Tell me you've never dealt with badass elders without telling me you've never dealt with badass elders, empress. Too used to bullying your own spineless trouser-wetter of a dad, completely underestimated a self-assured royal nanny who's probably bounced no less than 4 generations of emperors on her knee.
Love the entire quiet confidence of any elderly person whose whole livelihood is threatened and their calm response is "yeah go ahead and pull whatever petulant trick you're going to, I've lived twice your life and done pretty damn well for myself, been looking forward to retirement anyway, might as well go all out on my last hurrah."