The Princess in the Stables and the Queen’s Ingenious Plan

“Hahahahahahaha! That’s killing me, you’re hated!” Eli’s mocking laughter rang out from behind him.

Leaning in, he wrapped his arms around Luca’s neck.

“Uncle, let me tell you, don’t be fooled by her living in the stables; she’s actually a princess. So, your idea of abducting this little girl and taking her back home is simply unrealistic!”

“Speaking of which, is this your type? How about coming with me to a nightclub tomorrow? That place is teeming with girls just like her, and I still have a hundred thousand gold coins unused on my Supreme Gold Membership card!”

Luca merely smiled, shaking his head to decline the offer.

He felt no embarrassment; after all, the small girl before him was a true monarch, a fact evident from her piercing gaze and commanding aura, making a touch of temper entirely normal.

He could continue to visit her persistently; as long as she eventually agreed to come with him, no one else would be any the wiser, and he would ultimately succeed in taking her.

Oh, and tomorrow, upon his return, he should bring some hot water for her to wash herself. In her current state, she was truly too dirty and foul-smelling to even consider touching.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Luca rose to his feet, shrugging ostentatiously at Eli, who once again erupted into laughter before slinging an arm over Luca’s shoulder and leading him away.

The little girl’s gaze followed them as they departed.

Slowly, a chilling glint of murderous intent began to surface within her otherwise emotionless emerald eyes.

****

That morning, Ophelia awoke with a palpable surge of excitement.

Her excitement stemmed not from the previous night’s events—though Marta had indeed made her feel a certain comfort—nor from the novelty of sleeping nestled between two girls. Instead, it was because she had finally conceived of a plan: a way to nurture Vina without wounding Marta’s and Emily’s affections, and, more importantly, a method that would appear entirely reasonable in the eyes of everyone.

‘Hmph hmph hmph, I truly am quite clever, aren’t I?’

“Queen…?” Emily, lying to her left, stirred and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Good morning, Queen.” The space to her right was already vacant; the door stood ajar, signifying Marta had long been awake. She was already clad in her gleaming white armor, her single ponytail neatly tied, and her eyes, as ever, held their customary icy resolve, making her appear a vision of heroic valor.

“Oh, so it truly is daytime. Good morning, Queen.” Emily stretched with a soft yawn, her light blue nightgown’s straps having slipped from her shoulders.

‘Indeed, a freshly awakened Emily possesses a distinct, captivating charm.’

Perhaps noticing that Ophelia’s gaze had lingered on Emily for a touch too long, Marta’s voice carried a distinct edge of displeasure.

“Queen, do you have any pre-arranged engagements for today?”

Marta’s voice successfully drew Ophelia’s attention. From behind her, Emily seemed to emit a faint sound of displeasure, though Ophelia quickly dismissed it as a figment of her imagination. Ophelia nodded, poised to embark upon the execution of her most ingenious plan!

“Of course. Today, I plan to make a visit to the late King’s bedchamber.”

Both Emily and Marta froze, taken aback by her words.

“The late King’s possessions have yet to be sorted. I am, after all, the Queen in name, and I feel it is my duty to go and organize them…”

She deliberately assumed a somewhat sorrowful demeanor.

‘My apologies, but allow me a moment to showcase my own acting prowess.’

Ophelia stole a quick glance, observing that Marta’s face, too, seemed to bear an expression of profound pity. Catching Ophelia’s eye, Marta nodded gravely in response.

“Excellent, Queen! I shall accompany you there!”

“As for Miss Emily, I daresay the Queen will find little use for your wisdom while organizing the late King’s effects. Would it not be best for you to remain here?”

‘This simply will not do.’

‘If Emily isn’t settled and stable before Vina arrives, complications are bound to arise. By bringing Emily along, she can quickly develop a sense of belonging through immediate involvement in my tasks. I spent an entire night meticulously planning this!’

“Oh, dear. Hearing you speak, I’d contend that organizing the late King’s possessions will hardly require your martial might either. On the contrary, my intellect would be far more instrumental in assisting the Queen with the classification of these royal relics, wouldn’t it? Perhaps you should remain here to guard our home, while I accompany the Queen?”

