After finishing my words, I lowered my gaze.

“It looks so similar, too similar.”

Perhaps because my mood had soured, an unpleasant feeling crept in from all directions, penetrating my entire body.

Moreover, I strained my eyes, becoming sensitive to something that was prickling at my nerves. Starting from doubt, anxiety made me want to find the sculptor immediately and question him, but I had to suppress it, lest I appear strange if I couldn’t control my emotions further.

“It’s quite fascinating that the statue resembles someone.”

I added a comment, making an effort to manage my expression.

“Is that so?”

Sasha then tilted his head quizzically.

It seemed that since he didn’t know about my past, he found it hard to believe that a mere 3-year-old princess would say a statue she was seeing for the first time resembled someone familiar.

“This is a statue wishing for peace.”

Meanwhile, as if he had never been puzzled, Sasha smiled with his eyes and put his hands behind his back.

“Usually, such statues are made with what the artist considers to be the most ideal face.”

“I know.”

That much is common knowledge. I swallowed the rest of my words and just blurted that out, kicking at the ground.

“Your Highness, dinner preparations are complete.”

Just as I was about to slowly return to my original place, a maid appeared at an impeccable timing.

“Alright. I understand.”

I didn’t want to stay long anyway.

“I must go now.”

“I’ll see you next time, Your Highness.”

I quickly exchanged greetings with Sasha and hastily moved my steps.

‘It truly was a strange day.’

Wanting to get away from the statue quickly, I entered the palace at a fast pace, accompanied by my maid.

‘I should rest as soon as I finish eating.’

I decided as I pattered down the grand staircase lined with red carpet on the way to the dining hall.

It was because I was mentally exhausted from seeing the statue that resembled my primordial appearance at the end.

Thud−!

“Oh, my!”

And as soon as I turned the corner, I collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. I was so dizzy that I fell on my bottom before I could even identify who it was.

“Is our daughter alright?”

Damn it, and of all people, I had to show this unsightly appearance to Jeff!

“Daddy’s sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”

Jeff, not knowing what to do. When he saw me disoriented and unable to gather my wits, he swiftly picked me up with one arm. In an instant, my eye level changed.

“Yes.”

Oh my, why is this emperor rushing around so carelessly? I grumbled inwardly while rubbing my forehead with one hand. It was still throbbing with a lingering ache.

“You may withdraw now.”

“Yes.”

First, let’s dismiss the maids. I gave the order for them to leave and was left alone with Jeff.

“You’re not hiding any pain, are you?”

It does hurt, but not to an unbearable degree.

“I’m really fine.”

By the way, Jeff, here he goes again.

“I wonder who our daughter takes after to be so brave~?”

Unexpectedly praising me, calling me cute, and saying I’ll be a great ruler… no matter how nice the words were, I was tired of it.

“Is it after mommy, or daddy~? It must be daddy, right?”

He’s all excited. Once he gets started, he chatters on without pause until he stops, making my ears hurt.

‘It’s probably you two that I take after.’

Moreover, as I listened, it was quite absurd. Who raised you two, how dare you say such things so casually? It’s frustrating that I can’t reveal my identity.

“Ahem, well, since it’s come to this, let’s go together with daddy.”

After being quiet for a while, Jeff cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed.

“I was on my way to get you after hearing you were at the training grounds.”

For a moment, I thought I should have waited comfortably, but remembering the statue, I felt it was better that I had moved first.

“Please put me down now. I can walk on my own.”

Moreover, it wasn’t like I had suffered a severe injury, so I spoke up, unable to stand Jeff’s overprotective behavior anymore.

“It’s alright, Darjeeling. There’s no need to push yourself.”

No, why can’t you understand what I’m saying? I was dumbfounded.

“Daddy will carry you comfortably to the dining hall.”

After that, no matter how many times I asked to be put down, Jeff consistently refused with a smiling face.

“Did you have an enjoyable day today?”

As we got closer to the dining hall, maids appeared to attend to us.

Poppy, who had been invisible, hiding somewhere, also revealed his presence, waddling beside us.

“It was just like any other day. Except for having lessons.”

I turned my gaze away from the maids and Poppy, and tightly gripped Jeff’s collar.

