My Husband Thought I Was Dead And Became A Tyrant!

Chapter 12

Starting with the heavy tiara, my clothes were removed one by one until I was shivering because of the air.

“The weather is still pretty cold.”

Cool wind blew through the windows. Wanting to hurry into the hot water, I dipped a toe into the tub, but for some reason it wasn’t hot at all.

“Could you heat up the water?”

“I apologize. This is the amount of hot water the Lily Palace is currently rationed.”

“Isn’t this going too far, since it’s the first night I’m spending with the Emperor?

“I apologize, Miss Silver Lily.”

Watching the maid bow her head, I couldn’t help but sigh.

I knew this would happen. I could tell something was off the moment Madame Chunet started disrespecting me.

Even though I was their master, the one who actually held the power was Madame Chunet—the Head Maid. She belonged to a county, while rumors that I was a commoner were already spreading.

To make matters worse, as a relative of Duke Valkirino, she received his support.

It must be confusing for the other maids to watch the Head Maid tacitly look down on me, who’d become the Queen as the Duke’s adopted daughter.

There was a strong possibility that the Duchy told them to prioritize Madame Chunet over me.

“Oh well. Since it’s cold, let’s hurry and wash up so we can leave.”

I ended up half-heartedly rushing to begin the bath.

Because the water was becoming increasingly colder, my hands and feet were freezing, and my head was on the verge of aching.

I wanted to get it done quickly so I could leave, but the maids’ hands were very slow, causing me to get annoyed.

“Please hurry—actually, no. Everyone, get out. I’ll finish it myself.”

Eventually, I tried to send them away and finish it on my own.

However, everyone hesitated and didn’t put the bucket of water down.

“Why are you just standing there instead of leaving?”

“…The Head Maid ordered us to tend to you until it was done,” said a cute-looking child with her brown hair tied up high.

Usually, there were rules ensuring that all maids had the same kind of hairstyle. So the fact that she had a different hairstyle meant she wasn’t a low-class maid, but rather, a maid with autonomy and position.

She was probably the rank below the Head Maid, which meant she was in the same group as Madame Chunet.

“What’s your name?”

“Pardon?”

“Your name, name.”

She must’ve been taken aback by me suddenly asking for her name, as she couldn’t answer right away and avoided my gaze.

“W-Why are you asking for my name…”

“Considering you’ll be tending to me from now on, we’re a family. Don’t you think I need to know your name?”

After saying that, I forced the corners of my lips up and smiled.

It felt like the sides of my mouth were trembling, since I was freezing to death while trying to force a smile. While I was hoping they couldn’t tell, a reply came.