PAMF 23

Chapter 23

This Isn’t a Potato, It’s Mom

“Smells delicious!”

“Hurry up and eat!”

These little ones take food way too seriously…

I muttered as I watched the miscellaneous children running like an angry herd of buffalo.

‘Oh, those kids. They completely lose their heads whenever food appears.’

I clicked my tongue and observed quietly. The maids took it upon themselves to stop the kids and clean their messy hands.

“Children, please return to your seats and sit down first.”

A moment later, a maid holding a tray of pastries smiled at Ronowe and Beris with her eyes.

“You must enjoy it together with Her Highness, the Princess.”

Since the kids weren’t leaving on their own, the maid seemed to be trying to politely send them back.

“Ah…”

Finally, the children realized they had been too hasty, and their faces darkened slightly.

“Not fair! I get first!”

“Me too, Beris!”

Beris shouted loudly, and Ronowe scolded her younger sibling with a stern expression of her own.

“You were trying to go first too, weren’t you?”

Beris clenched her fists in protest, feeling wronged by the scolding.

“I came because it smelled so good!”

Meanwhile, Ronowe retorted as well, but to my eyes, they were both the same.

‘They fight over the silliest things at the drop of a hat.’

Thump, thump…

It seemed even Carlisle couldn’t bear to watch the kids argue.

“Children.”

He calmly stepped between the quarreling siblings and expertly mediated.

“You both haven’t done anything wrong. Rather, let’s not keep Her Highness waiting any longer.”

Patting their backs and shoulders gently, he spoke, and Ronowe and Beris quieted down.

Still, Ronowe crossed her arms and hummed in irritation, while Beris trembled slightly, staring at her sister.

“Enjoy your meal, Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

Getting bored of watching, I turned my attention to the pastries the maid brought over.

‘I can’t believe they didn’t notice the difference.’

If their eyes weren’t just decoration, they were truly innocent.

I recalled the cookies the chef had baked again, contrasting them with the hideous dough we had made ourselves.

‘Still, better than noticing…’

I decided to let it slide quietly. I muttered to myself at how noisily the siblings were eating together as if no fight had ever occurred.

“Package these separately and place them in the bedroom.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I set aside some cookies in case the kids reached for mine while eating recklessly. Perhaps they could even show them to Jeff and Hecate before bedtime. I wanted to store them perfectly.

‘Ah!’

Watching the maid move the cookies, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. I propped my chin with one hand and spoke.

“I have a question. You said the one who guesses the item in the box first will get a watermelon cake, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The maid answered promptly, and I turned my back slightly, leaning down to hear better.

“But Beris lost the chance to guess while defeating the monster in the box.”

I deliberately said it loudly, recalling the time the kid had attacked me with snot.

“So…”

The maid flinched like a guilty thief—it was amusing to see.

“Please make sure everyone can enjoy the watermelon cake.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Relieved that I wasn’t nagging too much, the maid left to fetch it.

“Thank you, Princess!”

“I love watermelon cake!”

Sigh… Since it was already promised as a reward, the dessert was ready anyway. I commanded the maid with my usual indifferent expression to hurry and bring it.

“Wow~!”

Finally, the cake arrived. Resembling a watermelon, it was elaborately decorated with whipped cream and a small crown atop a wide, round cake. With the luxurious golden display stand, even Carlisle and the kids were impressed.

‘It looks unusual. They make everything these days.’

I cut it neatly into slices and examined it; the inside was normal. I had expected red inside because it was a “watermelon cake,” but it wasn’t.

‘Is that chocolate on the outside?’

They wouldn’t have used real seeds for the kids’ food, so the chocolate was probably molded small to look like seeds.

‘Chocolate is good.’

Seeing the sweet treat made me happy. Picking pieces here and there, I felt my fatigue slowly melt away.

“Your Highness! You’re only picking the chocolate!”

“You shouldn’t do that!”

Yikes—caught red-handed.

“It’s not like that!”

Damn it. Being scolded for picky eating by kids much younger than me was embarrassing. After centuries of living, having little ones point out my flaws was pure shame.

‘Of all times, they had to catch me eating only the chocolate seeds!’

I felt uneasy under their gaze, so after finishing my snack, I used the excuse of being full and tired to send everyone back.

Later, I returned to my bedroom, collapsed into a nap, and woke up in time for dinner to spend time with Jeff and Hecate.

We ate leisurely and took a walk; soon it was bedtime.

“Darling, look at this!”

Jeff and Hecate had promised to read me a book before sleep.

“Did you really make something this wonderful with those tiny hands?”

I nodded, not explaining that the chef had remade my original mess.

‘Too bothersome to explain everything.’

I showed them the cookies before reading the book, and as expected, the admiration began.

“Impressive!”

The pair, like soulmates, stuck together with bright eyes.

“How could our daughter be so skilled with her hands?”

All over a single cookie. I clicked my tongue at how carefully they handled it, like a delicate baby bird.

“Did you make this from the play your parents prepared today?”

“Yes.”