“But the treasure hunt in the afternoon is what I remember most.”

For some reason, it was a memory etched in my mind.

My heart ached again as I recalled the poorly made doll created by Hecate.

“It really seems like it was quite a unique experience.”

Why am I feeling so awkward? I slightly lowered my gaze.

“Did you find the gift your mother prepared for you?”

Suddenly, my mind is in a whirl. The moment when I was overwhelmed by emotions like a wave and shed tears vividly unfolded.

“She said she had been preparing it for a long time.”

“Yes.”

Yes, I did find it. And because of that, I was embarrassed to have shown my tears in front of the children.

“Keep it precious.”

Jeff, unaware of my inner thoughts, stroked my head with a gentle smile.

‘I would do that even without you asking.’

Since it was made by Hecate, who was once a tomboy and a sword-fighting fool, struggling on the battlefield, I intended to keep it even if it was an ugly doll.

Sting−.

‘What is this?’

Wasn’t it supposed to end with just once earlier?

‘My heart area is tingling again.’

I quickly raised my head to look at Jeff.

“What’s wrong?”

Jeff then asked innocently with wide-open eyes.

‘Could it be… that I’ve found something I didn’t have because of these guys?’

Is that why this keeps happening?

‘It’s irritating.’

Just imagining it was dreadful, so I shook my head and said it was nothing.

* * *

The next day, in the morning.

“Your Highness, the young masters have already arrived at the playroom.”

After an early meal, I spent some time sitting in a chair I had pulled to the balcony, looking at the flowers blooming in the garden, before moving.

“I see.”

Accompanied by Poppy, who faithfully stuck by me today as well, I heard the maid’s report.

Creak−.

The playroom wasn’t far from the bedroom, so I arrived quickly.

As soon as the door opened, I entered, imagining the motley crew that would be noisily chattering.

Slam−!

“Huh?”

Soon after, the door closed, but I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head at the chilly atmosphere of the room.

The current situation was that strange.

“Why is no one here?”

These were kids who usually made a racket, dropped snacks everywhere, and ran around mindlessly.

I couldn’t see the Fleur children anywhere – not on the sofa, not under it, not behind it – which was very unlike usual.

“There’s no way these kids could be this quiet.”

The maid wouldn’t lie to me. So, I decided to think carefully about where the children might have disappeared to, or if they were hiding.

Whoosh−!

That’s when it happened.

Something soft pressed down on my head, not painfully. When I hurriedly felt it, it was a headband.

“Hehe, Princess!”

Where did you come out from? I thought my heart was going to drop from the children suddenly popping out.

“It’s a surprise gift, Princess!”

Berith, who was boldly and brightly shouting, was wearing a white headband with small ears sticking up.

“A surprise gift?”

I was really surprised, I thought I was going to faint. I muttered inwardly as I took off the headband.

“Princess! Play animal game with us~.”

“It’ll be fun.”

“Animal game…”

Somehow, it sounds like it’s going to be really tiring. I hesitated, trailing off.

Quack~ Quack!

Just then, Poppy waved his arms up and down.

“Huh?”

Berith’s gaze naturally turned to Poppy, and soon he hit his own head with a perplexed expression.

“Ah, that’s right! Poppy’s!”

With an ‘oops’ face, Berith spoke anxiously, not knowing what to do.

“This is bad! There’s no animal headband for Poppy.”

“You can give him mine.”

What’s there to worry about? I said nonchalantly. I thought we could play the animal game together even without a headband.

“No, that’s yours, Princess.”

However, Berith thought differently from me.

“I’m sorry, Poppy~.”

The kid started to cry, dropping big teardrops while making a “huuung” sound, and I felt my head buzzing like someone with neurosis.

‘I don’t want to wear it!’

Moreover, why do I have to wear such a childish thing on my head? I watched Berith crying pitifully while hugging Poppy, and reluctantly stepped in. If left alone, it seemed he would cry all day.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Poppy is… um…”

Please, think of something to say quickly! I desperately racked my brains while inwardly grumbling about why children’s crying is so noisy.

“He’ll play the role of a duck!”

Poppy is a duck doll, so this role suits him perfectly. I said with an awkward smile, tightly gripping the headband in my hand.

“Poppy, really?”

