"I'm sorry, I seemed to be eating a bit too quickly."
Noticing the suspicious look in Anna's eyes, Princess Veronica didn't panic after revealing a slip-up. Instead, she apologetically admitted,
"Today has just been filled with unexpected events. First, your brother suddenly proposed to me, then we were attacked by the rebels. I haven't really eaten anything since morning, so I couldn't help myself just now. Please don't laugh at me."
So that's how it is...
Seeing the princess openly admit to "scamming food and drink," and recalling her still elegant demeanor despite being a bit rushed, the suspicion faded slightly from Anna's eyes. She was drawn to a new topic thrown her way and asked with some concern,
"So... how is Leon? Were you with him today? Since you were attacked by rebels, was he hurt?"
"Don't worry. Although he ran into a tiny bit of trouble, his shoulder was hit by... a small pebble, and I suspect the wound has probably already healed."
After relaying Leon's condition, Princess Veronica couldn't help but smile at the clearly relieved yet frail girl before her. She then warmly took Anna's hand, saying with a close expression,
"Honestly, when I saw you just now, it really gave me quite a scare."
Upon hearing the "sister-in-law's" words, the frail girl couldn't help but shiver slightly, as if some little secret she harbored was seen through. She forced a smile and said,
"Of course, it's because of you."
Without food or a place to stay, the princess, who urgently needed shelter, employed her political finesse, smiling as she praised,
"Leon mentioned he had a sister around his age, but he never told me you were so beautiful."
Watching the modestly dressed girl beside her, made slightly bashful by the compliment, lower her head shyly even in a plain white dress, Princess Veronica couldn't resist wrapping an arm around her slender waist, then sighed with three parts flattery and seven parts sincerity,
"Truly... so beautiful it makes me a bit jealous, especially your waist... Oh my, really... On the day Leon and I have our wedding, you must be my bridesmaid!
But you have to promise me not to dress too beautifully; otherwise, the guests might not even look at me and will keep their eyes glued to you. I would be so embarrassed."
"It's not... It's not that exaggerated..."
Embarrassed by Princess Veronica's words, Anna's fair cheeks tinged with a blush, and she waved her hands to indicate she wasn't as good as the princess described her.
*Suppressing a small pang of envy, Anna looked at the beautiful, graceful, and impeccably mannered woman before her and sighed softly in her heart. She then reversed the grip on the princess's hand and said,*
"You, sis... you're the truly stunning one, and you have such a good figure. Even if I dressed beautifully, everyone's attention would definitely be on you... By the way, how old are you, sis?"
Hearing Anna's inquiry, the princess couldn't help her expression from stiffening slightly, quickly masking it with a vague smile,
"I'm just a little bit older than your brother..."
A bit older? Her brother was sixteen this year, a little bit older would be... seventeen or eighteen? Nineteen?
Anna thought for a moment, looking at the mature and graceful woman before her, eventually estimating upward a little and carefully asked,
"Are you... twenty years old, sis?"
*You mean... I look like someone not quite twenty yet?*
The question prompted the princess, a fair twenty-eight-years-old beauty, to feel a thrill of delight in her heart, and her smile became a hundred times more genuine than before.
*Not only was Leon's sister pretty and gentle, but she also spoke so well and cooked deliciously. Oh my, today I really did come to the right place!*
"Yeah, about right, about right!"
Thick-skinned enough to accept Anna's guess with a broad grin, the princess continued chatting with her. With both sides eager to befriend each other, the conversation felt endless, lasting long into the night before ceasing.
"Oh my, talking was so delightful that I accidentally lost track of time!"
Always glancing at the window from the corner of her eye, the princess saw that most streetlights had dimmed, estimating the last public carriage had departed. She promptly stood up with a regretful expression,
"I only meant to come see you all but ended up disturbing for so long. I'm really sorry, I should be going!"
Was it that late already?
Looking outside at the dark streets, now pitch black with most streetlights turned off, Anna quickly stood up to stop her,
"Wait, don't. It's already so late; sis, just stay the night!"
"How could I impose?"
"What's the big deal? You're going to marry into the family sooner or later, so staying one night early doesn't matter."
"But since Leon and I aren't actually married yet, staying over now seems a bit..."
"It's fine; he's not here anyway. Besides, it's already so late, the last carriage might be gone, and if you encounter danger on the way, what would we do?"
"Well... okay then..."
Unable to resist the future sister-in-law's enthusiastic invitation, the restrained princess agreed to stay. She ended up being shown into Leon's room for the night.
Considering the clothes' size compared to her own, Anna realized the princess certainly couldn't fit into hers, so she thoughtfully found a few of Leon's old clothes and left them by the bed.