Rumors About Cassidy Sterling
Hook, line, and sinker.
Cassidy Sterling let out a theatrical sigh, her expression clouding over with worry. "I was hoping to open in a few days, but things are a little tight at Ashworth Manor. We don't have the funds to fix up the shop and buy supplies just yet. I'll have to wait until I've saved up enough."
The Fourth Princess immediately grew anxious. "With that tiny allowance of yours? How long is that going to take?"
Cassidy spread her hands helplessly. "What else can I do? It's the only way."
Without a second thought, the Fourth Princess dumped out all the banknotes she had just received, adding them to the pile from her own purse.
"There's eight thousand taels here. Take it. Buy whatever you need to get the shop started."
She paused, then added, "If you need more, just tell me. I'll go ask my uncle for it."
Watching her pull another four thousand taels from her purse, Cassidy practically drooled. "Your uncle gave you this, too?"
The Fourth Princess nodded. "He just gave it to me this morning."
"When can you take me to see your uncle?" Cassidy asked, leaning in. "I have a business proposition for him."
The princess instantly pulled back, wary. "In your dreams!"
Cassidy went quiet, but she wasn't about to give up on meeting the man. The Fourth Princess, however, eyed her suspiciously, worried she was still plotting a way to get to him.
"So," the princess pressed, "are you going to open this shop or not?"
Cassidy slumped back into her lounge chair with a sigh. "Of course I am."
Now that she was officially a co-owner, the Fourth Princess was far more invested in the project than Cassidy was. "Since I'm a partner, I'll cover whatever's missing for the renovations and supplies. I've got this."
*Are all rich people this reckless?* Cassidy wondered.
The thought only strengthened her resolve to become the wealthiest person in the city.
She clapped the princess on the shoulder, her face a mask of pure gratitude.
"With a partner like you, our Spring Breeze Tower is guaranteed to be a huge success."
"Don't worry," the princess declared, puffing out her chest. "I'll make sure it opens as soon as possible."
The more Cassidy looked at this girl, who clearly had more money than sense, the more she liked her. "My dear sister," she cooed, "come on, let's go eat at my place. I'll have the cook make you something delicious."
The Fourth Princess couldn't believe her ears. "Don't you usually hate it when I come over?"
"I was so immature back then," Cassidy said smoothly. "I didn't realize how beautiful and kind you are, sister. From now on, you can come to Ashworth Manor whenever you want. My home is your home. My cook is your cook."
The princess tried to look reserved. "Well, since you've invited me so sincerely, I suppose I can agree."
Standing nearby, her maid, Peach, bit her tongue. *Princess,* she thought, *didn't you come here to get back the money she owes you? How did you not only fail to get it back but end up giving her another four thousand taels?*
As the two princesses, who normally looked ready to strangle each other on sight, walked arm-in-arm toward Ashworth Manor, Auspicious fell into deep thought.
Maybe her mistress was just playing the long game, planning some new way to mess with the Fourth Princess.
Like, say, scamming her out of all her money.
At that thought, Auspicious perked up, shot a smug look at Peach, and hurried to catch up with them.
Peach stomped her foot in frustration.
The group swept into Ashworth Manor as if they owned the place. Just as they entered the courtyard, Cassidy spotted her father, who'd been gone all day. He was storming around in a rage, cursing under his breath.
The Fourth Princess gave Cassidy a sympathetic look. "I didn't realize your father was so... energetic at home, too." She politely left the rest unsaid.
Cassidy was unfazed. It was nothing, really. Her own temper was much worse.
"Father!" she called out. "Who upset you? I'll go beat them up for you."
The moment Prince Ashworth saw his daughter, he looked like he'd found his savior. "Daughter! Those jerks are out there spreading rumors about you! They're saying you're arrogant, bossy, and have no respect for the law. They even claim you look down on scholars!"
Everyone present had the same thought: *Well, are they wrong?*
"They're even saying you broke up a couple and attacked the scholar!"
he continued, getting more worked up. He pointed furiously toward the main gate, his whole body shaking.
"And those pompous academics are telling everyone you've trapped the scholar's sweetheart in a brothel, forcing her to work and refusing to let anyone buy her freedom!"
He finally shouted, "Now the whole city is cursing your name, saying you use your power to attack and kill scholars for no reason!"
By the end of his tirade, the prince's voice had lost some of its conviction.
He was starting to realize it all sounded exactly like something his daughter would do.
"Daughter," he said anxiously, "you didn't actually do all that, did you? Our reputation with the scholars was already terrible, but this has caused a public outcry. They look like they want to storm the manor. I heard they're even going to the Emperor to file a formal complaint."
Cassidy's eyes narrowed on the bruise blooming on her father's face. "Father, you didn't get into a fight with them, did you?"
He shook his head dismissively. "I wouldn't lower myself to fighting those weak, whiny scholars."
"Then what's that on your face?"
Prince Ashworth huffed. "That old coot, the Duke of Crestfall, insisted on buying my Little Lu. As if I'd ever sell him!"
"So you fought him?"
He glared at her. "Am I that unreasonable? No, that old bastard accused me of using a fake alchemical stimulant to rig our cockfight. I'm a man of honor! I'd never do something so shady."
Cassidy just stared at him. "And?"
"And so I gave him a piece of my mind," the prince said, looking incredibly smug.
After losing to the Duke of Crestfall so many times, he was relishing this rare victory.
He'd already made plans to parade his prize-winning bird in front of the Duke's manor for the next ten days straight.
"But enough about that old fool. Let's talk about your problem. If those scholars really file a complaint, the Emperor will have no choice but to punish you."
As a long-time man-about-town, Prince Ashworth knew a scholar's words could be like an invisible blade. He was a playboy with skin thick enough not to care about his own reputation, but his daughter was still a young lady. It was one of the rare moments he remembered he was a father.
"If I'm punished, I'm punished. It wouldn't be the first time," Cassidy said, completely unworried. Her mind was already made up: later tonight, she'd go drag those gossiping scholars out of their homes and give them a beating they wouldn't forget.
As the Fourth Princess listened, she knew the old her would have been clapping and cheering at Cassidy's misfortune. But now... Cassidy had called her *sister*.
"I hate those scholars," she declared. "They're always talking about morality, but all they do is gossip behind people's backs. Still, since you've offended them, my father will definitely ground you to appease the public."
"Grounded?" Cassidy's head snapped up. "No way." She still had to go to the Grand Floral Banquet. "Father, tell me exactly what's going on."
*This couldn't have been something the original Cassidy did, could it?*
Only then did Prince Ashworth recount everything he'd heard, detail by detail.
When he finished, Cassidy's eyes widened. "You're telling me that scholar's name is Percival Dawes?"
Prince Ashworth nodded. "You know him?" A dreadful thought crossed his mind. *Could she have really done something so insane?*
Cassidy gritted her teeth. "That shameless freeloader! How dare he twist the truth and spread rumors about me!"