Of course, this was an idea I had hastily come up with, so the one in question hadn’t agreed…

“That’s right. Poppy will be a duck.”

Fortunately, Carlyle, who was standing nearby, supported the idea, giving it more weight.

“…”

But suddenly, Berith fell silent and didn’t move, as if time had stopped.

So I thought maybe he didn’t like the situation, but lo and behold.

“That’s right! You’re a cute duck!”

Contrary to my concerns, he smiled brightly and his red eyes sparkled, making me feel relieved.

“I’m a rabbit.”

Then Berith announced the animal he was playing by pronouncing “hop hop” with his mouth, and Poppy, not knowing what was going on, grinned along with Berith.

“Elder brother is a wolf! Princess is a raccoon!”

‘Rac… what?’

Wait, my headband doesn’t look like a raccoon at all.

While I was stunned, Berith quickly approached, snatched the headband I was holding, and put it back on my head.

“Oh my, Princess has to wear it on her head too!”

“Ah… Alright.”

Damn it. I remained as stiff as a rock, quietly letting Berith do as he pleased, while Carlyle just had a kind face, as if he thought it was good to play peacefully together.

“Hm?”

After spending such a chaotic moment, I suddenly realized that one person who should be here was missing.

“I don’t see Ronowe today.”

It was strange not seeing the kid who always said he liked me whenever we met. I became curious whether he was sick and couldn’t come, or if there was another reason, so I asked.

“Elder sister is in the library, Princess~ His Majesty allowed it!”

I thought she was just a kid who only liked to play and eat, but it was unexpected.

‘Did she go because she likes books?’

I thought she was unreliable, but I saw her in a new light when I heard that she had even obtained Jeff’s permission in advance to go to the imperial library.

“Now, then, follow me!”

Damn, the time of hardship has come.

I felt my future grow dim as I watched Berith start to imitate a rabbit, getting into position.

‘How do you act like a raccoon?’

Watching the kid urging his elder brother to do it too, I secretly shed a tear.

* * *

After a difficult and tiring time had passed, the children, with their energy depleted, leaned against the sofa or lay down to take a nap.

“They’ve finally crashed.”

Imitating animals was really not an easy task.

Although, thanks to that, the children quickly exhausted their energy and fell fast asleep.

“The children are too tired to play anymore, so watch over them and wake them up in time to send them back.”

I ordered the nearby maid, with Poppy in tow.

“I’ll return to my room for now.”

And rest. I’m going to rest no matter what. I wanted to stop playing or doing anything else because I was also quite tired, only enduring with my current mental strength.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Anyway, the dutiful maid listened well, and I left the playroom with another maid and walked towards my bedroom.

‘Is Ronowe still reading?’

After walking for quite a while, I suddenly thought of Ronowe, who hadn’t shown her face for hours.

‘Surely she’s not still in there?’

Somehow, we had spent time in a playroom a bit far away today, and naturally, I found myself stopping in front of the imperial library as we passed by.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Would you like to enter the library?”

The quick-witted maid asked if I wanted to stop by briefly, and I nodded.

“Yes. I just remembered something I need to check.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

No sooner had I expressed my assent than the maid opened the door for me.

‘It’s unsettling not seeing the usually boisterous kid.’

I need to see what she’s doing. With this thought alone, I strode in.

‘Why does the library air feel different today?’

But unlike usual, there were too few people inside the library, and it felt somewhat gloomy. A heavy feeling weighed on my shoulders, making me nervous.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Amidst this, I suddenly noticed a dark red shadow flickering on the floor in a place I happened to look.

‘I feel an extraordinary energy coming from there.’

I immediately sensed something suspicious and deliberately sent the maid to a bookshelf in a different direction, then hid behind a large pillar.

‘It feels quite threatening, like a mass of malicious intent. What’s going on?’

I kept pondering while glancing at the elongated shape. I couldn’t move rashly because I didn’t know what might happen if I acted carelessly.

However, nothing would be resolved by just standing still like this.

So I decided to move just a little bit more to see who was in the direction of the malicious intent.

“!”

And finally, the person enveloped in the dark red demonic form of malicious intent was…

‘What on earth is that…’

It was Ronowe, looking at a book with a serious expression.