Thanks to that, I quickly walked around looking here and there, and finally, I found Carlisle, sitting alone in front of a fountain.

Perhaps thinking that no one was watching, Carlisle’s face openly revealed his gloomy expression. I stared at him, swinging his legs back and forth, and then approached.

“What are you doing here alone?”

“Princess…?”

Carlisle was startled as if he’d been caught stealing. It was the face of someone who hadn’t expected me to leave the others and look for him.

“You’re not like yourself today. It’s like you have some worry.”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry for showing such an unsightly appearance.”

In his unguarded state, I saw tear streaks on his cheek.

Looking at Carlisle hurriedly wiping his eyes with his sleeve, I urged him to tell me what was going on.

“That’s…”

Seeing him hesitate and not respond clearly, I felt frustrated.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Do you intend to waste the effort I made to come here?”

I tried to exercise a bit of patience, thinking that the other party was an immature child, but since he didn’t seem to want to speak, I indirectly asked if he’d put a lock on his mouth.

“No, no.”

With that, Carlisle, raising both hands and shaking them, stated that he had no such intention.

“First, let me tell you something. I think I’ll leave the palace before Ronowe and Veris.”

“Why?”

Why would he suddenly leave early? I crossed my arms and waited for the next words.

“That’s… actually, today is the anniversary of my parents’ death.”

This time, I was taken aback.

‘The anniversary… It must be the day of the poisoning incident I heard about in military studies.’
For a brief moment, the explanation Lilith had given me flashed through my mind.

“The Duke and I decided to go to where our parents were resting. I told the children that I had to go ahead because I had to help with the work.”

“If it was such an important day, it would have been fine not to come to the palace at all. Are you not disturbed?”

If it was a matter of that extent, it would have been enough to send a letter or someone to inform of the situation and to compose one’s heart while remembering the deceased.

“No. It would be difficult to have to tell the situation then….”

Is it that one dislikes others knowing the personal circumstances? I inadvertently nodded my head as I watched Carlisle fidgeting with his fingers.

“More than anything, I don’t want the children to know. They’re the ones who will cry in sympathy if I’m having a hard time.”

This naive child! I swallowed back the words that were rising in anger. The one speaking now is having the hardest time, yet to hear such words from the mouth of this mere 6yearold felt like seeing a young saint.

“You are quite deep for such a young age.”

I spat out the words and added that we should slowly return. We couldn’t stay here forever, so now seemed the time to find our way back.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Carlisle followed my words without resistance. So we returned to where everyone was gathered.

“Your Highness, Prince Carlisle. I was worried since I didn’t see you all of a sudden.”

I felt Sasha’s presence and rushed past, pretending not to hear. I expected that child to scratch someone’s bowl.

“Rather, Prince Carlisle, you looked tired, are you okay?”

“Yes, Prince Sasha.”

Though my body was facing another direction, I eagerly opened my ears to concentrate on the conversation.

“I feel better after getting some fresh air.”

“I’m glad. I thought the successor of Bergamot was already crumbling.”

That almost disappointed me. I thought his words had crossed the line, and I turned my body to object.

“Smart big brother! It’s your turn for the word game~ Quickly say a word that starts with ‘ja’!”

“Um~ Freedom?”

Then, as if to interrupt, Beris rushed in, holding Matryoshka close to Sasha’s mouth and urged. Thanks to Beris, we avoided what might have been a chilling atmosphere.

“Next is big brother Carlisle! It’s your first time, so it’s okay if it takes long.”

“Uh, uh… Glass.”

Suddenly participating in the game, Carlisle stammered.

“I don’t know…….”

It must have been Beris’s turn next. He rolled his feet with a troubled face.

“What’s on the neck of the bear you sleep with every day?”

In the end, just before Beris cried, Carlisle whispered a small question in his ear.

“Ah, the ribbon! A green ribbon!”

Soon, the kid who shouted the answer handed Matryoshka to Ronowe.

“Bo…… bo…… bo……”

This is difficult even for me. Curiosity arose as to what word Ronowe would suggest, so I watched intently.

Waaaaaah[Dash].

Suddenly, Ronowe, bursting into tears, began to scream.

“You only give me the hard ones~ Give me a hint too~.”

With both fists clenched and crying out loud, it seemed as if a pod of dolphins was roaring.

‘My eardrums are going to burst.’

I felt engulfed in the sensation that my hearing was ruined, and blood was oozing from my ears.