Prince Ashworth Loses Control of the Household
"I don't have a problem with my mother. I have a problem with *your brother*," Solana said, her voice tight with an anger that still hadn't faded since she'd learned her father had gambled away their entire estate. "Seriously, what kind of father squanders his family's whole fortune?"
The Emperor had no comeback for that. Mentioning Prince Ashworth, his good-for-nothing brother, was a conversation ender.
"Your father is a scoundrel," he said instead, turning his sharp gaze on her. "Are you going to end up just like him?"
"I'm nothing like him," Solana muttered, more to herself than to him. "I have big plans. I'm busy every single day."
The Emperor decided to let the topic of his useless brother drop and steered the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused today?"
Solana looked up, her expression a mask of perfect innocence. "It was just a cockfight. Half of Argent is into it. Why are you singling me out for a lecture?"
"If it were just a cockfight, I wouldn't care. But you actually had the nerve to bet The Ninefold Soul-Return Elixir!"
the Emperor shot back, his voice suddenly losing all its warmth.
"Do you know how many people in the martial underworld would kill for that? It used to just be a rumor that it was at Ashworth Manor. Everyone knows how unreliable your father is, so they just figured he was bragging and didn't take it seriously. But now you've shown it off in public.
You've basically announced to the entire world that the elixir is real and it's in your home. From now on, your manor is a target. If someone from the underworld uses some dirty trick to steal it..."
"Then I'll make sure they never leave," Solana cut in fiercely.
The Emperor was speechless for a second. "With *your* fighting skills?" he finally managed, incredulous. Was the kid really that full of herself?
Solana was practically vibrating with the need for a fight. "Uncle, I've been reading tons of martial arts manuals, and I've gotten way better. When the thieves show up, I'll be ready to take them by surprise and finish them off."
Her complete ignorance of the dangers of the martial underworld only made the Emperor more worried. "Did you show the actual elixir to the Duke of Crestfall?" he asked.
Solana scoffed. "No way. Do you think I'm an idiot? I just grabbed some random pill that looked like it. It's not like he's ever seen the real thing, anyway."
A wave of relief washed over the Emperor. At least she had some sense. Still, he was worried. After a moment of thought, he said, "I'll have Lord Garrison send The Onyx Guard to keep a closer eye on Ashworth Manor. If any thieves try to break in, they can provide backup."
Free security? Why not? Solana agreed immediately.
With that settled, the Emperor was clearly ready for her to leave. "It's getting late. Go home and get some rest." He leveled a stern look at her. "And I've told you before: don't come to the palace unless it's absolutely necessary. You're going to wear a groove in the doorstep at this rate."
Not the least bit embarrassed, Solana grinned. "No way. What if you miss me? I should come by often to keep you company."
"'Keep me company'?" he sputtered. "Every time you show up, you've caused some new disaster! Get out! I don't want to see you!" The Emperor waved over the palace attendants to escort the shameless girl out.
Once she was kicked out, Solana threw a few angry punches and kicks in the air, working through a fighting form. "Hmph! Auspicious, As-Desired, let's go," she declared. "We are *never* coming back to this awful palace again!"
Auspicious and As-Desired shared a look. They'd see how long that resolution lasted.
Solana returned to Ashworth Manor with her entourage, her entourage's arms heavy with her winnings. The second she stepped through the doors, she was met with her father's eager gaze. She puffed out her chest, ready for a little well-deserved praise.
But Prince Ashworth walked right past her, his eyes fixed on the speckled hen, which he scooped up in a breathless embrace. His voice was thick with emotion. "Little Lu, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. I knew you were the best chicken in the world, my Little Lu."
The System, still possessing the hen, was having a complete meltdown. *Aaaaah! I'm not pure anymore! Host, get your father away from me right now, or I swear I'm going to peck his eyes out!*
Watching her father fawn over a chicken, so moved he was nearly in tears, Solana couldn't help but let out a short, bitter laugh.
With a huff, she turned on her heel and stormed off toward her own courtyard without a backward glance.
Whatever. The family fortune was hers now; her father was wrapped around her little finger.
