The materials used were of the highest quality, and the clothes were made by renowned designers who worked day and night.

She then took out a pink dress from among them.

“Shall we try this one on first?”

Adelia handed over the dress with a bright and happy smile.

Seeing her face, Ariana shivered.

‘The expression dad has when he gives a present and expects…’

Maybe this sister is as much of an overprotective dad as my own dad.

It was a quite reasonable suspicion. And it was very accurate.

* * *

After trying on all the clothes, Ariana chose the one she liked the most and put it on.

She stood in front of the mirror, looking herself over from various angles, and smiled broadly.

Adelia looked on happily from behind.

“It would be best to go to His Majesty first, right?”

“Yes!”

Ariana was in an excellent mood.

The conversation they had shared played a part, but the clothes she received as a gift pleased her greatly.

The pink dress she chose at first had especially captured her heart.

The light pink dress had layers of white lace with gold accents between them, and a large ribbon was attached at the center of the chest. It was an off-shoulder design but had white fabric underneath and thin fabric attached to the upper arms to highlight her cute appearance.

“Sister, you’re so pretty too!”

Since they had made the excuse of trying on clothes together, Adelia also changed her clothes.

The inside was layered with a light ivory thin and light fabric, and it was wrapped with light purple fabric on the outside, making the skirt flutter softly. The design revealed the shoulders but was covered with a thin shawl.

When she changed her clothes and came out, Ariana held her hand tightly.

“Let’s go quickly!”

She wanted to show off this look to her father and brothers.

Ariana held Adelia’s hand tightly and headed to the emperor’s office.

Ariana in her cute dress and Adelia in her elegant light purple dress attracted attention wherever they went.

Some people stared at them in awe.

When they arrived at the emperor’s office, the servants and knights who recognized them bowed their heads.

“It’s the princess and Lady Vita. Please enter. His Majesty and the prince are waiting for you.”

The aide standing in front of the office greeted her with a bright face.

The emperor and prince, who had just returned, were exuding a fierce aura.

Only the chief aide was inside, while the rest were waiting outside. They all valued their lives, so they kept their distance.

‘Ha ha… It’s because of me.’

Adelia laughed awkwardly.

After all, she was the one who had provoked their mood.

She hurriedly opened the door to the office.

“Dad! Brother!”

As soon as the door opened, Ariana ran towards them.

The emperor skillfully lifted her into his arms.

“It suits you well.”

“Little one. You look pretty today.”

Adelia seemed invisible to them, lost in their own world.

The prince smiled broadly as he stroked the princess’s head, while the emperor struggled to keep his lips from curving upwards.

Adelia watched happily from a step behind.

‘This is what family is about. How wonderful.’

Adelia had blood relatives but never had a proper family.

So this situation felt unfamiliar yet tickled her heart.

She could have felt jealous of what she didn’t have, but no such feelings arose.

‘It’s not a position you can covet just because you want to.’

She was accustomed to giving up on things she couldn’t have.

It’s to not covet what cannot be obtained.

She wished her family was as affectionate as them. That was the extent of her feelings.

“Is it a dress from the Eileen clothing shop? Quite luxurious.”

His gaze was still on the princess, but she knew the comment was directed at her.

“I brought several for the princess. Everything suits her so well. It’s rewarding to dress her.”

“Bill me. Generously. Whatever the cost.”

“This is my gift, so I’ll decline the money.”

“Bill me.”

The emperor was adamant.

It was annoying enough that Ariana liked her too much, and a gift? That’s out of the question.

Adelia stepped back at the threat of immediate trouble if she didn’t bill him.

“If you insist on paying, I’m happy to. It’s fun to legally embezzle imperial funds.”

Adelia calculated the cost of the clothes in her head. If the emperor says to bill, then bill she must.

‘His Majesty told me to bill him.’

There were twenty-five dresses. Each boasted an enormous price tag, made only from the finest materials.

She had calculated the cost for twenty-four dresses, excluding the one Ariana was wearing.

