Chapter 5 The Troublemaker

Lady Mirabel, Blanca, France, Ravinia and Celestia was enjoying their day at the pavilion one morning when they were interrupted by the sound of a woman and a group of her servants trying to get inside the restricted Galatea Palace.

Knowing that the imperial consort is out for some important business together with the noble consort and the other two high-rank consorts that day, Mirabel has to step in.

"Sister Mirabel, what should we do? We're nothing but a lady in this palace. From the looks of things, that woman seemed to be coming from the main palace. What is wrong with her, barking in front of our palace? If the imperial consort knows about this, we're doom!" Lady Blanca voiced out while sticking her head up to see what is going on.

"Sister Blanca, stop being nosy and let the maids deal with them. She's probably a new concubine that doesn't know the rules of the palace. If they kept barking like that, we should wait for either the imperial consort or the noble consort to deal with it. We can't disturb Elpis now. She's busy in her private study with her officials." Lady Mirabel explained.

The ladies nodded, agreed to that logic. They continued to enjoy their time at the pavilion until they heard screaming coming from the entrance. Mirabel sighed heavily.

"I guess we have no choice but to interfere? Whether we like it or not, we can't let that commotion bother Elpis while she's working." The concubines decided to see what is happening at the entrance. They asked the nearby maid what is going on.

"Milady! Please. This woman claimed to be the second prince wife, and she wants to live here in the Galatea Palace. We tried to chase her away, but she won't listen. Her servant even slapped the head maid in the commotion. Please do something, milady." Lady Mirabel sighed.

"That's okay. We'll handle this. Just make sure the empress doesn't know about this." The maid nodded. The concubines went to the entrance and tried to see what they can do.

"Milady!" The maids bow their head when they saw the concubines walking towards them.

"Finally! High ranking servants! Let me enter this palace. I decided to make this as my living quarters. You should know that I am the wife of the second prince. If you decide to act like these low life servants, you'll regret it." Lady Mirabel raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" The dignified lady sighed.

"Are all the servants in this palace doesn't have any proper education? Never mind, once I live here, I shall have all the old servant replace. Now, let me in so I can see what I can do with the palace!" The lady was forcing herself to enter when Lady Blanca intervened.

"You can't enter this palace! And how dare you spoke to us like we're servants! Don't you have any manners? From which kingdom are you? We would like to know which king and queen raised such vulgar princess!" The dignified princess was in a rage.

"How dare a mere servant talks to me like this! Grabbed that woman and punished her and give her 40 slaps!" None of the guards dares to move an inch.

"You dare defy my orders! I will let the second prince know how you all treated me today! Don't you know who I am?! I am the second prince wife! The legitimate wife! You all shall pay for what you've done to me!" The concubines looked at each other with confused looks.

"What is going on here?! Is there a parade that I didn't know off?" The concubines were glad to see the imperial, and the noble consort has arrived.

"Sister Mirabel, whats going on?" Virtra asked. Mirabel explained the real situation at hands and Virtra was not happy. For a mere second princess to create such a scene in front of Galatea Palace, it's unforgivable.

"Didn't the second prince tell you anything about this palace? You are not allowed to pick this palace as your living quarters. "The imperial consort explained.

"What can a mere concubine like you do? I want this palace! It suits my living standard as a legitimate wife of the second prince! Move!" Before the second princess could touch the imperial consort, the second prince grabbed his wife before she continues to embarrass him.

"Please forgive my rude wife, sister in law. It was my mistake for not informing her about Galatea Palace rules." The imperial consort watched as her second brother in law bow in front of her. The second princess wasn't happy that he's ruining her new dress.

"My prince! Why do I have to kneel in front of a concubine! It is absurd!" The second prince kept his head low.

"Shut up! You have no idea what you've done! It'll destroy us! It was my mistake for not educate you enough about the palace law!" The second prince looked up to Virtra.

"Please sister in law! Please forgive us." Virtra turned to Mirabel.

"Sister Mirabel, did the empress noticed this commotion?" The concubine shakes her head no.

"It's fine, brother in law. I'll let this slide. But if this happens again, I won't be this nice to her or your other concubine who defy the rules of Galatea Palace. If you wish for me to teach her the rules, it will be my pleasure to do so. But I won't promise I will be nice to someone who tries to disturb the peace in my palace." The second prince thanked the imperial consort for her generosity.

"Apologise! It's for your own!" With gritted teeth, the second princess apologised. The second prince was about to leave when noble consort Grace called for him.

"My prince, please don't forget about the dinner tonight. It might be the only chance your wife get to see the inside of Galatea Palace." The second prince nodded.

"I will, noble consort. Thank you for inviting us to dinner. It's been a while since we had your delicious delicacies." The second prince bow before leaving the front of the palace.

