Chapter 9….
“What should I do…? How can I ease their hearts?”
“Why don’t you finish your meal first, and then worry about it later?”
“Ah, okay.”
Even though she had tea and dessert, she was still hungry.
Her brother never skipped meals either. No matter how busy he was with research, when mealtime came, he would put everything down without fail.
“Then, since it’s been a while, how about you have a meal together with everyone today?”
Those who couldn’t have tea with her seemed to have decided at least to join her for dinner.
Their eyes, filled with expectation, began to shine again.
“Ugh…”
Those eager gazes still felt burdensome. On top of that, the soft yet pressing tone of Madam Laval made it almost suffocating.
“Today, I want to eat alone.”
Ellie refused firmly.
The people couldn’t hide their disappointed looks.
“Since Her Highness’ memory isn’t fully intact, and she’s just gone through a sudden funeral and many things… I think she should rest quietly today.”
Madam Laval made excuses in Ellie’s place and dismissed them.
“Ah… you’re right.”
“We just wanted to be by her side, so we were too hasty.”
At last, the people quietly withdrew.
Now only Ellie and Madam Laval were left in the room.
“Phew…”
Ellie let out a big sigh and lay on the bed.
It wasn’t as quiet and peaceful as the cabin in the forest where she had lived with her brother, but at least, with the people gone, she could finally breathe.
“Your Highness?”
Her tension suddenly melted away, and her vision blurred.
‘Will I… really be able to manage this?’
For a child, today had been far too long.
Ellie fell asleep, forgetting even her dinner.
She awoke faintly at the soft touch brushing her body.
“Mm…”
“Oh dear, did I wake you?”
It was Madam Laval’s voice.
“!”
Her mind snapped awake.
This was the world inside the book. She was Princess Ellia now.
Ellie’s eyes flew open, and she shot upright in bed.
“Oh my!”
Madam Laval screamed in surprise.
“What’s going on!”
Hearing the cry, Lilkia burst through the door with a crash.
Just awakened, Ellie was thrown into chaos at the sudden commotion.
“Waaah!”
“Your Highness!”
Lilkia leapt onto the bed and grabbed Ellie tightly in her arms, already with her sword drawn.
Her rough, ragged breathing fell across the top of Ellie’s head.
“…The enemy?”
“…None, Captain.”
Madam Laval, collapsed beside the bed in shock, barely managed to answer.
Lilkia looked down at Ellie, whom she had clutched so tightly.
In her eyes were tension, embarrassment, and relief all at once.
Ellie, without meaning to, smiled.
“Heh…”
“Haha…”
Lilkia smiled back reflexively.
“I jumped up out of bed in surprise, then Madam Laval got startled and screamed.”
“Ah, so that’s what happened. Why were you startled in your sleep?”
“It felt like someone was touching me…”
Her brother had never once touched Ellie while she was asleep. Even normally, he almost never made physical contact. A kiss on the forehead before bed—that sort of thing only happened in books.
So Ellie had grown up unaccustomed to being touched. Naturally, she was bound to be startled by a hand brushing against her in her sleep.
“I was only trying to help you change into your nightclothes…”
Looking down at herself, she saw she was still wearing the black dress from earlier that day.
“You went to bed without dinner, Your Highness. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m hungry…”
“Then, since it’s late, shall we prepare something light?”
“Mm!”
Though she had just woken up, her stomach growled loudly from having been empty so long.
“I’ll have something prepared right away.”
It wasn’t only Lilkia who had rushed in at the noise.
Two guards on night duty, the steward, and two maids—all of them, half-asleep, were now wide awake as if it were morning.
The steward soon wheeled in a cart piled high with food.
“We prepared what could be made quickly, since it’s late at night.”
But what was laid out was a feast that hardly suited the word “quick.”
“Wow! Is this a party for everyone?!”
“…Excuse me?”
Ellie’s excited cheer shocked them.
“These dishes are prepared only for Your Highness.”
Madam Laval smiled and explained each one.
“This is sweet pumpkin soup to warm the stomach, this is a refreshing strawberry salad, this is soft, chewy bread… and this…”
The bottom line was: Ellie was expected to eat all of it alone.
But the portions were too much.
Her brother had always said leaving food behind was a punishable offense. That’s why she always took only as much as she could eat.
“Did I use to eat this much?”
“You don’t have to eat it all. Just whatever you like, as much as you want.”
