Rebirth of The Villainess Princess

Chapter 2 : I Know What You Did

‘’Little sister, are you so delighted for you to host a party on the day of your brother’s death?’’

‘’W-what? Sister, w-what are you talking about?’’ Catherine stuttered. She slowly looked at Ivanna, whose face became unusually dark, but when she looked away from her, her face came back to normal, cold yet calm.

‘’It’s fine, I don’t need an invitation. I am just here to kick out...flies.’’ Ivanna said and gave the guards behind her a meaningful look. They were still in their former two divided formations holding different cleaning tools Cynthia provided.

The captain of the guards responded and stepped forward beside Ivanna. ‘’Your highness, do lead us. What should we do?’’

Ivanna pondered. The tip of her fan was touching her chin as her arms crossed around her chest.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

‘’I have a great idea! Sweep this place. Clean this dirty room from top to bottom. Make sure no stone is left unturned. And...don’t forget to kick out flies.’’ Ivanna commanded and her eyes intentionally landed on Catherine, who was trying hard to suppress her emotions.

The sight of her made the corner of Ivanna's lips rise.

‘’Yes.’’ Just like a flood, the guards started to move. The lively ballroom was thrown into chaos.

‘Some guards started to tidy up the buffets. Their movements were surprisingly quicker than any veteran palace maids.

‘’Hey! Give me back my food.’’ A nobleman angrily scolded one of the guards who took away his plate full of sweets.

‘’My Lord, did you know too many sweets can give you a disease called diabetes?’’ Despite the angry lord fuming in anger, the guard’s face remained stiff.

‘’I don’t care! Give that back to...wait what are you doing? Let go of me!’’ The guards remembered that the princess ordered a quick cleaning and their main goal was to kick out flies and never let them enter the palace from now on. He also remembered that the princess is sensitive to those kinds of things and she was diagnosed with a disease called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

‘’My lord, my task is to tidy up this corner and kick out as many flies as I can.’’ He said as if he was talking about trivial matters.

‘’What? So why are you holding my hand, dragging me along with you...Hey! Just where are you planning to take me?’’ The guards dragged the nobleman with him, not regarding his status.

‘’Peasant! Are you aware that I am a noble? Disrespecting me like this will cost your li-- ‘’

‘’Oh, you are...rich!’’ The guard commented, trying to sound enthusiastic.

‘’Yes!’’ The nobleman proudly exclaimed, looking at him with an expectant gaze.

’’...Then go home. You’ll probably have a lot of sweets there.’’

His hope to let him go and allow him to continue to eat his delightful snacks was shattered.

Not very long ago, they arrived at the back door of the ballroom. The guards opened the door and before the nobleman could react and hit him in anger, the guard kicked his butt.

‘’One down. The Fly Termination Operation is 1% complete.’’ The guard said in a neutral, bored tone. ‘’Let’s go back now and tidy up the rest.’’ He briefly clapped his hand and walked away.

And just like that, with an aching butt and face lying flat on the ground, the nobleman was kicked out from the palace.

On the other hand…

‘’How dare you! This is my limited edition dress.’’ A noble lady growled in annoyance.

‘’...’’ The guard, who was eagerly sweeping the floor.

‘’Hey! Are you deaf? Look what you have done. I said this is my limited edi-shyon shress…’’ A lady said, struggling to speak words properly. She was unable to react when the guard covered her face with a cloth for mere seconds.

‘’A great sweep master should wield this broom with a sound mind. Amitabha.’’

In his heart, he was devoted to being part of this Quick Clean and Oplan Fly Termination. He kept in his mind the words of the princess ‘’...no stone is left unturned.’’

So he swept the floor without any corners of the ballroom being left behind. Unfortunately, a bulk of pink fabric was on his way and it was talking to him about things he didn’t quite understand.

He stopped for a while, thinking how this big obstacle from finishing his deep devotion would be gone.

Suddenly, the pink fabric talked again, but this time he had a great idea. The guard took a long white-soft fabric from his pocket.

He thought the noise would disturb his cultivation on becoming the next great sweep master.

He unbundled the white fabric in his hands and quickly tied the cloth to where the sound was coming from.

He remembered the teaching of the great sweep master he deeply admired, ‘’...before you attack, look for your enemy’s strength. Once you find it, surprise him and tied him on the spot. Then, attack him with all your might…’’

This time her enemy was that noise, an obstacle from carrying out this self-proclaimed heroic devotion of his.

