The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 44

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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 Villainess Princess Wants to Live in a Confectionery
Chapter 44

‘What? No, that… How on earth am I supposed to fix something like that?’

‘But usually you can’t just stop feeling and thinking by deciding to! Idiot Pibee! And yet if things really turned out the way you’re saying…’

Only then did Asha understand what Pibee meant. Ibben probably didn’t even want to use that ability in the first place—he was simply forced into the situation, and now he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to.

‘What, what is?’
Asha tilted her head at Pibee’s emphatic reaction.

‘Ah…. Is that Frasti thing really so terrible?’

Ibben’s emotionless, honey-colored eyes looked up at her. Asha recalled how Anastasia had died in her memories and understood.
‘Then shouldn’t we remove that first? How do we do it?’

‘Like I did for Alosha?’

‘But the Apple Jam Cookie I gave him didn’t seem to do much.’

‘I understand what you’re saying. But what about that Frasti thing? Is it all over once we remove it?’

Asha bit her lip firmly and nodded. And above all, she resolved to do something about Ibben’s impossible sleeping arrangement.

* * *

The next morning.
With a face set in determination, Asha carefully wrapped one of the two remaining Apple Jam Cookies, tied it with a ribbon for decoration, and placed it in a Silk Pouch that Lis had procured.
“Let’s go, Lis.”
At Asha’s words, Lis picked her up with a worried expression. Asha’s ankle hadn’t healed completely yet. But once they reached their destination, she found her purpose thwarted.
“His Majesty is attending to matters of state…. He instructed you to wait.”
The elderly Head Chamberlain spoke to her with an expression of utmost kindness. Asha nodded briskly, her face composed.
“I understand. I came without an appointment, so there’s nothing for it.”
“Your Highness, since His Majesty has spoken thus…. Would it not be better to return when he summons you next time?”
Lis spoke cautiously. The Head Chamberlain’s expression showed agreement. But Asha shook her head.
“How am I supposed to know when he’ll call?”
“In that case….”
“I’ll just sit here and wait. How’s that?”
“Y-yes, well….”
Asha dropped herself onto a small bench in the Corridor before the Emperor’s Office. The Head Chamberlain, with an expression of helplessness, nodded and turned back inside.
While Asha sat on the bench swinging only her toes, many people passed before her. Most greeted her with expressions of mild surprise and discomfort before departing.
Among them were some with rather mischievous faces who asked what she was doing.
“Your Highness, shall I convey your message to His Majesty on your behalf?”
“I can’t do that.”
Asha pointed to the silk pouch in her hand.
“I can deliver that on your behalf as well.”
“Do you know what’s inside?”
At that question, they finally left, a bit flustered. The Emperor summoned her just after eleven o’clock.
“His Majesty bids you enter.”
Asha stretched languidly and rose from her seat. Lis looked as if she wanted to carry her, but that was impossible in the Emperor’s presence.
Upon entering, the Emperor had arranged a simple tea table beside his desk. It held a single cup of tea and a few unadorned crackers—that was all.
“I’m busy, so state your business briefly.”
The Emperor’s words came the moment Asha sat across the tea table. She had intended to open the conversation gently, but instead she held out the silk pouch she was carrying.
“Then…. Please have this.”
While the Emperor took a sip of his tea, the Head Chamberlain received the silk pouch from Asha and removed what lay inside—an Apple Jam Cookie wrapped delicately in brown paper.
“Did you make this?”
“Yes! I made it for you, Your Majesty.”
“……Again.”
“Your Majesty?”
Asha tilted her head in question, but the Emperor offered no reply.
‘I can’t make sense of this at all.’
A brilliant current shimmered around him, radiating unmistakable delight, yet something displeased lurked beneath it. In that moment, the Emperor signaled the Head Chamberlain, who unwrapped the paper packaging and set an Apple Jam Cookie on the table.
The Emperor took up the Butter Knife and divided the cookie crudely in half, then stuffed a piece into his mouth. He fell silent for a time. Asha studied his expression intently, her hands clenching with barely contained excitement.
‘That’s it!’
After his first bite, the Emperor grew still for a moment, then slowly chewed and swallowed what lay in his mouth. Around him, a soft shimmer of light bloomed like fireworks underwater, wavering with each passing second.
