‘What kind of situation is this?’

Did the dream location change from the mart to my room?

“Is this… a dream?”

[No, silly.]

The teddy bear, no, Hayang shook its head.

Hearing those words, my throat that had really screamed felt sore.

“I screamed so much but no one came. Yet you say it’s not a dream?”

[I blocked it with magic.]

“Magic? What are you talking about?”

Nothing made sense.

I grabbed Hayang and stretched its face.

“If you don’t want your stuffing to burst out, speak so I can understand.”

[Ugh, it hurts, it hurts-!]

Thinking that Hayang was inside this, all my fear flew away.

“Weren’t you the one living in my dreams?”

When I added the threat to burst it if it didn’t speak honestly, the truth flowed out of Hayang.

[That wasn’t your dream, it was a subspace!]

“Subspace? You mean another space?”

[Yes. Think of dreams as connecting passages to subspace. I created it borrowing your memories.]

The mart I thought was connected to reality was actually a separate space that just looked the same.

“…Let’s say that’s true. How did you get out here? Could you always come out?”

[I borrowed a bit of the little one’s magic. And used some of your magic too. Ah, the refreshing air of the ground after so long!]

Hayang escaped my hands and danced flutteringly on the bed.

‘Wait, if it’s the little one’s magic…’

Something clicked.

“Are you saying you drew on Evan’s magic?”

[That’s right!]

Hayang proudly exclaimed.

I grabbed the dancing teddy bear’s body.

[I-I can’t breathe!]

“So you’re saying Evan awakened because of you!”

Found you, you rascal!

The magic outburst that shook the castle was all because of Hayang.

[What’s wrong with helping him awaken a little early!]

“Do you know how shocked I was thinking something had gone wrong with the child?”

[He’s alive and well, isn’t he!]

What a way of speaking!

I pinched both of the teddy bear’s ears hard.

“Say that again.”

[Ow, ow! I-I’m sorry…!]

Fists worked better than law.

It seemed to have an effect as Hayang noticeably quieted down.

But it still seemed not fully subdued, as it squeaked as soon as I let go of its ears.

[Well, it would’ve been better if you had done better!]

This time it was my fault.

‘Should I just burst this thing?’

The words coming were a mess, so my gaze wasn’t kind either.

Seeing my eyes look ominous, Hayang flinched and changed its words.

[It would’ve been… good.]

That’s what it calls fixing its speech.

I just glared at Hayang without doing more.

‘It definitely said earlier that it drew on my magic too.’

I wasn’t a magician, nor was I royalty.

I’d heard that all living things had magic dwelling in them, but it was very faint.

‘Did this thing mess with my life force?’

Suspicions piled up one after another.

I looked down at Hayang with my arms crossed.

“I don’t have any magic or anything, what are you talking about?”

[You just don’t know, but some has accumulated.]

“Me?”

[The more you influence this world, that becomes your magic.]

All the items I brought from the mart and my influence.

It was saying that when those two things had some effect on this world, it became magic.

[Now, focus here.]

I opened my palm as Hayang instructed.

Then a bright yellow light pooled in my empty hand.

[This is your magic. If there was a bit more, I wouldn’t have needed to draw on the little one’s magic. What a shame.]

“This much is my magic? Hey, how much did you take?”

I brought boxes of Choco Pies and makgeolli to this world. Yet it was just at the level of a candle flame.

‘What am I supposed to do with this booger-sized magic?’

When I glared fiercely, Hayang avoided my gaze while humming a tune.

[Hmm, j-just a little?]

“…Pay it back threefold later. Evan’s too. Okay?”

I didn’t know what to use magic for, but the fact that it took it secretly was an offense in itself.

[That’s so petty!]

Hayang grumbled.

Regardless, I had many questions for this mysterious teddy bear.

“Was it you who brought me here?”

It was a question I had asked many times.

This time, Hayang didn’t run away.

[Precisely speaking, it was my master.]

“Master? Is it someone I’ve seen before?”

[No. But that person is always watching over you. Be grateful!]

Is it God or what?

Thinking I was hearing an obvious religious pitch, I rolled my eyes, but Hayang came back even more shamelessly.

[I can’t tell you who it is. But if you listen to my request, I’ll tell you.]

It was going in circles again.

At this point, I just wanted to quickly agree and get it over with.

“What’s the request?”

[I’m trapped in subspace. My true form… it’s not just a lump of cotton! It’s a very, very grand and wonderful body!]

The cotton lump wearing a teddy bear disguise trembled.

[Get my true form out of there. That’s my request.]

“How?”

[If you make a lot of magic, you can get me out whole.]

“…How much are we talking about?”

[Hmm, enough to fill this room?]

It meant the candle flame in my palm wasn’t nearly enough.

‘How much do I have to bring and carry for that?’

I didn’t know exactly, but it seemed impossible with the business I was doing now.

‘So that’s why it gave me the box.’

There was a reason it offered what it called a gift.

By the way, why did it choose to go into a teddy bear?

Having to keep seeing this thing move, tears welled up in my eyes.

“…If I get your true form out, can you leave the teddy bear?”

[Of course I’ll leave. But to get my true form out, it has to be all your magic.]

In other words, I couldn’t use the child’s help either.

‘Nothing’s easy.’

It’s not like it benefits me either.

Is there any reason I should help this thing?

‘Should I just get rid of it now?’

Kashar gave it to me, but it might be more beneficial to remove it.

‘As long as I don’t get caught.’

A very scary thought came to me.

[What are you thinking to make your eyes like that!]

“Nothing?”

