The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 59
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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 Imperial Heir Wants to Live in a Pastry Shop
Episode 59
– Kalno’s power is one that can make life bloom.
Before anyone could ask how she knew, the Young Princess finished speaking and her eyes fluttered closed once more. Her head drooped forward. The Maid, who had just returned, dropped the teapot she carried and rushed to call for a healer.
Only after the Imperial Palace healers confirmed that the Young Princess was merely asleep could Kalno unclench his trembling fist. He understood why she had collapsed into sleep so suddenly. She had given him everything she had to convey her heart.
Kalno slowly opened his hand and let the seeds fall onto the garden soil. They descended in silence like stardust, settling softly into the earth. He knelt on one knee, covered the seeds with soil, and placed his palm over them.
Not long after, as he withdrew his hand, sprouts and stems grew with startling speed. Branches extended and leaves budded. In an instant, buds burst open and flowers bloomed.
“Ah…….”
Flowers had bloomed.
The flowers blossomed endlessly. Because he did not release his power, they withered quickly, and seeds fell again. From those seeds, sprouts shot up in an instant, stems rose, and flowers bloomed anew.
And finally, when Kalno let both his hands fall to his sides, the space around him was filled with Lissianthus flowers that undulated like waves, shimmering white beneath the moonlight.
* * *
Even after Asha had fully recovered from her illness, there was no word from Kalno.
‘Though he did send an enormous number of flowers in the meantime…….’
“I hope this doesn’t cause any strange rumors.”
At Pibi’s question, Asha—who had only just woken and whose eyes remained drowsy—gazed at the Lissianthus on the night table before turning her head toward Pibi.
“Come to think of it, Pibi, you haven’t been telling me to hold Kalno’s hand lately.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“But why did you tell me to do it in the first place?”
“I didn’t know you cared that much about Kalno.”
“Can’t you spirits talk to each other?”
“I see……. Oh wait, but you spoke directly with Fafnir, didn’t you?”
“Hmm, so I can’t speak with the Spirit of Time? Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve never even seen any other spirits?”
“Ah……. So the Spirit of Time is also something I can’t see because it’s still……young?”
“But then why have I never seen its form or sensed…….”
Pibi swallowed a sigh.
“Then you should have said so from the beginning.”
“Why?”
Pibi fell silent again. It clearly wanted to speak but could not.
“Regardless……what do I do now? Kalno hasn’t come since I told him about spirits…….”
Pibi, detecting the apology in Asha’s voice, brushed it aside as it preened its feathers indifferently.
“What is?”
At the sudden remark, Asha tilted her head in confusion. Pibi, whose dark eyes rolled around in circles, clicked its tongue.
“The wind……?”
As Asha rubbed her eyes, the door swung wide open and Lis stepped in.
“Your Highness, Your Highness! His Majesty is calling for you right now.”
‘Ah, so that was Shamal.’
That mischievous spirit needs to be sealed in a jam jar.
‘Why do you dislike Shamal so much?’
It seemed like a trivial reason to hate someone for merely speaking, but if she questioned Pibi now, she’d lose any chance of talking to Lis.
“……His Majesty is calling for me? Today? Right now?”
“Yes, so you must prepare at once.”
“At…… this early hour?”
“It’s nine in the morning.”
“I’m still growing!”
“Quickly now, Your Highness.”
Lis spoke as though urging Asha along, but didn’t wait for her to move. She whisked away the blankets, lifted Asha up bodily, set her down on a chair, placed a basin of warm water beside her to wash with, then deftly maneuvered Asha’s drowsy limbs into a lovely one-piece dress, combed her hair, and had her completely dressed before one could blink.
“Which ribbon shall we use—this pale green or sky blue?”
“Um…….”
“Sky blue will be prettier, won’t it?”
“Mm-hmm…….”
In the same moment, ribbons were fastened with quick clicks to both sides of her hair. Lis then slipped white lace-trimmed socks and pale pink shoes onto Asha’s feet and set her down on the floor.
“……What does His Majesty want?”
As Asha pattered along, she rubbed her cheeks to shake off the last of her drowsiness and asked the question. But Lis only smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
“Lis?”
“You’ll know soon enough once you see for yourself.”
“What, what is it? And we’re not heading to Ashtad Palace like this…… are we?”
Instead, they were walking deeper into Tymir Palace, where Asha and Alexei stayed. But Asha couldn’t ask more questions. When they arrived at the innermost chamber, the Emperor stood before a closed door, accompanied by his Chief Attendant.
“Your…… Majesty?”
In that instant, a sharp gust swept past. And immediately after, Pibi let out a piercing screech.
Shamal said nothing, but as Pibi’s wings fluttered about in an uproar, Asha quickly wrapped both hands around the little spirit protectively.
“…….”
“…….”
The Emperor’s frost-rimmed eyebrows rose slightly, as though startled.
“……That bird?”
“It’s, it’s a pet chick I raise, Your Majesty! Her name is Pibi, but I think she got startled by the sudden wind, Grandfather!”
Asha answered quickly and stuffed Pibi into her pocket. The little spirit’s muffled shrieks still echoed in her mind, but it was bearable now. The Chief Attendant cleared his throat carefully and began to speak.
“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, regarding His Majesty the Emperor…….”
“Never mind. You may go.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively.
“Go. The Imperial Heir and I have words we must speak alone.”
“…….”
The Chief Attendant seemed troubled by something, but ultimately swallowed what he had been about to say and retreated backward. As Asha stood frozen in the middle, the Emperor gestured her forward.
“Come here.”
Casting one more glance at the Chief Attendant, Asha hurried toward the Emperor on quick little steps. He gazed down at her in silence for a long moment, then spoke abruptly.
“When did you learn to speak with spirits? I knew Shamal had taken an interest in you, but…….”
Shamal chuckled softly, but Asha……
“Pardon?”
A small, startled noise escaped her.
Asha looked as though she might hiccup as she asked for clarification, and the Emperor regarded her with a long, steady gaze.
“Did I not ask when you first learned to converse with them?”
The Emperor’s eyes spoke volumes: he already knew everything. Asha’s mouth went dry; her small fists clenched and unclenched at her sides.
When an unavoidable situation arose?
Honesty was best.
Asha took a deep breath, and with hands outstretched as though limbering up, she reached out and placed them over the Emperor’s hand. More laid upon than grasped, really.
The Emperor stiffened slightly but did not pull away.
“I…… learned to speak with them not long ago.”
“…….”
“Um, a few days after staying in the Imperial Palace……?”
“I hear Alexei’s power has stabilized recently—was that also your doing?”
“Oh! No, that was supposed to happen naturally. I didn’t do anything for that.”
“So Alexei doesn’t know that you speak with spirits?”
A fierce urge to lie seized her, but Asha held back her tears and spoke the truth.
“No, well… that is… he does know. Alexei, he…”
“So the Emperor doesn’t know his daughter’s secret, but the Imperial Heir does.”
“I meant to tell you! I did, but…”
“When? After Alexei took the throne?”
“…!”
Asha’s eyes went wide with the realization of how he’d known, and the Emperor let out a short, derisive laugh.
“How willful of you. I could charge you with the Crime of Deceiving the Ruler.”
Asha’s eyes darted sideways. She couldn’t fathom what answer he was fishing for.
And when you’re uncertain, the best defense is a counterattack.
“How did Grandfather know? That I talk to spirits?”
“How did I know? You speak with your spirit loud enough for the entire palace to hear—did you really think I wouldn’t?”
At that very moment, Asha’s head snapped toward her own pocket.
In place of Pibi’s silence, Shamal offered a small, sheepish whisper.
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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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