Chapter 5
5
==
"Gabi..."
As I reached out my arms to Gabriella while lying down, she bent down and hugged me tightly.
"Did you take your medicine...? What did the doctor say...?"
"It's just a cold. Actually, it wasn't even necessary to see a doctor, cough... Still, I'm so happy that Your Highness thought of this nanny. I took my medicine well."
I watched Gabriella coughing intently and asked.
"Are you coughing...?"
"It's much better now. I'll get well soon before I pass it on to our Highnesses."
If I had told Mother earlier, she could have gotten better.
'To think that her cold lasted so long that it developed into pneumonia...'
The more I thought about it, the more I regretted it, but Gabriella seemed genuinely happy.
She stroked my hair and said.
"Shall we slowly get dressed and have a meal now? We have to study hard again today."
Ah, that...
I can just do it roughly now.
* * *
Gabriella closed the book and asked with wide eyes.
"My goodness... Cough! How did you suddenly become so literate?"
"Well... It's because Gabi taught me well."
As I answered nonchalantly, Gabriella clapped her hands.
"As expected, Her Majesty's judgment was correct. I didn't recognize how clever you were and was so anxious."
Gabi... Was I that frustrating...?
'I'm sorry...'
But I learned this much because I caused you so much trouble back then.
Thank you...
Gabriella was so happy that she even teared up, unaware that I was feeling bitter.
"I kept begging Her Majesty, saying that Lilin Your Highness was suffering too much. Of course, Her Majesty said she would adjust the lesson schedule if it didn't work out..."
...Was that what it was?
Then I should have pretended not to know!
'If I want to go to the Temple instead of Rosa on the day of the oracle, I need to adjust the schedule!'
It's a shame, but there are still 3 years until the oracle.
I can create another opportunity within that time...
More than that, I was curious about Rosa, whom I couldn't even make eye contact with.
'Is she just as stupid as a four-year-old?'
Surely she's not been super smart since she was four and waiting for a chance to give me poop, is she?
So I subtly called Gabriella.
"Gabi, but..."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How is my sister? She studies with the teacher first... Does she know more than me? Is she smart?"
Then Gabriella widened her eyes in surprise.
"Oh my, you've even thought of that?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Actually, not really, Your Highness. Rather... Cough, it seems like Rosa Your Highness will have a harder time now. Since there is only one teacher, she has to match the skills of both of you."
...In other words, she's still an idiot.
Well, that's good.
"Um..."
I pretended to be thinking and picked up the book again.
"I, I'll say I only know this much."
"Yes...?"
"If you teach my sister a lot, Gabi will be tired... My sister will be tired too."
"My goodness, Your Highness..."
Gabriella jumped up and approached me.
She knelt down under my chair to lower her height and hugged me tightly.
"Lilin Your Highness will surely become a great person..."
Did Rosa receive such praise every time she pretended to worry about me and help me?
I firmly pulled up the corners of my mouth, which were about to droop sadly, and smiled.
Numerous compliments and delicious snacks were given, but the real reward was separate.
Gabriella handed me pastels and began writing a letter at her desk.
'She must be writing to Mother?'
Now that I think about it, there are advantages to being young again.
'Even if I wander around the desk, Gabriella doesn't seem to mind much?'
So I successfully stole and read the letter.
"…She is clever and has such a kind heart, surely there is a reason for God's will."
That's right, that's right.
'Goodbye, Lilin Rostel La Perca, who only has health.'
A kind and clever princess, a princess chosen by God.
I'll give it a try this time.
* * *
When a new day dawned and I went to the Main Palace, Rosa was fast asleep, even making snoring sounds.
'Now's my chance!'
It was a bit far, but I felt like I could do it if I did my best.
As soon as Gabriella put me down on the bed, I spat at Rosa.
"Ptooey!"
...Well, I tried to spit.
Gabriella, who was heading towards Rosa, widened her eyes and came back to me, wiping my chin.
The spit I spat was stuck on my chin.
'Gross...'
