How dare you bully the female lead

Chapter 19

Satin came to us way more than usual. She had been spending all her days with the children lately already but now I felt like I was seeing her everywhere I went. The first weeks in the Palace I had forgotten about her existence but now I couldn't avoid her no matter where I went. Even when I went downtown to meet up with the nex tax collector, Satin was taking a walk around there. When she saw me she immediately came up to me with a smile:

"Good morning, Miss Wyrm. What are you doing here?

-I am here on business, your Highness. But what are you doing here?

-What kind of business do you have around here?"

I frowned. She didn't answer my question and continued asking things. I didn't like her being this curious about me. I tolerated her around the kids but around me that was something else.

"I am rather late, your Majesty. I should get going unfortunately."

I bowed and wanted to leave but Satin wasn't letting me go that easily:

"Maybe I could be of any help in your business.

-No, thank you. I don't need any help."

And I left. The new tax collector was a very ugly old man whose smile was making me uncomfortable. He led me to a table full of meat and started eating loudly asking me what I came here for. I had to hold back a grimace and smiled politely:

"I am sorry to disturb you during your meal. I came because I heard lately about the price of rent going up in the area."

He didn't stop eating, seeming not to mind at all what I was talking about.

"I wondered what was the cause of this inflation."

He shrugged:

"Life nowadays is very hard around here. I had to raise prices to survive."

I frowned. What did he mean by surviving? He was here eating meat with bare hands.

"Those families can't afford prices and have to live on the streets.

-They should have been more responsible with their money. Look at me. I didn't get here because I laid around all day."

I wanted to choke him. The urge was so important that I immediately stood up and walked out. This man was disgusting and I understood that I wouldn't be able to reason with him. I had to take him down as quickly as possible but first I had to calm down. What didn't help was Satin waiting for me outside of the mansion. As soon as I saw her I saw red. She had been my biggest ally five years ago. She was smart and powerful. If she didn't notice the condition of these people then it meant that she didn't care at all. She definitely changed.

"Did your affairs go as you wanted?"

She came up to me but seeing me frown she immediately went pale:

"Are you okay?"

She tried touching my shoulder but I dodged:

"I am fine."

I walked around her and left. I planned on finding out about the tax collectors money laundering and taking him to court. Seeing that man I knew that he had to do money laundering. He seemed way too greedy to do things honestly. But I didn't even have time to do anything that I heard about the tax collector being arrested. I immediately rushed to Satin's office to ask about the events.

Satin was standing in front of the window and hearing me enter, she immediately turned around. She wanted to escort me to the sofa but I shook my head saying that I wouldn't be staying long.

"I heard that Lord Evilian got arrested."

Satin slowly nodded:

"It has been found out that he had been laundering money for five years.

-Five years?"

Had she been waiting until now to arrest him? Or did he find the proof in two hours? What was going on?

"He will be judged tonight and will be stripped of his title. Would you like to attend the judgment?

-Why now? How long have you known that he has been laundering money?"

Satin hesitated a second before saying:

"I had had my doubts for some time but I was waiting to collect solid proof."

I frowned. She was lying. Despite not having seen her for five years, we had been close enough for me to know that. Satin wasn't an expressive person. I never really saw her lose her composure but when she would lie she would look on the down left. I had no right to question the Empress so I just pinched my lips. Seeing me make that face, Satin opened her mouth but I didn't give her time to say anything:

"I am sorry for asking questions I shouldn't have, your Highness. I will know better from now on.

-Nebula...

-Call me Miss Wyrm, your Highness. I am not a Duchess or a princess but I deserve respect too.

-I didn't want to be disrespectful. I...

-I have bothered you enough. I will take my leave.

-Wait..."

But I didn't wait and I left. In the end the tax collector had what he deserved so I should have felt satisfied. I couldn't forget about what happened so I tried diverting my attention by going to the children. The boys and Lichen were drawing in their room and when I arrived, Elm was making fun of Light's drawing saying that his swans looked like snails.

"They are not snails! It's swans! There are always swans in lakes."

Elm wasn't saying anything but was laughing so hard that he fell backwards. Lichen couldn't help laughing too, covering her mouth with her hand but every time Light would look her way, she would pretend to cough to cover her laughs.

"Stop laughing! It's obvious that they are swans! You two know nothing about art. It's not the representation that counts but the feelings transmitted. Stop laughing!"

Light was starting to turn red and hearing me walk in he immediately ran up to me with his drawing:

"Mom, are these swans?

-Of course they are darling. You did very well.

-See? I told you they were swans! I don't care what you think because I did well. I will be the most famous artist ever and will ignore you when you ask for my autograph."

The children were still laughing and Light looked away crossing his arms on his chest. I was going to say something but the next second we heard someone knock and Satin walked in. I didn't know why she followed me but I couldn't hold back a sigh of exasperation:

"To what do we owe the pleasure of seeing you here?

-I came to visit the children. I heard that they took a liking to drawing and purchased some paint for them to practice with."

Lichen seemed very touched by her mother's attention and walked up to her shyly before thanking her not daring to look at her eyes. Elm wanted to do the same but Light held him back. Satin and I both frowned not knowing what was going on. Elm didn't argue and hid behind his brother knowing that if he was doing this then he had a reason.

"Light? Her Majesty brought you paint to use."

Light quickly shook his head. It seemed he quickly made up his mind about the Empress and didn't like her anymore.

"I don't want gifts from her."

I thought that Satin never lost her composure but a shadow passed before her eyes suddenly. Even Lichen looked at her mom with a compassionate look. I went up to Light and kneeled to be at his level. I wasn't going to force him to do anything and just wanted to understand what was going on:

"What happened, Light? Did her Highness do something wrong?

-I don't like her Highness."

I stood up and placed myself between Satin and the boys:

"Your Highness, you should leave. The children don't seem in the mood of spending time with you."

Satin looked behind me at Light but I moved to cover him again.

"May I ask what I did wrong? I will surely right my wrongs."

Light came out from behind me and stood in front of Satin straight as a stick:

"Mom doesn't like you, so I don't like you either."

Everyone froze.