Chapter 16
It seems like he kinda cares and treasures the princess."
I almost sprained my bones when Felix said that. Look here, brother knight, you said 'kinda' treasures and cares? Hah! Who would believe that?!
"I-Is that so...?"
See? Lilly never stumbles over words!
"Yes. His majesty is currently looking for a personal knight to stand by princess's side. Besides me, who is doing this permanently."
Felix smiled while saying that.
"So... I'm looking forward to work with you, princess."
Anyways, that is how Claude's knight, Felix, has become my personal knight which was unexpected.
* * *
Now I see that recruiting new maids was not that good.
I realized that Claude didn't give me extra maids, but replaced them with the previous maids who worked here. That means, the maids I put a lot of effort into making them side with me (AKA: Chocolate training = Making maids fall for Atti's cuteness and gaining chocolate.) were all gone.
I heard that lightning shocking news that day at night when the new maids came. Even though I begged hard that I wanted to see the previous sister maids to Lilly, she only made an apologizing face. I heard that the maids who were replaced with all left the palace this morning and were hired to another palace.
I was mad when I heard that. Claude who didn't give a glimpse when the maids stole Ruby Palace's beauties, now is replacing the workers here. I was also very upset by how the maids left the palace without any last words even though it was that emperor's command.
I know it is not a thing to be so upset about, but you can't do anything about human's heart. (Not literal heart, but mind.)
I was even more upset when the new sister maids showed no affection to my aegyo (Acting cute) and just went on doing their job.
Even though they were still maids... Is there a difference between the maids who were abandoned to work here, and the maids Claude had picked himself? Do you know how hard I worked to make all the sister maids to side on me! Sob!
"I wanna see Hanna and Seth."
"You'll be able to see them again for sure if the princess wants to."
"When?"
"Umm, in 10 days?"
And I didn't believe in that kind of a.d.u.l.t words. Isn't it the words they use to lie to kids? Besides, the words I heard in my previous life in the orphanage when kids begged to eat food was that.
Lilly started to sweat again when I made an unsatisfied expression. That was when Felix, who was watching us from the side, started to speak.
"You could try talking to his majesty."
From his words, both Lilly and I stared at Felix as if we were asking 'Are you crazy?'. However, he was just staring back at us with 'Did I say something I wasn't supposed to say' face.
Felix told me before that the lotus flower in the lake was a magical plant which makes people want to have it and pulls them into water. It was worse of what it did afterwards. It would then eat that human.
I was frozen still that moment when brother knight said it as if he was saying 'What are you gonna have for your lunch?'.
Felix looked as if he wanted to compliment how awesome and cool Claude is to save me, but it only caused me more anger towards Claude.
Claude you woof d.o.g.g.y bast*rd! How dare you just stare at me at that situation! Ah, I am starting to get angry again with just thinking about it.
"By the way, his majesty said that he wanted to have his feast together with princess."
Nonetheless... The anger that had risen was now gone cold by what Felix just said. With a pale face, I buried my face in Lilly's arms.
.... Wouldn't it be better if I die and be reincarnated again?
Ding. I request for a log out. Log out! Log out! Grrr.....!
* * *
"Princess, why don't-"
"No!"
I ignored Lilly's pitiful expression and turned my face over to the other side.
"But it will be the day you'll meet up with his majesty..."
We were talking about my outfit. Lilly was trying to make me wear a dress to go to the feast with Claude, and I was stubbornly declining it. Lilly seemed to be overwhelmed because of me in a state like this was a very rare thing that never happens.
But why should I dress up nicely to meet that bast*rd Claude when I'm lazy?!
Well, it is not that I have given up on plan C. But is it because of that day on the lake? I wasn't in the mood of dressing up to look good in front of Claude.
Moreover, the dress was the reason I drowned faster in the lake.
Also, the dress I was wearing now was also on the fancy side so I didn't find a good reason for changing.
