“Goodbye, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Goodbye, Princess!”

“Idiot! Pepe isn’t just a princess!”

As they walked to the car amid the children’s innocent farewells, they noticed a crowd gathered beyond the orphanage fence. It was a group of protesters with pickets.

They couldn’t approach the orphanage due to the guards’ stern surveillance, but they were waving pickets demanding the arrest of the Cochrun family as high as possible.

Phenelity stood still, staring at the red letters written on the pickets.

It was a subtle expression that could have been either hurt or angry. Viett looked at his wife with concern and wrapped his arm around her small shoulders.

“Y-you really w-worked hard today.”

“Ugh. I must have been too tense. My shoulder is aching today even though it never hurt even in the field hospital.”

Just as she was about to get into the car, relieved that the official duty had gone even more perfectly than expected, a young boy who had been hiding behind bushes near the car suddenly stood up and revealed himself.

“Arrest and investigate the Cochrun family!”

The boy shouted the slogan loudly and threw an egg at Phenelity. Second Lieutenant Peter, who was a few steps away, quickly extended his arm, but it was already too late.

“Your Highness!”

Viett instinctively embraced his wife and caught the egg. He skillfully caught one in mid-air, but the second egg that followed hit his shoulder, ruining his uniform. The children screamed in surprise.

“Ahh! It’s the enemy! The demons from Easton are attacking!”

“No! That’s Romel, the shoe shiner!”

“Everyone, quickly return to the classroom!”

The director hurriedly took the children back inside the building. The boy who had thrown the eggs was already caught by the security guards and being dragged away. The boy pointed at the protesters while struggling.

“Those people told me to do it! They said they would give me money if I threw eggs at the Little Lady!”

“Oh my! Viett!”

Phenelity covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide open. Viett witnessed a certain determination flash across his wife’s eyes.

Before Viett could even flinch, she tried to headbutt his shoulder, which was covered in a mixture of yolk and white.

“Spouses should share embarrassment together……”

“N-no.”

Viett grabbed her small head with one hand. The wedding reception day had been enough of embarrassing himself with strange arguments.

He forcibly put her struggling form into the car. Then he immediately had the car depart for the palace.

“Why did you stop me?”

He was dumbfounded by Phenelity, who was instead throwing a tantrum. Would she really have felt better if she had buried her face in broken eggs?

“C-calm down.”

“I can’t calm down!”

He stroked his wife’s cheeks, trying to persuade her as calmly as possible.

“I’ve a-already been h-humiliated so it d-doesn’t matter, but… my w-wife should remain a p-princess to the children until the end.”

Phenelity seemed a bit surprised by his words. She twitched her cheeks, which had been hot with anger, trying to hold back laughter, then vigorously wiped the egg off his clothes with a handkerchief.

“Egg prices have already risen because of the war, and now this is just too much!”

She didn’t forget to add her peculiar grumbling.

The next day, the fact that Viett had been hit with an egg didn’t appear in the newspaper articles. Instead, a photo of Phenelity surrounded by children and smiling brightly decorated the front page.

The following page reported that orders for the wide-brimmed hat she wore during her orphanage visit had surged. Secretly pleased, Viett took out scissors and carefully cut out the article photo of Phenelity.

* * *

「<Pepe: Day 77XX Since Birth!>

※ This regime propaganda novel may contain scenes inappropriate for children.

※ Names of characters other than the Little Lord and family will be marked as XX.

※ Please note that parts of certain individuals’ dialogue are marked with **.

One thing I’ve realized during my palace life is that there are surprisingly many people who have goodwill toward me.

They were all people who had been reading my novel since childhood. I gradually grew closer to the maids who were initially distant and awkward. Among them were people like Princess Rosemary who had long been fans of the actor Hughey Gallant.

— I’ve heard people say you resemble Hughey Gallant, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.

A maid who had approached me without hesitation from my first week said with a reddened face.

She always chatted beside me with a water pitcher while I was eating, and thanks to the maid, I could enjoy meals without boredom even without Viett.

— I thought this is what Hughey Gallant would look like if he were a woman…….

The maid murmured with an enraptured face.

That damn Hughey Gallant! (I’m tired of it, so tired!) I made a displeased expression but couldn’t contain my curiosity and blurted out a question.

— Since when have you been reading my novel?

— Oh, my family has subscribed only to the ‘Evening Whisper’ since my great-grandfather’s generation….. My mother read ‘Pepe’ to me since I was so young I can barely remember.

— Really? Then you’ve been watching me for a very long time?

— Yes. So I was really surprised when Your Highness the Crown Princess’s personality suddenly changed.

— Do you prefer before the change?

The maid momentarily looked bewildered at my impulsive question. She awkwardly rolled her eyes before speaking.

— Well….. Personally, I started reading the novel more enthusiastically after the change.

— Really? That’s a relief!

My choice was indeed correct. I smiled brightly and offered a handshake to the maid. The maid took my hand gently with a dazed expression.

Just then, General XX, who had just entered the dining room, glared at the maid with wide eyes.

— What disrespectful behavior is this while Her Highness is eating?

— I’m sorry!

The maid was startled and let go of my hand. I looked sympathetically at her as she quickly backed away and stood against the wall.

Both the maid and the chef seemed frightened by the general’s fierce gaze.

Due to the general’s fiery surveillance, my personal maids rarely dared to get too close to me. (And I thought I was finally going to make friends in the palace!)

— Is the food to your liking?

I resentfully looked at the general who sat down without being invited. It was because of his threats that my father and relatives couldn’t set foot in the palace.

The reason sounded plausible. Since negative public opinion about the count family was rampant, he insisted that family meetings should be restrained at least until the situation stabilized.

As a result, despite several weeks passing since his return, Viett still hadn’t even seen my father’s face. (Perhaps that was fortunate?)

— The princess has urgently requested to see you.

General XX urged me with a solemn face.

— Let’s get going.

He must hate seeing me eat comfortably. I sighed and sluggishly got up from my seat. The general followed relentlessly behind me as I trudged along, nagging all the way.

— Stand straight! Look ahead and walk in a straight line! How can the crown princess of a nation walk with such little energy!

— I lack energy because my stomach isn’t full due to your rushing, General!

— How can the crown princess of a nation speak like this! Lady Amelia would……”

— Ugh, Amelia, Amelia at every opportunity!

— Don’t run!

I fled from his angry outburst and turned the corner of the corridor. Just then, I nearly collided with Princess Rosemary who was also turning the corner.

— Oh my! Pepe. Are you all right?

Princess Rosemary barely caught me as I almost fell backward. I nodded while calming my racing heart.

— I’m fine……”

— Where were you running to in such a hurry?

— I heard you were urgently looking for me……”

— Huh? When did I? I only asked you to come when you finished your meal……”

The princess tilted her head, seemingly confused. What? Another lie? This is truly infuriating! I huffed and quickly turned around. General XX was whistling and pretending not to notice.

— Sir XX!

The princess frowned and glared at him with a knowing look.

— Do you find it that entertaining to torment someone young enough to be your granddaughter?

— That’s right!

When I peeked out from behind Princess Rosemary where I was hiding, the general shook his head and looked at me with contempt.

— Lady Amelia would never engage in such childish behavior……”

He clicked his tongue with a troubled expression and disappeared into the distance. Still, thanks to the princess’s protection, today’s childish harassment ended relatively quickly. I let out a deep sigh and drooped my shoulders wearily.

— Why is he so desperate to torment me?

— He’s like that because he’s senile.

I looked up at the princess with astonished eyes as she responded indifferently.

— Is it okay to say such harsh things? General XX is a national hero who led the Lantier battle to victory……”