The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 96

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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
Chapter 96

‘Grandfather must have had a fondness for porcelain figurines.’
Otherwise, how could anyone be this pleased!
‘I heard Myura was skilled at making pottery too. Should I have asked for a porcelain figurine instead of a portrait?’
As Asha privately lamented her choice, the congratulations from the high nobility finally came to an end. The nobles below marquis rank concluded with collective salutations.
“It seems Marquis Oleg understood Your Majesty’s tastes the best.”
Alexei murmured softly from beside her, and Asha nodded in agreement. From what she could see, it was true. His face had remained expressionless through all the other gifts, but only Marquis Oleg had received his praise—delivered with a faint smile and the words “a magnificent gift.”
“Then it’s our turn now.”
Asha nodded and rose from her seat, clasping Alexei’s hand. With the nobility finished, it was time for the imperial family.
Maksim had brought a Black Winter Coat as his gift—meticulously tailored with thin quilting, and adorned with delicate golden embroidery along the cuffs and collar.
“……You prepared such a thing?”
The Emperor fell silent for a moment before speaking. Maksim smiled easily and nodded.
“Shouldn’t one prepare in advance before winter arrives?”
Since the Imperial Palace remained warm throughout the seasons, no thermal coat had been needed for the past ten years. The nobility murmured that Maksim was up to his usual eccentricities. Yet the Emperor ran his hand over the coat and praised Maksim warmly.
“Even when you’ve feigned thoughtlessness since childhood, I have always known the depth of your scheming.”
This was also his recognition of Alexei—noting keenly that Alexei’s power was stabilizing, and preparing a coat for the coming winter demonstrated his acknowledgment of the heir. Maksim smiled smugly.
“I knew you were aware of that, Father.”
Dmitri, who had accompanied Maksim, bowed stiffly to the Emperor and then cast a sidelong glance toward Asha.
‘Did you prepare a gift?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘How did you manage it without your parents here?’
‘…….’
Asha frowned and shot Dmitri a sharp look. Dmitri’s expression grew flustered, and he waved his hand dismissively.
‘No, I mean…….’
Dmitri, who had been fumbling awkwardly, suddenly thrust the small velvet box he’d been clutching and hiding behind his back toward her.
‘If you haven’t prepared anything, just give this instead.’
‘What is this?’
‘Ah, I don’t know!’
Dmitri spoke irritably, but it was clear he was only trying to hide his embarrassment, and he seemed to know perfectly well what was inside. Asha surreptitiously opened the velvet box where no one was watching.
‘A brooch?’
Inside lay a teardrop-shaped Sapphire Brooch in such a deep blue it appeared nearly black. The brooch’s edges were adorned with small diamonds arranged in a geometric pattern, making the sapphire stand out while creating an air of elegance.
Asha glanced at the coat Maksim had gifted. This brooch would suit it perfectly. It was clearly custom-made to match the coat.
‘Why are you giving this to me?’
‘Don’t complain if you don’t like it!’
Dmitri snatched the velvet box back with a snap. The sharp closing sound was loud, but Ilya’s turn arrived just in time to divert everyone’s attention.
Valery had claimed ill health and worried about passing the sickness to the Emperor, so he’d sent only his son Ilya in his stead. Standing alone before the Emperor, Ilya was visibly nervous, his hands trembling.
Seeing his distress, Asha squeezed his hand once before he stepped forward. Ilya, his expression nearly tearful, looked back at her, managed a thin smile, and approached the Emperor.
“Your……Your Majesty’s birthday…….”
Ilya stammered, but there was no one to help him. In a voice barely audible, he offered his birthday congratulations and presented the gift his father had prepared.
It was a moderately long box. When the Chief Attendant carefully untied the ribbon and opened it, inside lay a Ceremonial Sword, lavishly adorned with jewels. The blade seemed almost to radiate light—so ornate was this ceremonial weapon. The nobles who glimpsed it gasped in admiration at its grandeur.
“Good heavens. I’ve never seen anything so extravagant.”
“I heard the prince’s factories had closed and his circumstances grown difficult, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“Surely a few factories wouldn’t bring about such hardship?”
The Emperor gazed silently at the sword, and only after the nobles’ whispers had fully subsided did he look at Ilya.
“……Is this what your father prepared?”
“Yes? Yes……!”
The Emperor’s reaction was noticeably colder than it had been with Maksim. Ilya looked on the verge of tears. The Chief Attendant, reading the Emperor’s mood, quickly closed the box and set it aside. Asha clicked her tongue softly.
‘Of all things, he chose that.’
An ornate ceremonial sword for an Emperor who disdained excess? Though one couldn’t very well bring a sharp, functional blade to a banquet…….
Dmitri glanced between Ilya and the Emperor, and with a mix of irritation and hesitation, jabbed the velvet box toward her again.
‘I’m throwing this away anyway, so you take it.’
Having witnessed the Emperor’s expression turn icy at the sight of Ilya’s ostentatiously lavish gift, Dmitri was clearly seized by considerable worry.
