Chapter 86: Budding Inferno
Music Recommendation: Naked Body- Kim Min Jii
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Dante’s hands clenched, and his eyes narrowed upon hearing Maxwell’s decision regarding Anastasia’s status. Despite it being a possible path she might choose to walk on, Dante, who wanted to honour his word to her, didn’t want it to happen now. Especially not when he had told her that he would wait for her.
Noticing the frown on Emily’s face, Dante stepped forward and addressed the matter,
"King Maxwell, your decision is undoubtedly generous towards the maid, and she will be ecstatic once she hears about it. But it wouldn’t be fair to Emily, who is fond of her maid and wants to retain her in her service."
Emily quickly nodded in agreement, and she said, "I appreciate your decision and the consideration you’ve given to elevating her status, King Maxwell. However, I would be at a loss if Anna were to be promoted from being my maid to a courtesan."
"Always so swift to consider our siblings and always so attached to your maids," King Maxwell commented, his eyes shifting from Dante to Emily. "Though I must say, Emily. For someone who always wants the best for others, you seem to have turned selfish when it comes to this particular maid. It only intrigues me more," he added, looking at his first sister with shrewd eyes.
"If I may speak," the Mother Queen began, pausing until she received her grandson’s attention, who sat upon the throne. She said, "I find the notion of a maid transitioning from the servants’ quarters to become a courtesan or a concubine rather odd. The palace has always upheld a certain standard and division of class with only freshly plucked buds being cultivated by experienced hands."
Dante stared at Maxwell, who looked increasingly more interested in the subject as his family members continued to try to dissuade him. For him to decide to promote Anastasia to a courtesan suggested that his eyes were not specifically on her. At least not yet. Because if that were true, the king could have easily placed her in the concubines’ quarters.
"I think it is a wonderful idea, King Maxwell!" Niyasa chimed in on her brother’s decision, the smile on her lips widening even more than before. "The maid will be grateful that she has the opportunity to live a life of luxury. She will be educated and taught many things a maid can only dream of."
"She is happy with the way things are. There’s no need to change something that is already functioning well," Emily replied to her sister’s words. "She’s my maid. Shouldn’t I be able to decide?"