The slums meant that the target would ultimately extend to commoners or even the lowest class. Tatiana wasn’t sure how effective such facilities would be for children who are forced into labor just to maintain their livelihood.

However, Tatiana was well aware that despite being of common birth, she had greatly benefited thanks to her successful parents. What she had always felt lacking was talent, not wealth or opportunity.

But if the opposite case existed, that would be too pitiful.

It wasn’t that she suddenly felt some sense of calling or grand sense of responsibility, but if this was the budget given to her, wouldn’t it be fine to use it this way? Wouldn’t this be the most fitting thing for the Bloom name?

Gideon laughed after hearing the result of his wife’s days of brain-wracking.

It wasn’t bad. He fully understood her intentions. However, he had a few things he could predict.

First, the Bloom family background would be brought up again.

Well, that’s something everyone in the world knows about anyway, so let that be. The problem was that there were nobles who didn’t particularly like educational projects targeting commoners.

“Titi. Some people will look at this unfavorably.”

“……”

“The nobles don’t want commoners becoming too smart.”

Tatiana knew that much too. It was just ironic that these words were coming from a royal who stood above the nobles.

Gideon stroked Tatiana’s purple hair and met her eyes. Then, with a steady smile, he said:

“There are always people who go crazy when someone they thought was beneath them suddenly stands shoulder to shoulder with them or surpasses them……”

He was quite curious if there had never been such people around Tatiana. He wanted to tell her to think about it carefully since he didn’t know well. However, this was too dark and uncertain a story for anyone to be sure about.

Instead of bringing up different words, Gideon decided to first lighten her immediate burden.

“Anyway, I don’t think my wife’s plan is bad. I’m ready to sign.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But discuss it with my sister first.”

“With Her Highness Scarlet?”

“My sister is much better than me when it comes to protocol and events. She knows exactly how to catch people’s attention.”

While he usually criticized her heavily, at times like this, he seemed to acknowledge the other’s abilities.

Just as Tatiana was about to think how heartwarming this was, Gideon frowned and clicked his tongue.

“But honestly, she’s too loud. That’s the problem.”

He already looked like his ears were hurting just thinking about it. He shook his head, saying she had ability but was sometimes so flashy and boisterous that her substance wasn’t visible.

Tatiana couldn’t help but somewhat agree with Gideon’s words. However, she also thought he might be too harsh in his assessment of his blood relatives.

She fell asleep giggling all night about these siblings who were ruthlessly honest when criticizing each other. 

* * *

 Tatiana and Scarlet were lying on the carpet with something plastered all over their faces. It was the result of grinding up lots of green vegetables that were supposedly good for the skin.

Tatiana had always thought Princess Scarlet was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. But with these green chunks covering their faces like this, humans were equal. They both fairly and amicably seemed to have turned into frogs.

The maids suppressed their giggles at this ridiculous yet cute sight. However, Tatiana wasn’t in the mood to laugh. Rather, she was extremely distressed.

“Ah…… This is frustrating.”

When Tatiana clutched her head in agony, Scarlet patted her chest area.

On Tatiana’s stomach lay heated stones and a blanket. Scarlet stared at them blankly before asking with a laugh,

“What, you’re even frustrated about that?”

When Tatiana nodded her head vigorously, some of the vegetable chunks fell to the floor.

Isabelle scooped up a handful of the mixture from the concave bowl and reapplied it to her face, making her once again a flawless frog. 

Tatiana had planned to settle her unfinished match with Kay today. She had even trained in her own way to defeat him and become the victor.

No one would know how many imaginary battles she had fought in her mind until now.

In her imagination alone, Tatiana had struck Kay’s back thousands of times with her scabbard. That’s how serious she was.

But what was this? She had to stop the sparring just when her momentum was building up.

It wasn’t time for her period, but suddenly there was something suspicious and familiar sensation down there……

That unpleasant and damp warmth is something only those who have experienced it would understand. Though it should be familiar by now, she still didn’t want to get used to it.

Tatiana, not wanting to show an unseemly sight to Kay, hurriedly left the place saying,

‘Sorry but I can’t today. If only my condition had been a little better…… Haa, really. Anyway, see you next time.’

At the time she thought it was the best option, but thinking about it again, it sounded exactly like the excuse of a defeated person tucking their tail and running away.

Tatiana wanted to explain that she had her reasons and that she absolutely did not run away. However, it felt ridiculous to explain such private matters in detail to a man who was practically a stranger. Above all, Kay probably wouldn’t want to hear it. That made her even more frustrated.

“Ah…… this is so embarrassing. I’m really annoyed.”

Scarlet, who had come to visit, poked Tatiana’s side and heard the whole story when she found her unusually gloomy.

Tatiana had initially intended to keep her mouth shut. However, when Scarlet listened quite seriously despite her occasional giggles, Tatiana found herself wanting even more sympathy.

“Your Highness might not understand how I feel, but to give you an idea of how this feels……”

“……”

“Hmm. It’s like preparing everything for your wedding day, going in with all your confidence, but when you arrive at the venue, you find your husband is prettier than you? No one’s really at fault, right? But it feels unfair and kind of annoying.”

Tatiana wondered after saying it: oh, is this a different story? Isn’t there a better example?

However, Scarlet unexpectedly sympathized too strongly.

“Oh my, what’s that about? That’s so infuriating. Really annoying.”

As Scarlet shuddered and sat up, something fell from her face with a plop.

Isabelle spooned up the vegetable chunks and dabbed them back on, making Scarlet a pretty frog once again.

Scarlet calmed down and lay back down, but something seemed to puzzle her again. It was because Tatiana’s example had been too specific.

“But have you ever…… Ah.”

“……What’s that ‘ah’ supposed to mean?”

“Just kidding, just kidding. Tatiana was much prettier. Who could be prettier than the bride on her wedding day?”

No, His Highness Gideon actually managed that difficult feat?

Tatiana thought it was just flattery, but since it wasn’t unpleasant to hear, she just smiled. When things started falling off their faces from laughing, Isabelle scolded them to stop. Even that was funny, and Scarlet and Tatiana kept giggling.

It felt like they were two little children not listening to their mother.

As they chatted away like this, Tatiana found herself naturally opening up to the princess about many things. Even her concerns about the privy purse came out naturally.

Considering that Scarlet was her sister-in-law, perhaps she should be more careful with her words. Showing such an awkward side to someone who was royal by birth and to the bone might invite criticism. But somehow, Tatiana had become comfortable around Scarlet.

Whether it was because Scarlet first showed such an informal attitude, or if this was the ability of the future queen of society to draw out others’ secrets, she wasn’t sure.

Scarlet responded very positively even to Tatiana’s consideration of building a school in the slums.

“Good, good.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes!”

“……It seems like you’re not thinking very deeply about this.”

It didn’t seem to take even 5 seconds for her to answer. At this point, Tatiana wanted to go find Gideon and ask if his sister was really being helpful.

However, Scarlet continued to move at lightning speed. When Tatiana explained Gideon’s concerns, she immediately shook her head.

“No, no, no. He always does this, making people feel down before they even start.”

“……”

“Being thorough is good, but he goes too far.”

That was completely different yet somehow similar to Gideon’s recent assessment of his sister.

Tatiana honestly wanted to say that everyone in their family was like that. While both the princess and Gideon had strong personalities, the others were just as distinctive.

The Empress who interfered in state affairs through her biological son. Prince Vaikal who was thrown into power struggles against his will. The King who precariously held onto his lifeline and power like a candle in the wind.

She wondered if it was okay for one family to have so many complicated people, but thinking about them being royalty made it somewhat understandable.