The Villainess Princess Wants To Live In A Gingerbread House ​

The Empire’s Protection Day celebration marked the end of the war against the Noctis Elves and celebrated the hard work of military personnel. The soldiers lined up in order, officers in fine uniforms, and nobles and bureaucrats behind the emperor to praise them.

Then there was the emperor, who was looking down from the highest point. Alexei stood next to the emperor, but Asha was a bit isolated.

‘Ugh, it’s so hot.’

<This scatterbrained peach can’t seem to pull herself together again.>

Asha relied on the gentle breeze and held back her sigh. Alexei and the emperor were on the podium, while Karnov was far away standing in front of the soldiers with the commander-in-chief.

As she glanced back, her eyes met Natalya’s. Natalya winked lightly with one eye. Asha also smiled slightly. Next to Natalya, Lyudmila, standing tall with a straight posture, was looking directly ahead. Their eyes met for a moment, and then Lyudmila rolled her eyes, avoiding eye contact. The tips of Lyudmila’s ears turned red.

‘It was worth feeding her snacks so diligently. Prasti seems to have quieted down a lot.’

<In her case, it’s even more so because she did something with you all the time. Very good.>

Feeling proud after receiving recognition from Phoebe, the heat seemed to dissipate a bit.

The emperor, who rose from his seat, first laid down the white chrysanthemum on the podium after a silent tribute to the dead in the war a few years ago.

Since then, as the speech ended, the cheers of the soldiers roared, and the commander in chief, Gilhellam, and the deputy commander, Karnov, stood side by side in front of the emperor and were praised again for the last war.

Asha noticed Karnov, who had bowed his head, sneakily giving her a sidelong glance. Asha elegantly shook only the tips of the fingers of the neatly gathered hand forward.

Karnov seemed to recognize that gesture even from a distance. Bright particles emanated from the corners of his eyes as he smiled.

Even in the middle of the day, a large number of congratulatory shots were fired, and pieces of paper made of beautiful colored paper flew like pollen. The soldiers returned in line with each other, and the surrounding onlookers applauded loudly at once. After Asha also offered a white chrysanthemum, she briefly paid a silent tribute and looked around.

Natalya was detained by Marchioness Tartaricha, and Lyudmila seemed to be in a similar situation, although Lyudmila appeared a bit more voluntary.

“Your Highness, would you like to return to the Imperial Palace?”

Lise, who was worried about Asha, who was constantly hot, gently fanned her while asking. Asha caught the fan and playfully fanned herself, nodding with a twinkle in her eye.

“Oh? It’s Sophia.”

On the corridor out of the venue, Sophia’s back was seen in a rather deserted corner.

“Sophia from the patisserie?”

“Yeah. It seems Sophia came because of the Empire’s Protection Day event.”

Sophia, who was still selling Asha’s chocolate cake, was a retired military veteran. It made sense for her to attend such an event.

Although her body was still slender, seeing her well-fitted uniform, it was hard to imagine her standing in the kitchen. Sophia seemed to be exchanging greetings with someone beyond the sunshade curtain.

“Do you want to go say hello?”

“Yes, I’ll see the others at the ball today, but I don’t think Sophia will come.”

Asha picked up the hem of her dress slightly and approached Sophia, who was standing with her back turned in the distance.

“Sophia! It’s nice to see you here… Oh, General Yekaterina?”

And the person obscured by the sunshade curtain, whom Sophia was facing, revealed herself. It was Yekaterina, dressed in a perfectly fitted uniform. Her ash-colored hair was neatly arranged, and her splendid epaulets and a short cape hanging from her shoulders stood out even more.

“Isn’t it Princess Anastasia?”

Sophia, caught in the middle, looked rather embarrassed. Yekaterina bent one arm and bowed down to Asha, then drew a kind smile.

“It’s been a while since I met my former aide. Did Your Highness come to meet Sophia as well?”

“Oh, I didn’t know Sophia was your aide.”

“She hadn’t mentioned it? Sophia must be ashamed of me. Hehe.”

“General.”

Yekaterina laughed again at Sophia’s words as if she were dissuaded by the small voice. Sophia sighed lowly.

“Why would I be ashamed of the general? There simply wasn’t a reason to mention it.”

“Yes, yes. Be that as it may.”

While Sophia sighed again, Yekaterina, with her wrinkled eyes, glanced at Asha. Asha blinked. Looking back, Yekaterina had always been gentle with Asha, but in this moment, it felt even more so. Indescribably warm and profound emotions seemed to well up, enveloping Asha.

“After Sophia was discharged from the military…”

“You’ve told this story a thousand times, General.”

“It’s the first time for Her Highness. Stay quiet.”

Yekaterina, who looked at Sophia, cleared her throat and said again.

“Sophia served as my aide until there was an incident, and she was discharged. After that, I didn’t do right by her… No, that’s not it.”

Yekaterina, who had been speaking somewhat emotionally, suddenly changed her expression. At the same time, Sophia sighed.

“In fact, I tried to keep her as my aide, but this rascal decided to leave the service on her own terms. Then she went and sold everything I gave her, donating it to charities, saying she wanted to give back for her service.”

“Yes…”

As she spoke, Yekaterina’s words became faster, as if she was getting feverish.

“It didn’t make sense to lock her in my mansion to pay for her hard work and service, and if I gave her money, she just donated it to orphanages or foundations. When I told her to come back and work, she refused, and this old woman didn’t know what to do.”