“Then what happens to what’s left?”
“The leftovers will go to the kitchen staff or others. Don’t worry.”
“Why should they eat leftovers? We could just eat together now.”
That was not something a princess was supposed to say.
Madam Laval almost fainted.
Since losing her memory, it seemed the princess had even forgotten basic etiquette. She didn’t even know where to begin re-teaching it.
“Meals with Your Highness cannot be shared with just anyone. Do you remember the people who wanted to dine with you earlier?”
“Mm…”
“They had already requested, but were refused.”
“But they don’t live in this house.”
Madam Laval was speechless again.
“Your Highness, because you are royalty, you can only dine with those of equal status.”
She stammered, struggling to explain.
These were things one normally just learned naturally through life, but putting them into words was awkward.
“But those people already went home.”
Ellie, with her memory gone, was unpredictable.
“…If we were to call them back, they would come running with joy.”
Ellie thought of Clearus’ parents at that moment.
It was said they had died because they were summoned suddenly at night by the late king and queen.
Such a thing could not be repeated.
Ellie shook her head vigorously.
“No, I don’t want that. Everyone eat together.”
Ellie firmly placed a fork into Lilkia’s hand.
“Your Highness…”
“And for you too, Madam Laval.”
She pressed a spoon into Madam Laval’s hand,
“And you.”
Half a loaf of bread into the steward’s hand.
Since the princess had given it, none of them could set it down again.
They exchanged troubled looks.
“If no one eats, then I won’t eat either!”
Ellie threatened them.
“W-we can’t have the princess starving.”
It was Madam Laval who dared to take the lead. She took a big spoonful of soup and looked at Ellie as if seeking approval.
Ellie nodded with a smile.
Good, accepted.
At the steward’s signal, a maid brought out extra tableware.
Soon even that maid was holding a plate and standing around the table.
“This is delicious!”
“Th-thank you, Your Highness…”
The maids, trembling, ate the food Ellie offered.
Even if the princess was young and innocent, she was still royalty—and soon to be queen.
To dine with the monarch was a supreme honor, normally only granted to those who had performed heroic deeds for the kingdom.
“How is it?”
“D-delicious… huh?”
The maid, who had been stuffing food into her mouth without even noticing, suddenly realized what was happening.
“…Wow, it really is delicious!”
“Of course! Do you know how hard it is to prepare food that matches the princess’s refined taste?”
The chef thumped his chest with pride.
“It’s delicious! Thank you!”
Ellie puffed out her cheeks like a hamster and thanked him.
“T-the princess… gave thanks!”
Such a thing had never happened before.
There had never been a reason for the princess to thank anyone.
Everything revolved around her, and it was only natural that everything be offered without lack.
Nor had the ones who gave those things ever expected gratitude. Being acknowledged at all was more than enough.
“Since you made such delicious food for me late at night and prepared so much!”
“Your Highness…! Tomorrow I’ll prepare even more, even tastier dishes!”
“You don’t need to make more…”
Ellie mumbled, trying to dissuade him, but the chef wasn’t listening.
“The princess praised my cooking! Did you hear? Did you hear? Try this too—what do you think?”
He was so overjoyed that Ellie couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
The others laughed and ate happily as well.
With everyone joining in, not a drop of sauce was left.
“That was delicious!”
“Thanks to Your Highness, we enjoyed a wonderful late-night meal.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Even after the group dispersed, the joy of eating together lingered, as full and warm as their bellies.
“Eating together with everyone—it was fun.”
“I’m glad dinner was satisfying, Your Highness.”
Madam Laval smiled as she arranged the bedding.
After changing into pajamas, brushing her teeth, and washing up, Ellie buried herself in the blankets.
Madam Laval rubbed her stomach gently to lull her to sleep.
“If you enjoyed dining together, how about inviting some people to eat with you tomorrow? Tonight it was too late to call them.”
Earlier, their eagerness had scared her.
It was a strange place, with strange people, so she had withdrawn in fear.
But since they all wished so much to eat with her… was there really a reason to refuse?
“Alright.”
With her stomach full, her heart felt lighter too.
Madam Laval’s soft touch was soothing.
“Then I’ll prepare a guest list of nobles for tomorrow.”
“Mm…”
“Now rest well tonight.”
“You too, Madam Laval…”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
And Ellie drifted back to sleep.
