Wrong Marriage and Sweet Love

Joyce returned to the Imperial Villa. Several maids were already waiting there. Her chamber was laid with light-colored mats, giving it a much softer tone compared to Clint’s chamber. The screens around were embroidered with cherry blossoms, creating a romantic atmosphere as if one were amidst a shower of cherry petals.

Joyce sat on the floor, facing a long table filled with various exquisite dishes. She counted them and found over fifty different kinds. It was simply too extravagant.

Joyce pointed at the dishes on the table. “Do you think I can eat all this? It’s such a waste. What happens to the leftovers? Are they all thrown away?”

One of the maids nodded. “Yes, madam.”

Joyce’s eyes widened. “This is too much. I remember your people always emphasize thrift and frugality. Why is lunch so lavish?”

“Madam, it is by the prince’s order,” the maid replied respectfully.

Joyce pointed at five dishes. “Keep these five and this bowl of white rice. Take away the rest. You can have them; I haven’t touched them. Don’t waste food.”

“Yes, madam,” the maid agreed without hesitation. “Thank you for your generosity.”

The other maids stepped forward and removed the excess dishes.

Joyce rubbed her forehead. Generosity? Why do they have to speak like that? She felt like she had traveled back in time.

Once the extra dishes were cleared, she began to eat, devouring her food in a casual and unrefined manner, shocking the maids.

As she ate, Joyce glanced at them. “What’s so interesting? Is it strange?”

The maids quickly shook their heads, not daring to disagree.

After finishing her meal, Joyce took a napkin from the table and wiped her mouth gently. She then wrapped a leftover bone in the napkin and casually tossed it behind her into a trash bin five meters away.

This simple and casual action was something she often did, as accuracy came naturally to her. However, all the maids were stunned.

They couldn’t believe their eyes. To throw something into a bin from such a distance without even looking directly at it was an incredible skill.

They had heard that this woman was a renowned sharpshooter and now they saw it firsthand. Despite her unconventional behavior, they finally understood why the prince, who hadn’t brought any woman back to the East Palace for thirty years, had brought her here.

After eating, Joyce felt bored. She couldn’t make phone calls or use the internet; there was no television either. Without someone to talk to, she would go crazy.

“Come here and chat with me,” she said.

A maid approached and knelt before Joyce.

“Madam, what are your orders?”

Joyce waved her hand dismissively. “I have no orders; just want to chat casually. Tell me, why are there chrysanthemums in Clint’s palace but cherry blossoms here? Is there a difference?”

The maid thought it was bold of Joyce to call the prince by his first name but didn’t dare show it or correct her.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Madam, chrysanthemum patterns are the emblem of the Tanaka family,” she replied.

“Oh,” Joyce nodded. “And cherry blossoms? Are they the emblem of the Yoshikawa family?”

“Yes,” answered the maid.

Joyce understood now that Athena belonged to the Yoshikawa family, which explained her preference for cherry blossom attire.

“So this place decorated with cherry blossoms is meant for women of the Yoshikawa family?” Joyce asked.

The maid hesitated, not daring to answer.

Seeing this, Joyce guessed half of it already. “Is it that men of the Tanaka family must marry women from the Yoshikawa family? So this villa is actually reserved for them?”

The maid remained silent but her expression confirmed Joyce’s guess.

Joyce laughed dryly. “So I’m occupying someone else’s nest.”

“Wait a minute,” Joyce continued questioning. “Is there any rule that Reuben must marry a woman from the Yoshikawa family?”

The maid shook her head, surprised that Joyce knew Prince Reuben.

“Oh, I get it now,” Joyce smiled knowingly. “Clint’s maternal family is the Yoshikawa family; this rule only applies to him, right?”

The maid bowed her head deeper in silence.

“No wonder there’s congenital disease with such close intermarriage between Tanaka and Yoshikawa families,” Joyce mused aloud sarcastically. Though she understood that family interests sometimes required such marriages for maintaining bloodlines and alliances.

“Tadasuke isn’t back yet? Is he still kneeling at the door?” Joyce looked around but didn’t see Tadasuke.

“Yes,” replied the maid.

Joyce frowned deeply; it seemed Clint didn’t heed her words at all, leaving these people pitifully stuck in their roles.

“I have one last question,” Joyce said as she noticed how pale-faced the maid had become from fear of saying something wrong and being punished.

“Please ask, madam,” said the maid respectfully.

Joyce pointed around the palace. “Why do you work here? The hours are long, pay doesn’t seem great, no rest time, cut off from modern society with no personal freedom-plus corporal punishment that’s above legal limits! Why would anyone choose such work and life?”

The maid glanced around nervously before lowering her voice. “Madam, please don’t say such things. Serving here is an honor for our families. Only those selected as outstanding individuals from each family can serve in royalty. Our families gain higher status and rare resources because of our achievements here-honors that can’t be sought otherwise.”

Joyce sighed deeply and waved her hand dismissively for the maid to leave.

“Alright then; I understand now-thank you. I need some rest.”

Talking with these thoroughly brainwashed people was pointless; any hope of persuading them seemed futile too.

With nothing better to do, she decided to sleep and conserve energy.

“Yes, madam.” Relieved from answering further questions like receiving amnesty,

the maid quickly retreated respectfully.