“Your Highness, the young princes have also drawn many interesting pictures.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Why don’t you take a look?”

Carlyle seemed to be acting strangely, but I couldn’t pay attention to him.

There was no reason to, and I was getting bored just drawing pictures, so I decided to go to the little ones for a change of pace.

‘I’ll just take one with me.’

Then, remembering what Berith had said when we started the art play, I picked up the rock with the cat drawing to show off.

“Your Majesty! Isn’t my rock pretty?”

“We drew lots of pictures on rocks with elder sister!”

As soon as I arrived, the little ones came running over, eager to show off their completed works to me, looking every bit like young children.

It seemed they were showcasing their most confident pieces… Ronowe had drawn a small horned demon, while Berith had drawn several indistinguishable dots on his rock.

“How is it?”

“Isn’t it amazing? I want to trade with Your Majesty’s!”

These things that can’t even draw well have such good stamina.

‘No wonder the rocks disappeared so quickly.’

I had thought about drawing one or two more if there were extras, but they vanished in an instant.

‘So these rascals were the culprits.’

I muttered inwardly that they were incorrigible as I looked at the pile of rocks behind Ronowe and Berith.

“I didn’t draw many, so I can’t exchange a lot. Let’s just trade one.”

Pretending to reluctantly agree, I naturally revealed the work I had brought.

“I’ll grant you the honor of trading for this rock with a cat drawing.”

This was my masterpiece, no less than Hecate’s. I confidently held out the rock.

“Then trade with me!”

Though I hadn’t said it was first come, first served, Berith requested an exchange at the speed of light.

“Alright.”

Nothing wrong with that. I successfully traded rocks afterwards.

Ronowe looked disappointed, but didn’t throw a tantrum or cry with envy.

It was strange.

‘Looks like she’s preparing something else.’

When I returned to my seat afterwards, what do you know. I could see the maids whispering to each other.

‘How annoying…’

I spent time fiddling with the rocks.

Some time later. After observing the atmosphere, the maids announced they would end the art play as the children had lost interest and were resting in chairs.

“Young princes~ We’ll show you something fun, so please gather around!”

Next, they quickly cleared away the art supplies and tables, and brought several chairs.

“Wow~.”

Ronowe and Berith, who ran over first at the word “fun”.

The two obediently found their seats as guided by the maids, who were also bustling about.

“Everyone is seated. Now we will begin the play we have prepared~.”

It seems they put a lot of effort into preparing.

I leaned back in my chair with my arms crossed, looking at the props for the play.

“Once upon a time, in a village, there lived seven rock brothers – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.”

Such things always have predictable and boring content. I decided to be gracious and listen just this once, despite my negative thoughts.

After all, I couldn’t just get up and leave immediately without cause, as that would harm the dignity and prestige of the royal family.

“The seven brothers were hated and driven out for being different.”

The maid enthusiastically explained, holding a stick with a tree picture on her left hand and a stick with a rock picture on her right.

“The saddened seven brothers headed towards the World Tree after much deliberation… to meet the god who grants wishes.”

Gods again. Suddenly reminded of life in ancient times, I felt conflicted.

“After crossing mountains and rivers, the seven brothers met a squirrel.”

“The squirrel said they had to go to the top of the World Tree to meet the god.”

“Afterwards, the seven brothers were guided by the squirrel.”

The two maids cooperated to change the background and made sound effects with their mouths. They really tried to make it fun and realistic.

“And finally, when the seven brothers reached the top of the World Tree, they were shocked.”

“Because the identity of the squirrel who had been helping them all along was actually the god.”

The maid who had been reciting lines that seemed memorized alternately even acted out facial expressions without hesitation.

“The seven brothers prostrated themselves before the god and begged earnestly.”

“To not be hated by everyone.”

I was puzzled by this scene.

They seemed to be getting overly immersed, and I couldn’t understand why they were acting like this when no one was acknowledging them.

“The god said, ‘There is no rainbow here.'”

“So the god turned the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet rock brothers into a rainbow.”

