“I can’t let myself be caught like this!”

My footsteps were loud enough to make a tapping sound.

‘If I get caught now, I might have to keep playing with them!’

As I ran fast enough for my hair to flutter in the wind, I thought that since I had started this, I wanted to win no matter what.

“Your Highness!”

Just as I was desperately trying to escape, there was a sudden rustling sound from behind, and a maid appeared.

‘!’

And not just one, but two of them.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous to run!”

I glanced back for a few seconds when the maids, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, showed up, but that was all. Unlike Carlyle, I had no intention of stopping my run.

If anything, I felt more urgent.

Because I thought that if I let the maids stop me now, I would lose.

“?”

“It’s the Emperor!”

I faintly heard the voices of the Fleur siblings in my ears, but I ignored this too.

“Woah!”

I couldn’t understand what was so fun and exciting about this for these little ones.

“Your Highness, you’ll fall if you keep that up!”

Meanwhile, the maids, seemingly tireless, continued to chase after me, worried that I might get hurt.

The maids made great efforts, their dress hems fluttering widely, but despite their efforts, I had no intention of stopping.

Thud!

But perhaps as punishment for my rash behavior, I ended up tripping over a stone.

Crash!

Carlyle and I fell together onto the grass in a rather ungraceful manner. Sprawling forward with both arms outstretched, it was quite an unsightly sight.

“Ouch…”

Groaning from the pain that spread belatedly, I finally managed to get up.

As I checked for injuries, I found that one of my knees was stinging with pain.

‘All that effort to escape was for nothing.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I examined the wound.

“Are you hurt badly?”

Carlyle, who had fallen with me, seemed to have forgotten his own pain upon seeing me injured. He checked if I was alright first.

Thud!

Soon after, the maids appeared on the right, and then a familiar face showed up on the left.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

A retainer with a worried expression lifted me up in his arms.

His identity was none other than Jeff’s right-hand man and closest aide, Asian Baldur Ingelbert.

‘Why did this kid suddenly pop up? Where did he leave Jeff?’

It seemed odd that someone who was supposed to be a close aide would leave the side of the person he served.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Ah, yes… I’m fine.”

I quickly answered and looked at Asian.

“By the way, why are you here? Where’s Dad?”

“Ah, well… about that…”

He began hesitantly, avoiding my gaze.

His suspicious behavior only increased my curiosity.

“As soon as the meeting ended, His Majesty said he needed to see Your Highness…”

Asian finally gave a slow answer.

According to him, Jeff had muttered about needing to see our Darjeeling, holding his head with both hands in the meeting room, and even pretended to collapse.

And he did so with his face turning pale blue, looking as if he might breathe his last at any moment.

‘Oh my… So he sent Asian to fetch me, I see.’

How pathetic. I sighed and said,

“Alright, let’s go now.”

This meant the game was over. I looked at the faces of Ronowe, Berith, and Carlyle.

“Our hide-and-seek ends here for today.”

When I announced the end, disappointment and lingering attachment flickered in the children’s innocent eyes.

Seeing them even let out small sighs, they must have been quite excited.

‘Oh right, Carlyle fell too, didn’t he?’

But so what? I was about to turn my head indifferently when I remembered that Carlyle had fallen with me.

“Carlyle, want to come and apply some medicine together?”

“It’s alright. I’m not badly hurt.”

Despite my generous offer, Carlyle showed no sign of pain and maintained his manners.

He politely declined with a slight bow.

‘How composed. Carlyle, you’re my future right-hand man, so you mustn’t get hurt.’

Looking at Carlyle’s calm expression, I reaffirmed my resolve.

“Your Highness.”

Not long after, Sasha suddenly appeared between me and Carlyle.

“I think I need to go first as my father is waiting.”

“I see. Then let’s go too.”

With that, we all dispersed, each finding our own way.

Thud, thud.

I entered the palace with Asian to meet Jeff. The path to the room where Jeff was waiting for me was just as it had been in my past life as an emperor.

The wallpaper and decorations in harmonious shades of red, beige, and gold, along with the chandeliers, gave a warm feeling as they caught the sunlight streaming through the windows.

“Just a moment.”

Bored of looking around, I spotted the most eye-catching portrait.

‘It’s my portrait?’

The portrait was indeed of me from my past life as the emperor.

‘It was worth insisting on hanging a portrait from my younger days!’

As I stared intently, old memories came flooding back, giving me a sense of nostalgia.

“This is the late Emperor.”

Asian began to explain. He was smiling with respect as he looked at my past self.

“He was a great man who sounded the victory drums in countless battlefields.”

Asian explained with a proud face, but I could barely hear him.

