Chapter 4

Even so, instead of saying, “What does that have to do with me?” as it came to mind, Kitty tried to answer more kindly.

“It’ll be fine, Garnet. I mean… who would ever come all the way out here?”

After all, the Second Princess’s Palace was tucked away in such a remote corner of the Imperial Palace that only people who already knew about it could even find it.

Of course…

Just yesterday, Emperor Theodore himself had come all the way to this forgotten place.

Still, now that he had already barged in and caused such a commotion, surely he wouldn’t return anytime soon… right?

Seeing that Princess Katrina remained completely unfazed, Head Maid Garnet was briefly speechless before clutching her chest in frustration.

“Oh, honestly! I can’t take this anymore! You’re shameless beyond belief…! And His Majesty is just as heartless! What are we supposed to do with such an impossible child…? Instead, he had poor Lady Sarah whipped!”

“Lady Sarah was whipped?”

“Yes, Your Highness! It was all because of you! After the way you behaved yesterday, Lady Sarah was punished with the lash for failing to educate you properly! Her entire back has been torn open—she’s still lying face-down in her room!”

Well…

Lady Sarah always believed that if someone did wrong, they deserved to be punished accordingly.

So Kitty didn’t think there was much to pity or resent.

She briefly wondered whether she should explain Lady Sarah’s personal philosophy to Garnet.

“…And even that wasn’t enough! Now you’ve decided to drag the rest of us to our deaths too! Honestly… these ridiculous things!”

Suddenly, Garnet glared at Kitty, who was still sitting on the ground in a daze.

Then she charged straight into the vegetable garden.

“What are you all standing around for?! Hurry up and help! I don’t know what she did to the garden, but restore everything immediately!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

At Garnet’s sharp command, the servants who had been whispering among themselves hurried into the garden.

The experienced hands of palace servants quickly tore everything apart.

The onion bulbs were dug back up.

The young saplings were ripped from the ground.

Those were the plants she and Cindy had worked all night to put there…!

Even if a herd of wild boars had rampaged through the garden in the middle of the night…

…the damage couldn’t have been much worse.

Kitty stood there blankly, watching the heartbreaking scene.

Only then did she begin searching for Cindy.

Across the garden, Cindy looked back at her with sorrow and sympathy shining in her beautiful violet eyes.

Then…

She silently smiled.

As though the carrots and fig trees being mercilessly trampled before their eyes were nothing important.

As though she wanted to tell Kitty not to be sad.

That everything would somehow be alright.

But the faint trembling in that smile made it unbearably bittersweet.

Yes…

Adults really were strange creatures.

Sometimes…

They were so cruel that they were impossible to understand.

*

By Garnet’s decision, Princess Katrina was forbidden from leaving her room for four days.

During that time, no one in the Second Princess’s Palace was allowed to give the young princess even a drop of water or a morsel of food.

Fortunately…

The jar of strawberry jam she had secretly hidden during the confusion escaped confiscation.

“This time, Your Highness, I hope you truly realize what you’ve done wrong!”

Dragged back to her room by Garnet and practically thrown inside, Kitty waited until all the shouting adults had finally gone away.

Only then did she begin moving again.

Hidden among a pile of unwashed clothes in one corner of the room…

…the strawberry jam was still there.

Relieved, Kitty hugged the precious jar tightly against her chest.

As long as she had this…

Nothing else really mattered.

She could be dragged around like luggage.

Kicked.

Scolded.

Mocked.

Pointed at.

As long as she somehow had something to eat…

Princess Katrina was the kind of brave little girl who never complained.

Hmm…

Now that she thought about it…

Perhaps she should check how the jam tasted.

Unable to resist, Kitty opened the lid and dipped one finger inside.

The sweet flavor spread across her tongue like melting sunshine.

Instantly, every worry disappeared.

A small smile bloomed on her lips.

Perfect.

She had made the best strawberry jam imaginable.

Knock. Knock.

“Your Highness… may I come in…?”

