While trying to regain my composure, another knight appeared. I was then immediately transferred to the underground prison to await questioning.

“Your Majesty, it’s Esian.”

“Come in.”

While leisurely chatting with Jeff before dinner, Esian arrived.

“I apologize for interrupting while you were spending quality time with Her Highness…”

As soon as he got permission, Esian burst through the door. Upon seeing Jeff’s hair, he froze.

“Your Majesty, your hairstyle has suddenly changed.”

Hmm, actually, I spiced up Jeff’s constant hairstyle with a ribbon I brought out of boredom.

“Did Her Highness style it for you?”

“That’s right!”

Esian is quick on the uptake. I proudly crossed my arms.

“I never knew the Princess had talent in this area. She might set the trend in the imperial social circle when she grows up.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Her Highness is versatile; it’s entirely possible.”

Still, isn’t that a bit much? I went from pleased to embarrassed.

“But given the situation, I must excuse myself, Your Majesty.”

Esian then whispered something to Jeff, whose face immediately darkened. He spoke with a serious tone.

“She got caught fairly quickly for someone who had been undercover as a maid for months. The Empress can’t handle this alone; I need to take action.”

“What happened all of a sudden?”

Hearing about an undercover maid, I recalled the blonde maid I bumped into earlier and the spy Sasha mentioned.

“So it’s like that, Dazzling. The bad friend who’s been tormenting Mom finally got caught.”

Meanwhile, Jeff placed both hands on my shoulders and added with a caring face.

“I probably need to go personally to reprimand them. Are you okay being away from our lovely daughter for a bit?”

“Yes, go quickly.”

Although it’ll be somewhat boring, I urged him to go quickly, sensing the situation was serious.

“Typical of our spirited daughter! I’ll play with you three times as much when I return!”

But why did he praise me there? I encouraged him to go assist Mom quickly, and Jeff promptly turned to leave.
“Eshian, move as quickly as possible.”

“Your Highness, then use the shortcut in the secret passage.”

Thud!

‘No, he left with that ribbon still on!’

Exactly three seconds after Jeff closed the door and disappeared, I was horrified.

‘What if he goes out looking ridiculous with that silly hairstyle I gave him for fun?’

As urgent as it was, not even grooming his hair. I stood gaping for a while.

‘By the way, was that maid I saw earlier captured?’

I thought a storm would soon brew in the castle, but contrary to my expectations, only the existence of the blonde maid quietly disappeared. Everything else was as usual.

“Your Majesty!”

“Are you all better now?”

Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t be able to see the kids. But Hecate insisted that Fleur and I should meet often.

“Yes, thank you for caring.”

I thought Vladimir would also come, but for some reason, we’ve never all been together after major events.

‘Perhaps Sasha didn’t come because of the time the Duchess fainted.’

I brushed it off and called the maid to review the tasks that need to be done with the others.

“Return the gift that Veris gave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A teddy bear I never asked for.

Keeping the teddy bear felt uncomfortable in many ways, so I quickly told her to take it back.

“Why are you returning it? It’s a teddy bear that Veris gave to wish you a speedy recovery.”

He wouldn’t understand my reasons, so he tilted his head. I gave a simple excuse without going into detail.

“I’m better now. So take it back.”

“Hehe, understood.”

In fact, Veris had not been sleeping well for a few days because he didn’t have the teddy bear. He hugged it tightly, and I sighed watching him.

Jingle.

“What’s the big deal?”

Meanwhile, Poppy, who had been invisible, suddenly appeared, urging me to take the bell hanging from his mouth.

Whoosh.

I wish he could talk. As soon as I snatched it, a blue light spilled from the bell, spreading in all directions.

“Wow! It’s like a magic wand from a fairy tale!”

“Quite a rare phenomenon, Princess.”

Carlyle was surprised and opened his eyes wide, Veris’s eyes sparkled, and Ronowe began to scatter a deep red aura like in the palace library.

“The theory about such mysterious phenomena transcending physical boundaries is well described in the book by Scholar Fegel…”

He spoke clearly, naming the author of a complex subject, which confused me.

“Wow, Sis, you know about such things?”

“Yes! But I read the book a long time ago, so I don’t remember the details.”

Amid this, Veris praised Ronowe.

‘Do only I see the deep red dots floating around Ronowe?’

We all saw the light coming from the bell earlier, but I couldn’t figure out what was happening.

“But Ronowe, you’re really fascinating.”

I couldn’t hold back and blurted it out.

“You act like you don’t know much, but then you suddenly show such expansive knowledge.”

Feeling quite confident, Ronowe replied.

“Um… Excuse me for interrupting.”

The maid who had been watching the situation interjected.

“Wouldn’t it be better to consult the temple rather than randomly looking in books to verify the phenomenon we just witnessed?”

“Uh….”

She wasn’t wrong. I mentally shouted that it was better to go to Jeff than waste time in the library.

“Then let’s go to His Majesty! We can’t just do as we please; we have to tell the adults!”

Oh, acting mature all of a sudden?

I thought he would throw a tantrum insisting on going to the library, but Ronowe took the lead, telling everyone to follow me.
‘If well-taught, he might not be as good as Carlyle, but he could be useful as a follower later on.’

I unknowingly held Beris’s hand and thought as I looked at the back of the boy who was the first to leave the room.

Vaguely, I would say he shows a sprout of loyalty that’s about half of what Carlyle has.