158 THE EMPRESS VS. THE PRINCESS (2)

[THIS IS the person who killed my birth mother.]

That was the first thought that entered Runa's mind as soon as she saw Empress Veronica.

She knew that she had to stay quiet in front of the empress, but she didn't know that she'd hate Her Majesty this much. Thus, when Empress Veronica scolded her Dal unnie and Briella unnie, even Vera-ya, she found herself talking back to the empress.

[Mommy-ya, Daddy-ya, I'm sorry but I hate Empress Veronica more than expected.]

She couldn't back down now– not when the empress was looking at her as if she was just a filthy bug.

Her pride kept her staring back at Empress Veronica.

"What did you just say?" Empress Veronica told her coldly. "Did you just really tell me not to make a scene?"

Runa, who refused to back down, nodded firmly. "I said 'please,' though, Your Majesty."

The empress glared at her harder.

If she was the same old Runa, she would have lowered her gaze already and cried.