Chapter 11
But Garnet refused to back down.
“Even so… At a time like this, Your Highness, as the mistress of this palace, you should be protecting us! We may have made mistakes here and there, but we’re still the only people who can serve you! Do you even understand what this means? The social season is about to begin!”
She wasn’t wrong.
Once the social season started, nobles from all over the empire would flood into the Imperial Palace, making it far busier than it was now.
Rumors about the Second Princess’s weak divine power had already spread far and wide.
Even so, there would certainly be nobles eager to test the abilities of the newly acknowledged princess for themselves.
At times like that, what Katrina needed most were loyal attendants she could rely on like her own hands and feet.
Before the social season arrived, she should have been bringing her servants under her control and strengthening her own position.
Instead…
She was firing them all?
Was this little girl really an idiot?
Princess Katrina met Garnet’s openly disrespectful glare without flinching.
Then she answered calmly,
“But they said I’d need more money if I want to bake cakes and cookies every day.”
Good grief…
She was getting rid of all her servants just so she could eat cake and cookies?
Did that make any sense?
“No! Once the nobles begin arriving, there’ll be banquets and tea parties! You’ll have to invite guests! How are you supposed to prepare everything without us? Who will clean the palace? Who will do the laundry? Are you planning to wander around alone like some street child, without guards or attendants?”
Unable to contain herself, Garnet fired off one question after another.
Her tone was so disrespectful that Sir Gideon openly frowned.
But Garnet didn’t have the luxury of caring.
She had unquestionably committed serious crimes, including embezzlement.
Even so…
If Princess Katrina insisted that she desperately needed her, her punishment could still be reduced.
Besides…
How could a princess who had wandered barefoot until the age of eight possibly survive the social season without even a single maid?
Deep down, Garnet had been counting on that.
Instead…
This foolish little girl was about to make her pay for her crimes and drive her out of the palace.
Forgetting that she had once clung to the princess’s legs in gratitude, Garnet glared at Katrina once again.
The little girl merely blinked before quietly asking,
“But…”
“When have you ever properly cared about what I eat or wear?”
“…What?”
“If you don’t do anything, then you’re useless, aren’t you?”
“If we don’t have enough money, shouldn’t we cut the useless things first?”
There wasn’t a trace of resentment in her voice.
It was nothing more than a simple question.
And…
It was perfectly logical.
When money was short, you reduced expenses.
When reducing expenses, you started by eliminating what wasn’t necessary.
And in the Second Princess’s palace, who was more unnecessary than servants who faithfully collected their wages while doing none of the work they were hired to do?
That simple calculation was exactly how Kitty had reached her decision.
Besides…
She wasn’t dismissing everyone.
Cindy, the one maid who had quietly done everything she could to care for and help Kitty all this time, would remain employed.
From now on…
Kitty planned to live peacefully with just Cindy.
For a moment, Garnet couldn’t find a single word to say.
Then she hurriedly changed her approach.
“W-Wait a moment… Princess… Your Highness, please listen to me.”
“I fully admit that we’ve failed to serve you properly until now.”
“I truly apologize.”
“I sincerely beg your forgiveness.”
With a thud, Garnet even dropped to her knees before the child.
“But this isn’t right, Your Highness.”
“I know you dislike us.”
“I know you’ve every reason to.”
“But this won’t be good for you.”
“If you wish to punish us, then please choose another punishment instead.”
“I’ll gladly accept it.”
Several servants watching from a distance whispered emotionally,
“Head Maid Garnet…”
Normally she was ill-tempered, petty, and unpleasant.
But now…
She was willing to kneel before a child for everyone’s sake.
Kitty tilted her head.
Does this really have to become such a long argument?
“Why isn’t it good?”
“Because I’ve already explained!”
“You can’t survive the social season by yourself!”
“Right now, you may feel satisfied after throwing us all out!”
“But what will you do afterward?”
“If you continue living in a dusty palace without even dressing properly, everyone will laugh at you!”
Is that really such a terrible thing?
Kitty quietly turned toward Cindy and Sir Gideon, who had been following behind her.
Both wore awkward smiles.
It was clear they thought Garnet had a point.
Still unable to understand, Kitty tilted her head a few more times before murmuring almost to herself,
“But if I dressed like a real princess and lived in a proper palace…”
“My brothers wouldn’t like it.”
“…!”
“…!”
The insight was so unexpectedly sharp that Sir Gideon’s mouth fell slightly open.
Silence swept over the courtyard.
The more Kitty thought about it, the more convinced she became that she was right.
“So even if people laugh at me for a while…”
“Isn’t it much better if they quietly forget about me?”
“I… I understand now.”
“I see the deeper meaning behind Your Highness’s decision.”
Without realizing it, Sir Gideon had accepted her reasoning.
For him, it also meant there was one more important matter to report to Prince Evan.
“So…”
“So you’re really going to face the social season without any of us?”
Still the only one who hadn’t grasped the situation, Garnet shouted desperately.
Kitty, however, looked completely carefree as she nodded energetically.
“Yep!”
“I’m going to fire the servants and use the money to bake cakes and cookies instead!”
Her face shone with nothing but eager anticipation for cakes and cookies.
