“Huh, there are lots of people who abandoned me. Euphil pretended he was taking care of me but he’s gone now.”
I mumbled and kicked a stone.
Allenan grasped my hand.
“I won’t forget!”
“I don’t trust you.”
I shook my head. I mean, what use is it to receive a proposal from a kid?
He will forget right away.
I inflated my cheeks and made an upset face. Then the dog lowered his tale and rubbed with the end of his fingers. He was a little, no, really cute.
As I softened a little, he asked carefully.
“Then, when I grow up should I propose again?”
“That will be better!”
Yes, come back after growing up. And when you do, please take me out of this nation before I turn 19! I wanted to say this out loud but there was just one problem. His nation will be destroyed in the near future.
Oh, this wasn’t going to be easy…… Allenan was delighted by the approval, but I shook my head again. I’m sorry.
“But marriage still won’t be possible.”
“Why not?”
“Mirthy doesn’t really know Lenan.”
It was reasonable. Allenan looked like he was struggling to say something, and with a decisive expression he nodded.
“That’s right! Marriage is only possible after we love each other. So Mirthy, I will visit often and become more friendly with you.”
His words flowed with confidence. He made this promise while holding my hands and gazing at me with his dog-like handsome face that could make my heart flutter, but all I could think about was my future.
‘Whatever.’
This was what I honestly thought.
Although I am technically only five years old, it isn’t right for a grown-up to hurt a nine years old kid’s feelings.
By the way, I only knew his age because he is the male main character. The book stated that he is one year younger than Euphil, which makes him 9 years old. I nodded.
First I need personal connections.
“Okay, then come and visit me often.”
“Okay Mirthy. Every time I come here, I’ll give you a gift.”
“Gift?”
Now we’re talking. I wanted to hear more details. My head was filled with thoughts of new desserts until someone came and interrupted us.
“Your highness!”
That someone shouted.
Allenan turned his head and shouted back.
“Algercim!”
The man stomping towards him was wearing a modern knight uniform with swords hung on his waist. He must be the knight responsible for protecting Allenan.
“This is Mirthy, the princess of this palace.”
“O-oh, princess? You must be Princess Mirthy. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Were you having a good time with our prince?”
“Yes, we promised to become friends just now.”
I said nothing and just looked at Algercim. As Algercim returned my gaze, he bowed to me and said.
“You have to go sir. The Queen wants to see you.”
“Mother is? Okay, I’m on my way!”
The Queen of Alkaden. Now I knew what Allenan was doing here.
The Queen of Alkaden was the sister of the queen of this country, and the two of them had a good relationship. The Queen of Alkaden seemed to visit here often.
“Wait.”
As Algercim bowed to me and turned around, Allenan stopped him. Then he grasped my little hand, sank down onto one knee, and kissed the back of my hands. The place where his lips landed tingled like a bird tickling me. As I opened my eyes wide, Allenan brightly smiled.
“See you later, Princess Mirthy.”
He was so embarrassed that his face flushed and he ran away. He blushes way too much. First and foremost, a man should be handsome. That adorable boy looked even cuter with his blushing face.
I should have known what he meant when he said he would visit often. Splendid and expensive jewelry from the neighboring country and books I’ve never seen before were constantly being delivered.
“You’re betrothed to the prince of Alkaden!”
“Huh?”
I’m betrothed to Allenan?
Apparently this is what happened. After that fateful day, Allenan returned with his knight and told the Queen of Alkaden about me. He declared that he wanted to marry Princess Mirthy of Crothasone.
Did he really mean me? Was I the only princess of Crothasone?
Of course, I had one princess half-sister older than me but she was married already so she was out of the running. Although I am famous for being abandoned, to the knights I was a princess living in a decent palace.
Of course the castle only looks like this because Euphil used his own budget and sent Ante away, but they’ll never knew about this story.
To them, Mirthy is the only princess in the castle but she has no relatives. Therefore, no nobles ever visit the castle. She is a princess who has no connection with the outside world. She has a high rank but no power.
These were perfect circumstance for Alkaden to marry their prince into.
So the Queen of Alkaden asked her sister about marrying me to her son, Allenan. The queen was positive towards this deal.
I was a sore to her eyes, and I was also a child who was not loved by the king, so it benefited her to get rid of me. Like this, a win-win contract was made confidentially.
Since then things have changed.
The royal family of the neighboring country has started to send jewelry. Although the palace is in decent condition, it looked as if it lacked supplements. If the wife of the prince stayed in a poor palace, the royal family could lose face. So I was stacking up treasures inside my castle without doing anything.