“……Is that apple inside?”
“Yes! I lightly roasted the apples and simmered them down before filling them in.”
“So this is what apples feel like. And the cookie itself is so soft.”
“I made it savory and sweet all at once…… I hope you found it delicious.”
“Then what is it you want?”
“……Your Majesty?”
Asha faltered, her question hanging in the air. She had indeed come searching for him since morning in a state of agitation because she wanted something. She’d even allowed herself to believe that once the Emperor finished the confection and his mood brightened, he’d grant her nearly any request—but she had not anticipated him asking first.
“It’s written plain across your face. You’ve brought this as a bribe—what favor are you hoping I’ll grant?”
“Will you listen to it?”
“I’ll hear it and decide.”
“But you’ve already eaten the confection I gave you.”
“Half of it remains.”
“Then I’ll make confections with you again, just as I promised before.”
“Ahem.”
The Emperor, holding his teacup in refined posture, let out a small cough. The Head Chamberlain rushed forward with a napkin, his expression suddenly grave. The Emperor seemed disinclined to offer her a definite answer.
‘There’s no way around it. I’ll just have to speak.’
<Try calling him by a different name.>
‘What?’
A strange breath of wind brushed against her ear. Before Asha could do more than blink in surprise, the Emperor set down the napkin and opened his mouth.
“……Never mind that. Come now, tell me what favor you wished to ask.”
<See? He bristled when you called him ‘Your Majesty.’ Try something different.>
‘W-who are you?’
She glanced cautiously about, but could not identify the source of the voice—who it belonged to remained a complete mystery. Meanwhile, the Emperor pressed her for a response.
‘Something different?’
“If you won’t speak, then I’ll take my leave…….”
“Wait! I…… G…… Grandfather!”
“……!”
“Oh, no. That is…… Grandfather. I mean, I’m still not sure how to address you properly.”
“……Then state your business.”
‘Was that it?!’
Asha’s eyes widened. From somewhere in the air came the laughter of that strange wind voice, and before her, the Emperor’s aura now danced with a joy she had never witnessed before. As though particles of some long-buried sorrow had suddenly taken flight in brilliant splendor…….
“Grandfather…… you gave me something not long ago, remember? A Slave…….”
“……Yes. That’s right.”
“Could you…… could you change her status from Slave to Commoner instead?”
“Why?”
Asha lowered her gaze, struggling to suppress the heaviness in her chest. A Slave belonged to her master, dwelling in a small room adjoining his chambers. And because none could predict what a person might do to their sleeping master, Slaves were locked away at night—which was why the key hung so close beside the lock. It was not a matter of treasuring what lay within…….
“I’d like to have an Attendant of my own. But a Slave cannot serve as an Attendant, can she?”
“So you’d emancipate her to Commoner status and make her your Attendant instead? A Commoner is just as unsuitable as a Slave for such a role. Did you know that the Handmaid who attends you was your mother’s closest friend before she married?”
“Yes…… wait, what?”
Asha barely held back a cry of protest at this revelation.
‘Lis was friends with Mother?’
Now she understood why Lis had seemed so peculiarly gentle to her from their first meeting—she had been Mother’s companion. Yet even with that explanation, the astonishment did not fade.
“If she can’t serve as an Attendant…… then could you let me teach her Swordsmanship and make her my Bodyguard Knight instead?”
“If a Slave learns Swordsmanship and harbors resentment, she might well run you through. What then?”
“She could stab me even without training…… if she wanted to.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Won’t you…… emancipate her?”
Asha ventured the question again, watching his face carefully. The Emperor finished the remaining half of the cookie, then sighed.
“I’ve accepted a bribe, so I cannot refuse. Very well. As of today, your Slave is a Commoner.”
“Er… really?”
“Shall I take it back?”
“No! No, I can’t! That’s not— I’m so grateful, Grandfather!”
It was really happening.
Asha leapt up in her joy, only to clutch at her ankle and collapse back down with a wince.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Really, I’m fine.”
“Fine? There’s nothing fine about that. Come here.”
“No, truly—”
It’s fine.

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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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