If he wanted to thank that speckled hen so badly, he could spend the rest of his life with it for all she cared.
Prince Ashworth was so lost in admiring the bravery of the chicken he'd chosen that he didn't even notice the thunderous look on his daughter's face.
Only Steward King, who had seen the whole exchange, felt a knot of dread tighten in his stomach.
He had a feeling the Prince's days were about to get a lot harder.
Seeing its host leave, the System quickly detached from the hen and zipped back into Solana's mind.
Next time, it decided, it would wait until it had enough energy to possess that donkey.
At least everyone knew the donkey was the host's mount, so no one would dare mess with it, and servants would bring it food.
The next day, Prince Ashworth, still blissfully unaware that he'd lost all rights to the family's assets, headed for the storehouse to grab some silver for a good time out on the town.
He was stopped by the accountant, who calmly informed him that if the Prince wished to spend money, he would have to earn it himself.
All funds in the manor had been collected by the Princess.
The Prince thought he was hearing things.
He had to get permission from his own daughter to spend money from his own house?
How was that fair? Refusing to believe it, he marched to the storehouse himself, only to find that every last valuable was gone.
It felt like his world was collapsing. You can guard against a thousand enemies, but it's impossible to guard against a thief in your own family.
"Where is that rebellious daughter of mine?" he roared.
"The Princess went to the Spring Breeze Tower," the accountant replied honestly.
"That little brat is going to blow all our money at a brothel!" Fuming, Prince Ashworth prepared to march down to the Spring Breeze Tower and settle things with Solana.
Steward King quickly stepped forward to stop him. "My Lord, you signed the deed with the Princess yesterday." The last thing he wanted was the father and daughter getting into a public brawl; the Prince would be the only one to lose face.
"What stupid deed? I'm her father!" Now that the property was back, the Prince had decided to play dumb, completely refusing to acknowledge the agreement he'd signed.
Seeing his master was determined to make a scene, Steward King stopped trying to hold him back. But he did offer one last reminder. "My Lord, His Majesty also agreed that the Princess would manage the household from now on."
Since Solana had won back the family fortune, Steward King was one hundred percent on her side. If the Prince were still in charge, it was only a matter of time before he was scammed out of everything again. The Princess might be a big spender, but at least the money was staying in the family.
A chill went down Prince Ashworth's spine. "My brother really agreed to this?" That couldn't be right. Did his daughter slip the Emperor some kind of potion?
Steward King just nodded, trying his best to urge the Prince to accept reality.
But Prince Ashworth wasn't ready to accept anything. He angrily stormed off to the palace.
Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor was reviewing memorials when he heard Steward Payne announce Prince Ashworth's arrival. He felt his eyelid twitch.
"Is there no end to this father-daughter pair?" he muttered. "My study is turning into the Ashworths' personal courtyard."
The Emperor was trying to think of an excuse to get rid of the scoundrel, but it was too late. Prince Ashworth barged right in.
"Brother, you've gone too far!"
The Emperor frowned. "What is all this madness so early in the morning?"
Prince Ashworth angrily pulled a stool over, slammed his hand on the armrest, and shouted, "How could you let that little brat manage the household? I'm her biological father! Since when does a daughter manage the house over her own dad?"
The Emperor put down his quill and leaned back in his chair, looking like he was settling in to watch a show.
"Who was it that squandered the family fortune? Now that your daughter has won it all back with her own skills, you're unhappy? Besides, you signed the deed with Solana yourself. What nerve do you have, coming here to make a scene with me?"
Prince Ashworth threw a full-blown tantrum, jutting out his chin. "I don't care! Brother, you need to issue an imperial decree right now and make that girl give me back control of the household."
The Emperor just glanced at him and squeezed out a single word from between his teeth: "Get. Out."
Seeing that yelling wasn't working, the Prince immediately switched tactics, his whole demeanor changing.
"Fine, if you won't issue a decree, that's okay," he said, suddenly pleading. "Brother, just give me some money. That rebellious daughter of mine took every last coin from the manor. I'm broke."