Squeak-.

I turned away from Lilith and left the meeting room.

“Do you happen to have any next appointments?”

I asked while walking down the sparkling corridor with the maid.

No matter how young a royal was, once they reached the age of walking and talking, there was usually at least a simple daily schedule arranged.

“Then shall we have the etiquette lesson in advance?”

The maid, who had been walking slowly to match my pace, carefully answered as she stepped onto the red-carpeted stairs.

“Alright. Let’s stop by my room first.”

Thinking it would be better than rolling around in bed, I quickly agreed and adjusted my posture holding Poppy.

Chirp, chirp-.

A while later, birds were singing outside the bedroom I had leisurely arrived at. I gazed indifferently at the birds circling around the pink flowers blooming profusely outside the window before turning my head.

“It suits you so well!”

The maid waited for a moment and praised me as soon as I looked in the mirror again after finishing my hair.

“I prepared comfortable clothes in case Your Highness might feel uncomfortable during the lesson.”

The maids, with their hands clasped to their chests, were beside themselves with joy. Judging by their flushed cheeks, it seemed I had perfectly pulled off the new outfit and accessories.

“Today’s etiquette lesson will only cover two subjects: history and military studies.”

As I was about to brush off the familiar praise, a maid standing a bit further back informed me of the afternoon schedule.

‘If it’s history and military studies, that’s too easy.’

I had thought the content would be different because I was a princess, but as soon as I heard the subject names, I couldn’t help but sneer.

‘Finally, it’s time to show off my intelligence!’

I puffed up my chest, inwardly feeling smug.

The reason I couldn’t help but feel proud was because I had been an emperor in my previous life.

‘I should take that one too.’

Just before leaving the bedroom, as I was taking one last look in the mirror, Poppy caught my eye.

Though the little one played well on its own when I wasn’t playing with it, I couldn’t neglect it since Jeff had provided it for protection.

“Poppy, come here.”

“Quack?”

After quietly following Poppy’s movements with my eyes, I called out to it.

The innocent Poppy turned its head like magic at my call, with a curious expression.

“Is it alright if I bring Poppy along?”

I asked the maid, pointing at Poppy with my finger.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The maids immediately answered, expressing their agreement.

“Everything in this imperial palace moves according to Your Highness’s will.”

The maids, with their hands respectfully clasped, slightly bowed their heads and continued.

“You can do anything you wish, Your Highness.”

That’s obvious. I swallowed my retort and spoke to Poppy.

“Poppy, you. Don’t you dare shoot any lasers from there.”

“Quaack!”

As if understanding my words, Poppy let out a vigorous cry and jumped up, raising its short arms.

* * *

“We greet Her Highness the Princess.”

A short while later, as I was lost in thought after arriving early at the classroom, someone spoke up, making their presence known.

“I am Elaila Rune Varsha, who will be in charge of Your Highness’s academic and political lessons.”

I was taken aback, having been lost in thought.

This was because the elderly noble with gray hair who had just introduced herself was my aide in my previous life.

‘It’s Ela, isn’t it?’

I can’t believe she still hasn’t retired. I couldn’t close my mouth from surprise.

Ela, one of those who had assisted me most closely when I was emperor in my previous life. She had become an old woman, unable to overcome the power of time, with wrinkles deeply etched all over her face.

“I will be assisting with the lessons.”

“Oh? You came too.”

Oops, I was so focused on Ela that I only belatedly noticed Sasha. I immediately greeted him as if I knew him, and Poppy quietly approached and stuck close to my side.

‘Why is this guy here?’

Even though he was called an education companion, it felt strange.

‘Such a young fellow is already a teaching assistant. I guess he must be quite smart.’

Since he came with the purpose of helping with studies, it wasn’t wrong for him to act as a teaching assistant. So I had nothing else to say.

‘But still, he’s just a child.’

Yet, I felt odd.

‘I’m not sure if there’s anything I can learn from this guy.’

With mixed feelings, I addressed him.

“Take your seat.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sasha showed his usual bright eye-smile, and Elaila also wore a gentle expression.

Soon after, as we opened the textbooks, Elaila began her lengthy explanation. At first, it was all familiar content, so it went in one ear and out the other, making it easy to concentrate.

However, at some point, I felt an intense gaze and couldn’t keep my eyes on the textbook.

