CHAPTER 66……………
‘And a rabbit? Of all things?’
If it were something from Father, that would be different.
But giving me a symbol of a fragile animal—clearly, they expected me to squeal with childish delight.
I briefly met Lette’s eyes.
She had been staring at the doll with a blank expression.
But since she didn’t intervene to stop the gift…
‘That means it’s fine however I respond.’
I tilted my head and smiled brightly.
“Thank you for the gift, Count.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing at all—”
“Though, with my studies as heir, I don’t really have time for playing with dolls.”
“……!”
“But I’ll keep it carefully.”
Since I didn’t fawn over the cutesy present like a child, the two of them looked slightly startled.
But unwilling to give up, the Countess gently leaned closer.
“Princess, this is your first visit here, is it not?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, for the sake of the nobles here, may I make one request?”
I only kept smiling. It felt like the moment I’d been expecting had arrived.
“I heard that in Veled, Your Highness displayed your great power.”
“Hmm.”
“Would you show it once more, just for us?”
“……”
“We all longed to see it after hearing the news!”
I quietly looked up at her.
Her voice dripped with honeyed flattery.
‘If I really were just a child, I probably would’ve fallen for it.’
But the adults around me immediately bristled.
Lette stepped forward with an icy smile.
“Madam. I understand your curiosity, but refrain from such rude words.”
“Rude? How can you say that?”
The Countess widened her eyes, feigning deep hurt.
“Lady Epikus, you nobles of the capital don’t understand since you’re always serving the Princess.”
“Madam.”
“But the people here—how eagerly they await to witness the next Erebos’ power with their own eyes!”
All eyes turned to me.
Those who didn’t know the situation looked almost awestruck.
Of course they’d want to see the Demon Royal Family’s power firsthand.
“A cute Princess shouldn’t be hoarded all to yourself—how unfair!”
The Countess raised her voice even more, sounding ever so aggrieved.
‘Enough of this.’
I set my cookie down in irritation and frowned.
Just then, Ares, who had been quiet until now, whispered into my left ear.
“Shion, something’s weird here.”
“Ares, this situation is a bit—”
“They’re all working so hard to spout total crap……!”
“……”
In an instant, the area around the tea table fell silent.
I kept smiling silently.
But inside, I was roiling.
‘My baby brother, could you at least have called it “nonsense”?’
And though he thought he whispered, Ares’ voice was naturally loud, and…
‘With everyone staring this way, they all heard it.’
Some nobles even covered their mouths, trembling.
The Countess flushed and shouted.
“W-what! Countess of Tereine!”
“You brat, you—! Eh?”
The Countess of Tereine, too, started scolding her younger brother, then suddenly realized.
Her face said, ‘Why are you pulling my hair?’
Meanwhile, the Altine Countess began hopping mad.
“He may be young, but this is far too rude! What sort of education—”
“Hey, lady.”
At that moment, our palace’s youngest showed his true temper.
Grinding his teeth in fury, the little one snapped.
‘Please, just don’t explode!’
Flustered, I reached out toward his mouth, but couldn’t stop him.
“Ares! Calm—”
“Who do you think you are, ordering her to show her power?”
“Ares!”
“You act like you’re Erebos himself!”
And with that last outburst, the garden froze over.
Even those who had been suppressing laughter went dead silent.
The Altine couple glared at Ares and the Epikus sisters, faces red with anger.
“H-how could you say such a thing—! We never—!”
“This young lord is far too insolent! He was raised in the Princess’ palace, yet what of his manners—”
“…Count. Countess.”
I raised my hand to silence the uproar.
“You’re asking me to show my power? That’s all?”
The Count and Countess’ faces lit up with hope.
But I smiled sweetly and asked kindly:
“Did you want a jester at this gathering?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you needed a clown.”
I brought out the “Great Saintess’ Smile” I had trained all my life.
The serene, unshakable smile priests used even when insulted by beggars.
“As Ares said, even my father doesn’t ask me that. Not even in his free time.”
The Demon King busied himself governing, while you lot had so little to do you could ask such things?
‘And weren’t you just mocking me with that rabbit doll?’
Thinking I wouldn’t catch the meaning behind it.
So I had to return the threat in kind.
“If you need a jester, I’ll call one at my birthday.”
“Your Highness—”
“But not now!”
I clapped my hands and laughed brightly.
“When I turn eighteen!”
By then, I would be an adult.
The faces of those who had approached so boldly now turned stricken.
“Ugh.”
Were those sharp words really from me at this age?
Or had the Epikus sisters trained me beforehand?
‘I can see exactly what they’re thinking.’
Even eavesdroppers nearby exchanged sidelong glances.
If any of them had been scheming on the assumption that “the Princess is slow to develop”…
Like trying to persuade Father to remarry a southern lady, for example?
‘This incident will make them think twice.’
I gave a little sweeping gesture, like clearing the table.
“Now then, see you next time.”
That was the signal for them to really withdraw.
The Altine couple hastily bowed and retreated like they were fleeing.
Watching their backs, I downed a cool glass of raspberry juice.
‘Phew. I pulled it off!’
My old skill at needling the priests with words wasn’t rusty after all.
Meanwhile, Lette had begun scolding Ares in a low, steady voice.
“Young Master, you mustn’t speak so bluntly at social gatherings.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“And calling a noblewoman something like ‘lady’—how rude! Don’t say that.”
“…Then should I go apologize?”
“No. I’ll handle it, so don’t interfere.”
She set a tart filled with figs in front of Ares—his favorite dessert.
“Next time you step up, soften your words a little.”
“Soften them? What’s that?”
“It means speak like a gentleman, with manners. No bad words!”
“Hmm, I’ll give it a try.”
Ares answered breezily, shrugging his shoulders.
‘Tsk, not sure if he’s actually listening or not.’
But I still pushed my own fig tart toward him.
‘I have to warn him, but I’m grateful too.’
After all, it was touching that the little brat defended his big sister.
But Kallion muttered under his breath, glaring at Ares.
“So, even a fly’s buzzing can be useful sometimes, Young Master.”
“Well, I’d prefer if His Highness stayed quiet like before.”
…Yeah, that wouldn’t do.
In the end, I kicked Ares’ shin under the table.
The Princess’ tea party continued warmly even after that “little incident.”
In fact, more people crowded toward Elysion afterward.
And those who had secretly wondered whether the Princess was truly sound worked hard to cover it up with chatter.
“No matter how curious you are, asking her to show power? Outrageous.”
“Couldn’t they see her attendants glaring daggers?”
“Truly, who would ask her to play clown… Hmph.”
The Princess was sharper than expected.
She didn’t even pretend to enjoy that rabbit doll.
So of course, today’s events would be reported to Erebos.
‘What if we all get punished together?’
Everyone at the tea party was inwardly trembling.
Meanwhile, the Altine couple raged in a corner of the garden.
It was the Stenel couple who had told them to “present the doll to the Princess.”
“She’s perfectly fine!”
The Altine Countess fumed.
At first, she had joined in thinking it would be fun, but now her face was pale.
“They said she was slow to speak, weakly and frail! All lies…!”
If she displayed her power, they would label her childish and reckless.
If she didn’t, they would paint her as weak.
Then later, they could push for a southern-born woman as the new queen.
But the Princess’ words were anything but easy to manipulate.
