“Why them?”

What do you expect me to do when you blurt out something only you understand?

“They’re just ordinary kids.”

I raised my head and pointed with my index finger at the rabble, Carlyle, and Sasha. It seemed Lilith had marked all my acquaintances as targets for surveillance after talking about mental images.

“I don’t have time to keep talking with you. I’m going ahead.”

Isn’t she being too sensitive? I sighed and closed my eyes, then opened them again.

“Keep the book on military tactics safe.”

This time, there was not a shred of lingering attachment.

I headed straight for the ornate glass doors leading to the garden, with Poppy in tow, without looking back. I could feel Lilith’s gaze on the back of my head, but snakes are inherently inscrutable and gloomy, so I let it be.

Step, step-.

After that, I walked down the shiny marble steps and along the well-trimmed stone path. Being of weak constitution, I couldn’t run recklessly, so I walked as fast as I could while looking around.

The pebbles that always clung to the side of the path were the same, and the grass was moist and fresh, well-maintained.

“Your Highness!”

“Hurry up!”

Oh my, what a commotion over something that didn’t even take an hour. I clicked my tongue inwardly as I moved. Ronowe and Berith’s fuss was something I should have gotten used to, but it was overwhelming every time I heard it.

‘Where did the maids go, leaving only the children?’

Suddenly, I wondered why there were no adults around.

“Everyone’s gathered now.”

Just as I was about to ask where the maids had gone, a familiar voice made me turn my head. I thought I should check where both maids had gone off to, leaving their posts.

“Oh!”

But what I saw made me lose my words.

“It’s people in mascot costumes!”

“A raccoon and a rabbit came to pick us up!”

This was because the children had been completely fooled by the maids’ clumsy disguises.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“We’re fairies from the fairy kingdom~”

“We’ll safely escort you to the play area now~”

Even in this situation, Ronowe was jumping up and down excitedly with Berith, pointing at the maids with their fingers.

‘Lies!’

Meanwhile, I muttered inwardly.

‘They’re obviously the maids who were serving us just a moment ago.’

Even if only their faces were covered with masks, their voices hadn’t changed at all.

‘And yet they fall for that.’

I could understand Ronowe and Berith being fooled, but I couldn’t comprehend why Carlyle and Sasha were so docile.

“Well then, shall we set off again~?”

Regardless, the maids were diligently fulfilling their new roles. They knelt down to match the eye level of the rabble and conversed with them.

“Can they breathe wearing those?”

A thought that suddenly occurred to me slipped out. The mascot costumes looked so stuffy, cramped, and uncomfortable that I thought the maids wearing them were impressive.

“There must be some gaps for air to pass through, Your Highness.”

While Ronowe continued to chatter with the maids, sticking close to Berith, Sasha approached without a sound and stood beside me.

“I suppose so.”

I replied indifferently.

“Let’s go~”

Eventually, I walked leisurely at the back, matching my pace with the children. Poppy didn’t walk alone separately but stayed close to Carlyle. It seemed she was trying to keep watch from the middle.

‘Being a maid must be tiring.’

I think it would be better to be just a lowly maid doing odd jobs.

That’s because taking care of children is too draining and exhausting for both body and mind. Even if it’s tough, you can’t show it, and you always have to smile, cater to their whims, and keep them entertained.

I was terrified at just hearing children cry, so I absolutely didn’t want to do it.

‘Above all… it’s really bothersome.’

Fleur shook her head as she watched the siblings, humming a tune while swinging her arms back and forth vigorously.

“We finally arrived! The fairy kingdom!”

“I want that yellow balloon over there~”

After that, passing through an arch-shaped tunnel entwined with rose vines, a balloon paradise unfolded.

‘To plaster an entire area of the garden with balloons. Is this also part of education?’

I was appalled, alternating my gaze between the balloons floating in the air and those rolling on the ground.

Poppy was mingling with the rabble, rolling around among the balloons, while Sasha was playing with an orange balloon.

I didn’t feel like participating in the chaotic situation, so I just watched with my arms crossed.