Unable to bear it any longer, I turned my head to find that the classroom door, which had certainly been closed, was now open.

‘What are they doing?’

And there were Jeff and Hecate, peeking through the gap, staring at me.

Coming to the classroom during the time for state affairs. I was dumbfounded, my head filled with question marks.

“If I may be so bold…”

Meanwhile, as they were staring so openly, even Elaila couldn’t help but notice Jeff and Hecate’s presence.

“May I ask why the two of you have come here?”

Elaila asked somewhat sternly to the two who were shooting gazes full of expectation and love towards me.

“We heard the princess was having a lesson, and we found it admirable…”

“We wanted to observe.”

Jeff and Hecate answered proudly.

The two, with expressions showing they cared about nothing but me, seemed to be surrounded by an aura of sparkling light particles.

“We’ll just quietly watch.”

Jeff hastily added, fearing Elaila might ask them to leave.

“Absolutely not.”

But Elaila was firm.

Her attitude, speaking with her eyes tightly shut and emphasis in her voice, conveyed her resolve.

“It will prevent Her Highness from concentrating on the lesson.”

That’s right, that’s right. You’re absolutely correct.

I nodded inwardly, agreeing with Elaila’s words.

“As a teacher, I must impart proper knowledge to Her Highness.”

Elaila, who had even raised her finger sharply, added a few more words.

“Moreover, isn’t Her Highness the future emperor of this country?”

Hearing Elaila’s words, a fact I had forgotten suddenly surfaced.

I am currently the only royal descendant, the sole heir.

Therefore, if no other heir is born and time passes, I would naturally succeed to the imperial throne.

‘Somehow, it gives me goosebumps.’

It’s out of the blue, but the thought of repeating the tiring life of an emperor someday is dizzying.

“Since the two of you entrusted me with the lessons, please follow my lead.”

Meanwhile, Jeff and Hecate retreated without being able to refute Elaila’s final statement. The sight of them trudging away, drooping like wet laundry and looking dejected, was quite a sight to see.

‘Indeed, she’s sharp as ever.’

Anyway, this got rid of the noisy ones.

‘Even after all this time, Ela’s coolheadedness remains the same.’

I thought as I watched Elaila about to continue the lesson.

‘As expected, my judgment was excellent.’

Truly befitting a former aide. I smirked inwardly.

“Since it’s the first lesson, we should start lightly with history.”

Soon, as we moved on to a new topic, Elaila’s eyes shone intelligently.

“It might be difficult to learn too much at once, so shall we learn about the founding legend today?”

I took my eyes off the book and stared at Elaila.

‘The founding legend only became more exaggerated as generations passed.’

What does that have to do with history? I inwardly groaned.

“The founding legend… Isn’t it interesting?”

Meanwhile, Sasha wore a meaningful smile and chuckled.

‘Is it because he’s young?’

It was surprising to see him seemingly enjoying it much more than I was.

‘He’s actually enjoying this.’

Seeing him grinning from ear to ear, it was certain.

“A long, long time ago.”

At last, Elaila began to read the legend from the textbook.

“Nothing existed in this world.”

Elaila’s expression was serious as she read each sentence clearly in a calm voice.

“The first humans planted seeds in that empty land. These grew and soon created vast forests and nature.”

I listened closely, wondering how much the content I knew had changed over the years.

“Using nature as a foothold, humanity developed endlessly. And the bravest among them became the leader.”

How old-fashioned. I lost interest in the increasingly boring content.

“Interestingly, the human who became the leader was born from an egg, and he created a new humanity from his own rib. Our ancestors are these ‘new humans’.”

Yeah, not interesting at all. I let Elaila’s explanation go in one ear and out the other as I drifted into daydreams.

“The new humans were so intelligent that they finally established a great kingdom.”

“It’s certainly interesting. But legends are passed down differently in each region.”

Just as the story was finally ending and I thought I could breathe easier, Sasha spoke up, crossing his arms.

“Oh, that’s right. Master, do you perhaps know any other legends?”

Elaila, who looked surprised as if caught off guard by this unexpected counterattack, showed a reaction that suggested she hadn’t expected Sasha to come out like this.

“Yes, of course.”

Sasha, with a haughty face, gently tapped the desk with his index finger.