‘’Hmsshh...shesh shou shof iii (Hmmm, let go of me!)….’’ Actually, the pink fabric he was referring to is the noble lady who was donned a pink dress. She was all in pink from head to toe, even her large hat and earrings were all pink.

‘’It seems like this will not do also.’’ He was not satisfied because he can still hear the noise and its pitch was getting higher and higher at any moment.

‘’Shesh shouu oof eeeiii…shashard!! (Let go of me! Bastard!)’’

He was thinking of another way to get rid of this bulk of fabric when he saw his colleague drag someone from the buffet station to the back door. Then he came back alone after a minute.

Ting! A great idea popped into his mind.

‘’Ah, that’s a great idea.’’ He decided to drag out the lady to the back door. Instead of pulling her hand, he grabbed the tail of the large pink ribbon on her back and dragged her out by pulling them.

‘’Hmmm...shesh shouu oof eeeiii (Hmmm, let go of me!)…’’ She panicked. She didn’t know where he would take him.

Unfortunately, she can’t see anything except the white cloth blocking her sight. She was like a preserved mummy covered in cloth.

A minute later, the guard was happily and peacefully sweeping the floor, putting his heart on this very duty. ‘’Now, this is a brief taste of happily ever after for an aspiring sweep master like me. Amitabha’’

The quick clean ordered by Ivanna made tonight’s party for Princess Catherine thrown into chaos. The princess was standing in the midst of this madness. She was trying hard not to let her anger engulf her emotions.

She secretly looked at Ivanna with hidden resentment. ‘I see. So she was testing my limits. Unfortunately, there was no limit with my patience and that is my power.’

Catherine looked around. The hall became messy as the guards tidied up everything while the nobles were fighting to gain back the fun stolen from them. In other words, all of them are occupied and busy, scattered around, and dissatisfied. Most of them are kicked out by these brave guards who came with Ivanna.

She had to think of a way to bring back the attention of these nobles who she painstakingly gathered and made friends with. Her intention was clear, to gain the upper hand on the throne.

She thought success was already in her hands, yet she didn’t expect that a princess with a rotten reputation in the social circle and she, who was not a bit least interested in the succession of the throne, bared her fangs at her.

Catherine was now having doubts whether Ivanna was really not interested in fighting for the throne at the beginning or she was just hiding her intention all this time, biding her time, waiting for someone to fall between her and Prince Mikael before she strike.

However, one thing is clear. Ivanna was making things hard for her. It was all because of Prince Mikael. Catherine felt slightly dejected, he was only her half-brother, but why did she always treat him better than her? She is her full-blooded sister. After all, they are both born from the empress’ womb.

Whatever her sister’s intention, she can’t back down now. She had gone this far. There was no turning back.

Catherine composed herself and started...well, the drama.

She looked around. The banquet was slowly meeting its end in a disappointing way.

Her eyes started to glisten in tears.

"Sister...why are you doing this?" She said between her sobs. "What did I do to make you upset? Tell me…"

Thud!

Catherine gave her all out. She kneeled down in front of Ivanna and made sure she looked pitiful as if she was the one who had been abused and greatly wronged.

She succeeded. The remaining nobles inside the ballroom witnessed everything. They pitied Catherine while they despised Ivanna.

The younger princess was undoubtedly the victim here!

"Hmph!" Ivanna chuckled and clapped her hands. "You are an amusing sight to see, Catherine. In this way, there's no doubt you could surpass the most popular actress in the theaters."

The nobles hated her more. In their eyes, Ivanna was completely insulting her sister. Her sarcasm was evident. How dare she compare Princess Catherine to a mere actress?

"Sis...sister." Catherine cried. However, she was secretly delighted because Ivanna was acting according to her will.

"Your highness, Princess Ivanna, aren't you being too much to Princess Catherine?" A noble couldn't help himself to speak his mind anymore. He bravely intervened and walked towards them to help Catherine stand.

"You don't know anything, mister." She said in a helpless tone.

She glared at him and kicked his thigh. She put a lot of strength that caused him to stagger forward instantly. He found himself kneeling on the cold marble floor.

He became furious.

"Ridiculous! Even though you are a princess, I am still a nobleman and not a servant who you can just mess with." His face turned red in anger.

Ivanna sneered. "Mind your own. Don't put your nose in anyone's business." Her words were sharp like a sword as well as her actions.

She walked past him and walked towards Catherine. She leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"Little sister, I know what you’ve done.’’ There was a smile on her face but her eyes were expressing a hint of disappointment.

Catherine’s body felt cold.

