Side: Sheila

“Everyone, let’s have tea together.”

Since the weather was nice, I asked a maid to arrange for a tea party in the garden.

“I have work to do.”

“Same.”

“Me, too.”

When the children tried to leave, I hurriedly tried to stop them. Unlike Iris, I wouldn’t make children work. It was time for me to show the difference between us two.

“You don’t have to. You are too young.”

“But if we don’t work, we can’t survive.”

How pitiful. That’s how they were taught.

“Even if you don’t work, you’ll be given meals. As children, your job is to play, eat, and sleep aplenty!”

Yet, no matter how much I tried to tell them that such was normal, and that their life up until now wasn’t, they refused to heed my words. If anything, my efforts only earned me their vigilance.

Surely, it’s because of everything they had to endure up until this point.

“We are orphans. We aren’t nobles. We commoners have to work so that people like you can enjoy tea all daintily. What does a princess like you know about us, anyway?”

“Watch your mouth, filth—”

“—Nora, stop.”

Nora, the maid, seemed to have ran out of patience with the orphans. I hurriedly stopped her. If we were to resort to violence, we wouldn’t be able to establish a bond of trust.

Furthermore, given that they were orphans, they probably hadn’t learned the proper way to behave in front of a princess. Therefore, their lack of manners was only understandable.

“Status doesn’t matter here, Nora.”

“But—”

When I strongly reprimanded Nora, who still seemed dissatisfied, she understood my feelings and calmed down.

“I’m going to use the money given to me by the people to build a country where everyone can be happy. I won’t waste even a single coin. I promise. As the first step towards that goal, I wish to get along with everyone. Is that no good?”

The black-haired boy glowered at me. Since a while ago, he was the only one protesting, and the other children were depending on him. He was probably the leader. If I started with him, everyone would cease being wary of me.

“Don’t mess with us! What are you talking about after getting rid of our teachers!? If we go along with your foolishness, we’d starve to death in no time! Let’s go, guys.”

“Uh-huh.”

The black-haired child led the other children away.

“How disrespectful. Your Highness, let’s punish that boy for lèse-majesté.”

“Nora, those children are so traumatized, they can’t trust us adults anymore. We have to overlook them for being a little rude.”

“Your Highness, you are too kind… That black-haired boy was so nasty, no one would complain if his head were to roll!”

“I don’t really mind.”

It can’t be helped. I have no choice but to enjoy tea time by myself.

Aah, and here I thought that I’d be having a fun tea party with everyone. Being a child sure is difficult.

But other than that, things were proceeding smoothly. I was able to do away with the abusive staff. As the orphanage was now surrounded by my trusty personnel, the children would be able to spend their time with peace of mind.

Running an orphanage was surprisingly easy.

“Your Highness, the ingredients you requested have arrived.”

“Is that so!?”

Milya, the maid, came to inform me, so I hurriedly went to look at the ingredients that had arrived.

If I fed the starving children lots of scrumptious food, I was sure they’d grow to like me. Sometimes, the way to the heart was through the stomach!

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***T/N: //silently scribbling away, ‘Sheila, Nora, Milya…’// Guys, it’s *unrelated* but does any of you know how to contact an assassin?

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