Chapter two

The morning air was cold, but no one dared complain. The maids and guards lay flat on the stone ground, their faces pressed to the cold floor. No one spoke. No one moved. They knew better.

I stood before them, arms crossed, eyes sharp as a blade.

"One of you touched my things," I said coldly. "I’m not leaving until I know who it was."

Silence. Not even a whisper.

My gaze swept over them — trembling maids, stiff guards, all too terrified to breathe too loudly. Good.

“I won’t ask again,” I warned. “Speak now, or you’ll all pay for it.”

Still nothing. My patience snapped.

"Fine," I sneered. "You can all stay here until you’re ready to talk. I don’t care how long it takes."

I started pacing slowly, each step loud enough to make the crowd flinch.

"You think I’m playing?" My voice hardened. "I will keep you here all day if I have to. No food. No water. You’ll lie here like the useless lot you are until someone confesses."

A maid’s shaky voice finally broke the silence.

“I-It was me,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… I went in to clean.”

I stopped and turned, locking eyes with her. She couldn’t even lift her head.

“You?” I repeated, my tone sharp. “You decided to touch my things?”

“I… I was only trying to help,” she stuttered.

“Did I ask for your help?” I cut in coldly.

The maid swallowed hard, her head still bowed.

“Answer me!” I snapped.

“N-No… no, Your Highness,” she choked out.

“Exactly,” I hissed. “You act like you’re doing me a favor, but all you’ve done is make a mess. Now because of you, everyone else will suffer too.”

The maid’s head shot up, her face pale with panic. “Please, no! It was my mistake, don’t punish them!”

I laughed — cold and bitter. “Oh, now you care?” My eyes narrowed. “You should’ve thought about that before sticking your filthy hands where they don’t belong.”

I turned to the rest of the group.

“None of you are moving,” I said coldly. “Not until I decide you’ve had enough.”

I ignored the muffled sobs and pitiful glances. Their feelings? Not my problem. They were born to serve, and if they couldn’t get that right, they deserved whatever came next.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell. I didn’t flinch — but the maids and guards did, their faces twisting with hope.

“Ivana!” My mother’s voice rang out sharply, and moments later, she appeared at the top of the stairs, her gown trailing behind her. “What in the world is going on here?”

She stopped, staring at the pitiful sight before her — servants sprawled across the cold floor like prisoners.

“Why are they like this?” she demanded, her gaze snapping to me.

I crossed my arms. “One of them thought it was a good idea to go into my room without permission,” I said coolly. “I’m teaching them a lesson.”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed. “I told her to clean your room.”

I let out a short laugh. “And you think that makes it better?”

“Ivana,” she warned, her voice low. “Let them go.”

“No.”

Her expression hardened. “I command you to release them.”

I scoffed. “I don’t care what you command. The deed’s already done.” I shrugged, tossing a careless glance at the trembling maid who had confessed. “They’ll stay there until I say otherwise.”

“You’re being ridiculous!” my mother snapped. “It was a simple mistake — nothing worth humiliating them like this.”

“I don’t care,” I shot back. “She touched my things, and now they’re all paying for it. That’s how it works.”

My mother’s jaw clenched. “You can’t just—”

“Oh, but I can.” I stepped closer, voice lowering. “And I will. Maybe next time, they’ll think twice before crossing me.”

Her face tightened with frustration, but I wasn’t backing down. I knew I was winning. She always thought she could control me, but this wasn’t her battle to win.

“Ivana,” she tried again, her voice strained, “this is cruel.”

“So?” I smiled thinly. “They’ll live.”

“You’re impossible.” She turned sharply, her heels clicking hard against the floor as she stormed off in anger.

I stood there, watching her retreat. When she disappeared down the hall, a satisfied smile curled on my lips.

“Victory,” I muttered to myself.

I glanced back at the terrified faces still lying on the ground.

“Stay there,” I said coldly. “I’ll decide when you’ve had enough.”

With that, I turned and walked away, my smile lingering.

I hadn’t made it far when I stopped dead in my tracks.

My father, the King, stood directly in front of me, his towering figure blocking my path. His face was hard, his piercing gaze locked on mine.

My victorious smile vanished.

“Release them,” he ordered, his voice firm and heavy with authority.

I lifted my chin, forcing my confidence to return. “No,” I said coldly. “They deserve it.”

“Ivana,” his voice rose — sharp, commanding, dangerous. “I said release them.”

“No!” I snapped, my voice cutting through the air. “They crossed a line, and they need to pay for it!”

“I won’t say it again,” he warned. His tone carried that weight — the one that made even the bravest of men cower.

“Don’t go!” I shouted as he turned away. But he ignored me, walking straight to the terrified servants still sprawled on the floor.

“Get up,” he said firmly.

The maids and guards hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.

“I said get up!” His voice thundered this time, and they scrambled to their feet, moving as if their lives depended on it.

“Y’all will still suffer for this!” I yelled, pointing a finger at them. “I don’t care what he says — you’ll pay! Just watch me.”

The maids didn’t dare look back as they hurried down the hall, vanishing like shadows. Even the guards moved quickly, grateful to be out of my reach.

I stood there, chest heaving with frustration. My father turned back to me, his expression grim.

“Enough,” he said sternly. “We need to talk.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, here we go,” I muttered. “What is it this time? Another lecture about being ‘kinder’?” I sneered, folding my arms. “Don’t waste your breath.”

His gaze hardened. “This isn’t a request, Ivana.”

I clenched my jaw but didn’t argue. I knew better than to push him too far. The last thing I wanted was a royal punishment — not now.

“Fine,” I muttered, dragging my feet as I followed him down the hall.

But as I walked, my mind raced. Those servants thought they were safe now — but they weren’t. Not even close.

They’ll learn, I promised myself. They’ll all learn not to cross me.