Prince Ashworth Gets Punished Again
I should have known better. Ryder was too smart for his own good, and I'd made a mistake.
"Grandmother," Cassidy began, leaning in with a conspiratorial smile, "why don't you leave the palace again tomorrow? Come to my Spring Breeze Tower. I promise the next act is even more exciting."
The Empress Dowager sighed, the weight of her title settling on her shoulders. "As the mother of the Empire, everything I do reflects on the family's dignity. I can't just be seen running around the city to watch a show. Can you imagine the gossip? They'd say we have no discipline."
Cassidy couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"You're the Empress Dowager, not a prisoner in some dungeon. Why can't you be free?"
She softened her tone, her argument turning more personal.
"You've lived your entire life by the book, from the day you entered the palace until now. Has there been a single day you didn't put the rules and the Empire first? You're not getting any younger. Shouldn't you finally be able to do something for yourself?
If you can't even go out and find a little happiness, what's the point of any of it?"
The words, so blunt and bold, left the Empress Dowager stunned.
This girl was truly defiant, comparing the Imperial Palace to a prison.
But as Cassidy's words settled, the Empress's initial anger gave way to a quiet, hollow sadness.
She looked at her granddaughter, at the fearless light in her eyes, bright and fiery, like a new bud bursting from a branch in spring, wild and full of untamed life.
A memory stirred. She remembered being fifteen, just entering the palace, with that same look in her own eyes.
But a lifetime trapped within these walls, wrapped in rules and etiquette, had long since worn away her own sharp edges.
A pang of regret, sharp and sudden, washed over her.
She raised a hand and gently brushed the strange, dollar-sign-shaped golden hairpin in Cassidy's hair, her voice soft with melancholy.
"You really do live so freely, don't you, dear?"
Cassidy sighed dramatically. "Not completely. If you and my uncle, the Emperor, gave me tons of money every day, *then* I'd be happy."
The Empress Dowager was left speechless for a moment.
"What on earth does a young woman like you need so much money for? Didn't I just give you a reward? And it's not like you're starving at Ashworth Manor. Where did this obsession with money come from?"
It was true. The girl never missed an opportunity to squeeze a coin out of her or the Emperor.
"Grandmother," Cassidy said with another long-suffering sigh, "you have no idea what a big spender your youngest son is." She then launched into a detailed account of her father's latest gambling debts, painting a vivid picture of the family fortune being flushed away.
The Empress Dowager's face hardened. "That scoundrel," she snapped. "He's getting more and more out of line."
Miles away, waking from a hangover, Prince Ashworth was reminded by his steward that it was the opening day of his daughter's new business.
He'd stumbled over to the Spring Breeze Tower and was just about to enter the private room when he heard a familiar voice bellowing from inside.
It sounded suspiciously like his mother, and it sounded like she was talking about him.
"That scoundrel Prince Ashworth, utterly shameless! A disgrace to the Imperial Family!"
The Prince froze, his alcohol-fogged mind clearing in an instant. *That little brat,* he cursed internally. She must have run to his mother to complain about him again. He ducked his head, preparing to make a quiet escape.
But it was too late. Lydia Sutton appeared in the doorway, holding a tea tray. "Your Highness, you're here!" she chirped, pointing him helpfully toward the room. "The Princess is right inside."
Prince Ashworth's face fell. He was trapped, unsure whether to advance or retreat. The shouting from inside abruptly stopped, and a wave of panic washed over him. He was caught.
Sure enough, the door to the private room swung open.
Met with the Empress Dowager's furious glare, the Prince shuffled inside and immediately surrendered. "Mother, I was wrong." Whether he was actually wrong or not didn't matter; admitting it first was always the safest strategy.
Seeing that her grandmother was about to unleash hell, Ryder and the Fourth Princess wisely slipped out of the room, leaving only Cassidy, who didn't have a tactful bone in her body. She was staring at her father with wide, gleaming eyes, looking like she was ready to grab some popcorn.
She'd been annoyed with him for a while now. They'd had an agreement that she would manage the manor's finances, but he'd completely ignored her, spending his days drinking and coming home wasted every night. He was a terrible father and a rebellious son. How was she supposed to put up with it?
Her internal System, sensing the rising tension, chimed in.*Don't stand for it, Host. Teach him a lesson!**If you hit him hard enough, he'll have to listen!*
Cassidy internally rolled her eyes. *Definitely a Villain System,* she thought. *Always trying to get me to start a fight. I'm a good person, and it's turning me into a monster.*
The System went silent, projecting only a vague sense of confusion.
Meanwhile, the sight of Prince Ashworth stumbling in, reeking of alcohol, was the last straw for the Empress Dowager.
She slammed her hand on the tea table. "You scoundrel! Where have you been wasting your time now? Is this how you handle the duties your brother, the Emperor, gave you? By wasting your days drunk?"
she raged. "You're a grown man, yet you can't serve your country or even support your own family. You're relying on your daughter to make money and take care of you! A so-called Prince, so pathetic and useless! How am I supposed to face anyone?"
Prince Ashworth was stunned. What exactly had this rebellious daughter of his told his mother?
He shot a furious glare at Cassidy, who was standing off to the side, nodding eagerly with every word the Empress yelled.
From the look on her face, if his mother started hitting him, she'd probably jump in to help.
Cassidy caught his murderous look and immediately played the victim. "Grandmother, look! He's not even sorry, and now he's threatening to hit me!"
The Empress's head whipped around, catching his glare before he could hide it. That scoundrel! He dared to look angry? Furious, she reached for her walking stick, ready to make a point.
Seeing this, Cassidy's eyes lit up. "Grandmother, be careful! Let me help you with that." She rushed over, making sure the Empress had a firm grip on the stick before helping her to her feet and guiding her toward the Prince.
The Empress Dowager had only meant to grab the stick for dramatic effect, but now her granddaughter had pulled her from her seat and positioned her directly in front of her son. Well, things had come this far. It would be a shame not to follow through.
She raised the walking stick and started whacking him without mercy.
Prince Ashworth yelped. He turned to run, but his path was blocked. His own rebellious daughter was standing in the doorway, cheering his mother on.
"You rebellious girl!" he roared. "How dare you? I'm your father!"
"And I'm still your mother!" the Empress shot back, landing another blow. "Who do you think you're yelling at?"
"Grandmother, be careful with your swing!" Cassidy called out helpfully.
"Mother, I, I was wrong! Please, stop hitting me!"