The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Bakery
Chapter 22

How does mindlessly reading a place name with a long spelling have anything to do with liking shiny things? Was this map even dusted with gold leaf?
As Asha peeked at the map, Pibi’s eyes snapped wide open and replied flatly.

“……?”

White, transparent, and sparkling……
“Huh……?”
Asha’s face slowly drained of color, flooded with disbelief and shock.
Surely not? Surely not?

“If it’s not only transparent ones……?”

Pink!
Asha fell silent for a moment, staring down at the map. While several other regions bore particular mine markings, Lumen Basilica showed none.
“……Truly?”

The spirit’s tone suggested it was stating the obvious. Asha’s lips moved wordlessly.
“How do you know that?”

Pibi continued in that same indifferent voice. Asha’s mouth worked silently. Fortunately, Pibi seemed clever enough to distinguish between what was actually brag-worthy and what wasn’t.
“Are you the only spirit who knows this?”

The spirit sounded utterly disinterested. Asha’s excitement flickered, then her lips jutted out petulantly.

That was probably true. All Imperial Citizens contracted spirits, but Asha had never heard of anyone actually conversing with theirs. Still, this time she merely gazed at the map with a dampened expression.
‘But what good is a diamond mine here if it looks like Noctis elven lands?’
And mere minutes later, Asha had revised her thinking.

