"I want to live at your house." The young master inside the carriage spoke as if he had no idea what "reasonable" meant, making his demand boldly and carelessly.
At that, not only Serena, but even her own maids were shocked. "Young Master, what are you saying?"
"Young Master, please reconsider." The gentle maid also spoke up to persuade him.
"I have my own plans. Ruby Redsleeve, Winter, remember your place." The man in the carriage spoke in the same gentle tone, but Serena could hear the displeasure beneath it.
He was unhappy, but Serena was even more displeased. What kind of situation was this? Just bumping into his carriage and now he wanted to live at her house—did he think her home was an inn?
"Young Master, your maid is right—your request is improper. If your carriage is damaged, I can compensate you at full value, or arrange another carriage to take you wherever you wish. But having you stay at my house is truly inconvenient." Why would she invite a man home for no reason? Was her reputation not bad enough already?
"What if I insist on staying at your house?" The man in the carriage didn't care at all about social norms.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that." Serena refused to back down.
She could pay for the damaged carriage, but she wouldn't compromise her principles.
"Miss, you have no sincerity at all." The man seemed determined to stick to Serena.
Serena answered coolly, "Your demand is unreasonable, sir."
"Unreasonable? I have only this one condition," the young master replied.
"Forgive me, but I can't agree to that. I can pay you double for the damages," Serena repeated firmly, making it clear she would only settle with silver.
"Do you think I care about your silver?" The man gave a soft, self-mocking laugh.
Serena found this man truly troublesome. She took a deep breath and said, "Sir, I damaged your carriage. Silver compensation should suffice."
Her meaning was clear: don't push your luck.
"I don't need silver. I have only this condition. If you won't agree, then forget it," the man in the carriage said with easy generosity.
Serena paused, then went along with it and stepped back politely: "Please wait a moment, sir, I'll have someone clear the road for you." If he didn't want compensation, she was happy to save the money. She wasn't some proud scholar clinging to his principles—she knew when to take advantage.
The man inside the carriage seemed startled. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "You really won't pay?"
"Didn't you just refuse my compensation, sir?" Serena called out, now standing several steps away and raising her voice slightly.
"I was only being polite," the man replied, his tone growing irritated. Inside the carriage, his maid Ruby Redsleeve couldn't hold back and chimed in nastily, "How shameless! I've never seen a woman so brazen—arguing with a stranger in public, wrecking his carriage and refusing to pay. How can Eastlyn have women like you? You're a disgrace to us all."
Serena hadn't intended to stoop to arguing with a maid, but Ruby's words were truly vile—and she was loud enough that the whole crowd heard her.
Serena's expression darkened and a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She warned, voice edged with threat, "Sir, you should keep your maid in line. Her mouth will get her into trouble."
"Such big talk! I'm so scared," Ruby sneered, not waiting for her master to speak.
Serena's eyes grew colder. "If your maid can't be disciplined, don't blame me for taking matters into my own hands."
"Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do?" The young master's voice was equally displeased, whether at Ruby or Serena was unclear.
Serena gave a cold laugh. "Since your maid doesn't know her place, I'll show her what it means for an outsider to challenge a local. You may be extraordinary, sir, but don't forget—this is Eastlyn."
"Eastlyn? So what? There's nowhere in the Nine Provinces Realm that I fear." The man replied, voice deepening. "My maid may be out of line, but I'll punish her myself. No need for you to bother." Then, more sternly: "Ruby Redsleeve, slap your own face."
"Sir..." Ruby cried out in fear.
"What? You won't listen to me either? Do it now." The man's voice dropped, dangerous and cold—he was truly angry.
"Sir, Ruby didn't mean it—she's always blunt, but she meant no harm. I'll apologize to the young lady on Ruby's behalf," another gentle maid inside tried to intervene, but the man was unmoved: "Slap yourself."
"Yes, sir," Ruby answered miserably. The next moment, the sound of slaps echoed from inside the carriage.
Standing outside, Serena heard every word between the three inside, but made no move to interfere. When the carriages collided, someone had already gone to fetch the authorities. Serena figured the constables would arrive soon—better to let them handle it.
Sure enough, after Ruby had slapped herself more than twenty times, the Capital Prefecture constables finally arrived. Spotting Serena in the crowd, several hurried over. "Miss Serena, forgive us for being late. Did you take fright?"
"I hit this gentleman's carriage. Please assess how much silver I owe and collect the proper amount. There's no need to save me money," Serena instructed crisply, making sure the constables wouldn't try to curry favor by letting her off easy.
The constables were savvy enough to understand. For someone of Serena's current standing, any problem that could be solved with silver wasn't really a problem at all.
Truthfully, it was only because Serena respected the law that she even bothered. With her current status in Eastlyn, she could crash a carriage and no one would dare ask her for compensation.
The constables knew this case would be easy. As they moved to speak with the carriage owner, Serena added, "There's a maid inside named Ruby Redsleeve who insulted the daughter of a marquis and duke. Handle her according to the law."
If she could use the law to deal with someone, why bother with underhanded tricks? Serena always handled things openly—so what if people saw?
"Understood," the constable replied. He realized immediately that the insulted noblewoman was Serena herself, and had no intention of letting Ruby off easy.
As soon as he finished speaking, the constables moved to arrest Ruby. But as they neared the carriage, a sudden force blasted them backward.
The crowd gasped in shock. Serena frowned slightly as the constables recovered and shouted, "The suspect is resisting arrest! Everyone, be careful!"
With a shout, the constables drew their blades and formed a line, surrounding the carriage.
"Miss Serena, I told you—my maid is mine to punish," the young master said, seemingly oblivious to the chaos outside, addressing only Serena.
"Your maid committed a crime on Eastlyn soil. She must answer to Eastlyn law," Serena retorted, refusing to back down. "Now you're resisting arrest and have injured officers—another crime to answer for."
"Miss Serena, do you really think these constables could take me down?" The man's voice grew cold, arrogance clear.
"Maybe not these constables, but what about the Imperial Guards? There are a hundred thousand soldiers stationed outside the Capital. You could try your luck," Serena replied coolly. One against a thousand was possible—but one against a hundred thousand?
"Are you threatening me?"
A woman's voice called out from the carriage, "It was me who insulted you, not my master. If you have the guts, come at me—let's see if you really have what it takes to back up your words!"