I Confronted Maria

Sharon's POV—

Maria's face was full of horror. She can't believe the words which I uttered. She whispered, "How?"

I put on my hands on the table and leaned on it. I said, "Did you regard me as a fool? I know everything about you Maria. You are Kelshin's personal maid, aren't you?" She didn't answer and just continued to look at me in horror. A part of me was really satisfied to see her like this. I continued, "The reason why you quickly climbed the ranks... was because of my wish. I wanted to see what Kelshin wanted you to do."

Maria took a step back in fear. She asked, "If you knew about that then, why? Why did you keep me as your personal maid?

"It's simple. With you being here, I can be rest assured that Kelshin will not send any other spy to my palace."

Maria looked at me with hatred swirling in her eyes. She conjured a bow and an arrow. Hmmm... will she attack me? She hissed, "Then, what about today? Why did you take me with you?"

I twirled the pen in my hand and put it on the table. I said, "It's because you deserved that. You, than any other person, craved for revenge. Not only that but also, we saved a lot of people."

She slowly walked towards me and stood right in front of me. She warned, "Why do you care if I get my revenge or not? Answer me honestly or else, I will put this arrow right through you. Emperor or not, I don't care."

I lowered my gaze and replied, "I don't want to." She pinched my chin and lifted my face slowly. She was holding it very tightly. I teared up a bit from her tight hold on my chin.

Maria sneered, "Look at you, tearing up from just a simple hold. I didn't know that Your Majesty was this fragile. I mean, I am bigger than you in terms of height. Tell me, did you plan to kill me? TELL ME!"

I flinched from her tone. I muttered, "I like... you." Her grip loosened on my chin. She asked, "What was that?" Disbelief was the only emotion that was highlighting itself in her words.

I repeated, "I like you. No, I love you." Maria removed her hands like I am some plague.

Maria sneered, "Are you mad? You love me? It never appeared to me that you liked me. Now suddenly, you are claiming that you like me."

"I helped you get your revenge?"

"Yes? So, what? Should be grateful to you?"

I shook my head in denial. I replied, "No..."

"I don't really care whether you like me or not. I don't like you."

I asked, "What if I give you the Nightinshade leader's name? Will you like me then?" Maria's eyes widened at my words. There was a hint of desperation on her face. She yelled, "Who?! Who is it?!! Tell me!"

"Upon interrogating that man and the freed-prisoners... all of them said one name. It was Count of Yasdrb"

Soaking this new information, Maria looked at me and then, jumped out of the window. Probably to confirm my words.

[Host... did it go the way you wanted to?]

'You know Sys... there is one thing that's common between me and my predecessor. Like her, I am also unpredictable. This nature of mine has really helped in not creating any kind of suspicion from anyone. And as for the plan, it did go the way I wanted to.'

[But how? She escaped out from the window.]

'It doesn't matter. I just professed my love for her and also, given her the leader's name. If love doesn't work, then the least she will feel for me is gratitude. My job is to take her away from the protagonist.'

[... I will wait and see then. If this works or, not.]

'Good for you.'

Count of Yasdrb was the leader of Nightinshade. Maria's parents made a deal with this guy and sold her to him. Although, these two never met each other. Unlike Maria, he knew her existence. A commoner, who had large amounts of mana in her and if that wasn't enough, she had a powerful ability. This made her more valuable than the other slaves.

In the book, Kelshin had a secret partnership with the count after he was exposed by him. Kelshin used the organisation according to his own will. But I have changed this. Right now, Kelshin and the count have no partnership with each other.

Maria would definitely find the count responsible as all the evidence points towards him. Let's see what she does.