“Your Highness.”

A moment later, Carlyle appeared, holding a balloon in his arms.

“To think such a scene could be created with balloons…”

Carlyle’s face was excited and happy, with even a slight blush on his cheeks.

“It feels like we’ve entered a fairy tale.”

“Is that so?”

I’m not sure if it’s that great, but since it would be awkward to say otherwise here, I just gave a vague response.

‘At times like this, he’s just like any other child.’

No matter how precocious, a young child still has childlike aspects.

“Everyone, may I have your attention please!”

Oh no, just as I was getting bored of just standing around and was about to choose a balloon, the disguised maids appeared.

“In a little while, two Fairy Kings will appear~”

What kind of king comes in pairs? I tilted my head in confusion.

‘Could it be Hecate and Jeff in disguise?’

It might not be, but somehow the mention of two people made me think it might really be those two. Then I felt embarrassed imagining the Emperor and Empress of the empire appearing in masks and looking ridiculous.

“The two Fairy Kings are arriving.”

But that actually happened.

‘It really is Jeff and Hecate!’

Fortunately, they were easy to recognize as they only wore masks covering their eyes and nose. Their hair and outfits were similar to usual, so there was no confusion.

‘They’ve gone mad in pairs today.’

But I thought they were crazy. I wondered what they were doing at a time when they should be busy with state affairs.

“Wow, so pretty!”

“Are they real fairy kings?”

Those innocent ones. I inwardly clicked my tongue at Ronowe and Berith, who ran up curiously like the inquisitive children they were, asking questions.

“That’s right~ We are the Fairy Kings!”

“We’ve come to give rewards to children who study hard.”

As if they had come prepared, Jeff and Hecate slightly changed their voice tones and made various gestures, putting on a comical performance.

“Rewards?”

“Are you giving us cake?”

Is food all that fills your heads? I felt my energy draining.

“Haha, unfortunately it’s not cake.”

Meanwhile, Jeff picked up a pink balloon rolling nearby.

“Instead, shall we play happily with this friend?”

The way of speaking is really creepy. I watched Jeff and Hecate teaching Berith and Carlyle how to blow up balloons. Not particularly wanting to join in, I picked up random balloons and threw them or kicked them.

Whoosh-

Suddenly, a loud sound of air escaping rang out, and when I turned my head, Carlyle was watching a wrinkled balloon flying into the air with a surprised face. Berith, who was next to him, just looked amazed, but the expressions of those two were quite a sight to see.

“Your Highness~ Look at me!”

“What… What happened to your hair?”

Ronowe, who had been playing well on her own, suddenly approached.

Whatever she did, she rubbed a blue balloon vigorously on her head causing static electricity, and the balloon wouldn’t fall off but stuck tightly to Ronowe’s bangs, which was quite a spectacle.

I wonder what’s so good about that, grinning and getting excited.

“Your Highness should try it too!”

No, I don’t want to. I stepped back.

“I don’t really…”

I was trying to express my intentions clearly in case she didn’t understand, but…

Rub, rub-

Impatient Ronowe took action before I could finish speaking.

With a bright expression, she rubbed a spare balloon she was holding against my hair.

I was naturally shocked, screaming inwardly, and while I was dumbfounded, my hand was grabbed by her and I was dragged here and there.

At the end, we went to a place where huge balloons covered the floor, and we jumped so hard it made a ‘boing’ sound, but then I slipped and was thrown out.

Embarrassingly, I ended up rolling on the ground.

“Ow ow ow…”

Of course, at the moment of falling, I kept groaning from the dull pain.

When I finally came to my senses, Poppy was looking at me with a face that seemed to ask what was wrong.

“Oh my goodness!”

And Hecate, who had seen it from afar at some point, came running breathlessly.

“Are you alright? Are you not in much pain?”

Hecate, breaking out in a cold sweat, forgot her act and spoke in her usual manner.

She seemed very startled, not knowing what to do.

“Yes, it’s a bit sore but bearable.”

