The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House

rly morning?”

“It’s nine in the morning.”

“I’m growing up!”

“Hurry, Your Highness.”

Lise spoke as if urging Asha, but did not wait for Asha to move.
It was a blink of an eye until Lise walked on the blanket, lifted Asha up, sat her in a chair, washed her with a basin of hot water next to her, and moved her limpid limbs to dress her in her nice dress and comb her hair.

“Which one should I choose, light green or sky blue?”

“Uh…”

“As expected, sky blue would be prettier, right?”

“Uh…”

At the same time, ribbons clung to both sides of the hair.
Lastly, Lise put Asha on the floor with socks with white lace and light pink shoes on her feet.

“…What’s His Majesty up to?”

Asha asked, drowsy by rubbing her cheeks while walking.
But Lise smiled and did not answer.

“Lise?”

“You’ll find out soon if you go.”

“What, what is it? And we’re not heading to the Ashtad Palace… are we?”

This was rather the way to the deeper part of the Taimir Palace where Asha and Alexei stayed.
But Asha couldn’t ask any more questions.
When she arrived at the innermost part, the emperor stood with the chamberlain at the closed door.

“Your… Majesty?”

At that moment a strong wind blew once.
And as soon as it did, Phoebe pouted bitterly.

Shamal was silent, but Phoebe was about to flap her wings loudly, so Asha quickly grabbed Phoebe with both hands.

“…”

“…”

When will you grow up?>

The emperor raised his frosty eyebrows, a little surprised.

“…What about that bird?”

“Well, it’s my pet chick! Her name is Phoebe, and she must have been surprised by the sudden wind, Grandpa!”

Asha answered quickly and put Phoebe in her pocket.
Phoebe’s scream that rang in her head remained, but it was bearable.
At that time, the chamberlain carefully bowed his head and opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, Your Majesty the Emperor…”

“It’s done.
Go away.”

“Yes, yes?”

The emperor waved his hand.

“Step back.
The princess and I have something to discuss, so go over there.”

“…”

The chamberlain seemed to have something on his mind, but eventually he had to step back, swallowing what he was going to say.
Asha in the middle blinked, and the emperor beckoned her.

“Come here.”

Asha, who glanced at the chamberlain, approached the emperor with frequent steps.
The emperor stared down silently for a long time, and suddenly said,

“Since when have you been able to talk to spirits? I know Shamal was playing tricks on you.”

You just find it unfair, don’t you?>

Shamal laughed, but Asha.

“Yes?”

There was a shrill sound.

When Asha asked back with a face that looked like she was going to hiccup, the emperor looked down at her.

“Didn’t I ask you since when you were able to talk to spirits?”

The emperor’s eyes were speaking.
He already knew everything.
Asha clenched her dry mouth, clenched her little fist and spread it.

What happens when there’s an inevitable situation?

Being honest is the best.

Asha took a deep breath and clasped the emperor’s hands with both hands after warming up.
It was more like putting it on top of it than covering it up.

The emperor flinched but did not shake her hand.

“It’s been a while since we were able to talk…”

“…”

“Well, from a few days after I stayed at the palace…?”

“It seems like Alexei’s power has stabilized recently.
Is that also your doing, your trick?”

“Ah! That was supposed to happen that way, I didn’t do anything.”

“So Alexei doesn’t know about you communicating with spirits either?”

There was a strong desire to tell a lie, but Asha told the truth with tears in her eyes.

“Oh, no.
It’s… No, he knows, Alyosha is…”

“Really? The emperor didn’t know the princess’s secret, and only the crown prince knew.”

“I was trying to tell you! I really was…”

“When? After Alexei ascended the throne?”

“…!”

As Asha opened her eyes wide with an expression of how did he know, the emperor made a sound as if he were full of energy.

“It’s very selfish.
I could punish you for deceiving the monarch.”

Asha quickly rolled her eyes.
She couldn’t guess what the emperor wanted to hear.

And when you’re not sure, counterattack is the answer.

“How did Grandpa know? That I’m talking to the spirits.”

“How did I know? Did you expect me to not hear you talking to your spirit so loudly?”

At the same time, Asha turned her head and looked down into her own pocket.

<…>

<…I stayed quiet.>

Shamal whispered a small excuse instead of Phoebe who didn’t answer.