Chapter 13
Kitty tilted her head as she explained what she had seen in the Second Prince’s Palace.
When she had left the prince’s office that day, she had happened to pass a servant carrying a tray.
On it sat a cup of pitch-black coffee…
And beside it, a single piece of equally dark chocolate.
Since it clearly looked like a late-night snack prepared for the overworked Second Prince, Kitty had taken special notice of it.
Of course, Cindy had seen the same thing.
And she had simply thought,
For someone still growing, choosing nothing but one tiny piece of chocolate as a midnight snack… What an unbelievably strict person.
Apparently, Kitty had reached a completely different conclusion.
“If he eats chocolate even that late at night, then he must really, really love it.”
Therefore, according to the great Princess Katrina’s impeccable reasoning, he would naturally love cocoa cake loaded with chocolate as well.
Cindy couldn’t even begin to figure out where she should challenge Her Highness’s flawless logic.
So she simply answered,
“…Ah… Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Mhm.”
A Few Hours Later
Several people arrived from the Second Prince’s Palace.
They were beautiful maids carrying one chest after another, filled with jewelry, dresses, silk shoes, and countless other luxurious items.
“We greet Her Highness Princess Katrina, the Empire’s most radiant star.”
The moment they spotted the little princess, still barefoot and dusted with flour, they bowed respectfully.
It was completely different from the head maid Garnet that Kitty remembered.
Kitty watched in amazement as the once-barren corner of her sparsely furnished bedroom was quickly filled with treasure chests.
“His Highness Prince Evan has prepared these dresses and shoes for his one and only younger sister, Princess Katrina. We have come to assist Your Highness in trying them on.”
“But before that… would Your Highness permit us to assist with your bath?”
The maids bowed politely as they asked.
Kitty scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“A bath? I already bathed this morning…”
Cindy had gotten up before dawn to fetch water from the well and heat it.
Although Cindy could effortlessly lift and carry an entire bathtub filled with warm water…
For some strange reason, whenever it came time to wash Kitty herself, she would suddenly complain of overwhelming fatigue and dizziness.
So Kitty had simply washed herself with her own tiny but capable hands.
Besides, she was already a proper eight-year-old.
She could wash her own hair and body just fine.
Without mocking or looking down on the child, Evan’s maids patiently explained.
“In order to properly fit Your Highness with the dresses and jewelry, it would be best to do your grooming as well. If we begin with a bath, we can prepare you much more beautifully.”
Kitty blinked a couple of times before nodding.
“If that’s the case, then go ahead.”
It was an entirely logical and reasonable suggestion.
There was no point being stubborn.
The servant girls accompanying the maids immediately sprang into action.
Compared to the time it took Cindy to prepare everything by herself, warm bathwater was ready in no time.
To Kitty, everything felt fascinating.
So many people brushed her hair and touched her as they cared for her…
Yet none of it felt unpleasant.
The bathwater carried a gentle fragrance from whatever had been mixed into it, its temperature was perfect, and they even rubbed fragrant oil onto her skin afterward.
“My whole body feels as smooth as a peeled egg.”
When Kitty happily muttered to herself, the beautiful maids burst into cheerful laughter.
“It really does!”
Goodness…
Does Brother Evan get to enjoy something this wonderful every single day?
After drying off, it was time to try on several dresses the maids had carefully selected.
Though they looked dazzlingly extravagant at first glance, they felt as light as feathers once she wore them.
Every single one fit Kitty perfectly.
“Nothing feels uncomfortable, does it? We’ve always had to prepare everything by estimation, so we’re relieved they fit.”
Apparently, Evan had quietly prepared clothes for the younger sister who might return someday, making arrangements every year for her eventual debut into high society.
His thoroughness was truly remarkable.
Seeing Kitty marvel at the silk garments she had never worn before, the eldest-looking maid kindly explained,
“His Highness Prince Evan instructed us that, whenever the Second Princess’s Palace sent word during the social season, we were to come immediately and attend to Your Highness. He also added that if Your Highness ever needed us before then, he would gladly send us without hesitation.”
