Chapter 08
Why is it that they can only think of such simple ways to bully someone?
There’s no elegance. None at all.
Do they think targeting basic needs gives them more power over others?
People like this never improve… no, that’s not it.
Should I blame my stepmother from my previous life instead?
She wasn’t from the Middle Ages, but her thinking was no different from people back then.
Even if the world I lived in had more advanced technology, people themselves weren’t much different.
That’s why she could only act at this level.
When I was young, the first thing my stepmother did after entering our house was something similar.
Well… back then, she just starved me.
She gave me half-rotten food and accused me of being picky.
One day. Two days. Four days.
I survived drinking only water.
When I finally gave in to hunger and begged for forgiveness—
I was punished for admitting my mistake.
I was forced to starve even longer for the time it took me to apologize.
Once, I went an entire week without food.
I was only five.
“The vegetables aren’t like the ones commoners grow outside… these are carefully cultivated, high-quality vegetables, so they’re much fresher and more nutritious…”
Rena’s voice gradually grew quieter.
Even she seemed to realize how weak her excuse sounded, shutting her eyes tightly.
A small laugh escaped me.
Why is she trembling like this when it’s not even her fault?
Her clasped hands shook like an earthquake.
Creeeak.
As I stood up, the chair scraped against the marble floor.
It wasn’t proper etiquette, but I didn’t care.
“Where’s the kitchen?”
“Th-the kitchen? Why do you want to—”
“Rena.”
At my low voice, she flinched and quickly led the way.
“This way, Princess.”
If you want answers, it’s best to ask the ones responsible.
Rena stopped at the door and bowed.
“…Princess?”
The busy kitchen fell silent the moment I entered.
The first thing I noticed—
The worn-out clothes of the kitchen staff.
They looked clean at a glance, but up close, they were patched and mended.
Do they only get one uniform?
Before that thought even settled, I noticed the cooking equipment.
It wasn’t dirty.
It was clean and organized—
But old.
Everywhere showed signs of wear.
Rather than an imperial palace kitchen, it felt like the old kitchen of a once-famous restaurant.
“My goodness—Princess Grenita?!”
A worker washing dishes shouted in shock.
“What?”
“Oh—Princess!”
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
“We greet the Princess!”
“Please wait, we’ll call the head chef!”
“Hey! Call everyone—tell them the Princess is here!”
“The Princess?!”
Someone ran inside, and soon the head chef rushed out.
The kitchen staff gathered around like startled little dwarves.
Why do they all look so shabby?
It felt like a poor household barely surviving—
Why does my palace kitchen feel like that?
“Princess Grenita!”
The head chef already had tears in his eyes.
Three staff behind him lowered their heads.
I noticed a knife still lying on the table.
Ignoring Rena’s nervousness, I spoke.
“You all seem to have some idea why I came here?”
Just one sentence—
“I’m sorry!”
The head chef immediately dropped to his knees.
“As for the poor meals you’ve been receiving… there is no excuse.”
His voice trembled with guilt.
“Sniff… Chef…!”
The staff clung to him and collapsed as if begging for forgiveness.
“P-Princess, please!”
Even Rena suddenly dropped to the floor behind me.
She reached toward my ankle—but didn’t dare touch it.
“Rena?”
“The kitchen staff didn’t do it on purpose! I’m not saying this just because I have a friend here—it’s true!”
“……”
“They’re actually famous among the palace staff… for being kind and devoted to you!”
She couldn’t even look at my face, trembling as she spoke.
“So please don’t use the knife! They’re really pitiful—they put all their wages into supporting the annex…!”
“Rena, be quiet!”
A young worker shouted sharply.
“Soneeti, you be quiet! You don’t know how scary the Princess is—!”
“Don’t make things worse! If our Princess is angry, it means we did something wrong!”
The others nodded in agreement.
Melissa never had people on her side.
So what were these people?
Their goodwill didn’t seem fake.
And honestly, in her current situation, there was no reason for anyone to flatter her.
Still, it was strange.
Why weren’t they mentioned before?
No one came to her funeral.
No one mourned her.
Well… kitchen staff wouldn’t be allowed at a royal funeral anyway.
That explained it, somewhat.
“If you give us just one week, we’ll restore your meals to normal. We’re truly sorry, Princess…”
“Chef, don’t say that…”
“Please don’t, Miss Rena…”
Rena looked at them in disbelief.
Even to an outsider, their response was painfully ineffective.
“Tell her the truth already before something worse happens!”
“It’s nothing the Princess needs to worry about!”
“At this rate, you’ll all get killed!”
One insisted on hiding it.
The other begged to confess.
“…Sigh.”
I was getting irritated.
It felt like they were talking about my problem without including me.
Without another word, I grabbed the knife.
BANG!
I slammed it into the cutting board.
The loud sound echoed as the blade trembled.
Everyone stared at the knife—then at me.
“Tell me everything. Now.”
The explanation was simple.
About two years ago, the funds allocated to the annex started decreasing.
Six months ago, they stopped completely.
“So… there’s no money at all?”
The chef hesitated at my blunt wording, then nodded.
“That’s correct.”
“For six months, you’ve been pooling 30% of your wages to keep things running… and last month, even your wages stopped?”
“Yes, Princess. But you don’t need to worry! There are four of us—we can support you!”
He thumped his chest, but it wasn’t convincing.
This clearly wasn’t just a kitchen issue.
“Rena, what about the maids’ wages?”
“They’ve been reduced since last year.”
Of course.
And without notice, so complaints were rising.
I see.
If funding had been cut off for half a year—
This was intentional.
Either someone was withholding funds…
Or stealing them.
“Rena, lead the way.”
“Pardon?”
“There’s a royal treasury, right?”
“You mean the internal treasury?”
“Yes. There.”
As Rena hurried ahead, the chef spoke anxiously.
“We’ve already contacted the head steward. It should be resolved soon…”
I clicked my tongue.
Such naïve trust.
“O-or I can go again and ask—”
He spoke like I was a child.
It felt strange.
In my previous life, I was never treated like this—not even as a child.
“How old am I this year, Chef?”
He blinked.
“…You’re twenty.”
“I’m an adult. Old enough to solve this.”
And even if not—
A princess is still a princess.
Melissa wouldn’t have been allowed to act like a child anyway.
And neither would I.
I looked over the staff, all bowing their heads like criminals.
Slowly, they raised their heads.
I smiled.
“Trust me and wait.”