“That… I see.”

“But when she came back to the capital, this rascal started making snacks? When I heard that news, I wanted to come over immediately.”

Yekaterina breathed a rather exaggerated sigh. Sophia quietly said, “You’re not allowed to smoke here.” Yekaterina glared at Sophia with a playful expression and then spoke.

“On the days she worked, she was too tired to meet, so she only came on her days off. I mean, how cheeky. Who’s the store owner that doesn’t even give days off and worked her so intently, I wondered.”

As Asha looked embarrassed, Yekaterina chuckled, claiming it was a joke. She then slowly bowed and locked eyes with Asha.

“…Seeing that rascal passionately involved in something again brought tears to this old woman’s eyes.”

It was out of the blue. Asha rolled her eyes.

“You should’ve told me that you know Sophia…”

“I’ve been silent, thinking it might burden the tender-hearted princess. I don’t know if speaking like this is the right thing to do, but… still, I’ve always wanted to express my gratitude.”

“General.”

Sophia’s voice beside her trembled slightly. Asha silently observed the two, then smiled slyly.

“I should be the one giving thanks. Do you know how well Sophia makes snacks? I went to her shop and even stood in line to buy some myself. If Sophia didn’t work for you, you would have been in real trouble. Just to clarify, what I’m saying is not flattery or empty words.”

The latter added a little faster. Yekaterina rose up with a calm smile at Asha’s words.

But before she could continue anything, a member of the company informed her that the Knights Templar commander, Nellin, was suddenly going on a rampage in an urgent voice. Yekaterina seemed to be the only one who could stop the Knights Templar by force.

Muttering something under her breath, Yekaterina offered an apology – Asha could barely make out the words, but she sensed the atmosphere – and left her seat first.

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

Alexei swallowed his laughter as he looked at the Knights Templar commander, Tarjei Nellin, with a glass of champagne. The commander, intoxicated by the daytime drink, was criticizing his absent daughter, old comrades who had now departed from this world, and his aging body that no longer listened to him.

In the midst of the half-riot, Yekaterina Neustadter intervened with a stern gesture, overpowering her long-time friend and dragging him out. The surrounding knights applauded loudly.

“You seem to be having quite an enjoyable time.”

Alexei smiled softly at Karnov’s teasing approach.

“You did well today, Karnov.”

“You did the hard work.”

Alexei casually swept back his flowing blond hair and, as the surroundings became sparsely populated, turned his gaze quietly in one direction.

A girl with pink hair was talking softly to a woman in elaborate jewelry. Alexei, with a faint smile, spoke quietly.

“They say the investment for the final stages of the railway construction has progressed significantly, so the completion will be expedited.”

“Oh, really?”

Karnov questioned as if he knew nothing about the matter. Alexei narrowed his eyes and smirked.

“I heard that, thanks to the intentions of the investor, there will be a unique compartment. They made it so you can heat up bread and snacks or boil water inside.”

“Hmm. I don’t know who the investor is, but it sounds like an interesting venture.”

“They named that special compartment the ‘Violet Room.’”

“Hmm.”

Alexei’s eyes turned toward a short cloak that covered one of Karnov’s arms. It was a cape with a clear purple lining reminiscent of violets.

“Asha mentioned that when she goes down to Lake Bishti this time, she might take the train.”

Karnov cleared his throat briefly. There was nothing more to say at this point. Instead, he decided to retaliate.

“I heard that all the trees along the avenue inside the Taimir Palace turned into apple trees this time.”

“Oh… We replaced the trees this time and gathered various opinions.”

“Is that so?”

Karnov crossed his arms and nodded. In the end, both of them let out a brief cough simultaneously.

“What’s Marquis Oleg planning to do?”

“What do you mean? Nothing was discussed from the beginning.”

Alexei tilted his head with a subtle expression at Karnov’s indifferent response.

“Gosh, Lord Karnov, so cold-hearted. That might make Marquis Oleg hate me, too.”

“Are you trying to amuse yourself by annoying me?”

Alexei laughed, covering his mouth with his hand. To get even a small reaction from the usually impassive Karnov was quite enjoyable for Alexei.

“The funniest thing in the world.”

“I thought you found Asha’s face the most amusing.”

“She’s an exception.”

Karnov crossed his arms.

The fact that Marquis Oleg was not one to have such a temperament was the first reason Alexei was leaving the matter alone. Even if Marquis Oleg did have such a temperament, the second reason was that Alexei didn’t care in the slightest.

“What are you going to do about the future consort?”

“Well, I’m not ready to share my room with anyone yet.”

“Asha goes in and out of your room.”

“She’s an exception.”

At Alexei’s words, Karnov shook his head. Alexei tilted his head slightly and made eye contact.

“So, Lord Karnov, do you have no interest either? You’re turning twenty soon.”

“The way you talk when teasing someone is becoming similar.”

There was no word that it resembled anyone’s tone, but both of them understood. Alexei asked again with a smile.

“So you’re saying you’re not interested? Not in the future?”

“With anyone.”

“Without exception?”

“Yeah. No exceptions for the next six years.”

Karnov answered confidently, spoke, and briefly coughed before wiping his face. The scruff of his neck was a little red.

Alexei narrowed his eyes.

“After six years?”

“By then… I don’t know. It doesn’t depend on me.”

“Depends on whom?”

“On your exception.”