I fell lightly so I wasn’t hurt. Of course, there was pain, but it wasn’t severe and was gradually fading.

“By the way, Fairy King, the more I look at you, the more you resemble my mother.”

Let’s call out what needs to be called out. I spoke indirectly.

I was letting Hecate know that she had forgotten she was acting right now.

“Oh my, is… is that so?”

Of course, she made an ‘oops’ expression and quickly tried to cover it up by feigning ignorance.

‘Sigh.’

That appearance was so awkward and obvious that I inwardly sighed.

‘I’m really sleepy, by the way.’

Following that, fatigue washed over me and I yawned slightly.

For a moment, feeling like I had made a mistake, I hastily covered my face with my hands to maintain some dignity, but Hecate had already seen everything.

“You seem tired.”

“Yes. Maybe it’s because I didn’t take a nap…”

Ah, whatever. I gave up, thinking it was already water under the bridge.

“What? You didn’t take a nap today?”

But the reaction came from an unexpected place.

“You absolutely must not overexert yourself!”

Your ears are unnecessarily sharp. I felt a headache coming on as I got up abruptly and saw Jeff reacting so intensely. There was no need for such an overreaction.

“Young lords and ladies, I’m terribly sorry, but it seems we must stop playing now.”

Eventually, Jeff, with an urgent look on his face, stretched out one hand forward while acting.

“The princess doesn’t look well, so let’s meet again next time for an even more fun game!”

Why are you deciding things on your own? I was dumbfounded and remained still.

The reason I didn’t get angry, apart from being flabbergasted, was that it was convenient for them to send the children away on their own.

“Bye-bye~”

And so I parted ways with the rabble, Carlyle, and Sasha.

“Alright.”

I said the same thing to Berith, who kept turning around and saying goodbye even after saying farewell several times.

Meanwhile, Poppy seemed to really like the balloons, as she was walking around with one as big as her body stuck to her head.

‘Now I can breathe a little.’

I finally let out a sigh of relief when the children disappeared into dots.

Then Hecate glanced at me with a look that seemed to wonder why I was acting like this.

It was a natural reaction since she wouldn’t know my true feelings.

‘I should stop pretending now.’

Whatever. I decided to stop pretending not to know the Fairy Kings’ true identities, as I wanted to be comfortable quickly.

“Mom, Dad.”

Ugh, every time I utter these words, I really cringe.

It was because they were the ones whose talents I had discovered and nurtured in my previous life. Having watched Jeff and Hecate since their childhood, I couldn’t accept it even more.

Of all people, why did these two have to be my parents!

But I’ve been reborn as their daughter in this life, and if I call them by name, I’d be seen as a disrespectful princess…

“Everyone’s gone now, so you can take off your masks.”

I blurted out with a feeling of enlightenment and rubbed my eyes. They were itchy, probably from rolling around playing outdoors.

“As expected, we can’t fool our daughter.”

Jeff and Hecate returned to their normal selves as soon as I told them to stop.

“Did you pretend not to know for the sake of your friends? You really have such a kind heart, Darjeeling!”

One more act of consideration and I’d become a saint.

‘I just didn’t want to break their innocence and make them cry loudly.’

Think whatever you want. I decided not to think too deeply about it.

It only gave me a headache if I cared.

“But how did you find time to play when you have work to do?”

So, to change my thoughts, I decided to resolve the question I had when they appeared claiming to be Fairy Kings.

“We weren’t too busy today, dear.”

“That’s right! Thanks to that, we even got to wear masks and act.”

How dare you lie so blatantly! I could clearly see them hurriedly making excuses.

‘These rascals, they must have dumped everything on their aides and skipped out!’

Thinking about how much the subordinates must be suffering, I wanted to scold them.

But since I’m currently a princess with a weak body who can’t even run properly, I held it in.

“I know you’re busy every day. I’m fine, so please don’t force yourselves to make time in the future.”

Instead, I told them to be diligent in their duties in a different way.

But then…

“Darjeeling, don’t say such things!”

Jeff’s complexion suddenly turned pale.

