Kalin seemed to realize her mistake, and her face turned pale. In terms of temperament, I wanted to step on her until she turned blue.

However, causing a disturbance by accusing her of insulting the nobility in the middle of the competition wouldn’t be good for the princess either.

“What will you do? Will you admit your mistake and apologize now, or should I formally report your behavior?”

I spoke with a lowered, ominous voice.

“Including how you exploit your academy classmate.”

“What Misha is like…”

“It might be better if you don’t mention the name ‘Misha’ in the future. Let’s see which is heavier – insulting Misha or insulting the nobility.”

Kalin’s breath was unsettled.

“I’m going to deliver this dress to the princess right now. If you’re still here when I come back…”

“Pu… Oops!”

It happened in an instant. Princess Miliora, dressed casually, burst out of the fitting room and rushed at Kalin, slapping her cheek.

The intensity was such that the princess’s long silver hair fluttered in the air.

Kalin was too shocked to even scream properly, clutching her cheek in frozen surprise.

But Princess Miliora, undeterred, shouted defiantly.

“Why, is it the first time you’ve seen a bastard? It seems there’s never been a bastard in the Angkarth painter’s household until now?”

There is no household without a bastard. Such a perfect world has never existed.

“That, that’s not true…”

“That’s truly noble of you. All the men in the empire should learn from Angkarth! Such a noble mouth. Did you blabber like that without realizing how terrifying it could be for your life?”

Kalin Angkarth’s neatly styled hair had fallen down like a waterfall, and her face turned deathly pale, devoid of any spirit. It was an unnecessary humiliation that didn’t even require an apology.

Princess Miliora, turning her body abruptly, shouted at me too.

“That’s right, I told you to rest if you’re not feeling well! Why did you wander around and run into something weird? It’s making me feel bad too!”

“Sor, sorry…”

Before I could apologize, the princess lifted the dress on my arm and smiled, pulling one corner of her mouth.

“Since my maid has diligently guarded this dress, why not try it on? What do you say?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Leaving Kalin Angkarth behind, we headed to the fitting room.

At that moment, her delicate figure leading the way looked surprisingly dignified.

When we closed the fitting room door, the shopkeeper and the previous clerk kneeled in front of her. It seemed that the clerk had informed the shopkeeper of the situation, and the news had reached the princess.

“We’ve caused distress to Your Highness due to an unfortunate incident! Please forgive us, Princess.”

But the princess just spoke quietly.

“What’s the big deal about the shopkeeper? Isn’t the shopkeeper also in trouble because of these kids? Dress me. I might go to the party in this.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The relieved shopkeeper began to lift his head.

I sat down and watched as she put on the dress.
I wasn’t sure if Kalin Angkarth’s personality was originally so persistent and tenacious, but that emerald dress certainly seemed worthy of envy.

The dress seemed like it was designed to highlight Princess Miliora’s long, flowing silver hair.

Although Princess Miliora’s beauty was undeniably stunning, I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

‘She stood up for me…’

In reality, I had been regarding Princess Miliora as an immature and unruly noble. However, her actions just now were quite touching.

Unconsciously, I recalled Confucius.

“Master Kong, this is how you make a woman fall for you!”

“Oof!”

Why did I recall that person and get flustered? I was surprised by my own actions and shook my head vigorously.

At that moment, Princess Miliora, fully dressed in the gown, turned towards me.

“How does it look?”

“Incredible, truly beautiful!”

“Heh. You say that all the time.”

“What can I do? You’re always beautiful! But today, you look exceptionally stunning. The innkeeper has an excellent eye.”

“The maid who recognizes that is equally discerning.”

Perhaps because we had safely navigated what could have been a significant crisis, the innkeeper was unusually pleased.

As we exited the store, Kalin Angkarth and the maid were nowhere to be seen.

The innkeeper whispered to me that he had decided not to serve Angkarth’s guests in the future and asked me to convey it to the princess.

After getting on the carriage, I cautiously spoke up.

“Your Highness, earlier…”

“What, earlier? It’s over. Who else would protect my maid if not me? That Angkarth woman has become quite arrogant since making a name for herself at the academy. Dealing with a small-time local painter! There was a time when her arrogance needed to be broken.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Naturally, I wanted to express my gratitude to her. However, when Princess Miliora started to act superior on her own, I felt a slight urge to tease her.

As I tried to clarify, her face contorted abruptly.