It will end soon. I decided to pull myself out of my idle thoughts. I wanted to be alone quietly when the children slept after the play ended and we had a short break.

“‘From now on, whenever the rain stops, everyone will praise you.'”

“The god bestowed this blessing and disappeared. Afterwards, the seven brothers were eternally loved as beautiful beings.”

The play ended with a scene showing a rainbow floating in the sky above a village full of houses.

“Well, that’s the end of the story. Did you enjoy it?”

Clap, clap, clap, clap—

The children applauded as if they had been waiting for it, and I joined in the round of applause out of courtesy.

‘What enjoyment.’

Fairy tales always end like that.

‘Well, how would they know that beautiful beings don’t always have happy endings.’

Stories aimed at younger children mostly don’t have sad endings. They were sweet, full of hope and dreams.

Regardless of the truth hidden behind that facade.

“Today’s etiquette lesson ends with the art play.”

Meanwhile, the maids who had quickly cleared away the play props this time approached the children and picked them up one by one.

“You must be very tired, right?”

“There’s still time before the afternoon schedule, so let’s all go take a nap together.”

Seeing the most childish Fleur siblings in the maids’ arms, I decided to get down from the chair.

And incidentally move the stretched out Poppy as well.

“Your Highness.”

But suddenly, Sasha appeared and sat down next to me, preventing me from carrying out my plan right away.

“Today’s play was far from studying. Was this play also prepared by Her Majesty the Empress?”

This guy, is he going to make that strange expression again?

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I decided to include Jeff in my answer.

They probably actually put their heads together, but if Hecate had planned another play for me, Sasha might say something weird.

“Who knows. Maybe Dad and Mom prepared it together.”

I deliberately spoke vaguely and immediately changed the subject.

“By the way… did you not like the art play? You seemed unimpressed by the play too.”

I asked, raising one eyebrow.

Because Sasha had subtly shown signs of disinterest.

“I was concentrating on trying to understand the play, which may have appeared as if I was bored.”

Well, well, pretending it’s not so. I inwardly snorted at Sasha’s brazen and nonchalant acting.

Seeing his face looking upset at being misunderstood, he was quite the actor.

“Ah, but pretending to be someone else wasn’t very interesting.”

This bastard, he’s strangely getting on my nerves.

I said something to Sasha, who had been denying it but ultimately expressed indirectly that it wasn’t fun either way.

“It sounds like you’re saying you didn’t like the play.”

I made a sullen expression.

This wasn’t because of disregarding the maids’ efforts, but purely because I didn’t like Sasha’s words and actions.

“That can’t be. It was an impressive play. I enjoyed it.”

“Then that’s fine.”

I wrapped up the conversation, feeling my blood pressure might rise if I pressed further.

As I got down from the chair with Poppy, Sasha spoke with a smile.

“Thanks to Your Highness, I had a new experience, so as a token of gratitude, I’ll bring an interesting toy next time we meet.”

“I look forward to it.”

I really don’t understand that Sasha fellow. I just gave a reply and turned my back.

“Princess~.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Just then, a maid standing right in front of me called out.

“You must be tired too, Your Highness. How about being carried?”

Given my frail body and age of 3, it was probably said out of concern… but I didn’t really want to.

“Not necessary.”

I glanced at the passed out Ronowe and answered.

I had wanted to spend time alone when naptime came, and since I wasn’t sleepy right now, I wanted to do something else.

“Instead, bring me the military strategy book now. I need to ask some questions before the military class.”

“Yes, understood.”

I could wait until the day of the lesson, but since I wasn’t going to sleep alone and had nothing else to do, I decided to go find Lilith.

“Oh my, Princess.”

When I went straight there, Lilith greeted me with a surprised face.

“It’s not even a day for lessons, what brings you here?”

Thud!

I put the military strategy book down on the table in the center of the room.

“I have something to check, so take a look.”

Then I sat on a chair with a height-raising cushion and crossed my arms.