It was because the sister maids were all over my clothes and what I was wearing, saying that you won't know when he'll call you.
"Sir Robain, help me do something about this too."
Lilly requested help from Felix when I just stubbornly sat there, pouting.
Hmph! I won't fall for whatever you say. Since I am 5, I have the rights to act this way.
Felix was like 'what???' for a moment before smiling brightly.
"Princess Atanasia is lovely no matter what clothes she wears. Of course, his majesty will think the same way."
Cough! I know I am cute and lovely but this is just... no. There is no way Claude will think that from seeing me! That ice dude who doesn't have a single drop of blood or tear!
"Well that is true..."
But Lilly now was also starting to agree.
"Then I'll only do your hair."
She gave up and came to do my hair. Her hands moved fast as usual.I felt a bit guilty watching Lilly's sad face but no was no. Grr, why do I have to do aegyo (Act cute) to that dude who just watched me drown with those dried eyes. Sniff. Dirty. Bad bad dude.
But I couldn't stop Lilly from putting a lot of effort into my hair.
"There. Let's go, princess."
After Lilly's job was put to an end, Felix lifted and held me up. He was planning on holding me the whole way since the distance between Ruby palace and the Emperor palace was like a two house in a townhouse.
It was a simple way on carrying a princess but it was better than anything too fancy. I waved my hands at Lilly and the maids bowed. Then Felix and I took off.
I realized that the path that led from Ruby palace to the Emperor palace existed other than the one I took to get there last time. Felix took me there going through the real path where there was nice fountain placed on the way.
At first it was embarrassing to be held in this brother knight's arms but as time passed, I was used to it. Felix also improved much as he was, now he holding me was very stable.
"Your majesty, princess Atanasia has arrived."
But this palace... It is really plain.
I always think about this when I come here but why isn't there a single worker? Furthermore, I don't think I am visiting Claude right now as there wasn't a single guard guarding the door to his room here. And see? Felix is announcing that I am here himself.
"Brother, brother."
Ahh, I can't. I'm too curious.
"Why isn't there any brother knights and sister maids in papa's palace?"
I asked to Felix who was just about to report again that I am here when there was no response from the other side. Then he stopped and faced me to answer.
"The reason why there aren't any workers is because his majesty prefers to do everything himself. And the reason why there aren't any knights is because...."
I became even more curious when Felix smiled at me between his words.
"He doesn't need one."
What do you mean he doesn't need one? Wait, why does he not need one? Aren't there supposed to be a lot of workers and people since this is Emperor palace and there are a lot of works need no be done?! Perhaps they are smart to know that Claude is a st*pid head and are avoiding him themselves. Yeah, that makes sense.
"And you can't call me like that. Please call me either Felix or Robain."
"Uh huh."
Felix turned his head back to the door to his room.
"Seems like his majesty is taking a break right now."
The h*ck? You sleepin' when you called a person? Ha, really this poop manner!
Eh, but it may be fortunate. Since this is all Claude's fault for sleeping, isn't it okay to go back to Ruby palace? Felix here can be the witness.
"Then Atti want to go back."
"How about....."
But what Felix said after thinking about something was something crazy.
"Do you want to try and go in?"
.... Huh? I'm hearing things, right? I've been feeling not so good these days, so. Haha.....
"His majesty would be more enlightened if princess wakes him up herself."
Click. Felix opened the door before I could react. I was so shocked that I stood still even when Felix gently pushed me in.
"Then I'll be waiting here."
Click.
Felix's smiling face disappeared when the door closed.
"This, what, wait...."Shock went for a moment before I started to push the door open. However, with my strength, it didn't move an inch.
"Fel...!"
I was about to call for Felix but stopped in track as I came to realization. It would wake Claude up if I scream now!
Wow, Felix, you bad...
I, without a choice, turned around to look around the room.
Then the blandness from outside the room came into sight.
"Rotten....."
I seem to have entered the room of the final boss