The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House - Chapter 98

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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 98

“What on earth did you say to Grandmother?”
“Me? What did I do?”
Asha looked up at Kalno with an expression of unmistakable displeasure.
“Actually, I’m the one who wants to ask. What were you and Grandmother talking about?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t say anything at all?”
“No, first you ask what I said, and now you’re giving me a look even though I said I didn’t say anything?”
“You should have said something nice, at least.”
“I did say something nice.”
“You did?”
“Good heavens. Now you’re giving me a look because I actually did say something.”
Kalno sighed at Asha’s willful behavior, though there was no real displeasure in it. He glanced briefly at her hair.
For the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration, she had adorned herself in elaborate finery, and instead of her usual ribbons, pearl hair ornaments gleamed throughout her locks.
“I really didn’t do anything….”
Asha pouted. Meanwhile, the Emperor and Alexei’s Carum Game progressed steadily, drawing near to its conclusion.
The Emperor cut an impressive figure, though he didn’t seem to play the Carum Game often and lacked exceptional skill. Yet his experience proved formidable—not easily dismissed. Alexei moved with sharp precision and fluidity, but the Emperor’s seasoned judgment appeared to be beyond what he could overcome.
“…Alas, I’ve lost.”
As the Emperor launched the final ball with a triumphant expression, Alexei’s face clouded with disappointment. But the Emperor didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow at it.
“Don’t think you can sway my heart with that expression. If you lose, accept it gracefully.”
“Next time, I shall win.”
“I look forward to it.”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. With a sigh, Alexei brushed Asha’s cheek once and then drew back the curtain to leave.
“Well then, shall we try it properly now? With so many people present, dividing into three teams of two should work nicely.”
Yekaterina, who had been watching the two’s match in silence from beside them, spoke with enthusiasm. The teams were quickly formed: Maksim and his son Dmitri, the Emperor and his granddaughter Asha, and Yekaterina with her grandson Kalno.
“Since it feels a shame to settle for merely writing letters, why don’t we each wager something?”
At Yekaterina’s suggestion, Dmitri’s face went pale. Kalno pressed his lips together.
“Hmm, that’s rather good.”
“That does sound amusing. I’m in favor of it!”
“Father….”
Dmitri tugged at Maksim’s collar in a hushed voice, but Maksim, absorbed in interest and oblivious to his son’s anxiety, merely patted his head.
“Then, Your Majesty, what will you wager?”
The Emperor held his cue and deliberated for a moment, then his eyes brightened as though struck by inspiration.
“I have a residence in the south of Jedo that I built as a subsidiary palace, but I’ve never found time to visit it and have left it unused. I’ll wager that.”
“Ooh!”
Maksim, who seemed to know what that residence was, applauded in delight. Yekaterina’s lips curved upward in a smile.
“Then I shall take responsibility for landscaping that residence.”
“My goodness, you, Yekaterina?”
At her words about taking charge of the landscaping, Maksim showed signs of genuine emotion. As Asha’s eyes widened with curiosity, Kalno leaned over and whispered.
“Grandmother’s spirit is a Sand Spirit.”
“Sand?”
“Yes. When sand crumbles further, it becomes earth, and when it becomes earth, one can even govern the land itself.”
For Kalno to speak of mastering the land suggested that Yekaterina was someone who had awakened her spirit’s power to a considerable degree.
In that instant, Asha’s eyes flew open. If she mentioned landscaping with such confidence, she must possess remarkable power to cultivate flowers and trees—and such power would undoubtedly apply to food crops as well. For instance, the Fig Tree that Alexei had brought this time could be grown in Jedo….
“Ha! Then I shall take charge of the interior decoration.”
“Father, perhaps you should wager something else instead….”
At Maksim’s hearty declaration, Dmitri desperately tried to dissuade him. Yet the Emperor, thinking Dmitri was merely anxious about the burden, chuckled softly and said,
“You two may wager whatever you can afford.”
Dmitri looked back and forth between the Emperor and Maksim, then dropped his head with a defeated expression.
“Then I… I’ll wager… sugar.”
“…!”
With the sudden appearance of a food ingredient, everyone tilted their heads in confusion—save Asha, who stifled a small laugh. Dmitri had already sensed defeat and seemed to have predicted the winner.
But Maksim, knowing nothing of it, laughed heartily and slapped his son’s back resoundingly.
“No, son! What is a little sugar? When I had His Majesty’s coat made, I bought fabric for your clothes as well—let’s wager that!”
“No… Father… then what coat am I supposed to wear in winter?”
“If we win, there won’t be a problem!”
Dmitri’s face showed clear resignation as he watched Maksim laugh.
“What will you wager, Kalno?”
“Then I’ll stake a Wood Knife from our estate.”
“A Wood Knife?”
Asha’s eyes lit up at the unusual combination of wood and blade. Kalno leaned forward and explained as if he’d been waiting for the question.
“The timber from House of Sedvoyer is sturdy and of excellent quality. We sharpen it to a thin, keen edge and use it to cut butter, cheese, and fruit.”
“I never knew such a thing existed.”
“And what will you wager, Imperial Heir?”
“Well then, I’ll stake a cake I’ve baked myself.”
With Asha’s cake added to the wagers, the three teams’ Carum Game began in earnest.
<Tsk, tsk. Don’t torment the young lambs too much.>
‘I’ll go easy on them.’

