The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 69

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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 Pastry Shop
69

“I never said it was tasteless.”
“That’s a lie. A moment ago you didn’t speak up because you didn’t want to hurt that man’s feelings, but it clearly wasn’t to Kalno’s taste.”
Certainty rang in the young princess’s voice. Kalno’s lips twitched briefly. He had been thinking that since it was a pastry offered by a stranger on the street, there might be something wrong with it, and he’d only tasted it first for that reason. The words rose in his throat—how could she possibly know he thought it was tasteless?—but they dissolved away like rose petals slipping between his lips as he brought them close.
The young princess watched Kalno in silence, tilting her head with a confused expression before her face settled into a petulant pout.

* * *

Emperor Mikhail had treated the commander of the Tinggeneth Knight Order, who’d stormed into his office since morning, as though he didn’t exist for a full hour before finally setting down his pen.
“I delivered the message clearly.”
“Are you certain you actually did?”
The Emperor rubbed his deeply lined forehead and sighed. He would have had grounds to strike the man with a riding crop for daring to doubt an imperial word, but the commander’s age was nearly his own, and there lingered the memory of his loyal service in his youth—a loyalty that had shaped the empire’s borders as they stood.
‘He was never like this when he was younger.’
His devotion had been so zealous that when his daughter married the youngest imperial prince without permission, he’d nearly severed ties with her entirely. And yet—
“Since she wished to go out, I said she could do so if she took an escort with her. I also told the knight order to send two knights.”
“Not a single knight has arrived from Tymir Palace.”
“My granddaughter has chosen Kalno Noishtetter as her escort, so he should be sent to her. Is there anyone stronger in this empire than he?”
Tariei’s face flushed red and purple in turns, yet his voice did not rise further.
“But… how is it that Kalno Noishtetter is serving as escort to the Imperial Heir? Did the Crown Prince Alexei perhaps request it?”
“If you’re so curious about your granddaughter’s affairs, why didn’t you go see for yourself?”
“Because I cannot, which is precisely why I came to ask Your Majesty!”
Tariei bit his lip hard.
He had pretended otherwise to Lis, Anastasia’s maid and his daughter’s dearest friend, but the truth was he’d only come to the knight order as an excuse to have reason to see his granddaughter’s face—or so Lis had implied.
“Why can’t you? Go and see her face once. I won’t say a word against it.”
……
“You’re afraid she’ll reject you outright if you show up, aren’t you?”
“If the young lady inherited even half of her mother’s temperament, then the Imperial Heir would naturally feel the same way.”
Tariei’s expression suddenly shifted to one of grievance.
“It seems Anastasia visits Your Majesty quite frequently.”
“Are you and I the same sort of person?”
“Then what’s the difference?”
Emperor Mikhail thought he wanted to smoke a cigarette, and in a self-mocking tone he’d never let others hear, he spoke.
“You drove your daughter away, and I was abandoned by my son. In short, you’re the one who hurt, and I’m the one who was hurt.”
“Surely that’s not the way to frame things.”
“Of course it is. That’s why Asha resents you.”
“Asha……”
Tariei had never heard his granddaughter called by that pet name before. He murmured it in a voice thick with regret, but that Asha was out beyond the Imperial Palace on an outing at that very moment.
“If you go and apologize sincerely, saying you were wrong, that child will surely forgive you.”
“Given what I know of her parents’ natures, I’m not sure that’s the case. Wouldn’t you agree, Your Majesty?”
Tariei criticized the Crown Prince even to the Emperor’s face without seeming troubled at all. The Emperor, equally unbothered, let out a soft laugh.
“Well, from what I’ve seen, she’s a child who doesn’t know how to be harsh with me.”
Tariei’s mouth fell open at the Emperor’s absurd boast, but in the end he said nothing.

* * *

‘Is it still far?’
<Almost there. Just one more alley and we’ll be right at it.>
Pibi, perched on Asha’s shoulder, chirped.
Kalno gazed with suspicion at the mysterious chick who showed no sign of leaving Asha’s side, shook his head, and in that moment Asha strode forward with an expression brimming with anticipation.
“While we’re out, I should buy a cake.”
“…… But that’s made from your recipe, isn’t it?”
“True, but a cake from the shop feels different. I should get it as a keepsake. One for Alexei, and one for grandfather too.”
Asha counted on her fingers as she tallied.
‘Should I get one for Pibi as well?’
“Chirp, chirp!”

‘Why?’

