Shocked by what he had just learned, Eugen sat in silence, the weight of the truth making his world crumble. How could the crown princess, the person he trusted, relied on, and looked up to be responsible for the atrocities that had fallen on his home? Selling off territories and sending their people to become prisoners of war was something he didn't expect to be something the future empress was capable of.

The room was filled with a heavy atmosphere, the only sound heard was the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. Eugen couldn't tear his eyes away from the evidence laid out in front of him, each time he reread it, his respect for the crown princess crumbled.

Gathering the courage to speak, his voice trembled as he asked, "I-Is this all true?"

"Information gathered by Yugen is meticulously checked. We have reputable private investigators in our ranks who operate within the boundaries of the law and follow standard procedures including but not limited to but not limited to eye witness accounts, first hand testimonies of the parties in question, cross referencing the data they gathered to verify accuracy," Toini stated.

Nacht, with his brows furrowed, interjected "He just asked you a yes or no question. Was it even necessary to explain to him how Yugen operates?"

Toini rolled her eyes at Nacht, "Even though I already laid out the facts before him I don't think he'll be convinced by it immediately if we don't give him a reason to trust the information we've provided. We can't blame him for being skeptical. After all, his entire world just flipped upside down. The person he thought helped his family get through the war was actually the one that destroyed their lives."

Feeling anger and sadness engulf him, Eugen exclaimed, "B-But her radiance was the one who was keen on helping my family! I-I don't understand! Why would she help us if she's the reason why we're suffering?!"

"It's simply really," said Yvon, "Aiding your family would help maintain her 'golden girl' persona. It's a ploy to be seen positively as the 'kind crown princess' by her future subjects."

Then, with a heavy tone tinged with anger, Toini spoke, "Now answer my question, Eugen. Can you still say that you know exactly what kind of people the young miss and young master are? And can you say that you really knew the kind of person the crown princess really is?"

Eugen was silent, unable to give a rebuttal.

Toini continued, "You don't know them at all. You don't know the young miss, the young master, and you definitely don't even know the woman you once called your mistress! So how dare you judge them based on what you've only heard from the mouth of that venobra when you have no idea what kind of horrors our chiefs had to endure under the hands of your precious crown princess!"

♡

Ever since Toini could remember she was living in the Sunglen estate in the capital, it was one of the perks of her parents being both the head maid and head butler. For many staff members, the estate wasn't just a workplace, it was a home to them and their families.

Though she was friends with many of the other staff members' children, Toini was close to the youngest children of the count and countess, the twins.

Growing up, when asked to describe the twins Toini would often say that Yvon is "wild"because he would often drag her and Yvette to unexpected situations like exploring Sablewood Forest- a dangerous forest filled with wild animals that is said to be home to a legendary creature *Fyrnix. As for Yvette, Toini would describe her as "resilient" like steel because Yvette showed strength, durability, and reliability much like steel in spite of all they were experiencing.

(Fyrnix - creature resembling a fox with a striking coat of iridescent red and orange fur, reminiscent of flames. Its most distinctive feature is its bushy tail, which contains specialized glands that secrete a volatile, oil-like substance.)

Because she was close to the Oryx family, Toini knew just how complex they were.

For eight generations, the House of Oryx has been the governors of Sunglen and they were known for being politically neutral and would only side with those whom they thought would help their land, their people, and the empire as a whole. The current count and countess, Aldous and Dulcenia, exceed their predecessors in terms of governing their county. Toini would often note to herself that despite being good governors, they weren't good parents.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Being close to the Oryxes, saw how the count and countess were around all four of their children. They loved all of them sure but not equally, or at least that's how Toini saw it. Whether unconsciously or intentionally, the count and countess doted on their eldest son and daughter more.

Toini could somewhat understand why they put more attention on them. Yves was a prodigy in swordsmanship, it was evident from when he was young and many valorian academies, guilds, and private valorian brigades were interested in his skill and reached out to their family. Yvonne on the other hand was just as talented as her older brother in swordsmanship, not only that but Yvonne was smart and showed that she had a knack for politics even at a young age.

