"Fredrick?"

Ezra was shocked as he surveyed the figure over and over again to make sure he was seeing things right.

But the replying voice dispelled his doubts.

"Your highness, I have returned from my journey"

Ezra smiled.

"And how were your endeavors?"

"It was successful"

Ezra\'s smile turned into a wicked grin.

"Very well then. But we shall catch up another time. Right now, I need you to accompany me"

"Ok, but please have this"

With that, Fredrick handed Ezra the ancient space ring, before following behind him as they arrived at the royal kitchen.

Maids in their usual black gown with white head covers moved about with quick steps as a voice rained prominent amongst all.

"Carissa, put those muffle beans…"

"Titoka, I hope you\'ve got those…"

The head maid, Mrs. Leslie, had a stern face, graceful but with wrinkles all over. With an overall height 4\'9, she commanded all junior maids as each did their jobs.

Right about this time, someone slammed the door open, distrusting the harmonic working atmosphere as every maid subconsciously paused to see who dared to do such a thing.

*Cough*Cough*

Ezra made himself known as he stepped into the kitchen, making sure he was known by coughing a bit more.

The maids backed away and bowed their heads at the same time.

"We greet his highness"

"The pleasure is all mine. You may go back to work"

With that, they stood straight and went back to their duties.

Ezra narrowed his gaze.

"Where is the head maid?"

"Here" the reply was instantaneous.

Ezra frowned as he saw the maid not bothering to move.

After seconds of still no movement, Ezra decided to spell it out for her.

"What are you waiting for? Get over here"

Only then did she approach with slow steps, her display of disrespect clear for all to see.

Her short height almost had Ezra bursting into laughter.

They were about the same height.

"Yes-"

She said in a sarcastic tone.

"-your highness?"

Her eyes betrayed the scorn she held within.

\'Hoho, to dare look at a prince this way…I see\'

That was all Ezra needed to understand how to deal with the situation.

With that, Ezra threw away any plans of peaceful resolution.

Assholes like her needed to be thoroughly squashed and dispirited from the start.

Meanwhile, the head maid was having thoughts of her own as she sized Ezra up.

\'As expected, he\'s just a kid. With a little fear and some snacks, I will have him in my grasp! Today must be my lucky day\'

She didn\'t see anything wrong with the plan as fantasies clouded her head.

After all, it had worked for many before, why wouldn\'t it work now?

She also didn\'t realize she was grinning.

Honestly, life was just not fair.

That b#tch Kiara met her in this castle! Yet, somehow, she managed to get herself impregnated by the Emperor. And now, would you look at this?! Her son was so outstanding he made even other princes look mediocre.

It\'s not fair, it just wasn\'t! Why should she be the one with all the luck? What about me? What about my own man? Am I doomed to live the life of a cook without children till I die? While this b#tch just sits in the castle because of luck?!

Such were the head maids\' circumstances and thoughts. More than anything, she hated Kiara to the death.

\'I will make sure-\'

But her fantasies were shattered when…

*Pah!*

Her head turned to the side as she felt her cheeks heat up.

She was unbelievably flustered.

\'What just happened?\' she thought.

Quickly she raised her gaze to meet Ezra when…

*Pah!*

Immediately, she was administered another slap.

Her head boiled with rage as she turned to the prince, determined to get a few words out.

"Did you just-"

Alas, it would not be so.

*Pah!*

"Why are-"

*Pah!*

"Stop-"

*Pah!*

"How dare-"

*Pah!*

"I am-"

*Pah!*

At this point in time, all other maids were deathly still and silent as they watched on like it was a spectacle never before seen.

And truly, it was.

After more than twenty slaps, Ezra finally stopped, allowing Leslie a chance to catch her breath.

Too bad, it seemed she hadn\'t learned her lesson as she gazed upon Ezra with apparent fury.

*Pah!*

Ezra was having none of that.

This time, he didn\'t allow her to speak as he kept dishing out slaps with both hands.

After too many slaps to count, he paused once more.

This time, the head maid didn\'t look up, not because she didn\'t want to, but because the slaps had drained the strength out of her.

Ezra nodded.

\'Good. Now, let\'s get rid of you\'

With that, he began speaking.

"Head maid…sorry, I mean Leslie, what gave you the audacity to reply to me without adding \'your highness\'?"

Leslie jerked her head up.

"That was why-"

And again…

*Pah!*

"I didn\'t give you permission to speak"

Leslie shut back up, and Ezra continued.

"What gave you the audacity to stare at me with such filthy eyes?"

Leslie quivered in anger but didn\'t dare to talk.

"What gave you the audacity to look down upon the royal family? To disparage my authority?"

Then he said…

"You can speak"

And wow, Leslie burst open like a leaking bucket with tears pouring in drops.

"Curse you! Curse you! You and that filthy worm who birthed you!-"

Ezra hands popped veins all over, but he chose not to move.

\'Be patient. It\'ll all be worth it in a minute\'

"-Since when bastards like you dare lay claim to the throne?! I was here when that whore you call a mother came along!-"

It didn\'t seem like she was going to stop, so Ezra put a stop to it. Anymore, and he might send her to her grave.

*Pah!*

Of course, he did it the most effective way he saw.

This time, she was relentless and kept up her talks until Ezra spoke aloud…

"Come out"

The now closed kitchen doors opened up to reveal Fredrick and three other guards beside him.

At this moment-

\'Ah!\'

-Leslie realized she had just dug her own grave.

She couldn\'t muster any words as Ezra continued…

"Gentlemen, as you heard all she said, I hope to count on you to uphold all that happened here-"

The three guards nodded.

Naturally, they were Fredrick\'s men.

"-without further ado, take her away, to the farthest and worst cells below the castle. Other things will be decided later"

The head maid screamed in panic as she immediately prostrated, pleading with all her might.

"No, sir, I mean, your highness, PLEASE SPARE ME! I must have gone crazy, your highness, I beg of you!"

To all this, Ezra whispered in her ear.

"Now you\'re pleading to the son of a worm? Not even the worst maggots can compare to how pathetic you are"

"Ah" her pleading stopped there.

It was a quick realization.

"I\'m done for"

The guards were disgusted by such a sight as they took her to her cell.

They left, leaving Ezra, Fredrick and the maids behind.

"Ladies, I hope you\'ll report as accurately as possible" Ezra said.

The maids nodded hastily.

In their minds, Ezra\'s face looked closer to a demon\'s than a human after what he just did.

He then looked around.

"Where is Isabelle?"

They all looked at the ground until one spoke.

"S-She\'s was sent to the marketplace"

"Is that so? Tell her that she has been appointed as the new head maid. Orders from my mother"

They hastily nodded once more.

Only then did Ezra leave.

With this problem taken care of, now to the next one.

Quickly, Ezra and Fredrick went to Fredrick\'s cottage.