The little girl’s mouth fell open.
“Oh…”
Just like that…
The problem that had tormented Kitty and Cindy only hours earlier was completely solved.
Unable to hide her rosy cheeks from excitement, Kitty asked the senior maid,
“The cake must have been really delicious, right?”
“…Pardon? The cake…?”
For the first time, the usually graceful and gentle maid looked slightly confused.
It was obvious she had no idea what cocoa mug cake Kitty was talking about.
But Kitty, too excited to notice, continued happily.
“Mhm! The cake I baked myself. I sent it to Brother through Cindy.”
“Ah… I see.”
The maid quickly recovered and smiled brightly.
“Of course, Your Highness. I’m certain Prince Evan was delighted.”
Kitty nodded proudly.
“Mhm.”
As expected of Katrina Sophia Ortosia…
A cake genius.
Once again, like a true Saintess, she had elegantly resolved another crisis—with cake.
“Your Highness, the shoes aren’t uncomfortable, are they? If they bother you even a little, you must tell us.”
“Mhm.”
To grow accustomed to the elegant dresses and shoes, Kitty spent her days walking around the courtyard of the Second Princess’s Palace and the nearby woodland paths.
Walking beside her, Cindy constantly worried that the young princess was silently enduring discomfort.
Naturally, after spending so long barefoot, wearing socks and shoes felt rather confining.
And holding up the long skirt while walking was harder than she had expected.
Still…
Compared to worrying about not even having proper clothes or shoes to wear before meeting her fiancé…
This was a luxury she was more than grateful for.
Besides, every pair of shoes Evan had prepared was made from soft, high-quality materials.
With regular wear, they would soon mold comfortably to her feet.
Within only a few days, Kitty had become so accustomed to them that she could easily walk all the way to the end of the narrow path leading away from the Second Princess’s Palace.
When the palace’s main promenade finally came into view in the distance, the little princess gathered her courage.
“Should we go a little farther today?”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Mhm.”
Of course she was.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kitty stepped off the secluded trail leading to her residence and onto the broad, level walkway.
The open space felt wonderful.
The scenery stretched endlessly before her, while the warm spring sunshine gently poured down.
Spreading both arms wide, Princess Katrina basked in the sunlight.
“Now that I’m wearing pretty clothes… I guess it’s okay if I walk around like this.”
“Your Highness…”
Although Kitty appeared unconcerned, Cindy’s heart ached.
The princess had been aware of how shabby she used to look all along.
“I’ll work even harder from now on. As Your Highness’s personal maid, I’ll do my very best.”
Cindy suddenly clenched both fists with determination.
Kitty blinked in confusion.
“Even harder than now?”
Ever since Evan’s maids had visited, Cindy’s grooming skills had improved by leaps and bounds.
It was only natural that a twelve-year-old servant who had spent her life doing menial chores wasn’t skilled at dressing nobles.
Yet Cindy deeply regretted having dressed Kitty in nothing but rough cotton clothes.
Even though…
It had been Kitty herself who insisted on going barefoot because she wasn’t used to shoes.
Cindy nodded vigorously, her eyes blazing with resolve.
“Of course! Your Highness trusts and depends on me this much, yet I’m still lacking. Since things have turned out this way, I’ll truly give it everything I’ve got. Somehow, we’ll get through this social season together.”
Well…
Whatever the reason, enthusiasm was certainly a good thing.
Kitty didn’t quite understand why Cindy had suddenly become so motivated, but she nodded anyway.
They had walked surprisingly far.
“Should we head back now?”
Just as Kitty turned to look back the way they had come—
A burst of bright, cheerful laughter echoed from nearby.
Instinctively, Kitty and Cindy looked toward the sound.
Three or four young girls, dressed as beautifully as blooming flowers, burst into laughter once more.
“Oh my, she’s looking this way, Your Ladyship.”
“Do you think she understood what we were saying?”
“Surely not. You don’t actually expect someone like her to possess that sort of refinement, do you?”
As their eyes met…
The girl dressed in the most noble and luxurious attire began walking toward them.