Given people's overwhelming attention and interest in the eldest children, Toini understood why the count and countess were focused on them but what she didn't understand was why they couldn't seem to spare some time for the twins.

Growing up, the four Oryx children were constantly compared to each other and more of then than not, Toini saw that the twins would be pitied because they weren't as talented or as capable as their older siblings.

The count and countess didn't neglect or abuse the twins but they weren't as affectionate or as interested in them as they were with Yves and Yvonne.

Toini saw how desperately the twins sought their parents' attention and affection, continuously doing their best to be noticed by those around them but they just couldn't reach the level of talents their older siblings did at that age.

And that wasn't all that Toini saw, because growing up in the Sunglen estate meant that she grew up with the Oryx children including the "golden girl", Yvonne.

Toini was one of the few people who knows what kind of person the empire's crown princess truly is.

When she was six, the Oryxes were having pictures of their everyday life painted. Toini saw the beloved darling of high society's manipulative side. Hidden in a secret room, she watched as the then nine year old Yvonne brutally raised her hand and slapped her then five year old little siblings. That scene was burned in her mind as it was the first time that she'd seen her usually cheerful friends shake in fear and the seemingly kind Yvonne have a dark and cold expression on her face.

Toini watched as Yvonne repeatedly slapped her younger brother and listened to their conversation with tears in her eyes.

"Didn't I tell you to break that vase, Yvon? I'm sure that I repeated that to you twice," the nine year old Yvonne said as she looked down on her younger brother who had hit the ground from the force of her slap.

Quivering in fear, the then five year old Yvon mustered up the courage to reply to Yvonne, "B-But grandma bought that for mommy, they'll be sad if I-I break it."

"That's not right, Yvon," said Yvonne and then grabbed the boy by his cheeks, and spoke to them as though she was directing and writing a play for all to see, "You're supposed to be the 'naughty boy'. That's who you are, remember? I have to be the caring older sister, little Yvette here is the spoiled brat that wants to be like me. That's who you two are. How can I play the role of a caring older sister if you don't stick to what I tell you to do? If I tell people you're a naughty boy, you should be one! Do you want to turn me into a liar, Yvon?"

"N-No! I don't want to make you into a liar b-but Yvonne mommy likes that vase!" Yvon retorted, earning him another heavy slap from Yvonne.

"Why are you acting up today?" asked Yvonne as though she wasn't doing anything wrong and then turned her attention to the little five year old Yvette who was shaking behind Yvon, "Oh, I know what to do! Yvette come here."

Before the little girl could even muster up the courage to reply, Yvonne dragged her and had her lift up her skirt and whipped it until they bled. Yvon could do nothing but watch as his twin cried because Yvonne tied him to her bed making him unable to run to his twin's aid.

"Muffle your cries, Yvette. Nobles should be dignified even in pain," said Yvonne then went to Yvon taking off the muffle she had put over his mouth, "Look at her, Yvon. She's bleeding, she's hurt. It's your fault she's like that, because you weren't obedient."

Yvon cried out, "P-Please, Yvonne. D-Don't hurt Yvette anymore! I-I'll break the vase! J-Just don't hit her!"

With a warm smile on her face, Yvonne let Yvon go and he rushed towards Yvette. The twins trembled as they embraced each other fearing their older sister that was closely approaching.

Yvonne hugged the both of them and kissed their foreheads, "See, that wasn't so bad. Don't forget I love you two."

And Yvon did what Yvonne had asked him to do, he broke the vase accidentally damaging the painter's things and like she had planned, Yvonne came swooping in apologizing for her brother's unruly behavior getting complimented because she was a kind and capable older sister.

Toini saw the manipulative side of Yvonne, the girl almost everyone liked and how her deceit and manipulation escalated as the years went by affecting not only the twins but even Toini herself.

In the eyes of outsiders caught in her web of lies Yvonne was a precious gem but for Toini, the twins, and those that knew who she truly was, her cruelty was a relentless nightmare they couldn't escape from.