“Mom and Dad value the time spent with you just as much as, if not more than, taking care of the country.”

As Hecate hugged me tightly with tears in her eyes, I felt like I had become the bad person.

‘I can’t say anything now.’

I just meant that I prefer them to work hard. I grumbled inwardly and added a few more words.

“Still, don’t overdo it.”

You shouldn’t neglect state affairs or leave them to subordinates just because you prioritize me.

“I like Mom and Dad who work hard.”

Above all, I didn’t raise you to be like this.

Roughly speaking, the words above originally had such hidden meanings.

“We’ll keep that in mind!”

Unaware of these terrifying implications, Jeff and Hecate just nodded their heads several times with faces full of emotion. They looked foolish.

“Thank you for worrying about us, our daughter.”

“It’s a shame to part like this, would you mind if we stop by the rear garden for a moment?”

Hecate, whose face had already softened into a bright smile, lifted me up with both hands as we passed the arched bridge. At this moment, I was surprised by the sudden change in eye level.

“Alright, when we get there, I’ll show you what I made today.”

Actually, I wanted to sleep more, but since I was already awake, I decided to show them everything at once. After all, it would be more painful to deal with their doting right before bed.

“I drew various things on pebbles.”

So when we arrived at the elegant marble pavilion with a mix of sky blue and gray, I immediately told the maid to bring the pebbles with drawings on them.

“This is a pebble I exchanged with Berith.”

I first held out a pebble with unidentifiable dots on it.

“This pebble here is Mom, drawn by me.”

I expected a good reaction to the second pebble, as it was a work I was proud of.

“To think you drew me, it’s really wonderful!”

As expected. Hecate cheered beyond my imagination and quickly took the second pebble.

“Would it be alright if Mom keeps this pebble?”

Hecate’s nose had turned red, and she was on the verge of tears of joy, completely enchanted by my outstanding artistic sense. I felt proud.

“Do as you please.”

I responded nonchalantly, as if granting a favor. At this, Jeff, who had been silent, made a whining sound and gestured to his own face with his index finger. It was creepy.

“Father, you already have a drawing I gave you when Mother wasn’t around.”

Holding back a frown, I pointed out that it would be fair if we considered the order of events.

“That may be true, but…”

Unable to argue further, Jeff trailed off, glancing at Hecate.

He seemed quite envious of her, as she was rubbing the pebble I had drawn against her cheek, overcome with happiness.

“Next time we do a similar activity, I’ll be sure to draw one for you too, Father.”

Fearing he might spend the entire day moping around like a corpse, I told a well-intentioned lie.

“Really? You must keep that promise, Darjeeling.”

He actually believes it. I thought as I watched Jeff’s face immediately brighten.

This fellow is too simple-minded, I mused.

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

As dinner was approaching and there would be no dessert, I took a few sips of lukewarm tea as a consolation.

“You’ve been receiving various play-based education so far. Did you enjoy all of it?”

“Hmm… It wasn’t bad.”

Jeff and Hecate waited until I had sufficiently moistened my throat before asking.

They were basically asking whether I disliked the play-based education or not.

‘It was a bit too childish, though.’

While I didn’t particularly dislike it, I couldn’t say I was fully satisfied either, so I expressed that it was average.

“And among the recent snacks, I really liked the watermelon cake.”

Not wanting to dwell on the topic of play-based education, I naturally shifted the conversation to desserts.

“I wonder if there are any more special desserts? I’d like to try something different.”

The watermelon cake, even decorated with a tiara as an ornament, was exceptionally splendid.

The world is vast, so I had no doubt there must be even better snacks out there.

“Hmm… A special dessert…”

They could have simply said yes if there was one, or no if there wasn’t, but Jeff and Hecate each fell into deep thought.

Hecate even rested her chin on one hand, while Jeff clutched his head with both hands.

“Ah!”

Hecate was the first to break the silence. She snapped her fingers with a click and claimed to have found the answer.

“Your Majesty, in that case, it must be that!”

Eventually, the two of them whispered to each other.