The Sparrow class was filled with the sweet smell of butter.

It was snack time and mock tea time, the children’s tables were filled with golden pumpkin pies and freshly poured cups of orange juice.

The children, supervised by their teacher Emily, whispered conversations while mimicking real adults having tea.

And Charles, who was elegantly sipping the mock tea of orange juice, said,

“Where’s Nia’s mother?”

“Uh, she went to see the Queen today.”

“Oh, so that’s why the palace has been noisy for a few days.”

As Nia answered, she carefully looked around at the other children.

Apparently, she was nervous because she had learned a little bit about dining etiquette from Vernon.

Listening to their conversation, Ivana swallowed the last bite of her pumpkin pie and asked,

“Your Highness, is the palace the Star Palace?”

“Yes. That’s right? But Nia, you shouldn’t hold the teacup with both hands. Like this.”

“Yay! Thank you!”

Ivana also chipped in on Charles’s correction.

“Nia. You’re not supposed to grip the fork with your fist. Like this.”

“Ooh!”

Nia, grateful for the instruction from her caring friends, widened her eyes and learned diligently.

Teacher Emily, watching this, felt warmth creep into the corners of her mouth for the first time in a while.

‘If every day could be like today…!’

Wondering when they started caring for each other and getting along so well.

Now Emily had nothing more to wish for.

“Does Nia’s mother eat something even tastier? I’m jealous!”

At Ivana’s words, Charles’s face darkened a little.

“… There’s not much that’s actually tasty. We especially have to be careful.”

The stern face of the diet manager, Sijang, who had visited his room yesterday, came to mind.

However,

“Ah? So you’re not eating that? Can I have it?”

More than his friend’s dark face, Ivana was captivated by the untouched pumpkin pie.

Charles’s face soured, but since he couldn’t eat it anyway, he endured.

But that wasn’t the end of Ivana.

“Looks like you have the same constitution as my mom. She gains weight whenever she has a snack. She gets really mad if I oink.”

“You can’t, Ivana, you can’t.”

Nia, recalling the scary face of Julia she saw last time, waved her small hand to stop her.

Today, thanks to her energetic daughter, Julia’s ears were probably ringing.

Then, suddenly, someone began laughing, clutching their stomach.

“Haha! Oinking, you say, oink oink.”

It was Roy, who had been listening to the conversation and burst into laughter.

And that was the last straw for Charles.

What Sijang prohibited yesterday was snacks.

Recently, he had been gaining weight from the kindergarten meals, and couldn’t even touch today’s delicious pumpkin pie.

“Roy! Shut your mouth!”

“Haha… Ooh.”

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t bully the weak.”

When Ivana stepped in,

“That’s rich! Who’s the one who usually bullies? Anyway, the royal family is weak only because they have to be! It’s definitely not a problem!”

“What’s the matter, getting angrier makes you look even more oinkoink. Oinkoink Your Highness oinkoink!”

Amused by Ivana’s teasing, Roy covered his mouth and laughed.

This made Charles even angrier, and he began to chase Ivana.

“Hey, you! Don’t stand there!!!”

However, Ivana quickly ran away.
The children who were learning table manners earlier were now running around wildly. Emily, who watched them, swallowed her tears again today.

After the extravagant and bewildering ball came to an end, highranking noblewomen who had suddenly found themselves seated began to whisper among themselves.

“How could they decorate such a vulgar ballroom?”

“Exactly. Where could their origins possibly be?”

“Right. How could someone who can’t even leave this palace because of gambling?”

True.

Although less talked about than Lucia, who had been the subject of rampant rumors for a solid decade, this empress had also been unable to leave the palace for three years due to rumors about her gambling addiction.

Lucia recalled Empress Robina, whom she had once heard the emperor complain about.

At the time, Emperor Kaius first met Empress Robina at the most famous bar in the capital, during a secret visit.

The emperor had fallen head over heels for her, the sole flower on the stage of that glamorous bar. No, back then he was just a prince.

Falling madly in love with her, he had promised to marry her, even having a child together. Naturally, he faced opposition from the nobles, who rejected commoners. His solution at the time was to found an empire.

His longterm plan to divert the nobles’ attention by leaving the empress’ seat vacant paid off.

This event showed just how recklessly stupid he could be when he put his mind to something foolish.

But maybe he cared too much?

Although she had become empress, the nobles disregarded her, since she caused one accident after another and had no authority as the head of the house.

The new powers didn’t seem to know this yet.

“Lu, Lady Lucia. Is this really a gathering? Is this how they usually do it?”

“The royal family seems to enjoy this kind of culture. I’ve never been invited to such a place, so I’m a little bewildered… Haha…”

Regrettably, even Mera and Serdin, the leading figures among the new powers, shrank back in the atmosphere and instinctively drew near to Lucia.

It seemed she was the only reliable person in this place.

Then, the empress, still on stage, rang a champagne glass. The clear sound drew everyone’s attention.

“Ladies, do you know that our Princess Charl has become much brighter since attending kindergarten? There’s something we’ve prepared as a token of gratitude. Bring it now.”

With her neatly aligned teeth, smooth, luxurious nose, and flirtatious twinkle in her golden eyes—

Had she not inherited the crown prince’s features, wouldn’t people believe that she, at 38, was still in her prime?

But fairness is nature’s way.

Empress Robina seemed unaware of this awkward atmosphere, much like Lucia.

But then, someone suddenly jumped up from their seat, startled.

—Bang!

The sound of a chair falling over resonated throughout the ballroom.

“Empress, Your Majesty! If this is a joke, it’s too much!”

“Oh my God! How scandalous!”

“What, what is this…!”

Their faces flushed red, the noblewomen seemed to have seen something dirty, as they hastily moved away from the gifts the empress had given.

‘What on Earth could be inside…? Huh? What’s this?’

As Lucia unwrapped the gift, there it was—

Too small to be called lingerie, it was a piece of red fabric with strings, patterns, and lace, lying atop a box filled with white roses.

But Lucia, not knowing what it was, picked it up to examine it.

“My lady!”

“Good heavens! Put it down!”

Before she could fully inspect it, Mera and Serdin rushed in, closing the box.

“Hahaha, are you all still girls? That’s the latest trend in lingerie from foreign lands! Quite seductive, isn’t it? Now that our children are grown, shouldn’t we also cherish our nights?”

…The royal family’s gift is racy underwear?

At a gathering to discuss the children’s field trip?