“Did you make this wonderful thing with those small hands?”

Unable to say no, I nodded my head.

In fact, what I made is in the trash, and what’s in Hecate’s hands now was remade by the cook.

‘It’s annoying to explain one by one.’

I decided to show the cookie first before reading, and as expected, the age of great nonsense began.

“Incredible!”

Shining their eyes, as if they were one soul, Jeph and Hecate were closely attached.

“How is our daughter so talented?”

Making a big deal out of one cookie. I clicked my tongue inwardly, watching the two handle the cookie as if taking care of a fragile baby bird.

“Did you make it at the play mom and dad prepared today?”

“Yes.”

When else would I have made it? I answered shortly, thinking it obvious.

Pobby sat quietly beside me, not intervening in our conversation.

“It’s too precious to eat.”

On one hand, Hecate, who was staring at the cookie with a warm look, declared happily.

“I’ll put it on my desk and look at it every day.”

Do as you like. I didn’t say anything in particular. I didn’t have much attachment to the cookie, and I thought it would be nice to look at it and then eat it. It would be a waste to throw it away.

“Wait a moment, Empress!”

But a dissenting voice emerged. The culprit was Jeph.

“Why do you monopolize the cookie that the princess made?”

Jeph, looking embarrassed and anxious, covered his face with his right index finger, gesturing that it was unfair for her to monopolize my cookie.

“That cookie should be kept in my office.”

This is crazy. Watching Jeph and Hecate argue over who should have my cookie, I felt a sharp headache.

‘Arguing over a cookie I thoughtlessly brought.’

Above all, they came to read a book before bedtime but forgot the purpose and chatted nonsense for over an hour.

“The Emperor, who spent more time with the princess, should give in!”

“That’s too much…”

Uh, I can’t bear it anymore. I finally took action.

Thump!

I first snatched the cookie Hecate was holding.

Crack!

Next, I split the cookie in half without hesitation, and put it into the astonished mouths of Jeph and Hecate.

“The cookie was given to eat.”

You pathetic things. I sighed and spoke.

“I’ve divided it fairly, so don’t fight.”

Do I really have to intervene to settle this?

I swallowed the rest of my words, holding my forehead with one hand.

“And I’m tired, so I want to sleep now.”

My otherwise okay state worsened due to Jeph and Hecate’s quarreling.

“Then we’ll read the book next time.”

Perhaps because I looked too weary, the two noisy ones retreated easily, albeit reluctantly.

“Sweet dreams, our daughter~.”
“If you’re scared while sleeping, make sure to find Daddy.”

“Yes.”

Hurry up and go. I muttered the same words to myself until the two completely disappeared.

Thud!

And finally, when the door closed, I slumped my body and relaxed my tension.

Then, just as I was about to call the maid to prepare for bed, the military book I had placed on the table caught my eye.

‘Come to think of it, I brought the military book Ronowe was reading.’

Maybe I’ll read a little more before really going to bed. I got off the bed, and Poppy busily followed behind me.

Then, I carefully looked at the book, but…

‘I brought it just in case, but I don’t feel anything.’

What happened? Surely, a strong idea appeared when Ronowe was holding it.

‘It’s strange. I thought something special would come out as I, who have lived long, looked at it.’

Not even a hint of red energy, no reaction at all.

‘I must take this book to the next military lesson.’

I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was even more suspicious, so I devised a plan.

‘I’m reluctant to ask the snake, but if there’s someone who knows the clue, it must be someone who has lived as long as me….’

I have no choice. I made up my mind and called the maid.

“Is anyone there?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

I was holding the military book, and as the maid approached, I handed it over.

“Keep it well and prepare it for the day of military lessons. It’s a royal object, so handle it carefully.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The maid, who promised to faithfully carry out the order, left the room after preparing for bed at my bidding.

And the next day…

“Tada~ Fun playtime is back!”

Today, Sasha and the children gathered at a place prepared in one corner of the garden.

“Today, we’re going to decorate the stones colorfully.”

I wondered why there were stones, water bottles, paint, and brushes all in one place, but this was why.

“You might get your clothes dirty, so everyone put on an apron.”

It seems like we’re doing art play today, perfect.

‘I have to show my skills to the children.’

Among the games we’ve played so far, I was most confident. I chuckled and put on the apron that the maid handed me.

“I’m going to draw lots of macarons!”

“I’ll draw chocolate then!”

Are you going to eat again? Ronowe and Beris, seemingly unbothered by the new education, chattered joyfully.

“This seems fun.”

Meanwhile, Sasha spoke to the children, and Beris answered like this.

“Brother Doctokan! Let’s make many stones and trade with each other!”

“That’s a good idea.”

It seems like it’s going to be really tiring. I shook my head side to side and quickly picked up some stones and focused on drawing.

Before long, I completed a few quickly and decided to draw Hecate for the last one.

It was a simple idea to take Hecate as a model since I had drawn Jeph before.

“Princess, have you drawn many pictures?”

“Yes, indeed.”

This kid, when did he come? I decided to show my freshly completed work to Calyle, who was talking to me.

“You can take a look and go. This is a piece of work I’ve put my heart into.”

I then proudly handed it over.

‘I’m proud that I drew Hecate to look just like her.’

Eyebrows, double eyelids, clear lips… Everything was perfect.

“That’s a really cool potato.”

Perhaps due to his young age, he seems to lack understanding of art. I immediately corrected him.

“No, it’s not a potato. I drew Mom.”

“Ah….”

Perhaps he was startled that he had dared to refer to the Empress as a potato first. Calyle was silent for a moment.

“What did you draw?”

It gets awkward if he’s too quiet. I asked right away.

“I… made this.”

Then, the hesitant Calyle timidly held out his stone.

“It’s unique. What did you model it after?”

“My face…”

Although it seemed a bit ugly, I didn’t want to upset the child by making a heartbreaking comment, so I exchanged a few more words and was about to send him away.

Swoosh [dash].

But Sasha, who I thought had been by Ronowe and Beris’s side all this time, suddenly appeared.

He stared closely at Calyle’s work, then turned to me with an inscrutable smile.

“Princess, I also drew my face.”
“Really? Let’s take a look.”

He didn’t make a big deal out of it, thinking he was a strange guy, and quickly asked him to show it.

“You’ve drawn it nicely.”

Soon, a fairly good drawing was revealed on Sasha’s stone.

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”

Good words were never bad to hear, so Sasha expressed gratitude and smiled broadly.

Swoosh.

Then, for some reason, Carlyle stepped back and hid his stone, which he had been holding out in front of him until now.