imperial Study like she owned the place.
Just as she reached the entrance, she nearly collided with an old man storming out. Cassidy, a firm believer in respecting her elders, opened her mouth to say hello, but the man just let out a loud, angry huff in her direction before pushing past her and marching away.
Cassidy stared after him, completely baffled. "Whoa, what's his problem?"
She racked her brain. Was he some old enemy she was supposed to remember? But what kind of beef could a teenage girl possibly have with a grumpy old man like that?
*Host, don't worry,* the System chimed in. *There's no way he can beat you in a fight.*
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Do all you systems just encourage your hosts to throw down like this?"
*Aren't we supposed to be the villains?* the System replied. *What else are villains supposed to do?*
Cassidy was at a loss for words. At this point, she was pretty sure this wasn't a Villain System. It was a Violence System.
As-Desired gave her a weird look. "Princess, aren't we going in?"
Cassidy adopted a mysterious, all-knowing expression. "No rush," she said coolly. "Let's let the bullets fly a little first."
Auspicious and As-Desired just traded a confused glance, having no idea what she was talking about.
The System, however, was practically vibrating with curiosity. *Host, have you figured out a plan to take that old man down?*
Cassidy wasn't about to admit she was just stalling at the door, trying to workshop the perfect comeback for the argument she knew was waiting for her.
Based on that guy's reaction, he was obviously in there complaining about her.
The only problem was, she had no idea what she'd done to piss him off in the first place.
Sure enough, an outraged voice soon drifted out from the study.
"Your Majesty, that... that Princess Solana! Today, she bought a massive mansion in Argent, five courtyards, a garden, a lake view, for *fifty thousand dollars*! And then she had the nerve to tell the shopkeeper to send the bill to *my* house for payment! To Bradford House!
I've never witnessed such audacity!"
the old man wailed. "This is outrageous! Completely outrageous!"
The Emperor's voice rose a few octaves in disbelief. "Are you telling me Solana bought a mansion and had the bill sent to your house?"
The Minister of Revenue shakily held up the bill. "Your Majesty, you must hold her accountable!"
The Emperor rubbed his temples and signaled for Steward Payne to bring him the invoice.
*Host,* the System announced, *that old guy is the Minister of Revenue. And one of the men you arrested? That's his brother-in-law.*
"I heard," Cassidy muttered.
The System was practically buzzing, unable to wait for the drama to unfold. *Host, go! It's our time to shine.*
Cassidy's mouth twitched. "I'm a poor, sweet, innocent girl who got caught in an apocalypse before I even finished college. You want me to go up against a crafty old politician? Are you trying to get me killed?"
*Host, don't be scared. We have a sniper rifle. If you have to, you can set it up and take him out.*
"The sniper rifle doesn't have any bullets."
*Host, what are you even good for?!*
While they were bickering, an angry roar echoed from inside the study. "Solana! Get in here, now!"
The Emperor, having just finished reading the bill, was already livid. The sight of the culprit peeking around the doorframe made his blood pressure skyrocket.
Cassidy ducked low, snuck into the room, and then, with the most innocent look she could manage, knelt right beside the fuming Minister of Revenue.
The Emperor threw the bill down at her feet. "Explain yourself. What is this?"
Cassidy rubbed her nose. "I just bought an office. Imperial Uncle, since you didn't give me any staff or a place to work, I had to find one myself."
Seeing this little troublemaker had the nerve to blame *him*, the Emperor almost laughed from pure rage. "So why did you charge it to the Minister of Revenue?"
Cassidy put on a hurt expression. "I wanted to put it on your tab, Imperial Uncle, but Auspicious and As-Desired said no one would dare sell me the mansion if I did. I had no choice! Besides, isn't the Minister of Revenue in charge of the national treasury?"
She spread her hands. "I figured, since I'm doing work for the Imperial Court, and you're so busy you must have forgotten to give me a budget, I'd just handle it myself instead of bothering you.
Who knew the Minister of Revenue would come crying to you about it without even getting the facts straight?"
The Emperor and the Minister had probably brainstormed a dozen reasons why she might have done this, but they never could have predicted one so completely out of left field.
Exhausted, the Emperor massaged his temples. "Does the Capital Inspection Bureau really need a mansion bigger than the Magistrate's Court?" He was already deeply regretting giving her an official position.
Cassidy nodded earnestly. "Of course. The chief magistrate and I both manage the affairs of Argent. Why does he get such a big place, while I, the Capital Inspector, can't?"
The Emperor choked. He had to bite back the urge to yell, *You have a ceremonial title, and you're comparing yourself to someone with actual power?*
"Then why didn't you file a formal request before buying it?" he demanded.
Cassidy just scratched her head. "How do I file a formal request?"
Nobody had ever taught her. And how was he supposed to start explaining that whole bureaucratic process to her now?
The Minister of Revenue grew nervous when he saw the Emperor wasn't immediately punishing the princess.
"Your Majesty! The princess's position is just a title! Why go through all this trouble to buy a new mansion? The national treasury is tight right now; doesn't this kind of spending go against our policy of cutting costs?"
That did it. Cassidy was so mad she nearly jumped to her feet.
"Just a title? Are you dissing me, the Capital Inspector? This princess arrested a corrupt official on my very first day on the job! How is that 'just a title'?"
She whipped around to face the Emperor on his Dragon Throne.
"Your Majesty, I have a report to make, too! I want to report the Minister of Revenue for extortion and bribery!"
A flicker of interest appeared in the Emperor's eyes as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"
The Minister of Revenue went pale. He dropped to his knees, his voice urgent. "Princess! You... you're slandering me! Those are baseless accusations! Have you no respect for the law?"
Cassidy crossed her arms, a smug look on her face. "This princess has plenty of evidence, unlike some people who just run their mouths." With that, she turned back to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, the witnesses are right outside the palace gates!"
The Emperor glanced at Steward Payne, who got the message immediately and whispered to an attendant to bring them in.
Cassidy then nodded at Auspicious, who pulled a thick stack of papers from her sleeve, written testimonies from the bailiffs and common folk. The pile was so thick it landed on the floor with a heavy *thud*, silencing the room.
Seriously, who has a stack of testimony as thick as a brick?