Asha, who hadn’t prepared a gift at all, might face an even harsher response. There was no refusing now.
‘But Dmitri, I really do have something prepared.’
‘I know, I know.’
Dmitri thrust the box into Asha’s hands with an exaggerated gesture, then took several steps back from her as if distancing himself from the scene.
When the others had finished and only Asha and Alexei remained, Alexei caught sight of Lis holding a rectangular object some distance away, then reached out and stopped Asha just as she was about to step forward.
“Asha?”
“Allow me to give mine first.”
“What? But…”
“Won’t you yield your turn for my sake?”
Asha tilted her head in agreement, though her expression wavered slightly.
“Your Majesty, I offer my deepest wishes on your birthday.”
“Very well.”
Alexei smiled warmly at Asha, then stepped forward to offer his congratulations to the Emperor. Between them, the exchange unfolded in tones far softer and more intimate than before.
“Bring it out.”
Alexei gestured to an attendant, who rolled forward a low cart. Upon it sat a potted tree as tall as a man.
“What is this…?”
The leaves spread out like opened human hands, and suspended between the branches hung purple, coin-sized fruits shaped like small bottles.
“A fig tree. It grows in the southern regions of the Kirilette Kingdom as well. I’m told the fruit is full of juice and sweetness, with honey pooling inside. But this particular tree…”
Alexei let his words trail softly, then gathered several fruits directly and offered them to the Chief Attendant. The Chief Attendant wiped the fruits clean and arranged them on a plate, which he presented to the Emperor.
The Emperor gazed at the fruits with curiosity, then broke one open with his own hands and took a bite. Watching this, Alexei continued his explanation.
“It is a fig tree cultivated to grow sufficiently well even in the southern reaches of the Empire. The fruits are smaller and the skin thinner, making preservation difficult, but the taste is far more complex and beautiful than ordinary figs.”
At these words, Asha’s eyes lit up brilliantly. From the moment the tree’s sweet floral scent—the honey fragrance, the richness of coconut—had swept toward her, her eyes had shimmered with delight.
Asha gazed at the sapling, her eyes glistening. The Emperor, noticing her gaze, chuckled softly and beckoned to Alexei. On the plate lay a single fig still untouched by the Emperor’s lips.
“You taste it too. It’s wonderfully sweet.”
Understanding the Emperor’s intent perfectly, Alexei split the small fruit in half. Beneath the purple skin, the pale flesh was studded with crimson seeds that gleamed like rubies.
Alexei extended one half toward Asha. She opened her eyes wide, gazing up at him. He smiled and offered his hand once more. Asha hesitated for a breath, then quickly brought the fig to her lips.
“Ah…”
On her tongue, the rich, honeyed sweetness pooled; the seeds burst delicately; and the bright tartness of a sun-ripened fruit brushed across her palate. Then, lingering at the edge of her senses, came the faintest whisper of coconut.
‘This would make the most incredible jam. No—wait, it would be a crime to reduce this to jam. Pound cake? Scones? A tart with almond cream heaped on top, baked until golden?’
While Asha remained lost in the fruit’s flavor, Alexei looked down at her with a gentle smile.
“In time, it will be cultivated throughout the southern Empire, but I thought we might begin by growing it in the Greenhouse of the Imperial Palace.”
“…!”
Asha’s eyes sparkled like stars as she glanced between Alexei and the Emperor. The Emperor finally let out a soft laugh and nodded his approval.
“A splendid notion. Thank you, Alexei. You’ve gone to considerable trouble.”
“The farmers did the greater part of the work.”
“Then I shall see they receive due reward.”
As Asha’s gaze followed the fig sapling, it became truly her turn at last to present her gift.
“Mm.”
Now that the moment had come, she felt a flutter of nerves. While her attention had been absorbed by the fig, she’d forgotten about the nobles’ eyes upon her—but she felt them acutely now.
“The young Imperial Heir has no other nobles to guide her, does she? I wonder what she could have prepared?”
“They say she loves to spend time in the Kitchen, so perhaps she’s baked some pastries?”
“Speaking of pastries, there’s been talk that the sweets from the Patisserie that Baron Sarato invested in were actually developed by the Imperial Heir Anastasia.”
“Is she trying to appear charming now?”
“What? What did you say?”
“I mean, it’s rather revealing of your naiveté—to swallow such baseless rumors so readily.”
While the nobles murmured among themselves, Asha gestured to Lis. Lis approached from a distance, carrying a wide rectangular panel draped in white linen.
“Oh my, it looks like a frame of some kind.”
“Perhaps it’s a painting of some sort?”
“Could it be a portrait of His Majesty that she painted herself?”
The nobles spoke in tones of charming condescension. Catching the drift of their remarks, Asha let out a quiet laugh.
“Happy birthday! This is my gift for you!”
Lis moved to hand the object to the Emperor’s Chief Attendant with proper ceremony, but the Emperor gestured impatiently, dismissing the intermediary. The Chief Attendant awkwardly stepped back, and Lis bowed deeply, presenting the frame directly to the Emperor.

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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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