Amethyst contemplated for a while but she just couldnât stand by and do nothing. In the end, she headed towards their direction in the most authoritative manner.
âWhat is all this ruckus?â She demanded when she got the scene.
The knights withdrew their hands that had been harassing the maid and looked at Amethyst. They clearly appeared shocked.
âMa â¦madam, it is nothing.â
They are not the knights I met before. Well of course they were the top of the ranks and wouldnât be doing something like this. Then these people must be below them.
âIf itâs nothing then why is that young lady crying?â she said, pointing towards the sobbing maid.
âHahah, itâs because she likes it. Right?â The knight looked at the maid threateningly.
The maid seemed to understand what the situation meant. If she claimed that it wasnât true she would need to pay a bigger price in the future. The maid continued to cower and tremble in fear as she barely managed a nod.
A frown formed on Amethystâs forehead. âShe likes it⦠I see. I must be mistaken then.â
Saying so she moved slowly towards the knights, and stood right in front of the one who had just been harassing the maid. Then, without a warning, reached and grabbed the knightâs bottom with a hand.
âArgh! Maâ¦madam!â
âMadam!â
The remaining knights and the sniffling maid were shocked; dumbstruck they looked at the dukeâs newly wedded wife.
âWhy? You said she likes it right? I was only doing the same? Did it offend you?â Amethyst levelled her gaze at the man.
The knight spoke with a flushed face, âMaâ¦.madam you are a noble lady! Such acts are veryââ
âWhat? Rude? Wrong?â She retorted.
âBoth!â the knight hurriedly replied.
âWhy? Itâs right for a man to harass a woman, but not right if a woman haresses a man?â
The man was gobsmacked but soon managed to say, âWellâ¦.! Itâs different!â
âWhatâs so different!â As Amethyst raised her voice suddenly, the knights flinched.
âDo you want to make women weaker than you kneel and beg since you are stronger than them? Why? Because they are weak? If they donât have any power, does that mean you can treat them poorly? If thatâs the case, then I truly havenât done anything wrong have I? Iâm sure you are not ignorant to be unable to differentiate between something someone likes and dislikes.â
âMadamââ
The knight must have felt flustered as he scratched his head.
âIf you harass or bully a woman again, and canât differentiate between what they like and dislike, and if a knight, who should be protecting the weak bullies others again ⦠I will deprive you of your knighthood!â
âWhat?!â
âDo you think I wonât be able to do that? I have the power and influence to do so!â
I wonder where my courage has stemmed from. It might be because of something I had heard in passing.
âAside from the Emperor, you are the highest ranked woman in the Sehar empire!â
The threat must have worked as the knights stood around awkwardly.
âWhy are you standing around like that for? Whereâs my answer.â
ââ Yes.â
âDonât ever forget that I am always watching you!â Amethyst finally looked at the maid and said, âYou, follow me.â
âYes ⦠Madam.â
She left the knights behind and walked on, then turned her head back slightly. She pointed a finger at them and gestured with two fingers that she will always be watching, and then drew her index finger across her neck as if saying â¦âI am watching you, you break the promise, youâre dead.â
Ah, Iâd always wanted to try this gesture on my boss but it seems like Iâm using it like this.
Amethyst turned her head back and looked at the maid. She was still trembling and all tensed up.
Of course she is in shock. And scared. And also â¦. embarrassed. Iâm sure these kinds of things happen. This too is a society, and such things can happen when and wherever.
âAre you all right?â
âSorry? Yes, Madam. Th-thank you.â
It was a simple question, but the maid must have been very surprised as she burst into tears.
âOh dearâ â
âIâmâ¦Iâm so sorry. I justâ â
âItâs okay. Itâs okayâ¦â
Amethyst hugged the maid gently and patted her back. Then slowly the girl seemed to calm down.
âMadamâ¦.I am fine now.â
âAll right.â
She took a look at the maid who was stepping away from her, then grimaced as she caught sight of her sleeve. A sleeve could get tattered from working but hers was too much.
âThenâ¦I will go back now. I still have things to doâ â
âAll right. Then go back for now. But if something like this happens again, you must inform me immediately! All right?â
âYo ⦠you?â The maid was startled.
âYes!â
âBut â¦that isâ â
Amethyst smiled at the maid who was hesitating.
She finally came to a realization and said, âYesâ¦.I will. Madam, thank you so much for today.â
âGo on. I realised I have something to do.â She urged her on, still wearing a smile.
âYes.â The maid bowed her head and then returned, while Amethyst quickly returned to the mansion.
Amethyst who had entered the mansion started calling out loud to the butler who wasnât visible in her line of sight these days. âPon, Pon!â
âYes, Madam.â
Pon, who had been obeying Alexcentâs direct orders to stay out of Amethystâs sight, appeared as the mistress looked around for him. Even though it was the dukeâs orders, he could not ignore things when it came to the affairs of the mansion. So he had been trying his best to carry out his business without getting in her way.
âPon, assemble all the maids who work in the mansion immediately.â
âYes.â Without asking any question, Pon did as he was told.
One, two, slowly the maids of the mansion started to appear. The maid she had met today didnât appear, but Amethyst started studying each and every one of them.