No, none of his words were reaching my ears.

‘I know all of that without you telling me. I was the most impressive.’

I was already lost in the greatness of my past self.

“Someday, when Your Highness becomes Emperor, you too will have your portrait hung here.”

Asian respectfully pointed towards an empty space, and I imagined Jeff’s portrait wearing a crown in that spot.

A portrait of a great emperor adorned with all sorts of precious jewels and expensive royal robes.

‘Hmm…’

Nodding at the quite plausible image that came to mind.

Bang!

It was then.

“Our Darjeeling!”

The door right in front of me flew open and Jeff burst out.

“?!”

He approached in an instant and snatched me from Asian’s arms.

“I finally see your face!”

Jeff, moved by our reunion, showed tears and rubbed his cheek against my head.

‘Argh…!’

Unable to push Jeff away, I screamed inwardly.

“Smooch~”

Jeff even went so far as to kiss my cheek, expressing his affection for his daughter.

‘H-help!’

But as this was unfamiliar to me, I broke out in a cold sweat.

“D-Darjeeling is injured!”

Soon after, Jeff noticed my injury and his eyes widened in shock.

“What on earth happened? Our daughter, how much pain you must have been in!”

Jeff, with tears in his eyes, acted as if I was on the brink of death.

“Don’t tell me your leg is broken? We must call a doctor, a doctor right away!”

Why are you acting like this?

“Summon a doctor immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I sighed at the sight of him making such a fuss.

‘Here we go again.’

Oh, how bothersome. I frowned slightly and tugged at Jeff’s clothes.

“I’m fine.”

“But we can’t be too careful, can we?”

The doting father Jeff was adamant even when I said I was fine.

He made no attempt to hide his anxiety and worry, displaying it all on his face.

His thoughts were clearly visible in his expression.

“I’ll just apply some medicine.”

I stared at the restless Jeff and blurted out.

“But still…”

“Ah! I said I’ll just apply some medicine.”

I patted Jeff’s chest firmly and asserted decisively.

“Seeing you so composed…”

Jeff, who had briefly trailed off, soon brightened up.

“I’m certain you’ll become an excellent ruler in the future!”

Crying one moment and laughing the next. Is there something wrong with him? Jeff praised me with a cheerful face.

‘Can’t they cure his delusions?’

I pretended to lean into Jeff’s embrace while hiding my disgruntled expression.

“Let’s hurry back and apply the medicine first.”

He said with a smile, urging to treat me quickly, and held me even more carefully.

“Still, call for a doctor.”

“Yes.”

On the way to somewhere, Jeff whispered instructions to Asian.

After that, we headed towards a new destination in silence.

At some point, the interior of the palace changed, giving off a cool and refreshing atmosphere.

‘Who’s that person next to Sasha?’

I noticed someone walking towards us from the opposite direction. One was a face I knew, and the other was an unfamiliar face – a tall man with brown hair wearing a monocle, exuding a mature charm.

‘Judging by the brown hair, it might be Duke Vladimir.’

I decided to keep quiet.

“The Shield of the South, Vladimir, pays his respects to the Falcon of Light.”

A moment later, the tall man with a gentle smile revealed his identity and greeted us.

“Duke Vladimir, are you leaving now?”

Meanwhile, Jeff responded cheerfully with a hearty laugh.

“Yes. I must return to my domain now to look after my people. It’s a shame I can’t stay longer at this meaningful gathering.”

Duke Vladimir, showing a good impression with a smile, moved behind Sasha.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, I have learned much in the imperial city. I will strive to be of help to the Imperial Princess in the future.”

It was the very picture of warmth and harmony. The Vladimir family and Jeff engaged in a cordial conversation.

“Ah, the statue that Your Majesty ordered the other day should be completed in about two weeks.”

What’s this about now? I felt my lips itching with the desire to ask.

“That’s faster than expected. Well then, have a safe journey back.”

But there were no further details. The conclusion was good too. Still in Jeff’s arms, I waited for Duke Vladimir and Sasha to pass by.

A moment later, as they passed by Jeff and me.

Surge-.

I was startled. A dark and red, creepy evil force sensitively touched my senses.

Unable to contain myself, I covered my mouth with both hands.

“Darjeeling, why so sudden? Is your injury hurting a lot?”

Misunderstanding, Jeff’s eyes welled up with tears again.

‘What was that just now?’

Forgetting to answer, I placed one hand over my heart. The beating speed had increased considerably.

‘Though it was just for a moment, I felt the energy of the dead.’

I took in the retreating figures of Duke Vladimir and Sasha.

‘Why?’

I felt small ripples continuing to spread in my heart.