Kitty jumped in surprise.

It was Cindy’s familiar voice.

She sounded anxious, speaking in little more than a whisper, clearly trying not to be overheard.

Hurriedly screwing the lid back onto the jam jar, Kitty shoved it into its hiding place before quietly opening the door herself.

Thankfully…

The hallway appeared empty.

She quickly gestured for Cindy to come inside.

The moment the door clicked shut, Cindy looked at the princess with tearful eyes.

“I’m so sorry… It’s because of me…”

“I was trying to find something for us to eat, and I happened to get those bulbs and saplings.”

“I think I got carried away…”

“I’ve always dreamed of having a little piece of land where I could grow things myself.”

Kitty simply shook her head.

Things had turned out badly…

But she’d genuinely enjoyed herself the night before.

That alone made it a happy memory.

“I thought that because the palace was so remote—and since things had already become difficult—Lady Garnet would just complain a little and leave it at that.”

“I never imagined she’d…”

Just remembering it made Cindy’s beautiful violet eyes fill with tears again.

Wanting to comfort her, Kitty pulled out the hidden jar of strawberry jam.

Although it was generously packed with strawberries and sugar, Cindy smiled and gently shook her head.

“It’s alright.”

“More importantly…”

“I came because I want to help you properly this time.”

Help… properly?

Half curious, Kitty looked up at the innocent-looking maid, wondering what unexpected idea she’d come up with now.

“Something other than farming with bulbs and saplings?”

“You should go see the Imperial Princes.”

“They probably won’t agree immediately… but if you explain your situation, they might return at least part of the Second Princess’s Palace’s budget.”

“I… go myself?”

“Yes!”

“If Lady Garnet catches us, I’ll probably be whipped.”

“But that’s alright.”

“I’ll escort you there myself.”

“And if we’re caught, tell them it was entirely my idea!”

Cindy clenched both fists with determination, looking as though she believed this was finally their chance to escape their miserable situation.

Kitty, however, hesitated.

Cindy would be risking a great deal.

Was it really worth it?

The tyrant Emperor Theodore had two sons, one daughter…

…and one adopted daughter.

The First Prince, Dimitrius, was born to the First Empress, Adele.

The Second Prince, Evan, was born to the Second Empress, Sophia.

When Kitty had first arrived at the Imperial Palace two weeks ago, she had only caught a distant glimpse of the two princes.

That was all.

Based solely on appearances…

The First Prince, Dimitrius, looked much easier to approach than the cold and distant Evan.

Yet…

Evan was also the one who shared the same mother as Kitty.

Hmm…

Dimitrius… or Evan…

That is the question.

As Cindy helped her put on a warm coat, shawl, and fur-lined boots, Kitty voiced her dilemma aloud.

“Huh?”

“Of course you should ask Prince Evan.”

“He’s your full older brother, after all.”

…Was that so?

Even so…

Thinking back to the expression Evan had worn two weeks ago made Kitty reluctant.

It hadn’t been the face of someone meeting his little sister for the first time.

If she had to describe it…

It was more like…

The way a cow might stare at a chicken.

“Please don’t worry, Your Highness.”

“Prince Evan has always been rather expressionless.”

“He only looks cold.”

“I’m sure he’s genuinely happy to have you as his sister.”

“You don’t need to be nervous.”

Cindy sounded so hopeful that Kitty finally decided to trust her judgment.

Sneaking out of the Second Princess’s Palace turned out to be surprisingly easy.

Although Garnet had forbidden the princess from leaving her quarters…

The sudden loss of the palace’s budget had thrown everyone into chaos.

Some servants kept watch in case the starving little princess tried sneaking into the kitchen.

But not a single person worried that she might sneak outside.

After all…

Where could that dirty, foolish little child possibly go?

Passing through deserted corridors, Cindy led Kitty to the servants’ staircase.

They hurried down to the first floor.

After making sure the servants gossiping in the kitchen weren’t paying attention…

The two quietly slipped out through a half-open side door.