“It’s a legend that’s now forgotten in the memories of many people.”

Sasha, with his eyes slightly lowered, spoke in a calm tone.

“In the beginning, the first thing created was a vast and dark space. That was the universe.”

Noticing that this was a legend with a different setting, I pricked up my ears to Sasha’s words.

“It was a god who created the universe. In addition, the god created a giant being to manage the universe.”

A giant being? I felt a wave of questions rising.

“The giant being moved according to the god’s will, and in the process, nature was born and many living things could live on the ground.”

Images of birds flying over blue waters and lush green forests flashed through my mind.

“It was then that humanity appeared on the ground. But it wasn’t the first humans created by the god who settled on the ground. The humans who settled on the ground lived in groups. This soon became a kingdom.”

Why does he specifically mention that it wasn’t the first humans? From this point on, I became fully alert.

“Humans could develop endlessly because they received God’s love abundantly. The one who became the leader among humans passed on prosperity to their descendants.”

Sasha explained fluently without hesitation until the end.

“And eventually, the giant being was forgotten. Even the god no longer remembered the giant being.”

Sasha, catching his breath, neatly placed both hands on the stand.

“That’s all I know.”

Sasha, even wearing a faint smile, waited for our reaction.

‘It’s different from the legends I’ve heard over the centuries.’

Meanwhile, I thought, recalling all the legends I knew.

‘Originally, legends are passed down orally through people. That’s why new stories are added with each generation.’

However, the legend Sasha told didn’t overlap with any of the various legends I had heard in my hundreds of years of life.

‘But it doesn’t deviate from the big picture.’

While the core might be different, the seed should be the same.

“It’s a legend I’ve never heard before. It’s like a fairy tale.”

Why does he know so much despite being around the same age? I quietly stared at Sasha, and Elaila showed great interest in the new story.

“If I have the chance, I’d like to look for related books.”

“As it happens, our family has a book recording legends.”

“I’ll visit sometime later.”

They’re the only ones excited.

‘Good grief.’

I felt a bit upset that they suddenly excluded me and started talking just between themselves.

“Now, shall we learn about the history of the empire, not the legend?”

Regardless, the history lesson continued.

“Our empire was actually a kingdom.”

I’m sleepy. I thought, closing my eyes.

‘Now they’ll start from the guy who founded the kingdom, to the biography of Ulrika who suppressed the rebels.’

I writhed in agony at the thought of when I would finish listening to all this predictable content.

‘It’s boring because I know it all.’

Contrary to my determination to show off my intelligence, I struggled with boredom.

Still, I diligently answered Elaila’s questions, and felt proud when she marveled at my extensive knowledge.

Step, step.

And finally, when I came out of the classroom and walked down the corridor, I felt my breath ease.

“How was the lesson?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

Sasha didn’t leave immediately but stayed by my side.

“Actually, I was surprised every time Your Highness answered Baroness Varsha’s questions so well.”

“That’s because I know it all.”

What’s there to be surprised about? I answered bluntly, looking straight ahead.

“Really? To me, it felt as if Your Highness had lived through that era.”

“Y-yeah.”

Oh, that guy. Why does he suddenly have to hit so close to home?

‘It’s true, so it makes me feel oddly guilty.’

Feeling awkward, I became less talkative, and Sasha didn’t say anything more after that.

“Oh! You’re here!”

“It’s the Princess!”

Soon after, as we arrived at the pavilion where we were supposed to meet, I saw Ronowe, Berith, and Carlyle playing with flower petals in their hair.

‘Their clothes have changed? When did they change?’

While I was watching the children who had neatly changed into new clothes, Ronowe’s head, who came running with a smile, collided with my chin.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness, Young Master Sasha.”

For a moment, tears welled up. But since no one seemed to notice, and I didn’t want to show weakness from such minor pain, I held it in.

“Princess, Princess. What shall we play today?”

“What shall we play?”

The motley crew, as always, had their eyes twinkling. The two pairs of red eyes, full of expectation and excitement, overflowed with energy.

“Well…”

To be honest, I hadn’t given it much thought before coming, so I couldn’t think of a suitable answer.

“Your Highness, how about this?”

“?”

Then, as if she had been waiting for this moment, a maid approached and smoothly presented a scroll.