“What? You’re receiving land from the elves?”
Alexei, having just finished his audience with the Emperor and returned, apologized for keeping her waiting—and in the same breath, his attention landed on the map she’d been studying.
Asha had meant to make some excuse that she was merely passing the time by examining the curious drawing on the desk, but Alexei explained first.
“Yes, the defeated Noctis elves have offered land as War Reparations for this war. Since we must choose from the territories they’ve presented, I was reviewing which would suit us best. ……Is there somewhere that interests you?”
“……!”
‘Alexei decides this?’
Alexei spoke lightly of the enormous authority he wielded, as though it were nothing at all.
“This land…… does this place have any advantages?”
Asha stretched her arms, which were rather short, to point at the mountainous region labeled “Lumen Basilica.” Her voice nearly trembled.
“Hmm, there…… has no particular merits, but no drawbacks either. I’ve heard tales that the white birds living at the mountain’s peak are beautiful, though.”
“Do the other places have advantages?”
“Not particularly. In truth, they’re all much the same. That’s probably why the Noctis elves offered them in the first place.”
Asha’s eyes gleamed.
“Alexei, what about here? Lumen Basilica right here!”
“Does this one appeal to you? Why?”
“Because here there’s dia…….”
Asha cut herself off abruptly, her mouth snapping shut in panic.
Though Alexei already knew she could converse with spirits, she suddenly worried whether she should reveal that she had such discussions with them.
But Alexei smiled readily.
“Shall we settle on here, then?”
“Pardon?”
Asha looked up at him with startled eyes.
“……Is that really all right?”
“I was already considering it most seriously. My spirit seems to favor it as well.”
“What!? Alexei, are you conversing with Fafnir now too?”
Alexei smiled at Asha’s startled question.
“Of course, naturally.”
“Really? What did Fafnir say to Alexei about…?”
“We had tea together yesterday. While we were thinking about what clothes to wear to the Victory Banquet, you know.”
“…What?”
“Fafnir said they were going in formal wear made of red silk.”
By this point, Asha caught on. Alexei was teasing her.
“…Alexei.”
“What were you thinking of wearing to the banquet?”
“…I’m not wearing anything! I won’t wear anything at all!”
“That would be troublesome. There’s the dignity of the Imperial Palace to consider, and besides, everyone else will laugh. I suppose I’ll have to prepare a dress for you myself.”
Asha let out a long sigh, and Alexei laughed.
“You said that soon we’d be able to talk with each other. So I played a little trick on you. Are you very angry?”
“I’m not!”
“But Asha, since you helped me decide on the land, if there’s anything you want, why don’t you tell me?”
“You said you’d give me a dress.”
At the sullen edge in Asha’s voice, Alexei laughed a bit more.
“That’s what an older brother gives to his younger sister.”
Asha fell silent for a moment, considering.
‘Should I ask?’
There was indeed something she needed. Noticing the hesitation in her expression, Alexei nodded encouragingly.
“Then… I want to go home.”
“…Home?”
Asha studied his expression carefully before continuing. She had thought about making the best of things here, adapting well and saving money to start a business with baking powder.
But if there was a chance to return to the home where her mother and father were…
“I mean, living here at the Imperial Palace is nice… it really is nice, but I left something behind at home.”
Partway through, she realized her story made no sense, but Asha decided to trust in her own credibility. Would Alexei believe her again this time?
“What did you leave behind?”
Alexei’s expression had been stern at first, but now he seemed to be suppressing laughter. Asha stammered. If only she actually had something worth mentioning at home to think of…
“It’s…”
“A doll you sleep with, perhaps?”
“What?”
It was hard to say that a poor household wouldn’t have something like a doll. But the stuffed cloth bundle that Yuriye had sewn and filled with cotton had certainly served as one.
“A rabbit doll? A bear doll?”
“A… a Unicorn Doll?”
She’d skipped past the point of denying it was a doll at all. At Asha’s fumbling answer, Alexei rested his chin on his hand and smiled.
“Going home is impossible if Halba doesn’t permit it.”
“R-right… I understand…”
Just in case, she had wanted to ask, Asha tried to change the subject, but Alexei seemed to be enjoying the doll topic.
“It’s impossible to go home, but I’ll try to find you a Unicorn Doll.”
“Oh, no. That’s okay! Really, it’s fine…”
“But that would be my way of apologizing for not being able to grant your wish, so if there’s anything else you want, tell me.”
His eyes made clear he would accept no further objections about the Unicorn Doll.
‘So it really was a coincidence yesterday.’
At Asha’s sigh, the chick embroidered on her sleeve cuff twitched slightly.
<How foolish, foolish—hoping only for luck instead of honing your abilities!>
‘Be quiet, stupid Pibi. I’m trying to get your home together right now.’
<…For this kind of threat, I…>
Though he spoke that way, Pibi’s voice soon dwindled into aggrieved muttering.
“Then I’d like to have that birdcage.”
She’d actually wanted the kitchen, but that seemed like too much to ask.
“A birdcage? To raise a bird? If so, adding a bird to the Lumen Basilica…”
“Oh, no, just the birdcage… just the birdcage is fine!”
She imagined what kind of reaction this petty spirit would have if there was one more bird. At Asha’s vigorous protest, Alexei nodded.
A servant brought fresh tea, and in the meantime Alexei broke a scone in half and spread jam and butter on it for her.
‘Mmm, scones are delicious.’
The butter had been cold when the dough was finished and baked, leaving that distinctive crumbly texture. Between the crumbly layers, dried berries added chewiness and tartness, while finely chopped almonds baked throughout lent a rich, nutty flavor.
As she chewed a bite, Alexei slowly opened his mouth.
“By the way… do you know why Halba called me so urgently today?”
“Hmm? No…?”
She took a bigger bite of the Scone, deliberately signaling that she neither knew nor cared to know. The theory being that if her mouth was full enough, he’d stop asking questions.
“I hear the former commander of the Tingnes Knights has submitted a reinstatement petition.”
“Mmph?”
Asha stared at Alexei while deliberately mumbling around the Scone, and he laughed as though he found it endearing, then continued.
“It’s been ten years since his retirement, yet the vice commander still leads the order.”
“Mmm.”
“So Halba suggested we discuss what’s to be done about it.”
Asha merely nodded. She’d taken too large a bite of the Scone and her throat felt tight. She didn’t particularly care for the cinnamon scent, but she’d have to wash it down with something—tea would have to do, she was thinking, when—
“Anastasha, do you know who the former commander of the Tingnes Knights is?”
“…?”
Asha tilted her head. The Tingnes Knights? She’d heard the name somewhere, but she couldn’t quite place it.
‘Did I see this in the source material? But if I can’t remember it this clearly, it probably wasn’t a major plotline.’
“Have you ever heard the name Tariei Nelin?”
She shook her head firmly.
As Asha denied it, Alexei lowered his eyes and reached for his teacup. The gesture was rather graceful.
‘Do people actually learn that?’
Would she be able to tilt her own teacup with such refinement someday?
Asha fiddled with the handle of her cup while she mused. Then, at his next words, she broke into a sudden cough.
“He is your maternal grandfather.”
“Cough!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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