Gabriella put her index finger in front of her lips.
'Shhh. Be quiet, Your Highness.'
I couldn't hear her voice, but she was probably saying that.
I stared blankly at Rosa, who was still fast asleep.
'She's so carefree.'
Gabriella picked up Rosa and disappeared in an instant as always, and I licked my lips in disappointment.
'I didn't know spitting would be this difficult.'
I should have tried it sometime.
Next time, I'll pretend to accidentally step on her hair.
Even after thinking about it several times, it's impossible to harm or kick Rosa out right now.
'Because there's a secret oracle that Mother received.'
If there's a way to kick Rosa out, it's the oracle as well.
The oracle I'll receive when I'm seven years old.
'I'm a Healer like Mother. God has decided to use me, so Rosa is no longer needed. She doesn't have any abilities.'
That's what I'll say after coming out of the Temple.
How refreshing would that be...
After that, I'll create a trap and drive her away, just like Rosa did to me.
'It would be even better if I could send her to the Emperor in the same way.'
I decided to live diligently until then and stretched out my arms.
Beatrice, who had appeared unnoticed, smiled brightly and massaged my arms.
"Did you wake up, Your Highness? Shall we do some stretching?"
How embarrassing, stretching.
When I frowned unintentionally, Beatrice stopped with a surprised look.
"Shall we not do it, Your Highness? Do you not like it?"
Then I was the one who felt regretful.
To refuse, Beatrice's touch that I was feeling for the first time in a while was too wonderful...
"Uh, um... No."
When I answered quietly, Beatrice's olive-colored eyes drew a question mark.
"Then, do you like it?"
"Uh-huh..."
I closed my eyes tightly and nodded.
"Oh my, you like it but you're pretending."
Beatrice's hands grabbed my arms again.
"Stretch, stretch... Grow up a lot, our Your Highness."
I can't grow up that much anyway...
I became sullen again, but Beatrice no longer paid attention to my expression.
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains.
* * *
I successfully completed the morning schedule, which consisted of a royal audience and breakfast.
During class, as I had discussed with Gabriella in advance, I only pretended to know within the range that Rosa had learned.
Of course, it's not for Rosa's sake.
'If Teacher Silvia notices something strange, I'll be in trouble too.'
After class, I sat back at my desk and reviewed my plans for the future when I heard another knock.
Beatrice peeked her head through the door and asked.
"The children of the Marquis Hestia have come. They said they played with you last time and want to see Your Highness?"
"Ah, no!"
I reflexively waved my hand and quickly came to my senses.
'The Hestia siblings.'
Rosa had befriended them from the age of four or five and used them very usefully until later.
Well... When Rosa and I were on the same side, there were some advantages, but I was also disappointed at the same time.
'I've never had a friend who gives me everything.'
Because...
When I was young, I was afraid of meeting new people.
Even the palace staff like Beatrice came to work every other day, and adjusting work schedules was also prohibited.
'It was because of us, the secret twin princesses.'
In that situation, wasn't it too dangerous to make friends with others?
'Other people might notice the slightest differences between Rosa and me.'
On the other hand, Rosa made friends with this person and that person without a care in the world.
The beginning of that was those Hestia siblings.
'Foolishly... Why was I the only one trembling with anxiety?'
Even if something went wrong, Mother would have taken care of it.
Of course, if it were the past, I would never have gone to meet them.
'First of all, I didn't know their names.'
Pretending to be brazen while saying I forgot was something young me couldn't even imagine.
But now I know their names, as well as their personalities and tastes.
'I've heard it from Rosa all my life.'
Moreover, I had sometimes stood in front of them as Rosa.
As I bit my lip while thinking about that, Beatrice, who had been waiting, smiled softly.
"Sigh, I wondered what kind of wind blew for you to make friends. Then I'll make up an excuse..."
No, I shouldn't be afraid and lose all opportunities anymore.
I swallowed hard and changed my words.
"Ah, no... I'll go! I'll play with them!"
