In the afternoon, the bright sun shone over the flourishing Phil Continent, just as it always did.

Our adorable little princess, Elina, had finally experienced her very first...

case of morning grumpiness.

“Waaah... I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna get up, meow~” Elina stubbornly clutched her blanket, crystalline tears glimmering in her pale blue eyes.

Eve stood by the bed, tugging at the blanket with a helpless look as she coaxed, “Your Highness, Elina, you’re not a little kid anymore. You can’t just stay in bed!”

“Shut up! I’m not staying in bed! There’s a demon holding me captive in here. It says I’ll die if I get out, meow~” Elina clung to the blanket, wriggling as she curled into a ball and whimpered.

This bed was just too comfortable. It was so soft and fluffy, a cat could never bring herself to leave, meow~

Even if I die, I’m not getting up today!

“What demon? I praised you just this morning for growing up, and by this afternoon you’ve gone right back to your old ways.” Eve sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Elina wrapped her arms around Eve with a pout, gazing up at her pitifully. Her tail rubbed back and forth against Eve, making her no different from an affectionate Little Kitty. Elina didn’t realize it, though. All she knew was that her head felt so foggy and she really wanted to keep sleeping. Maybe this was the price she had to pay for taking an afternoon nap.

Eve didn’t know what to do with Elina like this. It wasn’t as if she could be harsh with her—no one could do that. Even a heart of steel would probably melt under all that cuteness.

“All right, all right. You can sleep for ten more minutes, okay?” Eve said, glancing at the clock.

“Mm, no problem.” Elina decisively made an OK sign, then flopped back down and fell asleep.

Eve tilted her head, not sure what Her Highness meant by that gesture. But it didn’t matter. Her only goal now was to let the princess enjoy these last ten minutes of rest.

Ten minutes later, Eve shook Elina, who was sleeping soundly.

Elina sat up with a dazed expression, rubbed her sleepy eyes, then stretched. Her pink cotton pajamas traced a lovely curve.

“Is it time?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s time to get up,” Eve said respectfully.

“Mmm... all right.” Elina nodded reluctantly.

Since I’d already promised to get up, as a man, I had to keep my word. As for staying in bed...

So what? Staying in bed isn’t something only girls do. Even if I still have the spirit of an iron-blooded man inside me, there’s nothing wrong with lazing around a little, right? After all, that blanket is a prison no one can easily escape from, meow~

“Your Highness, Miss Caro is waiting for you in the garden,” Eve said.

Elina slapped her forehead. Oh no, she had a best friend. Now she wouldn’t be able to do as she pleased. If you have a really close friend, they’re bound to wonder what you’re up to and why you’re ignoring them.

But right now, she wanted more than anything to head to the library and look up detailed information about this world, to see if anything clashed with her own knowledge. Then she could figure out how to latch onto the protagonist. This was a matter of life and death, meow~

Faced with the choice between her one precious cat life and spending time with Caro, Elina sensibly chose her poor little life. Staying alive mattered more—and even if she wanted to be a lazy freeloader later, she had to survive first, meow~

“Eve, I’m going to the library to read today. Please tell Caro I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to spend time with her,” Elina said calmly.

“Of course, Your Highness.” Eve gave her an approving look.

It seemed Her Highness really had grown up. She even wanted to read now. Before, she’d hated books more than anything. After all, a lively Little Kitty like Her Highness Elina would have a hard time sitting still to read the lessons and stories left behind by those who came before her.

But since Her Highness was ready to take her reading seriously, Eve wasn’t about to let her go play with Miss Caro. Reading would do far more for the princess’s future, while playing was practically useless. As Her Highness’s only personal maid, Eve had a duty to keep her on the right track as she grew.

Before Her Highness could change her mind, Eve had to get her immersed in that sea of knowledge. In the past, Elina had often promised to study hard in exchange for getting Her Highness Alaya to agree to some unreasonable request. But she’d never managed to stick with it. Hopefully, this time would be different.

Eve was about to turn and go tell Caro, but someone tugged at her hem. She looked back and saw the adorable Her Highness Elina.

“Your Highness Elina, is there anything else you need?” Eve asked respectfully.

Elina scratched her head. “Eve... um, where’s the library, meow~?”

“Pfft. It’s twenty meters to the left of your room. There’s a corridor there. Go up a few steps, and you’ll see the library,” Eve explained.

“Mm, thanks. Go tell Caro, then.” Elina nodded and headed straight out the door toward the library, but Eve stopped her.

“Your Highness Elina, you can’t go to the library in your pajamas. That would be quite improper, even for a princess,” Eve said with a dangerous smile.

Alaya had given Eve permission to keep an eye on Elina’s behavior. That little kitty was far too mischievous. Sometimes she ran around in her pajamas. Aside from being indecent, with her current resistance to illness, she could easily catch a cold. Getting sick would be dangerous.

“Are there any other people in the castle?” Elina asked, biting her finger.

“Only Her Highness Alaya and Miss Caro,” Eve replied.

So young Elina casually waved her little hand and grinned. “Then it’s no big deal~ There’s nobody else in the castle, so it’s fine if I wear pajamas in this weather~”

Back when I was a shut-in, I used to sleep naked. Now that I’m Princess Elina, I know I can’t go around without clothes. But I definitely can’t stand wearing those fussy, tight, uncomfortable princess dresses and things like that. Of course, I won’t be able to avoid them forever, but I might as well put it off while I can.

“That won’t do~” Eve said with a soft giggle behind her hand.

Hearing Eve’s strange tone, Elina instinctively swallowed. Then she put her hands on her hips, looked determined, and shouted with complete confidence, “I’m wearing my pajamas, and you’re not allowed to stop me!”

Eve gently patted Elina’s adorable little head and said softly, “Don’t blame me, Your Highness Elina~”

“Huh?”

The next second...

Eve tackled Elina onto the bed at lightning speed. A flash of green light flared in her hand.

“Vine Bind!”

A tough vine wrapped around Elina’s delicate body, binding her tightly.

“Meow, meow, meow~ Eve, how dare you lay hands on your superior! What are you doing?!” Elina glared with wide eyes, letting out one furious meow after another.

......