I’m such an idiot

“…” I hid in my room, hugging my knees, feeling utterly withdrawn.

It felt as though all my efforts had been for naught. I had personally overseen every step, from selecting the ingredients to arranging them on the table, all to ensure he ate safely.

Yet, how could he joke about such a thing so casually?

I couldn’t help but bury my face in my knees. Ugh… he truly made me believe he had been poisoned!

Tell me, after learning the truth, could I not have been so mortified and enraged that I struck him fiercely with the tray?

He likely wouldn’t understand why I was so furious. He would surely think me utterly inexplicable.

I feared that this might be the end for us…

I hugged myself a little tighter. Never mind… it would be for the best if he returned to Britannia soon, far away from this deceitful empire.

I stared at the ceiling, willing myself not to cry. Tomorrow, I would still secretly watch his match, and then we would part ways… forever!

This would be the best outcome for both of us.

‘This is my offering.’

Knock, knock, knock—

The door behind me was knocked, the sound echoing deep within my heart.

“I’m sorry, it’s me.”

‘It’s Maple’s voice?’

“But I won’t open the door for you! And please, stop knocking!”

He paused for a moment, then spoke to me through the closed door: “It’s alright if you don’t want to see me right now, but if I don’t say these things now, I fear I might never see you again.”

“…”

‘I’m listening, but I don’t want to speak.’

I remained motionless, unwilling to let him know I was huddled by the door, hugging my knees like a small squirrel.

“I’m sorry… The truth is, you were worried someone might poison me, weren’t you? That’s why you personally cooked for me. So I shouldn’t have made that kind of joke…”

‘…’ ‘Has this guy finally smartened up? He suddenly understands me so well?’

“I’m just an idiot! It’s only now that I’ve understood your painstaking efforts!”

“It’s a pity I messed everything up and utterly failed your sincere intentions…”

“…Which one tasted best?”

“What did you say?!” Maple, on the other side of the door, seemed to suddenly come alive!

“I asked you, out of the four desserts, which one tasted the best?”

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him. Did this boy truly care about me that much?

Here I was, deliberately ignoring him out of anger, yet a single word from me seemed like a blessing to him.

Through the door, Maple’s voice broke, then he chuckled. “I can’t tell from just one taste. How about you make them again?”

“You wish!” I emphasized through the door. “Making them again is impossible! Never in this lifetime!”

Maple tentatively asked through the door, “Then will you still come to watch my match tomorrow? I will personally win the laurel crown for you…!”

“The laurel crown doesn’t matter,” I retorted testily. “If you lose, just wear women’s clothes!”

“Alright, alright, it’s a deal!”

‘…He agreed so readily? How confident is he that he won’t lose? His opponent is my elder brother, after all!’

‘Never mind. If he loses, he’ll just have to atone by wearing women’s clothes.’

“I’m tired. I’m already in bed, about to sleep. You should go back early too.” I whispered softly, leaning against the door with my knees hugged, feeling quite adept at lying.

“Mhm, you absolutely must come!”

His footsteps gradually faded away.

Through the door, I sensed his departure.

‘Why didn’t I open the door just now?’

‘B-because this Princess isn’t allowed to be a little dramatic?’

‘Alright, to be honest, it’s because I didn’t want Maple to see me looking so dejected.’

‘Saying I was already in bed, when in reality I was huddled by the door with my knees hugged… even I felt embarrassed just thinking about it.’

I rubbed my face against my knees a few times. “Damn it…! I haven’t fallen for him, have I?”