With these words, Stella finally laid her head on the table with a thud, falling asleep. It happened when she had just finished two cups of fruit wine.

“Ugh, what is this situation!”

Lian, startled, cautiously shook Stella to wake her up. However, Stella continued to repeat that she was tired.

Not only the earth fairies but others looked at Stella as if she were absurd.

Drinking unbeatable alcohol!

In response to Stella’s thoughtless behavior, Kai felt a rebuke rising to his throat.

“Where is the princess’s bedroom?”

Kai had to ask, and Lian visibly hesitated.

“On the 5th floor.”

Lian, with an apologetic expression, pointed to the ceiling with her finger. Unfortunately, Darren, who could handle this situation, was not in the castle. He had taken a rare leave and was planning to stay in his house outside the castle until tomorrow.

“Sigh.”

Kai swallowed a forced sigh and reluctantly stood up. Since the dining room was on the 2nd floor, climbing all the way to the 5th floor required going up several flights of stairs.
Just after drinking two cups.

Kai sighed irritably as he looked at Stella, who was being bothersome in every way.

“Then please. Our princess is really not heavy at all.”

Seeing Kai, who looked displeased, Lian spoke as if reassuring him not to worry. Kai approached reluctantly and picked up the sleeping Stella, who seemed to have no strength in her body.

Perhaps because there was no strength in her body, Stella’s body kept getting wet like a dead worm.

Even while holding her, Kai had to adjust Stella several times because she kept tossing her body. Each time, Lian, who was leading the way, stopped and said with an embarrassed face.

“We’re almost there.”

Lie.

Now they were on the stairs leading to the 3rd floor. Despite the considerable number of stairs left, Lian repeated several times that there was not much left.

The warmth enveloped in a firm body felt unfamiliar, causing Kai’s body to involuntarily tense.

Before climbing the stairs, he felt extremely annoyed, entangled in annoying matters. However, as the number of stairs to climb decreased, he strangely felt a regretful sentiment.

Is it cold?

Kai forced an unrelated question into the inexplicable emotion he himself couldn’t understand.

Well, is it cold?

Ignoring the presence emitting a sweet alcoholic smell, Kai climbed the remaining stairs with determination. Even though he was climbing slowly, it felt strange that Stella’s bedroom was approaching step by step.
“This way.”

When Lian opened the door, Bryn, who was tidying up the bedroom, was surprised and fussed.

“Oh my! Why is the princess doing this?”

Worried that something might be wrong, Bryn approached closely, and as she caught the strong smell of alcohol, she smiled knowingly and quickly pulled back the blanket on the bed.

“If you lay her down, I’ll take care of the rest.”

When Bryn pointed to the bed, Kai carefully laid down Stella, whom he was holding. Judging by his expression, it seemed like he might get hit several times, but it was unexpected.

“Ugh.”

Stella, who had been lying weakly, groaned as her back touched the bed. The warmth that had warmed her chest just a while ago disappeared rapidly, leaving a void.

“Well, then I’ll go.”

Feeling like he should change clothes and wash up, Kai turned around.

“Lois.”

Stella, lying on the bed, called Kai. Kai stopped in his tracks, turning towards where Stella lay.

Bryn, looking at Kai as if asking what he was doing, raised an eyebrow. Even if it was sleep talking, not responding when the princess calls for you?

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Weren’t you scared?”

Suddenly, Stella sat up, leaning her head against the bedpost.

“What are you talking about?”
Seeing that the two seemed to have something to discuss, Bryn hesitated for a moment and then left the room, saying that she shouldn’t overhear the princess’s private conversation.

“I’ll prepare a warm towel and stay by the princess’s side until she returns. It doesn’t seem right for her to sleep like this.”

Kai nodded with an indifferent expression. Bryn, with an unwilling expression, alternately looked at the two before finally leaving the room when Stella called Kai again.

“Lois.”

Stella, sitting with her eyes closed and leaning against the bedpost, looked unusually small. Kai stood as far away as possible.

“Yes.”

“I was so scared.”

“……. ”

“Because I could hear voices that no one else could hear. Because I could see beings that no one else could see.”

It was a fear that Kai had also felt when he was young. He wondered if young Stella had trembled under the covers, just like him, hearing voices of unknown origin.

“I thought I was going crazy. Everyone else says they can’t see anything, but I could. They kept calling my name. Did that happen to you too?”

Stella lifted her heavy eyelids, looking at Kai. Somehow, seeing her own childhood reflection, Kai clenched his fists tightly and stood firm in his position.