Another day, another lesson.
Clara's new strategy had proven surprisingly effective. Bringing snacks from her modern world- things the palace chefs had never even heard of- and bribing Princess Veronica with them had done more for her lessons than weeks of patient lecturing ever had.
Tanghulu had been the first success. After that came small paper packets of sour candy that made Veronica scowl and immediately demand another piece, thin chocolate biscuits dipped in cream, and strange fizzy tablets that dissolved in water and turned an ordinary drink into something sparkling.
The Princess had grown noticeably less aggressive with her pranks. She still tormented Clara, of course- it was practically a royal hobby- but lately the tricks had become less destructive and more… irritating.
Yesterday Veronica had enchanted Clara's quill so it squeaked like a distressed mouse every time it touched paper. The day before that, she had briefly turned Clara's hair bright violet during the middle of a lecture, claiming it was "an improvement." Once, she had even shrunk Clara's stack of textbooks to the size of teacups, only restoring them after watching Clara struggle to read the microscopic print for several minutes.
Annoying.
But harmless.
Clara had to admit- some of them were actually a little funny.
More importantly, Veronica had started cooperating during lessons. Not eagerly, of course. The Princess still acted like every assignment was a personal insult.
But if the reward at the end was good enough, she would finish the work.
Clara had begun to suspect they might actually be… friends.
Which was probably a dangerous assumption when the other party was an unpredictable imperial princess with a casual attitude toward execution.
Veronica leaned back in her chair, twirling a strand of silver hair around her finger. Her violet eyes studied Clara with the kind of calculating curiosity that usually preceded either a question or a magical disaster.
"Clara," she said slowly, "perhaps it was because of my surprise earlier that I failed to consider this."
Clara didn't look up from the papers she was organizing.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"How did you know I had feelings for Nikolai?"
Ah.
That again.
Clara forced herself not to pause.
"Ehh… another intuition, I guess?" she said casually. "It's a well-known fact across the Empire that you two are childhood friends. And he's the strongest candidate to become your fiancé eventually."
She shrugged lightly.
"I took a gamble."
Then she smiled.
"And you took the bait way too easily."
For a moment, the perfectly composed princess simply stared at her.
Then Veronica's expression faltered.
A faint flush crept across her cheeks, breaking the flawless mask she usually wore in public.
"Well- I wasn't thinking straight!" Veronica snapped quickly. "Anyone would have reacted the same way under those circumstances!"
She crossed her arms, clearly irritated.
"I'll have you know that if you tell anyone about this, I will personally have you executed."
Clara finally looked up.
"Relax, Princess," she said calmly. "I completely understand."
Veronica narrowed her eyes.
"You understand?" she repeated slowly, clearly unconvinced.
Clara shrugged.
"I understand having questionable taste."
The princess glared.
Clara blinked.
"Well," she corrected mildly, "formerly questionable taste."
The princess stared at her like she was deciding whether to throw her out the window.
Then, unexpectedly-
Veronica laughed.
It wasn't a delicate, princess-like giggle. It was short, sharp, and slightly incredulous.
"You're remarkably bold for someone whose life depends entirely on my patience."
Clara returned to stacking her papers.
"I like to think of it as honesty."
"Honesty?" Veronica scoffed. "You just insulted the most powerful duke in the Empire."
"I insulted your taste in men," Clara corrected.
Veronica leaned back in her chair, folding her arms.
"And what exactly," she asked coolly, "is wrong with my taste?"
Clara tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Well, for starters, he sounds boring."
Veronica's eyes flashed.
"Nikolai is the youngest commander in the northern legions. He's defeated three border rebellions and-"
"-and I assume he spends all his free time brooding dramatically in the snow," Clara interrupted.
Veronica blinked.
"…Yes."
Clara nodded.
"Exactly my point."
The princess frowned.
"That is not a flaw."
"It is if you want a conversation longer than three sentences."
Veronica opened her mouth.
Paused.
Closed it again.
"…He does tend to stare at the horizon a lot."
Clara grinned.
"See? You deserve better."
"Oh?" Veronica said dryly. "And who exactly would you recommend instead?"
Clara waved a hand vaguely.
"Someone interesting. Someone fun. Someone who doesn't look like he was carved out of a block of emotional repression."
Veronica tilted her head.
"You're very opinionated for someone who has never attended a single imperial ball."
"That's because I have the advantage of outside perspective," Clara said.
Then she added casually-
"You should give up on him."
The room went quiet.
Veronica stared at her.
Clara continued organizing papers like she hadn't just suggested abandoning the princess's long-held crush.
"You can't just give up on someone," Veronica said after a moment.
"Of course you can."
"That's ridiculous."
"It's efficient."
Veronica glared.
Clara shrugged.
"Find someone new to entertain yourself with."
The princess scoffed.
"You make it sound like choosing a new pair of shoes."
"Is it not?" Clara said mildly.
Veronica opened her mouth again.
Then stopped.
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
"…Hypothetically," she said slowly, "if I were to 'entertain' someone else…"
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"What exactly would that accomplish?"
"Well," Clara said thoughtfully, "you might realize you like someone else more."
"And if I don't?"
"Then at least you'll be less bored."
Veronica snorted softly.
"…You assume I'm bored."
Clara gestured lazily around the silent palace wing.
The halls outside were quiet.
Too quiet.
No laughter. No music. No chaos.
Just guards, marble floors, and endless schedules.
"You're a sixteen year old home-schooled princess trapped in this enormous palace," Clara said. "Of course you're bored."
Veronica didn't immediately argue.
Her fingers tapped slowly against the desk.
"…It is rather quiet," she admitted reluctantly.
Clara leaned back in her chair.
Finally. She noticed.
"Honestly," Clara continued, "I'm bored too."
Veronica raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
"Yes, me."
"You come from another world filled with strange sweets and bizarre ideas."
"And now I spend my days grading essays about spice tariffs."
Veronica considered that.
"…That does sound tragic."
"Thank you."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Clara sat up slightly.
"I have an idea."
Veronica immediately looked suspicious.
"That usually ends poorly."
"What if we leave the palace?"
The princess blinked.
"…What?"
"Just for a few hours," Clara said casually. "There's a market district outside the eastern walls, right?"
Veronica stared at her like she had suggested starting a war.
"You want the Crown Princess of the Empire to sneak out of the palace."
"Yes."
"…To buy ingredients."
"Yes."
"…For your next surprise."
"Yes."
Veronica leaned back slowly.
Her violet eyes gleamed.
"That is an incredibly irresponsible idea."
Clara smiled.
"But you're considering it."
The princess didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze drifted toward the window again.
Toward the distant city beyond the palace walls.
Then a slow, dangerous smile appeared.
"…Hypothetically," Veronica said, "if we did sneak out…"
Clara leaned forward.
"Yes?"
"…What exactly are we making next?"
Clara grinned.
"Oh, Princess."
"You're going to love this one."
And if the Imperial Family finds out, I'm going to be so screwed.