The Princess’s New Pet Project

That vulnerable tone was a foul!

I couldn’t possibly stay angry!

Idly, I sat on the edge of the bed, swinging my legs, and turned to ask him.

“Are you hungry?”

To my surprise, Maple looked wary.

Pointing at me, he asked.

“What do you intend to feed me this time?”

In reality, his eyes couldn’t see, so his finger wasn’t even close to me.

Watching him point randomly at the air was adorably silly.

I hopped off the bed, smoothed my dress, and declared haughtily.

“Last time, I asked you which of the four desserts was the most delicious, and you still haven’t given me an answer!”

‘Did you understand, you silly goose?’

‘Your Princess plans to cook for you personally again!’

“You’re not planning to leave me here alone, are you?” he asked nervously.

I chuckled softly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you really that afraid of me abandoning you?”

“It’s all because I can’t see!”

“And I’m completely unfamiliar with this place!”

“It’s alright.”

“When I’m gone, just hold this pillow.”

I handed him the griffon pillow.

“???”

He looked utterly bewildered.

“It’ll make you feel more secure.”

“Just hold it and wait for me to return, like a good boy!”

“Huh—?”

“No arguments!”

“No rebuttals!”

“No questions!”

With that, I slipped out and closed the door.

Imagine Maple, his eyes covered with gauze, unable to see anything.

He couldn’t move freely or dare to go anywhere, so he could only sit obediently on the bed, his sole hope being the sound of the door opening upon my return.

The thought was utterly thrilling.

For safety’s sake, I locked the door with a click.

(I truly didn’t intend to imprison him! I just didn’t want anyone to disturb us.)

After all—

“Maple, please rest assured.”

“Even though you can’t see, I’ll take good care of you~”

I departed softly, just as I would return softly, whenever that might be, waving my hand and taking a set of keys with me.

I walked through the corridor—

Eh?

Wasn’t that person just now—?

I backed up, retracing my steps.

There, a certain little rabbit-eared maid (yes, I’m talking about Luo Bing’ai’er!) was pressed against the wall, hiding in the corner and secretly wiping away tears.

Although Maple was waiting for me, I couldn’t ignore her distress.

So, Maple, you’ll just have to wait a little longer!

I approached her, hands behind my back, and tilted my head, asking with concern.

“Why are you crying?”

“You must be amused, Your Royal Highness.”

Luo Bing’ai’er rubbed her eyes.

“His Majesty the Emperor spared my life today, and I cried out of gratitude.”

“Huh?”

She usually seemed quite normal, if a little naive, her biggest flaw being betraying her teammates.

But now… I increasingly felt there was something off about her thought process.

“What did you do wrong that my Imperial Father spared your life?”

“Oh!”

“Right!”

“Those compatriots of yours who tried to kidnap me said—that my Imperial Father imprisoned the Queen of the Rabbit-eared Tribe as a s*ave?”

“Thinking it over and over~~~~ could they have been talking about you?”

Luo Bing’ai’er blinked innocently as I finished, then smiled faintly and said.

“Why would you think it’s me?”

“If it were a s*ave, shouldn’t you look for them in the dungeons or some such place?”

“That’s true.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe my Imperial Father would do something like ‘imprisonment play.'”

“How perverse!”

“Never mind, Maple is still waiting for me~”

I turned to leave, but she called out to me.

“I heard Prince Maple truly defeated Shenwei?”

“That’s right, and he did it with his eyes closed!”

Luo Bing’ai’er sighed softly.

“Then he is probably more than just Britannia’s finest.”