Chapter 2.2: Impudent Servant

𝟐.𝟐: Impudent servant

𝐒he had never seen the man before in her life—hadn't even read about him in the original novel—but the moment her eyes landed on him, recognition flared in her mind, courtesy of Elysia's retained memories.

Sir Benjamin Gaetan.

Second cousin to a no-name baron. A mere secondary attendant tasked with delivering the King's word. A self-glorified messenger.

And yet… based on what she knew of him, that title felt far too kind.

Rude. Impatient. Unbelievably arrogant.

And worst of all—perverted.

In other words, a total piece of sh☆t. Much like the creatures she detested in general: Men.

This wasn't the first time he'd done this. Bursting into her private chambers uninvited, unannounced, like he owned the damn palace. And every time, he justified it with the same excuse: urgent orders from His Majesty. Not once did he bother to knock. Not once did he have the decency to hide his wandering eyes.

Elysia laughed to herself. A hollow, chilling thing that vibrated with a promise.

A promise of retribution.

"His Majesty requires your immediate presence in the Great Hall," he announced from the doorway, eyes darting everywhere but her face. His gaze lingered—hungry and bold—on the curve of her legs, the dip of her collarbone.

Shameless.

'Ugh… I can't even imagine how she must have felt—trapped, humiliated—each time this disgusting b☆stard barged in like this. If a lowly attendant feels entitled to treat a princess this way… what about the rest of the staff?'

Rage simmered beneath her skin like a pot just shy of boiling over. But Elysia held it in. Letting it stew behind a calm, chilly smile.

Just then—

[Ding! Host, your first mission has arrived: Put that impudent servant in his place once and for all.]

[Difficulty: ★]

[Allotted Time: 1:00:00]*

[Reward Class: C]

'Oh? I was already plotting the scumbag's downfall—but getting rewarded for it too? Looks like things are finally rolling my way.'

She took a poised step forward, her silk nightgown whispering against the floor as she moved.

"His Majesty wishes to see me?" Her voice was sweet, but the contempt bleeding through it was unmistakable. Her eyes, once glacial blue, seemed to darken under the room's warm lighting. "I see. I'll get ready immediately—but before that…"

She paused, taking her time. Letting the tension thicken.

"I don't recall granting you permission to enter my chambers, Sir Benjamin. Or have you mistaken my past silence for permission?" Her tone sharpened. "Do you take me for a fool? Or a loose, helpless thing just because I've allowed your impudence to slide—until now?"

The man blinked, stunned.

Like it had never occurred to him that this quiet, overlooked princess might actually bite.

For the first time since his little power trips began, a flicker of fear crossed his face. But it was fleeting. He straightened, scoffing internally. She's just the neglected daughter of the King. A fragile lass with no esteem. No one would believe her over me if she ever dares to complain.

"I'm just doing my job, Princess," he said, spitting the title like it was dirt on his tongue. "Besides, I thought I heard a response permitting my entry. Your Highness' voice does tend to go unnoticed."

A smirk tugged at his lips—cruel and condescending.

He thought he'd won.

He had no idea he was walking straight into Elysia's perfectly laid trap.

"I suppose I've made this environment a little too comfortable," she said calmly, voice smooth and sharp like a polished blade. "A mere servant dares to dishonor me—and lie to my face."

Her bare feet tapped sharply against the floor as she stalked the remaining distance between them. She made no move to hide the outline of her figure in the thin fabric of her nightdress. Let him look. Let him stew in discomfort.

It was far too late for proprieties.

"Sir Benjamin…" she murmured, stopping just inches from him. Her voice was deceptively soft. "I'll ask you once more—do you take me for a fool?"

That single question made the man freeze.

For the first time, Benjamin grasped the severity of his situation.

The princess wasn't joking. She wasn't bluffing. The tremor beneath her words was not weakness, but wrath barely contained. Still, his pride clung stubbornly to denial.

"I've done nothing wrong," he insisted, raising his chin with false bravado. "I was only fulfilling the orders that were given to me—"

Crack!

A sharp, echoing sound cut him off. His head snapped sideways as a stinging pain exploded across his cheek. He staggered back, one hand flying up to cradle the hot skin.

She had slapped him.

The "meek" princess. The supposedly spineless, quiet daughter of the King—had just struck him across the face.

He was still reeling, still too stunned to react, when her hand came down again.

Crack!

The second slap sent him to his knees. His face burned, his ears rang, and humiliation wrapped around him like a choking vine.

Above him, Elysia stood tall, eyes burning with fury. Her hand, tingling from the blow, remained raised mid-air. She slowly lowered it to her side, scoffing.

"Now that's more like it. Someone in your station shouldn't even dare lift their head in my presence. You should be eating the dirt I walk on."

Her voice was venom, thick and cold. "Listen carefully, because I won't say this twice. If you ever disrespect me again… I'll ruin you beyond recognition. Not just you, but everyone you hold dear. Do you understand? Speak if you understand what I just said."

The man's entire body trembled. He nodded frantically, but she didn't let him off that easily.

"I said—speak."

"Y-Yes, Your Highness!" he stammered, voice cracking. "I was wrong! Spare me this once! I swear, it won't happen again!"

She stared down at him like he was a bug crushed beneath her shoe.

"Very well," she said flatly. "Now get out of my sight."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

And just like that, he scrambled out of the room like a rat fleeing fire.

The chamber sank into silence, the tension dispersing into the air like smoke.

Then—

"Phew! That was intense," Elysia exhaled, wiping imaginary sweat off her brow with a playful grin. "Hopefully I won't need to hit anyone else like that… right, Winfred?"

A familiar glowing orb flickered into existence beside her.

[Host, this mission is still incomplete.]

[Time left: 00:46:32]

"What?!" she blurted. "What do you mean incomplete? I basically scared the crap out of that guy! He won't be bothering me again for sure."

[Host, please complete the mission before time runs out.]

"…Ugh."

—

Meanwhile, outside Elysia's chambers…

A furious Benjamin stormed down the corridor, his face flushed raw and dignity crumbling with each step. Rage rolled off him in waves.

His thoughts spiraled in an ugly direction.

How dare that entitled b☆tch raise her hand at me? he seethed. She's nothing but dead weight rotting away in that wing. She should feel honored that someone like me even looked at her!

He spat on the marble floor as he marched.

"Hmph. Let's see what His Majesty has to say about this," he muttered. "That b☆tch is going to regret ever crossing me…"

—

[ * = hours : minutes : seconds ]