‘’Just what...what are you talking about?’’ Her nails dug deeper into her palm until it bled.

Ivanna grabbed her sister’s clenched hand. She held it and unfolded it. There were wounds and fresh blood caused by the tip of her long nails.

Ivanna wiped some of the blood on her palm using her thumb and tasted it.

‘’You - ‘’ Catherine was utterly speechless and then Ivanna whispered again. This time, it slightly shook her impenetrable core and her two-faced mask almost became uncovered.

‘’"My dear lovely sister, how does your brother's blood taste?’’ Ivanna muttered. ‘’How does it taste, Catherine?’’

She was deeply disappointed and furious with her younger sister. On the day of Prince Mikael's funeral, their illegitimate brother, Catherine, was enjoying herself partying. However, this is not the sole reason why she was so upset. It was because of the truth - Catherine poisoned her younger brother to death.

Thinking about it, Ivanna can't stop herself anymore. In just mere seconds, she pinned down Catherine clutching her neck, choking her.

"Your highness, please...please stop!" The captain of the guard intervened and tried hard to separate the two princesses from each other.

"Princess Ivanna! This is not what you should - "

Catherine was still choking and struggling from Ivanna's grip.

She was laughing in her mind as the grip on her neck was getting tighter from time to time. 'Just go on sister! The more you show your horns the more you get closer to my trap.'

"She's really evil. How could she hurt Princess Catherine like that!"

"Oh, our poor kind princess." A noble said between her sobs, feeling sadness towards Catherine. "She has to endure the abuse she is always receiving from Princess Ivanna."

"Our Princess Catherine truly suffered! If we only had the power to punish the princess for her, we could save her from that villainess!"

They were whispering to each other yet it was loud enough for Ivanna to hear.

She can't do anything about it. They were already in Catherine's palm. The beautiful witch manipulated these nobles, using them in her own will.

Ivanna was used to it yet she was also sick of it.

Their blind devotion towards a wrong person killed the rightful one who is more worthy to receive all their support and respect - Prince Mikael, her half-brother, and the chosen heir to the throne. He was naturally kind but wise. Ivanna was not close to him but she always respected him.

Catherine will do everything just to get what she wants, even if it means getting rid of someone who is in her way. She wanted the throne, so she killed her brother and aimed to replace his position as an heir.

‘’S-sister, what wrong did I do? I’m...I'm sorry. If...if I upset you. I will...I will make it up to y-’’

‘’Enough!’’ Ivanna gritted her teeth in disappointment and anger as she harshly let her go.

Cough! Cough!

Catherine was then left choking on the ground. No one tried to help her, even the guards, because even they wouldn’t want to face the princess’ wrath.

‘’Catherine! I don’t care if you want to wear that fake facade of yours for a lifetime, but for Calithea’s sake why do you need to harm Mikael to quench that ambition of yours!’’

The crowd was in an uproar and turned their scrutinizing gaze to Catherine. She felt the tides turn on her way, she could only send a gaze like daggers at Ivanna into her heart. She swallowed her anger and let more tears flow into her face. She lowered her eyes while crying. Sneezing, and sobbing between her breaths. Indeed, she has that pitiful charm that can make others’ hearts soften seeing her in that state.

Ivanna glared at her coldly. ‘’Such a poisonous heart.’’ Out of anger, she grabbed a cup of red wine and poured out the contents upon Catherine. Her face and her dress now looked covered in blood. At this point, the pitiful face of Catherine completely vanished.

‘’S-sister, are you accusing me? H-how can I do that to Mikael?’’ She answered, stammering while restoring back her pitiful facade.

In the eyes of others, Ivanna is like a predator while Catherine is the prey. She is clearly a victim here!

Ivanna bent down and whispered. ‘’I know what you did. Unfortunately, I have no evidence. So, should I congratulate you, my dear little sweet sister?’’

They were just inches away from each other and Ivanna was blocking Catherine’s figure from the crowd’s view. So Catherine didn’t put her mask on, she giggled while looking at her. It sounded sweet but Ivanna felt shivers run down her spine. How could it be that her innocent face is 360 degrees different from her personality?

Pa!

Subconsciously, her callused hand landed heavily on Catherine’s cheeks.

‘’Catherine, heaven knows what you did. So, you better watch your back.’’ She lowered her voice then left the banquet hall, devastated and with a heavy heart.

Catherine’s face was full of contempt as Ivanna exited the hall, leaving those threatening words to her. She was lying if she didn’t admit it frightened her a little.