The Fourth Princess Suspects Cassidy Sterling Has Gone Mad
The second Cassidy stepped out of the Imperial Study, the Fourth Princess shot out from a hiding spot and pulled her aside.
Cassidy's defenses went up instantly. "Whoa, what's with the ambush? You looking for a fight?"
The Fourth Princess lifted her chin, a smug look on her face. "I knew you were faking it!"
Cassidy blinked. "Faking what?"
"You didn't lose your memory at all."
Arguing with her would be childish, and Cassidy couldn't be bothered. She decided to just roll with it.
"Fine, you got me," she said with a shrug. "I never lost my memory. Anything else? If not, I'm heading home. My dad's waiting for me for dinner."
The Fourth Princess pointed a triumphant finger at her. "You really *are* faking it! You lied to our grandmother and my father!"
"Yep, I'm a big fat liar," Cassidy deadpanned. "Why don't you go run and tell my uncle, the Emperor, to have my entire family executed?"
With that, she turned to leave.
But the Fourth Princess, completely ignoring her dismissive tone, stepped right in her path. "I knew it. You're just using this amnesia thing as a cover to get back at Brooke Bradford!"
Cassidy just stared at her.
"Get back at who?"
She turned to her maids, genuinely baffled. "Who the hell is Brooke Bradford?"
As-Desired leaned in and whispered, "Princess, she's the daughter of the Minister of Revenue we just saw."
Auspicious added, "Princess, Brooke is the one who got you sent to the Imperial Clan Court."
Now *that* got Cassidy's attention. "How'd she manage that?"
It made no sense. With so many powerful people in her corner, how could she have possibly been bullied by some minister's daughter?
Auspicious's voice was laced with anger. "Six months ago, during a palace banquet, you hit Brooke Bradford by the Carp Pond in the Imperial Garden. Heir Vance and the Second Prince happened to witness it, and the whole mess was brought before His Majesty."
"The Minister of Revenue, that old man from before, heard about it and demanded your impeachment, claiming you used your rank to bully his daughter. He swore he'd smash his head against a pillar if the Emperor didn't give him justice."
"His Majesty had no choice but to send you to the Imperial Clan Court for a few days to let things cool down."
Tired of standing, Cassidy plopped down on the ground right where she was. "So, why would I have hit her for no reason?"
Seeing her princess squatting on the ground, As-Desired figured it would be rude to keep standing and quickly dropped down beside her. Auspicious scratched her head, a little baffled by her princess's habit of sitting down wherever she pleased, but followed suit.
"You sent all of us away when you spoke with Brooke that day, so we don't know exactly what was said," Auspicious explained.
"All we know is that after you came back from the Imperial Clan Court, you kept muttering that Brooke had been mocking you for not having a mother. You couldn't take the insult, so you hit her."
"The Prince heard about it and even went to the Bradford estate to cause a scene, but Brooke refused to admit she'd said a word of it!"
The Fourth Princess, who had been completely ignored, grew even more furious watching the three of them huddled together whispering.
"Cassidy, are you even listening to me!"
Cassidy, her gossip session over, looked up with a blank expression.
"What did you say?"
"You're still faking it!" the Fourth Princess seethed. "Did you already know the Vance family was planning a marriage with the Bradfords? Is that why you deliberately went after the Minister of Revenue today?"
"Who's marrying who?"
"You,!" The Fourth Princess sputtered, suddenly realizing how utterly exhausting it was to talk to Cassidy. Seeing the three of them looking up at her from the ground, she let out an exasperated sigh and plopped down right beside them.
"Heir Vance and Brooke Bradford are about to get engaged," she said, her tone softening now that she was getting to her point.
"If you didn't know, then why would you specifically target that old minister today? But listen, you did a great job. I'm on your side. That whole family is annoying, especially Brooke. Why should she get Heir Vance when we've both been fighting over him for so long?"
"Whoa, hold on! I didn't target him!" Cassidy interrupted, looking deeply offended.
"As the Capital Inspector, I carry the safety and hopes of all the people of Argent on my shoulders," she declared, her voice ringing with performative sincerity. "My heart holds nothing but the well-being of this country and its people."
"How could I possibly abuse my public office for a private grudge? Your accusation wounds me to the core."
Getting worked up, Cassidy jumped to her feet.
"What I have done," she announced to the sky, "is simply stand up to corrupt officials, expose their wickedness, and restore integrity to the Imperial Court and justice for the people!"
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The Fourth Princess was speechless. She covered her face, mortified, noticing the palace servants staring at them with curiosity. She quickly grabbed Cassidy's arm and dragged her to a more secluded spot.
"Can you please keep your voice down?" she hissed. Cassidy had clearly lost her mind. She'd gone completely insane.
Cassidy brushed her hand off. "I act with integrity and honor. Why should I be secretive?"
The Fourth Princess hesitated, then finally had to ask. "All that... stuff you were just shouting... aren't you embarrassed?"
"Embarrassed about what? I love my country and its people. I have faith in my heart. When our lands are safe, our generation grows strong. I, "
[Lifespan +1]
The Fourth Princess couldn't take it anymore and slapped a hand over Cassidy's mouth.
"Can you please just shut up!"
It was just too embarrassing. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole. The craziest part was that Cassidy was the one acting insane, but she was the one who felt humiliated, because this lunatic in front of her didn't even know what shame was.
Cassidy pried her hand away, looking annoyed. "What was that for? You interrupted my flow of inspiration!" She had been on a roll, about to compose a world-shaking poem that would make the great poets of old weep.
The Fourth Princess just looked at her with pity.
Now she didn't just think Cassidy was faking amnesia; she was sure she'd gone nuts. No normal person could be this shameless.
"Look, forget it," she said, shaking her head. "You're... going through a lot. I won't hold it against you. And hey, for old times' sake, if you get into real trouble, you can come find me."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Wait, are you serious?" Cassidy called after her.
"Of course! I'm a woman of my word!"
Cassidy rubbed her chin, thinking for a moment, then held up three fingers.
"In that case, how about you lend me three thousand taels? I'll pay you back when I make it big."
The Fourth Princess immediately clutched her purse and shook her head vehemently. "No way!"
Cassidy's eyes widened in a picture of hurt. "But you just said you'd help me!"
"But... but..." the Fourth Princess stammered, at a total loss. Who asks for money right off the bat? "What do you even need money for? It's not like Ashworth Manor is poor. My father and our grandmother send so many gifts to your house every year."
Thinking about it made the Fourth Princess a little annoyed. She was the Emperor's actual daughter, after all.
Cassidy sighed dramatically, pulling her cousin closer as if sharing a grave secret. "You know my dad," she began, launching into a tale of woe. "He's a lazy, good-for-nothing freeloader. He's gambled away the entire family fortune."
She sighed again, heavier this time. "My life is so hard."
"Ashworth Manor is nothing but an empty shell now, all because of him. To clean up his mess, I not only have to work for a salary, but I also have to open my own shops just to make enough money to support him."
"We can barely even put food on the table. Honestly, I haven't eaten in days."