It was uncannily quick to notice such things.

As I feigned innocence, Hayang tried a new negotiation.

[If you help me, I’ll tell you one thing you’re curious about each time!]

The hand reaching towards Hayang stopped abruptly.

I was curious about many things.

Among them, the biggest problem was.

‘Where the previous possessor disappeared to.’

How, and for what reason did they evaporate?

It bothered me too much to simply dismiss it as an accident.

“Will you tell me one thing now?”

[If I tell you now, I feel like you’ll burn this teddy bear…]

It was a possibility.

‘This is why I don’t like quick-witted ones.’

I nodded my head.

“Alright.”

[Contract established. Now take me with you every day.]

“What if we get caught?”

It seemed like we’d be dragged to the magic tower for dissection or experiments.

[I’ll stay still in front of other people.]

Hayang drooped its body as if to demonstrate. It looked like an ordinary scary teddy bear.

“I’m still not used to that appearance, so the bed is off-limits.”

[That’s so mean! You used to like me!]

“That was… when you were cute.”

[How can love change!]

Love moves, they say.

I put Hayang under the bed and tried to sleep.

‘If I fall asleep like this…’

Maybe this was a dream within a dream?

I seemed to have fallen asleep while repeating that thought.

Morning dawned once again.

‘I really didn’t dream.’

When I glanced towards the table, the teddy bear waved its hand in the morning sunlight.

“So it wasn’t a dream.”

As I clicked my tongue, still half-asleep, Hayang burst out.

[What, that reaction!]

Before I could answer.

Bang-!

Something fell over beyond the door, and soon after, the sound of someone running was heard.

With a crash, Louis and Evan poured in.

“Eileen, good morning!”

Louis jumped onto the bed and leapt into my arms.

“Lord Louis, you should knock when entering a lady’s room.”

“Ah, right.”

“That’s why I told you to calm down.”

Louis and Evan bickered.

Behind them, I could see the half-open door. Mihail was standing there.

“S-sorry!”

Mihail, meeting my eyes, hastily left his spot.

Before I could assess the situation, Louis shook me.

“Let’s go on a picnic!”

“A picnic? So suddenly?”

“Mihail hyung said he’s never been on a picnic. But he has to go today, so can’t we go play before that?”

This was the reason they barged in early in the morning.

A life without ever going on a picnic.

It was too unsettling to just hear and let go.

‘Kashar said he’d be back in two days.’

The weather is nice today too.

Wouldn’t it be fine to play for a bit and send them back?

“Alright, both of you get ready.”

“Yay! Eileen is the best!”

Louis showered my cheeks with kisses.

After changing clothes, I stuffed Hayang into my pocket.

It seemed to squirm a bit, but it said it would stay still, so.

‘A picnic, huh.’

On my way down to the kitchen, numerous menu items flashed through my mind.

Among them, the undisputed best was picnic kimbap.

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

“Future Madam, you’re here.”

“Good morning. The princes want to go on a picnic. I was going to pack lunch boxes, would you like to help?”

“Leave anything to me!”

Carrots and spinach were cut long and sautéed in sesame oil.

Hands beating egg sheets, preparing ham and various ingredients took over the kitchen.

I hummed while seasoning the rice.

‘Luckily there’s pickled radish.’

With the essential pickled radish, seaweed, and bamboo mat laid out, it’s complete.

I had brought the ingredients beforehand intending to make it someday, not knowing it would be used now.

“What kind of food is this?”

“It’s called kimbap. It’s food eaten on picnics.”

“Ohhh.”

In front of Babito’s eyes, I laid seaweed on the bamboo mat.

I spread the seasoned rice well on top, then placed the ingredients one by one and rolled it tightly.

Finally, brush with sesame oil and cut prettily.

‘Home-style kimbap complete, five rolls per person!’

Tasting one, the seasoning was perfect.

Babito, who was watching from the side, burned with culinary learning zeal.

“It’s as mysterious as magic tools!”

“The ingredients are here, so you can make and eat it.”

“R-really? Thank you!”

Wrapping 4-5 servings of kimbap and packing them in pretty lunch boxes completed the preparations.

‘Let’s see, it shouldn’t be lacking? Pack water, juice, and milk too…’

As I was doing final checks in the dining room, Louis came running.

“Eileen! We’re ready!”

He was so excited he put on his fancy clothes.

Behind him, I saw Mihail being dragged out by Evan.

“…Because of me unnecessarily.”

“Come on now. If you’re sorry, please carry the picnic basket.”

“Ah, yes!”

Mihail hurriedly hugged the basket.

Who would have thought I could use the male lead as a porter?

‘It’s not like we’re going far anyway.’

The place I headed was the rear garden behind the magic tower, and even there, a corner not easily visible.

It was a place I always passed by, but just laying out a mat on the grass made it the number one picnic spot.

“I’ll help spread the cloth.”

“Me too, me too!”

As I expected, the children looked excited as if it was their first time here.

Three golden heads gathered cozily on the mat.

“Alright, I’ll open it.”

It was natural to be hungry since they insisted on going on a picnic without eating breakfast.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the basket.

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

“It looks just like flowers.”

“Wow, it’s pretty. So round and round.”

“Why is the food so cute?”

Each of them burst into exclamations.

‘This is why I can’t quit cooking.’

As I nodded contentedly, it happened.

“Indeed. It’s round.”

“Yes. Round…”

Along with a low, beautiful voice, a shadow fell over my head.

My head rose involuntarily.

Kashar smiled with curved eyes.

“Just like a human head.”

Red eyes were looking down at me and the three chicks.