Before Ophelia could even utter a word, Emily, her arms crossed defiantly, retorted with an imposing aura that was every bit as formidable as Marta’s.

‘Ah, this…’

‘Why are their relations so fraught? In the novel, they were depicted as utterly harmonious!’

The two women exchanged fierce glances, each radiating an astonishing aura. Their gazes collided in the air, creating a palpable, terrifying surge of energy. Ophelia, trapped between them, found herself trembling, utterly bewildered as to how to proceed.

The tense standoff persisted for a noticeable duration.

“Queen, who will you bring!?” Emily was the first to snap her head around, her eyes blazing as she glared at Ophelia.

“Yes, Queen, pray tell, what is your decision?” Marta, too, pivoted to face her.

‘Is this the formidable aura of the heroines…? I feel like a tiny skiff tossed helplessly amidst a raging storm and a towering tsunami… Ugh, I don’t even dare to utter a single word…’

“Um, I… couldn’t I perhaps bring both of you along?” Ophelia ventured in a small voice.

‘Moreover, it would spare me the future trouble of explaining Vina’s situation to one of them individually.’

Emily and Marta exchanged a glance, their intense stares finally softening. The invisible, suffocating tension that had hung between them vanished, and Ophelia let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Very well, then let us depart, Queen.” Emily was the first to adopt a new expression, smiling sweetly as she linked her arm through Ophelia’s.

“You…” Marta began from behind, clearly on the cusp of an angry outburst.

“Ah, Queen, did you know, last night while you were sleeping—” Emily suddenly drew out her words, her voice lingering teasingly.

A deep blush immediately spread across Ophelia’s face.

Marta’s cheeks, too, flushed a vivid red, her gaze flickering evasively as she swallowed the retort poised on her tongue, unable to utter a word.

‘Marta’s completely been cornered. By the way, in the novel, Emily certainly didn’t have this “little devil” persona; with that current sly, knowing smile, she’s practically grown a devil’s tail and wings…’

“W-what exactly happened while I was asleep last night?”

Having never experienced a ‘night raid’ from a beautiful girl, Ophelia found herself utterly at a loss for how to respond. She wished to prompt for more details, hoping to convey to Marta that she was entirely ignorant, thereby sparing both of them any further awkwardness.

Emily’s violet eyes sparkled with playful mischief.

‘Blast, I’ve been seen right through.’

“Last night, while the Queen was sleeping—”

Again, she deliberately drew out her words, prolonging the suspense.

“The stars were truly breathtakingly beautiful. It’s such a pity the Queen wasn’t awake to witness them.”

Marta visibly exhaled, her shoulders slumping with obvious relief.

Emily skipped gleefully alongside, clinging to Ophelia’s arm, all the while casting a triumphant glance back at Marta. Ophelia distinctly heard the faint grinding of Marta’s teeth, and in her heart, she offered a silent lament, not only for Marta but for herself as well.

‘Social anxiety is truly the most loathsome trait; I’m utterly incapable of dealing with it, ugh. Emily, please direct your cleverness and wisdom towards more noble endeavors, rather than employing them in such frivolous ways…’

“Queen, you wouldn’t possibly think that I haven’t been applying my cleverness and wisdom to proper pursuits, would you? You wouldn’t imagine that I bear no resemblance whatsoever to my usual self, would you?”

As they walked along the path, Emily suddenly lowered her voice to a whisper. The dazzling sunlight caught her violet eyes, causing them to gleam and dim amidst the intricate, shifting shadows cast by the forest canopy.

Ophelia had just been thinking exactly that, and she jumped, startled. ‘W-wow, girl, can you read minds!?’

“It seems I’ve guessed correctly what the Queen was thinking…” Emily chuckled.

She took one of Ophelia’s hands and pressed it against her own cheek, rubbing it gently.

“But the Queen told me I could be as spoiled as I like~ This is just my nature, and the Queen must take responsibility~”

“And also—”

Her tone instantly deepened, and her sunny smile transformed into something tinged with a certain melancholy.

“Wishing to monopolize the Queen’s love is hardly a misguided path, Queen. From that day forward, you yourself became the very path I walk, you are my true course.”