"Newcomers need to be disciplined. That princess should learn a few tricks if she wishes to survive in this palace." Noble consort Grace sighed heavily.

"Young people have no manners at all nowadays." She added.

***

"Have you lost your mind! Do you wish to see me on a death penalty?! How dare you use my name when you're in the presence of my sister in law! Don't you know what hierarchy means?! Didn't your parents ever teach you what mannerism is all about?!" The second princess didn't expect that her husband would be so angry at her.

"What is wrong with you? I'm just trying to let the servants know who I am! Why are you mad at me for no reason?!" The second prince pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No reason? No reason you say?! You were yelling, barking in front of Galatea Palace! You're lucky that my sister in law was in a good mood today. If not, I will get into trouble because of your status, my legitimate wife!" The second princess can't believe this.

"My prince! It's just a mere concubine! I will never smear your name when it comes to dealing with empress Sophia or your mother. They are just the emperor's concubine. What is wrong with you? And why did you called that woman sister in law?" The second prince asked their attending servant to leave.

"Galatea Palace belongs to my older sister. And of course, I called my sister's wife sister in law. She's the legal wife! In this palace, no one is allowed to interfere with the matters in Galatea Palace except for my sister, the REAL ruler of the empire and her wife, imperial consort Virtra. My princess, what you just did tarnish my name as the second prince. How can I face older sister tonight knowing that my wife just ... oh my god." The second prince is in a dilemma.

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? The emperor is the ruler of this empire. My prince, you must see a doctor." The second prince sighed heavily.

"My princess ... there is a lot of things you have to know in this palace. I shall ask empress Sophia to tell you the whole story. And please behave tonight. I don't want any more trouble with my older sister." The second prince excuse himself because he has a few errands to do for the emperor.

"My princess ... what just happened? Why did the prince seem a bit worried?" A servant asked when she walked into the princess's room.

"Was it a bad call to marry such a coward? I only followed what my mother asked me to do. The prince seemed worried about a mere concubine! What is going on in this palace?! I don't care! Whatever happens, I want Galatea Palace. Even if I have to bring down every concubine inside that palace." Someone was clearing its throat.

"That would be a bad idea, my child." It's the empress dowager. The second princess bows her head to her mother in law.

"Mother in law, what is going on in this palace? The prince got mad at me for wanting something. He promised to give me everything before we got married. Please, mother, do something. I want to stay inside Galatea Palace." The empress dowager was having second thoughts.

"My dear daughter in law. Why don't you just ask the second prince to build you another palace? We have enormous land for you to build one. We can even use all the finest material available. Why would you want to have Galatea Palace?" The second princess scoffed.

"Because I want it. And anything that I want will be mine. Please mother in law. Is there any way to take that palace away from those cocky concubines? And what does it mean when the prince said the empress is staying there? I thought empress Sophia live in the main palace." Empress dowager felt sorry for the second princess.

"Oh, my dear. It's complicated. It's all the late emperor's fault for trusting such a vile woman. He should just let the emperor rule this empire together with my brother but no! He forbid my brother from entering the court." Empress dowager sighed heavily.

"Mother in law, who is this sister the second prince mentioned about? Why both the emperor and the second prince scared of her? Aren't they supposed to be the one running the empire?" Empress dowager smiled.

"Well, in front of the people, yes, emperor Ragnar is the emperor. But in the shadows, the first empress daughter is the one who runs this nation. She controlled every single decision making in court just because she's better and far more experience in politics than my sons. I hate to admit it myself, but I raised such cowards. They don't even dare to defy that filthy woman." Empress dowager grabbed hold of the second princess hands.

"I choose you to marry my son because I know you will change the way he thinks. It's too late for me to change empress Sophia's mindset, but it doesn't mean I can't turn the emperor's concubines against her and that filthy woman. The imperial harem is under my control, and I will take every chance I get to add more concubines for my gain. And you will help me." The second princess smiled.

"What should I do, mother in law?" Empress dowager smiled evilly. It's easy enough for her to trick such a simple-minded princess into doing her dirty work.

"Tonight, Elpis will host a banquet in Galatea Palace. She invited everyone from the main palace. Normally, she would let her concubines sitting on the same table. You, as the princess from the mighty Wind Kingdom, could say something to express your disgust. Make those low ranking concubines feel small. Even Elpis wouldn't dare to do anything since your father helped her when she was in trouble before." Empress dowager convinced the second princess.

"I see your point there, mother in law. I will make sure they're humiliated in front of everyone. Who do they think they are?! Concubines should know their place in court!" Empress dowager snickered when the second princess was easy enough to fool.

"Hah! Even if Elpis execute you tonight. I will find someone better for my son." Empress dowager said mentally.