“How disappointing~ You come with business without even a word of greeting~.”

Lilith approached, showing interest in the book, and sniffled, pretending to be sad.

“When have we ever been affectionate with each other?”

When I grumbled that I knew it was all fake, Lilith reluctantly said she understood.

“It’s a pretty book.”

Lilith then picked up the military strategy book and examined the cover first.

“Don’t you feel anything? Any suspicious energy or thoughts?”

Who asked you to appreciate it? I urged impatiently.

“Hmm…”

Lilith then started examining the book again, flipping through several pages quickly.

“It’s an ordinary book?”

That’s impossible. I was taken aback to see her closing the book with a chuckle.

“That can’t be…”

I definitely saw it! If even Lilith couldn’t feel anything, what was it that I saw in the library? Feeling like I came for nothing, I held my forehead.

“Ah~.”

Then Lilith, sitting in the chair with a sly face, tapped the thick cover of the military strategy book with her finger, her eyes twinkling.

“It seems someone dared to reveal their thoughts in front of the Princess.”

Soon after, she rested her chin on both hands and smiled brightly, but the bright and gentle aura disappeared and a dark and cold aura flowed out.

“I wonder who it could be?”

What’s wrong with you now? I felt creeped out, like a real snake was flicking its tongue in front of me.

‘It’s chilling… and unpleasant.’

Anyway, I failed to achieve my goal, so I was disappointed and deflated.

“If even you don’t see anything special, it seems I came for nothing.”

Moreover, since the other person was Lilith, I spoke my true feelings honestly and said I would leave soon.

“You’re just going to leave like that? After making me so curious, that’s too much.”

Then Lilith made a pouty face and complained.

“At least tell me where you saw the thoughts and what form they took.”

Then she started whining like a child, which irritated me.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to tell her.’

I hesitated for a few seconds, but decided to just spill it.

After all, if no power could be felt from the book, even if Lilith secretly went to investigate the library later, there would be no results.

“I saw it in the library, and it had a demonic form.”

“The library… Thank you, Your Highness.”

But why do I feel so uneasy?

“Don’t think about doing anything strange.”

I spoke sternly to warn her, just in case.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything that would cause trouble for Your Highness.”

Though she should have at least pretended to be scared, the snake just rested her chin on both hands and chuckled.

“You sure know how to talk smoothly.”

As expected of you. I blurted out with a sulky expression and got down from the chair.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“I’ll see you out.”

With my business concluded, and feeling that it would be tiresome if the little ones cried looking for me if I wasn’t around, I left Lilith’s office.

“Your Majesty!”

Then, incredibly, I could see the rascals running over from afar right on cue.

“Oh my, looks like you won’t need to go far.”

Lilith said it was a shame she couldn’t see me off as planned.

“Your Majesty, I saw something amazing!”

“Come see it with us too!”

These guys, never mind how noisy they are, how did they know I was here?

‘What did they see to be acting like this?’

At first I thought a maid might have told them, but there was no one around the children, which was strange.

It was odd that they disappeared leaving the royal guests, even if Carlyle and Sasha were there.

‘Looks like they’re up to something again.’

Maybe they were brought only to the vicinity of where I was, then moved elsewhere to prepare for the afternoon schedule.

“There are lots of big balloons and small balloons!”

“There are also people wearing mascot costumes!”

I was going to ask the older ones about the maids’ whereabouts, but the children who had finished explaining with their arms spread wide pulled Carlyle and Sasha ahead.

‘They sure are energetic after waking up from their nap.’

It wasn’t that important, and I figured the maids would be there when we arrived, so I followed slowly.

Lilith walked beside me, seemingly intending to follow along and keep an eye on things since there were no maids.

“They should be around here somewhere…”

But her constant suspicious glances at the children were odd.

“What are you muttering about?”

“It’s nothing.”

Lilith quickly changed her expression to a gentle one and feigned innocence at my question.

“Hmm…”

Eventually she looked ahead again and blurted out:

“There sure are a lot of interesting beings swarming around you.”