A terrifying thought crossed my mind.

[What are you thinking? Your eyes!]

“Nothing.”

This creature was uncannily perceptive.

Dropping the issue, Hayang tried a new tactic.

[If you help me, I’ll tell you the answers to things you’re curious about!]

My reaching hand stopped midair.

I had many questions.

The biggest one being,

‘Where did the previous host go?’

How and why did they vanish?

It was hard to just chalk it up to an accident.

“Will you tell me one thing now?”

[If I tell you now, I think you’d burn this teddy bear…]

It was a possibility.

‘This is why I hate keen perception.’

I nodded.

“Fine.”

[Deal. You’ll carry me around every day.]

“What if we get caught?”

Being dissected or dragged off for experiments seemed likely.

[Just be quiet around other people.]

Hayang elongated its body. It looked like an ordinary, albeit terrifying, teddy bear.

“I still can’t get used to that look, so keep off my bed.”

[How unfair! I liked it!]

“That was… when you were cute.”

[How could love change?]

Love is a fickle thing.

I placed Hayang under my bed and went to sleep.

‘If I fall asleep like this…’

What if this wasn’t a dream within a dream?

That thought circled in my mind as I fell asleep.

Morning dawned again.

‘I really didn’t dream.’

Glancing at the table, I saw the teddy bear waving in the morning sunlight.

“So it’s not a dream.”

Halfawake, I clicked my tongue, and Hayang was offended.

[What’s with that reaction?]

I didn’t even get to respond.

Crash!

Something fell behind the door, and then someone ran.

Louis and Evan burst in, with an outburst.

“Eileen, good morning!”

Louis leaped onto my bed and into my arms.

“Lord Louis, one must knock before entering a lady’s room.”

“Ah, right.”

“I told you to calm down.”

Louis and Evan bickered.

Behind them, the halfopen door revealed Michael standing there.

“…So, sorry!”

Locking eyes with Michael, he hastily retreated.

Before I could assess the situation, Louis shook me.

“Let’s go on a picnic!”

“A picnic? All of a sudden?”

“Michael has never been on a picnic. But he has to go today, so can’t we go before that?”

So that was why they barged in so early.

A life without a picnic sounded deeply sad.

It was hard to just ignore it.

‘Cassard will return in two days.’

The weather was nice.

We could have a little fun and then send them back.

“Alright, both of you go and get ready.”
“Exciting! Aileen is the best!”

Louis pecked my cheek.

After changing clothes, I tucked a handkerchief into my pocket.

Although it seemed a bit startled, it promised to stay still, so whatever.

‘Picnic, huh.’

While heading to the kitchen, countless menu ideas flashed through my mind.

Among them, the best choice was picnic kimbap.

As I opened the kitchen door, Head Chef Babito greeted me.

“Has the young lady arrived?”

“Good morning. The young princes want to go on a picnic. Could you help me pack a lunchbox?”

“Leave it all to me!”

I longcut carrots and spinach, then stirfried them in sesame oil.

The movement of making rolled omelets, preparing ham and various ingredients dominated the kitchen.

I hummed while seasoning the rice.

‘It’s good that we have pickled radish.’

When the essential ingredients of pickled radish and seaweed are laid out, it’s done.

I never thought the ingredients I brought in advance for someday would come in handy now.

“What food are you making?”

“It’s called kimbap. It’s food for picnics.”

“Hoooo.”

In front of Babito, I laid out the seaweed on the bamboo mat.

Spread the seasoned rice evenly over it, added each ingredient, and rolled it tightly.

After brushing on some sesame oil and cutting it nicely.

‘Each person should eat about five rolls. Home kimbap, done!’

It tasted just right when I tried one.

Babito, who was watching, became enthusiastic about cooking.

“It’s like a mysterious artifact!”

“You have the ingredients, so you can make it too.”

“Really? Thank you!”

After packing enough kimbap for four to five people into a cute lunchbox, I was ready.

‘Let’s see, it shouldn’t be insufficient. Water, juice, and milk too…’

I was doing the final check in the restaurant when Louis rushed in.

“Aileen! We’re ready!”

He was so excited that he even changed into an outfit.

After that, I saw Michael being dragged out by Evan.

“…unnecessarily, because of me.”

“Well, well. If you’re sorry, could you carry the picnic basket?”

“Ah, yes!”

Michael hurriedly grabbed the basket.

Who knew the male lead would become a porter.

‘We’re not going far, anyway.’

The place I headed to was a secluded corner behind the tower, hardly noticeable.

Even though it was a place we always visited, just laying out a mat made it the number one picnic spot.

“I’ll help lay out the blanket.”

“Me too, me too!”

As I expected, the kids looked excited, even if it was their first time here.

Three golden heads gathered neatly on the mat.

“Alright, let’s open it.”

Since they had been nagging to go on a picnic without breakfast, it was natural they were hungry.

Everyone’s eyes focused on the basket.

I took out the freshly made kimbap and set it up.

“It’s just like a flower.”

“Woah, so pretty. It’s round.”

“Why is the food so cute?”

Everyone burst out with exclamations.

‘That’s why I can’t quit cooking.’

I was nodding in satisfaction.

“Right. It’s round.”

“Yes. Rou”

A low whisper, along with a shadow, fell over my head.

I looked up without realizing it.

Cassard squinted his eyes with a smile.

“Just like a human’s head.”

A red gaze looked down on me and the three little chicks.