Episode 6
“Oh my, really?”
Beatrice brightened and stepped into the room.
“You made a great decision, Your Highness! It’s about time for you to make friends. The second meeting will be even more fun! Let’s go!”
Honestly… I was a little nervous.
Especially because that boy—Gray—future heir of the Hestia Marquisate, chased Rosé around starting from adolescence, completely smitten.
*Well, the royal family welcomed it.*
The House of Hestia owns the largest merchant guild on the eastern continent—practically our financial lifeline.
*And what about the kingdom’s only sapphire mine, exclusively controlled by the Marquis and his younger brother?*
The deposits are massive, practically bottomless.
Titles aside, that man might be wealthier than my mother.
*…Come to think of it, he’ll make an excellent friend.*
I climbed down from the chair and let Beatrice fasten a cape around me.
Then I stuffed a fistful of candies—received from my tutor—into my pocket.
*No way I’m letting Rosé take such a valuable friend again.*
Beatrice looked at me proudly.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?”
“Mhm! Weady!”
Maybe I answered too bravely—my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
But Beatrice pumped her fists even harder.
“Let’s go! Operation: Your Highness’s First Vassal!”
We giggled as we headed outside.
To the garden, where the Hestia siblings waited.
—
“Wow, pwetty!”
A little girl in a red doll-like dress pointed at me.
Judging by that short tongue and that sparse hair… she must be Victoria Clotilde Hestia.
*She’s supposed to be my age. Late birthday?*
My last memory of her: a snooty brat.
Now? Just harmless and tiny.
And the boy frantically covering her mouth was Gray Knight Hestia.
“V–Victoria Clotilde! You can’t speak informally to Her Highness!”
I looked between them and finally opened my mouth.
“Hello, Gway. Bitowy.”
Well… at least my tongue is longer than hers.
Gray, two years older and vaguely resembling a human instead of a potato, bowed hastily.
“M–may the Little Star of Leella be blessed. It is an… an h–honor th-that you r–remember our names.”
Even Gray’s tongue was tangled from nerves. I pretended not to notice.
If even Rosé begged the teacher for extra candy, candy must be the ultimate power among children.
“…Here.”
Without anything else to say, I held out my fist. Gray flinched backward.
*Do I look like a thug or something?*
Sure, I was exceptionally healthy, but I had never harmed anyone in my 22 previous years.
Feeling wrongfully accused, I flipped my hand over.
The moment my fingers spread open, Victoria lunged.
“Canny!”
“You can hav dem all.”
Their sapphire eyes sparkled in unison.
“Wow, so many!”
“T–thank yew, Your Highness!”
…That was it?
Making friends is *this* easy?
Being a princess is nothing!
—
While Beatrice and the Hestia servant watched with warm smiles, we picked little fruits by the pond.
At first I just watched, but Victoria was so excited that I joined in.
Then she suddenly pointed to the pond.
“Cumber! Dere’s a cumber!”
A cucumber?
I followed her finger—there was a duck.
Watching Victoria call a duck a cucumber made her future-annoyingself fade a little.
“Wight. Cumber.”
Gray scratched his cheek beside me.
“Victoria Clotilde, you should speak formally to Her Highness…”
“Leave her.”
I sighed.
What difference does it make?
*She can’t even say ‘duck’ properly.*
Gray hesitated, then whispered:
“If Father hears of this, we’ll get scolded.”
“I wun tell.”
His lips curved in relief.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Victoria isn’t even four yet, so she can’t speak properly… She can’t use formal speech with her own parents.”
“Then why’re you bossin’ a baby who can’t talk? She can talk however she wants.”
Thinking of Rosé, I scolded him. Gray pouted.
“That’s because Her Highness ordered us to. And Father heard about it too…”
Rosé Rostel La Parka. You petty gremlin.
I scrunched up my face.
“No need. If I say dat again, confront me. Say, ‘Why are you changing your mind?’”
“H–how could I do that?”
“Why not? Hestia is loyal to Leella. And true royals don’t nitpick a child’s words.”
…Was that too complicated?
Gray stared at me strangely.
“Did you… learn something good in class?”
“Somethin’ good?”
“H–how should I say this… You seem… nicer than last time.”
“Nicer?”
“No! Not that you weren’t nice before, just—”
I chuckled.
“Do you wan come play again after two sleeps? Or four sleeps? I’ll be nice then too.”
“Really?”
Previously, when he chased Rosé, he always looked gloomy.
Standing in the autumn sunlight, Gray sparkled.
Golden curls like threads of fine silk… almost like an expensive doll.
“Then I’ll come again, Your Highness. After two sleeps. Or four. I’ll bring candy this time.”
“Candy’s meh.”
“T–then I’ll bring chocolate. Our chef makes really good chocolate.”
Yes. Chocolate is superior.
I nodded with dignity.
“Good. But don come after one, three, or five sleeps. I’m cranky. I have much homework.”
“Yes. Two or four sleeps. I understand.”
Gray looked determined—then unexpectedly knelt on one knee.
“What are you doin’?”
“F–farewell greeting.”
I snorted and offered my hand.
Gray held my fruit-stained hand as if it were the crown jewels… and kissed the back of it.
“I’ll return for sure, Your Highness.”
His cheeks reddened. Must’ve practiced this.
Worth accepting, then.
“Tank you for playin’, Gway.”
“Me too me too!”
Victoria crashed down next to him, kneeling dramatically.
“Oof…”
A servant panicked and rushed over.
*Pfft. Not sure what kingdom that greeting belongs to, but fine.*
Victoria held out her hand.
I flipped it over and kissed the back gently.
“Tank you, Bitowy.”
“Kyaaa! Pwincess!”
She hugged me so hard I nearly fell over.
The servant yanked her off me in a panic.
“See you next time!”
After they left, Beatrice gave me a thumbs-up.
“You were amazing, Your Highness! I’m seriously impressed!”
“I’m pwetty awesome, wight?”
Beatrice swept me up and twirled me.
“Perfect! My princess is so magnificent! My heart can’t take it!”
By the time we re-entered the palace, the sun was already setting.
*Now for the evening schedule…*
Beatrice spoke.
“Oh! Shall we practice greeting His Majesty again?”
Ugh.
Fine…
Tonight I won’t cry. Hopefully.
—
“Hi, Dad.”
I spoke awkwardly and added a wink.
Beatrice clutched her chest dramatically.
“Ugh… My heart… it hurts…”
Okay, maybe the wink was too much.
She punched her chest lightly.
“It’s… it’s too cute. What if His Majesty goes into cardiac arrest?”
I stared at her, completely unamused.
*Was she always this useless? I swear she used to be competent.*
She read my doubt and straightened up.
“By the way, a wink is only one eye, Your Highness.”
…I did wink with one eye.
I remained confidently proud, but she frowned in thought.
“Try once more.”
I winked again. Beatrice exhaled like she was trying not to faint.
*Am I doing well or should I stop?*
Maybe I looked like I was resisting practice, because she launched into a speech.
“Your Highness, His Majesty loves you more than anything.”
I know…
Why else would I be practicing greetings?
“He only looks stern because of his title as High Priest. Controlling those fearsome beasts requires that kind of aura.”
Yes, I know…
“And even if he weren’t High Priest, it’s wrong to judge someone based on appearance.”
…Are you insulting my father’s appearance?
What exactly is wrong with Duke Nigel?
