A Shadowy Warning

I tilted my head, smiling nonchalantly.

“That would certainly make bullying them feel quite accomplishing~”

“????”

Luo Bing’ai’er’s face was a canvas of question marks.

‘I can’t explain this!’ I thought, deciding to make a swift escape.

After bidding Luo Bing’ai’er farewell, I pushed open the grand doors of the imperial kitchen with gusto.

Yet, to my surprise, not a single soul was in sight.

Had all the staff collectively gone out to dance in lines and chant slogans?

Still, wasn’t it even better if no one was there to disturb me?

Since I was making pastries, an oven was essential.

But standing before the hearth, I found myself in a predicament: how was I supposed to light it?

I looked left and right, searching for matches.

Where had they hidden them?

‘Oh, never mind,’ I sighed, squatting down with my knees hugged to my chest, staring blankly at the charcoal in the stove.

‘If it were my Emperor father, how would he light it with magic?’

“Eh?”

I looked up, noticing the warm sunlight streaming obliquely through the window, like a spotlight shining directly on me.

‘If I could concentrate the sunlight into a single point, just like a magnifying glass burning ants, wouldn’t that ignite the stove?’

‘Could magic achieve such a thing?’

‘I should try it!’

So, I remained in my crouched position, intently focused on the charcoal, silently chanting in my mind.

‘Light up, light up, light up…’

Suddenly, sunlight converged into a single beam, shooting down from above my head to scorch the stove.

I watched as the charcoal began to smoke!

Just then—

“Princess, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see I’m busy!” I snapped impatiently, only for the words to fully register a few seconds later.

“Eh?”

“You are???”

From a nearby shadow emerged a Cat-eared Girl, clad in a ninja outfit, with a white-and-red patterned yokai cat mask hanging from her temple.

“Aren’t you my Emperor father’s shadow warrior!?”

To be honest, I was thoroughly startled!

Her elusive appearances made it seem as though she could assassinate anyone she pleased.

“Indeed, it is I.”

She crossed her hands in front of her abdomen, maintaining an air of elegance whether assassinating or simply standing.

“What… brings you here?”

“I came to remind you that you absolutely must not use magic in public.”

“Huh?”

“If you’re so idle, why don’t you go tell other people not to smoke in public?”

Her brow furrowed slightly.

“Princess, do not think I am joking with you.”

“The fewer people who know you possess magic, the better.”

“???”

“Especially, you must not let the other princes know you have magic.”

I cocked my head, looking at her.

“Why?”

“Because they will envy you.”

“Ha?”

That was the funniest joke I had heard all day!

How absurd!

I lifted the hem of my skirt and retorted, “Then do they envy me for wearing a dress?”

Her face, clearly angered by my words, nearly lost its composure.

“Princess!”

“Do not think I am joking!”

“This is truly for your own good!”

“My Emperor father sent you, didn’t he?”

“Hmph, many parents like to impose their own ideas on their children under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good’!”

“Don’t think I don’t know!”

“Princess!”

“So many eyes in the palace are watching you.”

“Can’t you be a little more discreet!”

“Oh?”

“So, it doesn’t matter once I leave the palace, right?”

“That’s not allowed either!”

“Why should I hide the magic I awakened through my own abilities?” I declared righteously.

“If you aren’t discreet, you will invite disaster upon yourself!”

“Why don’t you hurry back!”

“If you’re not there, my father will be assassinated!!!”

“…Princess, you’ve changed.” She huffed, then melted back into the shadows and vanished.