‘Oh~!’
Asha stroked Pibi’s forehead as though praising her, and the bird lifted its head, chirping once more. Just then, Lis, who had been following behind them, bent down and whispered to Asha.
“Wouldn’t you like to buy something for Tariei as well?”
“Who? My grandfather?”
“Yes, I think he would like it.”
Asha’s brow furrowed.
“Well, I’m not so sure….”
“Tariei?”
Asha flinched at Kalno’s voice suddenly cutting through from above. He was looking down at her with an indifferent expression. She swallowed dryly and quickly waved her hand in dismissal.
“Oh, well, that is—I’ve never even met Tariei. And even if I did, I don’t think he’d like anything….”
“No, that’s not true. Why would you say such a thing? Tariei….”
Asha urgently pressed her hand to Lis’s lips. She didn’t want to speak about her grandfather while Kalno was present. But she was a moment too late—Kalno’s eyes had already narrowed.
“Don’t tell me….”
Yet Kalno’s words never reached their end. The moment the two of them emerged from the alley, they were met with an overwhelming crowd.
A line stretched on for lengths unknown, disappearing into the distance. Before Kalno could say anything to Asha, he lifted her up in his arms, weaving through the throngs of people hurrying past. Pibi fluttered up from her shoulder, then settled back down again.
“Whoa, Kalno!”
“What’s with all these people?”
“Let me go find out what this is about.”
After Lis had smoothed Asha’s coat—which had been bunched up against Kalno—she wove into the crowd. Asha pressed her hand to her racing heart and shot Kalno a look.
“Kalno, you could’ve warned me first.”
“So, should I put you down?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Asha pounded Kalno’s shoulder with annoyed force, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“Is it your grandfather you dislike?”
“Kalno, doesn’t our conversation need some context?”
“That’s what I was trying to ask before—if the crowd hadn’t been in the way.”
….
Asha’s lips twitched slightly.
‘So you’re going to be honest about it? Are you worried I might run away before my life string snaps?’
“Chirp!”

Pibi climbed up onto Asha’s head, covering her crown with its wings while chirping. Asha held her breath.
‘Even if it were an elephant, it would pass out from that….’
Kalno spoke in the meantime, tossing out his words carelessly.
“If you don’t hate him, then go see him.”
“It’s not that I hate him or anything….”
“If you’re calling me as an escort when His Majesty told you to hire a knight, that’s avoidance.”
Asha winced at his words but lifted her chin defiantly nonetheless.
“That’s not it. I just wanted to come out with you.”
…Hmm.
“But if you’re going to insist like that, maybe I’ll buy cake for my grandfather too? And your grandmother—did she say she wanted to see you? She’s coming?”
Asha had spoken brightly, but was startled when Kalno simply nodded calmly.
“Wait… really? When is she coming?”
“When the weather clears.”
“Then it’ll be a while. Should I buy her cake later instead?”
Kalno gave no answer, only gazing at her steadily. Because she was cradled in his arms, his eyes looked slightly down at her. Asha tilted her head in confusion, then caught sight of Lis running toward them from afar and quickly waved.
“Lis! Lis, here! What is it?”
Lis approached with quick steps, her skirts gathered in her hands, her face flushed with excitement.
“They’re all waiting in line to buy cake.”
“Cake? Our cake?”
“Yes, Your—ahem. Ah, at Miss’s shop.”
Lis spoke hurriedly and quickly glanced about before correcting her form of address.
“Really? Like this? All of them?”
“Yes, truly. Word has spread quite far throughout Jedo, it seems.”
“But the shop only opened a few days ago?”
“It appears a distinguished noblewoman visited on the opening day, tasted it, and gave it her highest praise. That’s how it’s come to this….”
Asha fell silent at those words, then suddenly came to her senses.
“Wait, we shouldn’t be doing this here! Let’s get in line properly. If I’d known this was a shop, I would have lined up from the start.”
“Pardon?”
Asha pointed to the end of the queue and tugged at Kalno’s collar, while Lis looked between them in utter bewilderment.
“But you’re the mistress—you need only ask and they’ll give it to you right away. Shall I fetch the cake for you?”
“Ah… no… wait, Lis, hold on!”
Asha grabbed at Lis’s clothes in her haste, nearly tumbling out of Kalno’s arms.
“Careful! You mustn’t be so reckless.”
“That’s not the point. How can you just… go fetch it like that?”
“If you wish for it, they must serve you at once, naturally. The shop will certainly provide it.”
“But… can’t we just wait in line? I… yes, I really wanted to try waiting in line!”
Asha spoke softly, her voice earnest and pleading. Lis wore an expression of complete incomprehension, yet she could not refuse what Asha desired.
“But it’s so terribly cold today…”
“I’m just a guest today, like everyone else. Don’t all these people have to wait too?”
Asha smiled coaxingly at Lis, but from the corner nearest to her, she caught the unmistakable current of ‘I don’t understand’—and it was coming from Kalno himself.
‘Good heavens, even Kalno!’

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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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