Chapter 126: the slap and apology

"I don't think that it would be necessary, your highness. People are here to enjoy their day. We did not want to be the reason for ruining it." said Isabella almost trying to drag her mother, who was looking at her with furrowed brows, she still did not get the hint, what a fool!

"Very well, then go and join your family, Monique Adelia," he said nodding and I raised a brow. Did they think they could start the drama and end it, any time they wanted and I would just stand there like a fool!

"Wait a minute, did I give you permission to leave?" I said and everybody stopped in their tracks.

"Mother." Killian tried to stop me but I raised my hand, I didn't give anyone permission to trample over me.

"I want to know how am I the reason for the death of your first daughter, Adelia?" I took her name, showing the authority I had, my eyes were so cold, she could feel the change and so did others, but I didn't have any wish to be called a sweet wife and mother. I was a villain through and through.

"I didn't mean it like that... I just wanted to say that you should not forget the etiquettes as the duchess of the empire." she tried her best to sound confident, and I laughed coldly,

"I can put you in prison right here, in charge of accusing the archduchess of the empire and falsifying facts, it would be no less than treason, and even your family would not be able to save it. Do you want to see it? `` I raised a brow and waited for words to sink in her mind. I could see the sweat dripping from her forehead as she looked towards Cassius for help.

"Marianne, I think, it…" I raised my hand and stopped him right there.

"According to rule no. 566 of the royal book, which the emperor had written himself, anyone who spread the rumours about the emperor and his family with vassals, will be accused of treason, and as far as I know, we are the extended family of the emperor, I am the one and only daughter in law of, second prince and archduke Nicholas," I announced in a haughty manner that even Cassius was tongue-tied.

"I am not spreading rumours, you did slap my daughter when she came to apologise to you," said Monique Adelia and my eyes snapped back to her.

I walked slowly towards Isabella, who instinctively took two steps back, I stood in front of her and held her chin in between my palm and fingers in a deathly grip, her eyes widened as if she had seen her doom in front of her. That's right, Isabella I will be your doom soon.

"Just look at her face, her make up is intact and her face is shining, there is not a single mark on her skin if I would have slapped her, would it be like this?'' I asked her mother who was looking at me and Isabella with confusion.

"Not every slap had marks, maybe your hands were not that strong." she stuck to her point and I laughed.

"You don't believe me, then let me show you the proof," with that I raised my hand and gave her one tight slap with all the strength I had, the sound of slap resonated in the hall, and the whole room turned deadly silent, even the sound of taking a breath was stopped for a second like everyone was holding breath.

I smirked as I saw the mark of fingerprints on her cheek, 

"Can you see now, Adelia? Her cheek would have looked like this if I had slapped her earlier. My hands definitely had the power a strong woman should have." I spoke and only then did I hear many gasps around, and Isabella started sobbing.

"Why did you do that, oh my poor daughter." Adelia came running and hugged her so-called precious little daughter.

"I was just showing since you were not believing the words," I said with a shrug as if that was the most obvious thing to do. 

"But you have slapped her earlier too," she repeated again and now I wanted to open her head and check what was in there, did she still not get the point!

"Isabella, I think your mother still has doubts, come show me your other cheek, so that I can prove to your mother that I haven't slapped you before," I said with a sigh as if I was burdened with the hard work of slapping her.

She further hid behind her mother, "no, your highness, you are right mother had some misunderstandings, which I was not able to clear on time" she said in a soft voice, as everyone's eyes were set on her.

"Mother, her highness is right, she has not slapped me," she added afraid that her mother would create another show.

"But I heard your shriek" she deadpanned.

"Now don't tell me you are going to blame that I had put my heels on your feet! Lady Isabella, tell your mother that your ankle bent when you turned to walk towards me," I said with a sigh. if she would still say that I was the one who put my heels on her, would she not be doubted more.

Isabella glared at me but cowered when she looked into my cold eyes and nodded, "her highness is the right mother, my leg bent when I turned towards her highness." she added and her mother bit her lip as she looked at me then at her own daughter, she wanted to pressurise Isabella more, but stopped herself as every eye was set on her for now.

"Come mother, let's go," said Isabella, trying to drag her mother out who nodded.

"Wait a minute, didn't Monique Adelia say that you have come here to apologise to me, but I think you forget to do that in the end." I added and she looked at me back, "but it's alright, you can do it now."