Crack! Tap-tap!
“Wait, how did that piece go there…?”
Tap-tap-tap!
“How is it possible for a piece that goes there to move like that…?”
Click! Tap!
“Hold on—didn’t that piece just have some strange power imbued in it?”
Click, crack-crack-crack!
“Good heavens, how is that even possible?”
Crack, crack, crack!
“That’s why I said we should wager something else, Father…”
Crack-crack! Click! Click!

When the Carum Game ended and the six of them stepped back through the curtain into the hall, only the girl with the rosy hair and jade-green eyes was smiling brightly.

* * *

After the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration concluded, news of “the portrait of the Emperor painted by Mura” swept through Jedo. Mura Aylau, who had not painted—or at least had not made public—any works for some time, had made a dramatic return like a scene from a novel.
And not just any portrait, but the Emperor’s own.
In the magazines whose primary readership was the nobility, someone had even reproduced the portrait in a copy for publication. That crude imitation alone broke the magazine’s sales records to historic heights.
Asha had hoped the Emperor would like the gift, but she hadn’t imagined such fervent acclaim would come rushing back to her, and was feeling somewhat bewildered by it all.
“An… Exhibition?”
Moreover, word had somehow spread that Mura Aylau had painted not only the Emperor’s portrait, but also that of Anastasia, the Imperial Heir.
Though the Emperor’s portrait had been displayed once, it was only briefly within the banquet hall, and since no one had seen the Heir’s portrait, everyone was clamoring to view it.
The Emperor himself seemed quite startled to learn that Mura had painted Asha’s portrait as well. He then spent over an hour admiring it before reaching his conclusion.
“You would hold an exhibition with only two paintings?”
“No household in the realm possesses two works by Aylau.”
Whatever space became the exhibition hall, if the Emperor championed it, it would surely be grand. A spacious hall with only two paintings. Two portraits at that.
‘The thought of it alone leaves me hollow.’
“Who else even possesses a painting by Mura? By Lord Mura, I mean?”
Even as he spoke, the Emperor straightened from examining Asha’s portrait and glanced sidelong at the Chief Chamberlain, who immediately spoke up.
“The Marchioness of House of Tatarcha Marquis possesses one, and House of Sedvoyer has one as well. The Marquis of Silistria also holds one, and House of Oleg Marquis had one, though I believe it was recently sold. Baron Sarato purchased it, or so I’ve heard.”
Having heard this much, Asha made her decision. If it had come to this, then—
“What if we gathered all of them and held the exhibition together?”
An exhibition hanging only two portraits, one of which was her own face, struck her as impossibly embarrassing. Asha resolved in her heart that the exhibition must display at least five paintings, but the Emperor shook his head.
“An emperor must not dictate the disposal of his nobles’ property in such a manner.”
“It’s not dictating—it’s about sharing something good. House of Tatarcha—well, since Natalya and I are friends, I could ask her. And if I mention it to Kalno, they’d be willing to lend theirs.”
Asha counted them off on her fingers one by one.
“As for the Marquis of Silistria… I’m not entirely sure about that one, but if I ask Baron Sarato about holding the exhibition together, he’ll agree. Oh! What if we charged admission to the exhibition? We could take the proceeds and give some to Lord Mura, and share some with those who lent their paintings.”
“Placing nobles in an uncomfortable position is also something an emperor must not do. Among them there may well be those who wish to refuse but cannot. And gathering three or more paintings for exhibition requires finding a suitable venue.”
“I’ll bring it up gently. I’ll make it seem as if I’m the one pleading to do it, not Your Majesty. As for the location…”
Asha smiled brightly.
“I recently acquired a small villa, and both the interior and exterior work are already underway, so wouldn’t that work perfectly?”
“This girl.”
The three teams’ Carum Game ended in unstoppable victory for Asha. Yekaterina and Maksim had tried to catch up to the end, but it was hopeless. After the game concluded, the Emperor, maintaining his dignity, graciously granted Asha the villa.
“It’s not a bad idea, is it?”
The Emperor looked down at Asha and let slip a faint smile.
“Very well. If that is your wish, then try it. But Asha, do you remember when I told you I would grant you a wish?”
“Oh! I completely forgot about it. Well, but I already received the villa, so…….”
Asha’s eyes widened in surprise, and the Emperor clicked his tongue.
“You forgot that your Emperor offered to grant you a wish? And the villa is something you won through your own effort—it has nothing to do with the wish I promised you.”
“But the villa alone is already more than enough, and everything has been so hectic. Grandfather arrived and kept making me attend to his portrait viewing, so I haven’t been able to get anything done.”

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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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