“No need to mention it. Next time, I hope you visit during the day. The temple gardens are quite pleasant for strolling.”

Retin looked down at me with calm, wrinkled eyes and a gentle smile.

Realizing his sincerity, I nodded swiftly.

“I’ll come again when I leave the palace. Do you like cookies, Grandfather? I make great cookies.”

“Cookies? Ah, my teeth are not so good for hard foods, but soft cookies should be fine.”

“Got it. Then I’ll bring some custom-made cookies for Grandfather.”

He said it was fine, but he seemed to be quite looking forward to it.

Promising a next meeting, we left the temple through the back door, revealing a night market filled with endless food options.

“I thought I was going to die of boredom staying so quiet in the temple. Now it feels like I can live. Sione, how about filling our stomachs over there? There’s time before the fireworks start.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Bella, you must be getting hungry too? I assume Raven is.”

After exchanging glances with Raven, we both nodded.

We had walked more than expected, and it had been a while since the sun set; our stomachs were making noises.

Passing by colorful shops decorated in a festive atmosphere, we gathered delectable-looking foods into a basket, ready to head back to the carriage.

That’s when I noticed a little girl, about three years old, sitting on the ground crying.

“Hey, are you okay? Where are your parents?”

“Sniff, my knee hurts. Mommy…”

It appeared she had fallen and hit her knee hard; it was bloody.

I thought to call for Sione, but she was a bit far away, and the crowd was so large that the child was at risk of being trampled.

Deciding to move the child to a safer location, I soothed her.

“I’ll make it stop hurting, okay? Just count to three with me. Can you do that?”
“Ugh, ugh. Hmm. I, can count to three.”

“Alright. Pay attention. I’m going to start counting now.”

While the child sniffled and counted to three, I pulled my hat down low and cast a healing spell.

I had only briefly learned it from Sione, so I was a bit worried, but the simple bruise was healed more easily than I thought.

“Now, you’re all better. Just hold my hand and stand up.”

“Huh…? It really doesn’t hurt. What did you do?”

“I told you. I’d fix it~.”

Just when the child, who didn’t understand what I was saying, tilted his head, their parents came running towards us in tears.

They must not have realized they lost their child due to the crowd.

“Kid, did you help our child? Thank you so much. Our child could have been injured.”

I wanted to say that the child was already injured, but if I started making a fuss about it, I might lose my companions.

Spotting Walter and Sione’s heads popping out of the crowd, I quickly got up.

“Where are your parents? I should at least say hello… Where?”

After the child’s parents hurriedly left the scene, I made my way through the crowd towards where my companions were.

Just as I was close enough to barely see the edge of Walter’s cloak—

Someone poked my back from behind.

“Is this Bella? Never thought I’d see you here.”

“Agh!!”

Despite the noisy festival, there weren’t many lunatics who would dare call out my name in a place filled with people.

Blocking Cain’s mouth with my hand, I raised an eyebrow and warned him.

“Don’t carelessly say my name. Think a little, will you?”

“Ah, if you dislike being called by name, should I call you ‘Your Highness’?”

For the first time, I felt a real threat from someone I’d met on the street.

If not for my hand blocking his mouth, his voice would have easily reached other people.

“Are you insane? I knew you were an idiot, but I didn’t think you’d be this thoughtless.”

“I apologize. I was too happy to see you and made a mistake.”

He sure loves mistakes.

I stared at Cain coldly, fighting the urge to kick his shin.

If he had been shorter like at the party, it would have hurt me more, but I have grown well beyond the height of an average 5-year-old now.

Just when I was about to seize the opportunity to land a punch and escape, Raven, who appeared out of nowhere, stood between Cain and me.

“Who are you? Why are you with Bella?”

Hmm, it seemed like there was another person who didn’t sense danger.

‘Bella’ isn’t an uncommon name in the kingdom, but being called out like this was nothing but troublesome.

I must go back and tell them, I thought, and just when I reached out my hand toward him, Cain tilted his head and spoke.

“Who are you? The only people I know to be around her are Sione and Walter. You could be a servant, but you seem too informal for that.”

To call Raven a servant, how dare he.

I can’t take it anymore.

Deciding to punch him in the gut and then leave, just then, Raven, who had been quiet, glared at Cain and replied.

“I’m her friend. Who are you?”