Adjustment period (not really) (Part 8)

“It’s perfectly fine to drink,” I chirped, tilting my head and offering him a gentle smile.

He fixed me with an utterly bewildered gaze, retreating a step at a time as if I were a venomous snake.

‘Haha! It brought me an inexplicable joy to tease him and observe his reactions.’

“Don’t run!” I called out with a laugh. “What exactly did you conjure up in your mind? Tell me, quickly!”

Pretending not to hear me, he flushed crimson and bolted.

‘Oh dear, he wouldn’t actually swim all night back to Britannia, would he? And how on earth would he cross the ocean’s deepest abyss?’

I had a nightmare about the ocean’s deepest abyss. By the time I opened my eyes, it was already the next day.

I stared blankly at the beautiful ceiling. When the realization hit me, I quickly pulled the covers over my head!

‘Ahhh, the shame!’

‘How could I have said such utterly undignified things to the Prince of Britannia last night?’

‘My princely decorum has been completely thrown to the winds!’

‘Wait a moment! Hmph, why should I even care about my image in his eyes?’

‘It’s better if he despises me, isn’t it? Better still if he hates me enough for the engagement to fall apart. After all, I’m a ♂ Princess! I bear him no ill will, but I truly can’t bring myself to marry him!’

‘But he’d be so heartbroken if I rejected him, wouldn’t he? He’s so adorable; I can’t bear to hurt him. Oh, what am I supposed to do? I’m torn!’

Just as I was burrowing deeper into my covers, knock, knock, knock—the door was tapped.

“Your Royal Highness, are you awake? It’s time for breakfast.”

It was the voice of that Rabbit-eared Maid, a professional at selling out her comrades.

“Just bring it in for me,” I mumbled from beneath the covers, determined to keep lying in bed.

‘Even an earthquake wouldn’t get me up!’

“But I’ve arranged for you to have breakfast with the Prince of Britannia.”

“What?!”

I shot upright, almost hitting the ceiling!

‘Confound it!’ My covers couldn’t even hide me now.

“How could you make such arrangements without consulting me?” I demanded, pouting in annoyance.

“Your Royal Highness is being tsundere again?”

“I’m genuinely not being tsundere, you hear me?!”

“Please get up and tidy yourself quickly. I’ll be waiting outside for you.”

“Are you even listening to me? I’m truly not being tsun—”

The door simply closed, leaving me utterly helpless and deflated.

‘It’s impossible to reason with someone like her! I truly wasn’t being tsundere! She just said that to avoid my scolding! It’s both infuriating and amusing!’

The door suddenly opened again. “Your Royal Highness, would you like me to help you with your grooming and attire?”

As soon as I heard that, I practically tumbled out of bed. “Hmph, it’s just a meal with that person. Why would I need to specifically primp and preen for it?”

She simply smiled at me, though what she found so amusing, only the heavens knew!

‘They want me to primp and preen for the banquet? As if! This Princess possesses natural beauty!’ I decided, and proceeded to the banquet in my nightgown and slippers, inwardly chuckling.

The moment I stepped into the royal banquet hall, I instantly regretted my decision.

It was simply too opulent! My current attire felt completely out of place.

‘Could I still go back and change…?’

‘Wait, I see the Prince of Britannia! Never mind then, it’s too late!’

He should be eternally grateful that I hadn’t bothered with elaborate grooming or a special hairstyle, which would have made him wait for two hours and straight into lunchtime.

‘Oh, right, I already know his name is Maple. Truly, a name that suits him.’

I watched him holding a cup of milk, sipping from it.

I greeted him with a friendly gaze. “I thought you’d swum back to Britannia overnight.”

He nearly spat out his milk.

“Do you always speak with such a sarcastic tone first thing in the morning?”

“Indeed, this Princess suffers from morning grumpiness.”

Even in my nightgown and slippers, I made sure to sit down with the utmost elegance.

I settled directly opposite him, a massive table capable of seating a hundred people separating us, making it feel like a tense negotiation.

“Um… aren’t you going to sit a little closer?” Luo Bing’ai’er asked, a bead of sweat seemingly forming on her brow.