“Oh my, look at all these silk clothes from the Western countries. It’s so soft!”
“These are gifts sent from Prince Allenan.”
Also, maids were sent either to serve me or monitor me. Suddenly, my palace was full of people. I was unfamiliar with this change but soon was soon preoccupied with the boxes of jewelries.
“Wow, Mirthy likes jewelry!”
As I checked all the jewelry, I had my maids put some in my hair and placed a new jewelry case inside my dressing table. It wasn’t just jewelry or accessories. The person who was happiest after dressing me up in a dress designed by a famous designer was Orjet.
“Oh my god, my lady! You are so beautiful! Oh my, you are an angel!”
“You are so beautiful, my princess.”
Although I thought a 5 year old kid couldn’t be that beautiful, I changed my mind as soon as I saw myself in the mirror.
Pink lubricating oil on my silver hair made my hair sparkle like jewels and a necklace with a diamond in it emphasized my purple eyes. My shining lips reflecting light from the lighting were red and plump even though I never used any lipstick. My long lace dress was covered with a few layers of fabrics and made me look doll-like.
“…..Oh my.”
I was Mrs. Beautiful.
Even I was amazed by my looks, so think about other people. Orjet was busy looking at me with her hands covering her mouth, and the other maids were busy looking for other jewels to complete my dress.
The Chief Guard Valk, who worked hard, shook his head for a long time and mumbled, ‘It’s not an illusion, it is our princess, our princess.’
Orjet shouted loudly.
“We have to protect our princess!”
That was so sudden.
But the other maids and guards started to nod, slowly at first and then furiously. They started debating about how my appearance could make me suffer, and if I were to go outside I could be taken by a god.
For me, I wasn’t familiar with this love, so I began to steal some jewels to prepare for my independence when I become 19 years old.
‘Hehe, I stole one sapphire and a garnet.’
It is mine but it isn’t mine. I was happier than any time when I stole the jewels before. As I was decorated, the maids couldn’t care less about me.
There was one other thing that changed.
All the books I had were sent by Euphil. Now some maids sent to me would teach me as I grow up. Those maids could read and knew history thoroughly.
‘Oh my, now they want to teach the princess?’
I was curious as to what they were planning, but all I could think about was to steal enough so that I could gain independence when I’m 19.
Besides, I’ve heard. He never spoke to me, but the king was unsatisfied with all this.
‘What a mucker he is.’
Yes, that day I heard everything. That day when I slipped into the dressing room like a shadow to pore over which jewel in the jewelry case was the most expensive.
‘A dressing room, you’re a big shot now, Mirthy.’
Originally there was only dust, but after being betrothed to Allenan, it was filled with dresses. I could see dresses of all colors, and all of them were fancy and expensive. A dress decorated with diamonds and another dress with emeralds used as a brooch were the most expensive ones. Whenever I see those dresses, I get excited.
‘I’ll take those when I run away.’
I was planning this thoroughly. Everybody knew that an expensive dress could come in handy. Until now the maids were doing just that the whole time, now I’m just taking what is mine.
That’s completely reasonable.
There were jewels in the corner of this dress room. I would grab handfuls each time and hide it somewhere else. Even though they clean up the dressing room often, they will never find my hiding place.
This secret place was found when I was placing my treasures inside the closet. It seemed like a place used to hide cash, like a secret drawer in the middle ages.
‘Hahaha, this is all mine.’
While I was grinning and looking at the jewels, I stopped laughing when I heard something. I could hear people conversing outside.
The maids were talking. It seemed like they wanted to have a secret conversation inside the dressing room. They were talking so quietly that I wouldn’t have known if I wasn’t inside the closet.
This was what they were whispering about.
“The Queen said that they would send the Princess of Crothasone to the kingdom of Alkaden since they want their child to live abundantly.”
“They approved it.”
“There were too many people there so she couldn’t show her discomfort. The neighboring queen was there too.”
A-ha, that’s what happened. Huh, live abundantly?
I was confident enough to live without education, but I liked the treasures so I never protested against the lessons. The next part was more important.
“She should thank Prince Euphil. If the prince never punished the maids, the neighboring prince would have never entered into the garden.”
“That’s right. But I can’t believe he is being suspended for punishing maids who did bad things and made a mess in the other palace. That’s complete nonsense.”
“The king is such a moron. I mean it.”
My head was spinning like it was hit by someone and I opened my eyes wide.