"Do you like it, Princess?"
"Yeah…"
Ellie asked this when Siervian fiddled with the small drawer model for a long time. She also didn't forget to write down the number of the model that the princess was looking at with shining eyes.
In the memo, there were also a few lines of Ellie's own thoughts, such as how lovely the princess was today. This small hobby of hers started not too long ago.
'Maybe she doesn't like seeing me use the color of the Imperial family.'
Perhaps it wasn't that the Empress didn't like blue, but rather that she didn't like Siervian using the color. And considering her favorability, it's a possibility.
But for now, Siervian brushed the thought aside. In the future, she would try to avoid the Empress as much as she could.
"Princess, how about this chair?"
[ Ellie ]
Thoughts: This looks alright, but it should have more gems to embellish it. It'll be placed in our pretty Princess' bedroom after all, so only furniture that matches with her loveliness should be ordered.
Looking at the chair model that Ellie showed her, Siervian suddenly came back to the present. This chair was obviously a luxurious piece of furniture that had soft cushions, and just by looking at it, it was clear that the height was specifically crafted for children.
Wouldn't something like this cost a lot of money?
'Luxury is not allowed.'
As she held the chair model in her hands, she felt blood escaping from her fingertips.
Under no circumstances could the luxury of an Imperial family member be seen in a good light. Even if she got off scot-free from interfering with the Garambell incident, Siervian couldn't expect the same luck happening twice.
"Noo, I dwon't need it."
But then suddenly, the doors opened and a different maid stepped in to bring another furniture model.
And inside the drawing room outside of her bedroom were countless other furniture models spread out in the middle.
'That much!'
And come to think of it, Ellie also brought in several more catalogues.
Siervian thought that she would be wasting too much money redecorating her room.
"I dwon't need many fuwniture. Jwust a little is okay."
How much of the budget would be spent on this?
Actually, it was difficult for Siervian to guess the exact amount. Of course, in her previous life, she also never had the chance to learn how money worked.
[ Ellie ]
Thoughts: Hmm, isn't there anything that Your Highness likes? It would be great if you speak your mind more…
Ellie didn't understand what Siervian meant.
In the first place, these were things that the princess would have liked so far.
'If I could understand better, I could have told Ellie more clearly.'
Tightly hugging the doll with her secret stash, Siervian felt troubled.
This just made her want even more to understand the world around her.
"Oh my, Your Highness. This isn't a lot."
When she told Ellie that she wanted only a few pieces of furniture, Ellie just said that this wasn't a lot. And it didn't seem to be a lie based on the status window.
But what's important here was that Siervian would maintain her frugal attitude.
Trying to make her uncooperative tongue say the things she wanted to say, Siervian managed to bring up words that were similar to her thoughts.
"I cwan't. I'll waste too mwuch money."
[ Ellie ]
Thoughts: Your Highness is still misunderstanding what happened last time. How can I explain it… Princess, we have a lot of money!
Rather, it was a misunderstanding that Ellie thought up on her own.
It's not that Siervian was thinking that there was no budget in the Princess' Palace like before, but that she didn't want to use it up for nothing.
'I want to speak more clearly. This is so frustrating!'
At that time, as if cutting off her train of thought, a maid from outside announced someone's arrival.
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
The Emperor, who had little free time in his busy schedule, came to the Princess' Palace.
"Siervy."
Unexpectedly, her father would visit her many times.
As expected, she was still feeling shy because her body was following the mentality of a child.
"You didn't come to my garden today either."
"Yees."
As if she was being interrogated, the Emperor narrowed his eyes as he looked down at his daughter.
Since she was used to his gaze by now, Siervian didn't flinch away, only fiddling with her fingers a little.
"Are you still scared? That man will never appear in front of you again."
The palace doctor advised that it was better to take a walk little by little and not to stay in bed too long.
However, Siervian didn't want to go out yet, so she just stayed at the palace. Because of this, the Emperor seemed to have misunderstood.
"Yees."
Even so, she just nodded to show that she understood what he said.
Of course, it was also true that she was relieved that Antonio would never appear before her again.
She really didn't expect that he was doing such horrendous things.
'I didn't hear any rumors about it before.'
No one said it outright in front of Siervian, but because she could read the status windows of the people passing by, she found out about Antonio's deeds.
'Then in the previous life, how many children had to be sacrificed?'
It was a relief that it was discovered quickly this time. She had been so scared just meeting him once, but she was glad to have run into him if this was the result.
Thanks to this, more people were given help.
"Are you looking at catalogues?"
"Yees."
Siervian was immersed in her thoughts, but she raised her eyes this time as what she'd been looking at was raised in the air.
Her father must have seen the furniture models in the other room on her way here. What if he thought that the princess was being extravagant?
"Your expression doesn't look good."
"Umm…"
He took one furniture model and touched a hard gem that passed by his fingertip.
With that touch, Siervian tried to think of what to say to regain her sense of stability. What excuse should she say so that she wouldn't be misunderstood?
"..."
She stayed quiet for a while after that, and the Emperor glanced towards the chief lady-in-waiting next to the princess.
"I apologize deeply, but it seems that the Princess is worried about the budget."
"Hm?"