When else would I have made it? I thought, answering briefly. Poppy stayed quietly beside me, not joining our conversation.

“It’s too precious to eat.”

Meanwhile, Hecate stared warmly at the cookie and declared happily:

“I’ll put it on Mom’s desk and look at it every day.”

Do as you like. I said nothing, feeling indifferent about the cookie—good for viewing, but I could eat it later. Better than throwing it away.

“Wait a moment, Your Highness!”

But a protesting voice interrupted. Jeff was the culprit.

“Why do you want to keep the Princess’s cookie all to yourself?”

Jeff pointed to his face with his right index finger, silently arguing that the cookie shouldn’t be monopolized.

“That cookie belongs in my office!”

I groaned. Watching Jeff and Hecate argue over my cookie gave me a headache.

‘They fight over a cookie I brought without much thought.’

More than anything, they came to read a book before sleep, yet spent an hour fussing over nothing.

“Your Highness should concede since you spent more time with her!”

“This is unfair…”

Enough. I could no longer watch and stepped in.

Clap!

I snatched the cookie from Hecate first.

Click!

Without hesitation, I split the cookie in half and fed it to the shocked Jeff and Hecate.

“The cookie was meant to be eaten.”

Pathetic. I sighed and continued:

“I divided it fairly, so don’t fight.”

Had I not intervened, nothing would have been resolved. I pinched my forehead.

“Now I’m tired, so I’ll sleep.”

Their arguing had worsened my already poor mood.

“I’ll read the book another time.”

Perhaps seeing my exhausted expression, the two reluctantly gave up.

“Sweet dreams, my daughter~.”

“If you feel scared in the night, be sure to find your father.”

“Yes.”

Finally, I silently hoped they would leave quickly.

Click!

Once the door shut, I relaxed completely.

I was about to call a maid to help with bedtime when I noticed the military strategy book on the table.

‘Oh, Ronowe had been reading this.’

Maybe just a little more before bed. I got off the bed, and Poppy followed busily.

I examined the book carefully, but…

‘I brought it just in case, but nothing is happening.’

What could it be? When Ronowe held it, there had been a strong presence.

‘Strange. I expected something special since I’ve lived so long.’

No red aura, no reaction.

‘I’ll bring this to the next military lesson just in case.’

I couldn’t shake the suspicious feeling, so I planned my next move.

‘Asking a snake seems unwise, but the only one who might give me clues has to be as long-lived as I am…’

I had no choice. I called a maid.

“Who’s there?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

I handed her the strategy book.

“Keep it safe and bring it on the day of military lessons. Handle it carefully; it belongs to the royal household.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The dutiful maid nodded and, after assisting with bedtime, left the room.

The next day…

“Ta-da~! Playtime is back!”

Today, Sasha and the other children gathered in a designated area of the garden.

“Today, we’ll decorate stones in colorful ways.”

I realized the stones, water, paints, and brushes had been set up for this activity.

“Wear aprons so your clothes don’t get dirty.”

Seems like today is an art activity—good.

‘Time to show the kids my skills.’

I felt the most confident I had in any activity yet and put on the apron the maid handed me with a smile.

“I’ll draw lots of macarons!”

“I’ll make chocolate!”

More food, huh? Ronowe and Beris seemed to enjoy the new activity, smiling brightly.

“This looks fun.”

Meanwhile, Sasha engaged with the kids, and Beris responded:

“Dokkan hyung! Let’s make lots of cool stones and trade them!”

“Good idea.”

They must be exhausted. I shook my head and gathered a few stones to start painting.

After quickly finishing a few, I decided to draw Hecate last. Previously, I had drawn Jeff, so this time Hecate would be the model.

“Princess, have you drawn a lot?”

“Yes, indeed.”

When did this kid arrive? I showed Carlisle the finished work.

“Look, I put my heart into this piece.”

I proudly held it out.

‘I’m proud—it looks just like Hecate.’

Eyebrows, double eyelids, distinct lips… everything was perfect.

“Truly a wonderful potato.”

Still young, Carlisle seemed to lack understanding of art. I corrected him immediately.

“No, it’s not a potato—it’s Mom.”

“Ah…”

Perhaps embarrassed for calling the Empress a potato first, Carlisle went silent.

“What did you draw?”

I asked so it wouldn’t get awkwardly quiet.

“I… made this.”

Hesitantly, Carlisle handed me his stone with his drawing.

“Interesting. What did you base it on?”

“My face…”

It didn’t look bad, but I didn’t want to crush his innocence, so I exchanged a few words and let him go.

Suddenly, Sasha, who had been near Ronowe and Beris, appeared.

He stared at Carlisle’s work, smiled mysteriously, and spoke to me.

“Princess, I drew my own face too.”

“Really? Let’s see.”

Being eccentric as always, I casually asked him to show it.

“Nicely done.”

Sasha’s stone revealed a surprisingly good drawing.

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”

Always nice to hear, he smiled brightly.

Suddenly, Carlisle stepped back and hid his stone behind him for some reason.