The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter 437

Fiora's teeth chattered as panic set in. She knew her uncle wasn't bluffing. He really would throw her out of the palace if he

had to.

Desperate, Fiora tried to play on his sympathy, bringing up her mother. "Uncle, Mother's health is already fragile. If she hears about this, it could be too much for her."

Tom's expression turned frigid. He'd thought Fiora was just spoiled and reckless, but he hadn't expected her to manipulate even her own mother's condition to avoid punishment. At that moment, he lost any last hope of redeeming her.

"From now on," Tom said coldly, "you're no longer Princess Fior. You'll work as a maid in the palace for three months. After that, we'll see if you've earned back your title."

The words hit Fiora like a thunderclap, and her face crumpled as tears welled up. 'How can he do this to me? I was born a princess! What right did he have to take that away? Fiora thought

News of Fiora's demotion quickly spread throughout the palace. Nurses at Royal Hospital whispered about the fall of the once-proud princess.

"My uncle's a viscount, and yesterday, I saw the princess, or maid now, scrubbing floors with a sour face!" one nurse laughed. "I remember her sneering, 'I'm a princess. Who do you think you are? Well, look at her now!" another said. "None of the other princes or princesses act as spoiled as her," a nurse said.

"Isn't the royal family embarrassed by this?" someone asked.

"It's more than punishment. Fiora abused her status to kidnap someone. This is a warning to everyone else," another nurse said.

Maeve was in the palace garden, discreetly eavesdropping. She couldn't help but marvel at Tom's bold approach. Demoting a princess to a maid was extreme, but if anything could get through to her, this might be it, though Maeve found it unlikely. Beside Maeve, Byron sighed, watching her practically lean into the bushes to catch

live broadcast. They're saying Fiora tried to cry to the

queen

for

"Oh! Apparently, there's a princess who

then there's the eighteenth prince of Rebon who once got so drunk he thought he was

flushing as she exclaimed, "And there's the earl and his wife who were found fooling around in broad daylight. Before Maeve could

to

the ward. Maeve mumbled complaints the entire way, sulking that

for juicy palace

pouting and, picking up a plump peach from the fruit plate, asked,

the temptation of the delicious fruit,

knife pointing toward her, a wave of dizziness hit her. Her legs went weak, and she sank into a seat. Luckily, the bed was behind her. The sudden movement

al

after realizing what was going on he put the knife

asked as he walked over and gently lifted her into his arms. He spoke softly,

her mind. A thought suddenly appeared in her mind, making her grab Byron's arm. "Can you help me find a few things? Needles and scissors." Byron seemed

Maeve replied, clenching her fists