Requesting the Princess to Find the Truth
After the black-clad retinue had hauled everyone away, Cassidy Sterling turned to the remaining Imperial Guards in the courtyard, every last one of them looking scared out of their wits.
She raised a hand and pointed at Vice-Captain Bradford, the one who'd just stopped Garrett Hollis.
"That jerk's position is yours now," she declared. "I'll report it to the Emperor." Then her voice dropped, turning sharp. "From now on, you are personally responsible for the security of Stonehaven Estate. If anything like today happens again, I'll put an arrow through you myself."
Wyatt Bradford's face lit up. He immediately dropped to one knee, his voice booming across the courtyard. "Thank you for the promotion, Princess! I'll give it my all. I won't fail you or His Majesty!"
Cassidy just waved a hand to dismiss them and hopped off Maserati's back, her gaze sweeping over the remaining members of the Stonehaven household.
The Dowager Marchioness of Stonehaven was the first to react. Leaning heavily on her maid for support, she stepped forward and bowed her head deeply in Cassidy's direction.
"Thank you, Princess, for coming to our rescue," she said, her voice trembling. "If it weren't for you, I'm afraid that monster would have killed every last one of us. The Redgrave family will never forget this kindness."
As soon as she finished, the other members of the Redgrave family crowded around, all of them thanking Cassidy profusely.
Beyond their gratitude, though, they were all in a state of shock.
This was Princess Solana, infamous throughout Argent for being a spoiled, clueless brat.
A total waste. Their own Marquis had even tried to get her censured in court before.
Yet here she was, not only holding no grudge, but actively protecting them.
Ronan Redgrave, in particular, was burning with shame. He'd always looked down on her for chasing after Vance all day, even following him to The Academy and bothering the other students. He'd thought she was shameless.
Now, he was ashamed of himself. A grown man, gossiping about a girl behind her back.
His hands, hanging at his sides, balled into tight fists. He took an awkward step forward and bowed low, his voice thick with guilt. "Princess... I was wrong about you."
Cassidy just stared at him, confused. "Are you the one who committed treason?"
At her words, every member of the Redgrave family dropped to their knees in unison.
The Dowager Marchioness was in tears, but her back remained ramrod straight.
"Princess, my family has been loyal for generations! Our devotion to the crown is beyond question! We would never become traitors, not even under torture. If I'm lying, may lightning strike me down and my entire family be executed!"
Cassidy frowned, looking back at the guilt-ridden Ronan. "If you didn't commit treason, then what did you do to me?" *Did he steal my money or something?*
The thought made her antsy, and her hand twitched toward her bow.
Ronan saw the motion and practically tripped over himself to explain. "No, Princess, I was wrong *about* you. In the past, seeing you always chasing Vance at The Academy... I talked trash about you behind your back."
He looked up, his eyes filled with regret. "It was my own narrow-mindedness. A real man doesn't gossip like that. Princess, I'm sorry. I was a jerk."
The rest of the Redgrave family hung their heads, because it hadn't just been him. They all bowed deeply once more, a silent apology.
The System's voice suddenly chirped in her head. *[Even if you can take this, I can't! Host, go! Wreck them!]*
Cassidy ground her teeth. *You dare curse me behind my back? You think I've gone soft?*
She was just about to unleash her inner villain when, suddenly, the lifespan points on the System's light screen started skyrocketing.
Cassidy froze.
The System went dead silent.
The two of them, human and system, were so thrilled, who had time to be angry?
Cassidy immediately clasped her hands behind her back, cleared her throat, and adopted a magnanimous tone.
"I have always been generous. I don't concern myself with the idle gossip of outsiders."
She puffed out her chest slightly. "As a princess of the Imperial Family and an official of the court, I have only two things in my heart."
She held up two fingers. "First, the stability of the nation. And second, the well-being of the people!" She let her voice ring with passion. "As long as I can protect our country and its citizens, a few catty words are like water off a duck's back. Not even worth mentioning!"
*[Lifespan +1]*
*[Lifespan +1]*
*[Lifespan +1]*
Hearing this, the Redgraves looked like they'd been wandering a desert and just stumbled upon an oasis. Their eyes immediately welled with tears. The Dowager Marchioness's hand trembled on her walking stick as she led her family in another deep, grateful bow.
"Please, Princess, get justice for Stonehaven. We swear on our lives, we have no ill intentions toward the crown."
"You care for the world, Princess. You know right from wrong. Only you can bring justice to our family."
The rest of the family echoed her pleas, their voices rising in a chorus. "We are devoted to the crown and have no ulterior motives! We beg you to uphold justice and clear our name!"
In that moment, they no longer saw Princess Solana as a spoiled brat, but as their only hope. And looking at the lifespan points that just kept climbing, Cassidy was even more excited than they were.
She raised a hand, signaling for them to rise. She wanted to say something reassuring about the Marquis of Stonehaven's case, but then it hit her: she'd stormed over here without even reading the case file and knew absolutely nothing about it.
*This is what happens when you don't do your homework.*
Still, given the System's weird logic, the fact that her lifespan was increasing probably meant the Marquis was being framed.
"Rest assured," she said, her voice full of confidence she didn't feel. "I will do my best to get to the bottom of this and clear your family's name. However, if any of you remember any clues, anything or anyone suspicious you've seen around the estate, you must report it to me immediately."
With that, Cassidy prepared to leave.
A wave of relief washed over the family. The tears in their eyes were replaced with the pure joy of people who had just dodged a bullet. They trusted her completely.
Just as she was turning to go, Genevieve Redgrave thought of something and rushed after her. "Princess, please wait."
She quickly pulled a folded note from her sleeve and held it out with both hands. "I received this note this morning. It says my father is in prison and they might make it look like he killed himself out of guilt. I beg you, Princess, save my father!"
Cassidy took the note. The ink was slightly blurred, but she could still make out the words. Her eyes zeroed in on one particular detail: something about the Second Prince taking a new lover.
*Tch. Snagging a marquis's daughter as a side piece. My brother really aims high, doesn't he?*
Cassidy tucked the note away. "Don't worry," she said coolly. "Your father will be fine."
At worst, she'd just drag him to Ashworth Manor and have her people watch him around the clock. She'd like to see someone try to kill him right under her nose.
With a final nod, Cassidy hopped back on her little donkey, Maserati, and headed straight for the palace with a steady clip-clop.
Time to go file a complaint.
Having finally finished his official duties, the Emperor was just about to slip away for a nap at a concubine's palace. He'd barely stood up when he saw Cassidy barge in, looking entirely too excited.
He frowned. *Are the palace guards all dead? How did they let a whole person just storm in here?*
"Didn't I send you to investigate a case?" he grumbled. "Why are you back at the palace already?"
He was still fuming about yesterday, when Steward Payne had gone to Ashworth Manor to deliver the imperial decree, only to overhear those two little punks talking about him behind his back. The absolute nerve.