“Elina~ My sweet daughter, Mommy’s giving Eve permission to discipline you whenever you misbehave~” Alaya said with a smile, standing elegantly in the doorway in a silver gown, one delicate hand covering her red lips.

“I’m sorry, Princess Elina. I’m doing this for your own good. I’ll make sure you grow into a proper, well-mannered princess!” Eve declared, her gaze resolute.

Elina curled her little paws and blinked her big eyes, putting on her cutest expression. “Nooo, meow~ Can’t I just be a happy-go-lucky Little Kitty~? Meow~”

Eve’s face flushed at the cuteness. She turned away and said, “Princess Elina, please don’t use such a blatantly unfair cuteness skill. Otherwise, I might awaken my terrifying mode—and you won’t enjoy what happens next!”

Elina bit her finger and tilted her head. What even was this “terrifying mode”?

Hmph. I’m a tough man. Like I’d put on a little skirt just because I was afraid of someone throwing their weight around.

I don’t want to wear a skirt that leaves me feeling so exposed underneath. Sure, it’s pretty, but it’s not comfortable at all!

Besides, why should a man like me care about looking pretty? Ridiculous!

Elina stubbornly shouted, “I’m not wearing it!”

“All right, fine. If that’s how the princess wants it, then I’ll have to be a little forceful. Making sure the princess behaves properly is my job, after all—it’s what Princess Alaya assigned me!”

Eve lowered her head, her expression darkening. But when she raised it again, Elina could feel the murderous intent in her eyes—and the crushing pressure radiating from her.

I’d never actually met a murderer before, but I’d seen their eyes in documentaries and in the reference material I’d looked up for my writing. This maid’s eyes were exactly the same!

This gentle, refined maid, who’d always treated me with respect, had killed people!

Oh no. I think I’ve picked a fight with someone way out of my league. A flicker of fear passed through Elina’s pale blue eyes. Her delicate body trembled uncontrollably, and she cowered in the corner of the bed. She wanted to run, but the vines holding her down wouldn’t let her break free, so she could only give in at once. After all, she’d been an ordinary shut-in before. How could her legs not shake in front of a badass who’d killed people, meow~?

She could only whimper pitifully, “M-meow~ E-Eve… I’m sorry. P-please… d-don’t be mad at me…”

“Sorry? It’s too late for that. Today, I’m going to teach the princess a proper lesson and show her what happens to a naughty Little Kitty,” Eve said with a cold snort.

A long purple whip studded with spikes appeared in her hand. She swung it hard, tearing through the air with a series of sonic booms.

Elina dodged into the corner of the bed, and the whip nearly hit her. She yowled in terror. If that thing landed on her soft little body, it’d hurt enough to knock her out. Having the heart of a tough guy didn’t mean she could take a beating!

That would hurt like hell!

Elina was so scared she nearly burst into tears. Her voice thick with a nasal whine, she cried, “Meow~ Mommy, save me! I don’t want to get hit, meow~”

“Ha ha! My naughty daughter’s kind of cute when she acts all helpless for once~ So you do know how to be scared~ Eve’s terrifying mode is pretty good for scaring her, isn’t it~?” Alaya said with a cheerful laugh, not the least bit concerned by Elina’s fear.

“Hey, Mom! Stop joking around—I’m really scared of getting hit, meow~!” Elina shouted anxiously as Eve drew closer.

“Crack!”

Eve swung the whip with all her strength. Elina clenched her pink lips and tumbled awkwardly across the bed. The whip grazed past her cat ears, missing them by just a centimeter.

Elina cried out in horror, “Mom! Eve’s actually serious! How can you stand by and watch your adorable daughter get beaten into cat paste?!”

Alaya gave a cold snort. “My daughter, you’re old enough now, so let me tell you: Eve used to be the captain of the Wood Elf assassins. If you misbehave, dealing with one little cat like you would be a piece of cake.”

“Huh? The Wood Elf tribe? Why do we have an assassin from the Wood Elf tribe in our house, meow~? Wait, that’s not the point…” Elina thought it over seriously for a moment. Then Eve cracked her whip beside her, and Elina rolled away in a panic once more.

“Mom, there’s a difference between disciplining me and hitting me, meow~!” Elina struggled to free herself from the vines with her paws, dodged Eve’s attack once again, then scrambled to the window and climbed up. She clung to the curtain for dear life, refusing to come down.

Eve stood below, looking helpless. She hadn’t expected Princess Elina to get this frightened. She actually felt rather bad for her, but this was Princess Alaya’s request, and she couldn’t go against it.

“Heh heh~ My sweet daughter~ Mommy spoils you rotten, but I just can’t accept that you refuse to wear skirts. How can the prettiest girl in the entire Frank Empire not wear one? That won’t do! I’ll only tell Eve to let you go once you admit you were wrong. Otherwise, you can just keep hanging there on the curtain!” Alaya said sternly.

“Awoo~” Tears glimmered in Elina’s eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.

Seeing that, Alaya secretly turned away and wiped the nosebleed from her nose. Then she laughed loudly. “Oh, my foolish daughter~ Ohohoho~ Mommy’s long since grown immune to your cuteness!”

Clinging to the curtain, Elina had clearly caught Mom’s little move. She pouted and sighed. “You silly mom. Fine, I’ll wear it, okay?”

After all, staying at a stalemate like this wasn’t going to work, meow~

I knew that even if I absolutely refused to wear one, Eve and Alaya would eventually give in. But they’d never change their minds about it. We couldn’t go through this whole scene every single day, could we?

Besides, as a princess, wearing a skirt was perfectly normal. Refusing to wear one made me seem childish and immature. So, to keep Eve and Mom from being disappointed, I had no choice but to wear one.

But I absolutely refuse to admit that I look pretty in a skirt.

I’m a tough guy. I don’t care about looking pretty!

I want muscles!!!

Elina pinched the soft, flabby muscle on her arm, then ran her hand over her smooth, pale skin.

Hmm… muscles.

I’ll work hard…

“All right, then. Come down, sweetie. It’s dangerous up there.” Alaya breathed a sigh of relief. She’d finally gotten the little rascal to wear a skirt. Elina used to think skirts were a hassle and refused to wear them—she’d even bitten through several pretty little dresses. Maybe she’d grown up and become a little more mature. At last, she understood how much thought Mommy had put into this. After all, a girl dressing up cute was an important way to attract an outstanding boy!

At the sight of Alaya’s dreamy expression, Elina was at a loss for words. Am I even your real daughter, meow~?

Why did it feel like Mom’s only thought was how to marry me off? I’m not even twelve yet, meow!!!

…