The Princess's Doll Shop

Reminiscing distant memories, she wrapped the shawl around her. It was spring transitioning to summer, but the nights were still chilly.

Now, after filling her favorite orange mug full of coffee, she looked down at the neatly-cut sandwich slices.

The sandwich didn’t have cucumbers, a vegetable she disliked. Even without eating it, she could recognize that it was from Madam Murphy.

‘I’m sure I locked the doors though.’

Kathia tilted her head. She often wondered how the cleaning was neatly done and how there would be food ready to eat without anyone knowing after she was busy working in her room for days.

Since Jean isn’t here at night, there would be no one to open the door from inside.

Perhaps, Madam Murphy also goes through the window like Jean and Hughes? A person with poor legs.

Putting trespassing aside, if I were to thank her for taking care of me, then…

“I have no recollection taking care of someone who I don’t know.”

…would’ve been her response, more or less.

Drinking the coffee cooled to the perfect temperature, Kathia chuckled.

Although I unintentionally did something wrong, who would’ve thought that that very same Madam Murphy had this childish but cute side to her.

But it wasn’t the Madam Murphy I knew of.

I came to know that Hughes’s silver hair that was always neatly combed back was, in fact, curly, and that Jean’s two sons didn’t really like swordsmanship.

Ah— I also came to learn that Jonathan likes snacks.

Because I once gave him a cookie when Hughes brought him over, the man of few words snatched it and ate it with sparkling eyes.

Kathia remembered the speed at which he snatched the cookie. A pleasant memory, she burst  into laughter due to.

But then, all of a sudden, she swallowed that expression.

As if she shouldn’t.

Biting her lower lip tightly, Kathia rubbed her mug that had just the right amount of black coffee.

Her slim fingers warmed up due to the heat emanated from the coffee.

What to do? This really… this really isn’t the everyday life she had thought of. Hence her perplexion of not knowing what to do.

To her, there was a purpose she must fulfill.

‘To be happy.’

As the voice still lingered in her ears, she had to be happy, laughing a lot, crying little.

Even if she becomes alone after everyone abandons her.

Indeed, even if I’m alone, I already promised myself to be happy, no matter what.

I will keep my hopes up and become greedy if I get used to this boisterous everyday life. The anticipation of not being abandoned. The greed of not wanting to be alone…

And at the end of all that greed and expectation, only despair would await her. Kathia knew this best out of anyone.

“You’re going to spill that.”

A man’s hand shot out from behind her, holding Kathia’s entire hand.

Thanks to the hand, the tilted mug was returning to its proper position, but the corner of Kathia’s mind was tilting towards a strange direction.

A clear, low voice. A towering height and a body that would cover her with shade. The backside of his hand with veins almost popping out.

A boy who possesses a cold heart but did not necessarily act as such towards her.

Kathia slowly spun her head around. The boy who resembled a winter night’s sky was so close to her that she could almost feel his breath.

“…Welcome.”

Trying to bring out her unaffected calming voice, Deon slowly nodded to her.

As Kathia placed the mug on top of the table, she naturally escaped from his shadow.

She knows why he’s trying to be nice to her.

Because she knew; she played house with him, but she wasn’t fooled.

With the corners of her mouth awkwardly up, Kathia rubbed the back of her neck with her clammy palm. Shivering for reasons unknown, she had goosebumps.

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Kathia was intentionally trying to bring up a conversation starter.

“You know, according to Hughes, he begged you to hire more palace aides. It must be hard for him by himself. He doesn’t sleep much; he doesn’t look that great either… If he keeps this up, he may just die of fatigue. Ah, of course, for your position, you need to be careful of whom you keep close…”

“Understood.”

Understood? While appearing somewhat awkward from such a quick, positive response, Deon reassuringly added.

“As you wish, older sister.”