‘The prettiest dress is my gift.’

That was something she couldn’t give up.

After all, weren’t these the clothes she had prepared? She didn’t want to just add a spoonful with money, but given the circumstances, she compromised appropriately.

The emperor seated Ariana on a plush sofa, with both father and son taking seats beside her.

Adelia naturally sat opposite them, observing their doting behavior.

“We should call a painter.”

“How about hanging a large painting on the castle staircase?”

“Yes. And make a small one for a pendant… And there should be one in the room too.”

“Ah! In my room too. Let’s also draw one to keep in the imperial vault.”

The doting father and son seriously discussed their plans.

There was no trace of jest in their contemplation of the quantity and size.

As their plans became more concrete, Ariana’s expression darkened further.

“Uh…”

Despite hearing it every day, her face flushed every time.

Being among them, she feared that paintings would indeed be hung all over the palace.

Wasn’t their history already too illustrious? Just turn your head and the office is already filled with her paintings, from when she was a tiny baby to just a few days ago. Absolutely packed.

Eventually, Ariana wriggled out from between them.

“Sister…”

Ariana chose to be by Adelia’s side.

She snuggled up close and buried her face against her.

No one had been able to stop her father and brothers until now…

‘Sister might be able to.’

Adelia chuckled and stroked Ariana, who had buried her face in her lap.

“My, my… You’re still not used to training.”

In the original story, Ariana was known as a kind of beast tamer.

But that was years later. The still inexperienced tamer might not even know she’s holding a leash.

‘In just a little while, she’ll speak her mind clearly and take control of the imperial family.’

For now, she’s just a young child, too fond of her family to say no, an innocent child who couldn’t say no.

For such a child, Adelia willingly took on the hatred of the imperial family.

She opened her mouth with a bright smile.

“I’ve also ordered clothes for both of you from the clothes shop. When they arrive, wear them, and then let’s draw your portrait. As you wish, decorate the castle stairs, make pendants to keep, and also… I’ll cast protective magic so you can store it in the imperial vault for future generations. Ah! It would also be great to hang it in the market. That way, many people can see it.”

This is exactly putting oneself in another’s shoes.

Ariana whimpered, clutching at her dress and trembling.

The emperor and prince’s faces darkened, much like Ariana felt when she listened to similar stories from them.

The effect was clear.

“…Just one painting. Only of Ariana. Would that be okay?”

“One would be… nice.”

Ariana lifted her head and fidgeted as she spoke.

The father and daughter dramatically compromised. To draw a portrait but only one piece, for a private collection not to be shown to others.

In this process, Adelia received sharp glances but chose to ignore them.

Before calling the court painter, Adelia went with Ariana to find Lucian.

They searched his office, bedroom, and reception room but could not find him.

Fortunately, they learned of his whereabouts from Lucian’s chief aide, whom they encountered by chance on their way.

“The crown prince? He went to the training ground earlier.”

The training ground? It wasn’t even time for training.

Adelia was puzzled but followed Ariana’s steps towards the training ground.

Unlike her, since this was her first visit to the training ground, Ariana was familiar with it.

“Has the princess arrived?”

“It’s been a while since your last visit. How have you been?”

The knights at the training ground warmly welcomed the princess.

She, too, responded with a familiar and cheerful smile to their greetings.

The knights melted at her cute smile.

“What’s everyone doing? Oh. Is the princess here? Ah, Adelia, long time no see.”

“That’s right. You’re Sir Deon, right?”

“Please speak informally. His Highness has ordered that you be treated as equal to the crown princess.”

Knight Commander Deon bowed politely first. Surprised by his formal gesture, other knights began bowing one after another.

Most knights had not formally greeted her before, so many did not know her well.

Moreover, entering with the princess made her presence even fainter.

Adelia smiled awkwardly as she received their greetings.

Knights who saw her late blushed profusely.

“Yes. I heard His Highness is at the training ground. Where might he be?”