Eldarion Kindergarten, Sparrow Class.

“All right, friends! Today, we’ll make decorations for the Sparrow Class bulletin board to prepare for the upcoming winter!”

“Yes!”

On the children’s short, round table, there were cotton balls, green construction paper leaves, and thin twigs in abundance.

Although they were just decorating already circular wreaths made of twigs, the noble children who had never really made anything with their hands were excited.

“Miss Emilly Shunshen, something feels strange. It’s hard to breathe, and I’m smiling without realizing it.”

“Yeah, it does seem strangely uplifting.”

“Sigh, even Ivan is taking a break. Ivan is tired. Mentally exhausted from doing nothing.”

Ivan, as if placing cool cucumber slices on his eyelids, sighed while attaching cold leaves one by one.

“We’re just eating and playing all the time. But why does Nia seem so tired? Did you fight with your mom again?”

…!

The child who spread tears throughout the class couldn’t worry her friends again, so she raised her lowered head and tried to smile as usual.

However, Roy, who had been carefully watching Nia, touched his chin maturely.

“You seem troubled. There is. Roy knows.”

“What, what do you know?”

Ivan, who was peeling off a fallen leaf from his eye, muttered playfully.

But Roy wasn’t discouraged.

Holding his fist firmly, he thumped his chest with confidence.

“Roy needs to become a hero for his younger brother. Got it?”

‘Roy, isn’t that it? It seems that the eldest with a younger sibling becomes a hero. All the eldest siblings with younger brothers are respected, they say.’

It was the tactic that wise mother Susha brought up last night, saying not to give birth to a younger sibling.

The child was becoming such a splendid eldest sibling, as if bearing the weight like wearing a crown.

“Hey, Roy, why are you like that again? Nonsense.”

“Ivan, you still don’t know. You don’t have a younger sibling. You wouldn’t understand.”

“What!”

When Ivan finally tore off two leaves, Roy quickly changed the subject.

“G-guys. N-Nia. Trouble! What’s the trouble!?”

Unable to refuse Roy’s pleading gaze, innocent Nia hesitated for a moment.

“…Really. Okay then. Trouble.”

With the child’s muffled words, the gazes of several children sitting around the round table gathered.

And right next to her, Charles grinned and actively asked.

“What is it? Tell us. Our big brother said so. They say a trouble is half solved if you talk about it.”

“That’s right! Speak up! Ivan will solve any problem for you!”

Encouraged by the support of the children on both sides, Nia gained more courage.

“Um. W-well… I met someone… I like.”

“Who?”

“…Mia unnie.”

“Mia unnie?”

In response to the child’s answer, Charles, who was not familiar with the name, rolled his eyes.

And on the contrary, Ivan, who seemed to be falling off like something cold, shook.

“What, what is it? Why Mia unnie again? Can’t you just tell your mom?”

“Huh? Does that Mia unnie work at the palace?”
As Ivan touched his goosebump-covered arm and asked, Nia suddenly raised her head as if facing a big problem.

“Shh, it’s a secret. We must meet in secret…!”

It was as if she were terrified, imagining something scary.

Having observed her strange behavior, Charles, thinking of something, squinted his eyes and lightly slammed the table.

Then, with a serious expression, he said, “It’s a secret. Okay. If it’s related to the palace, I’ll solve your problem. It’ll be a secret mission!”

Upon the princess’s words, the attention of the six children sitting at the table focused on her.

“Huh? A secret mission?”

“Yeah, a secret mission that momma likes! We’ll find that Mia unnie by wandering around the palace at night! It’s okay if we get caught! With that, you won’t need any other excuses anytime.”

It seemed like Charles was referring to the excuses that the Emperor used to escape from morning exercises, avoiding the Empress.

However, Evan and Caesar, who were listening to this conversation, the most mature ones, were surprised and objected.

“What? Does that mean infiltrating the palace secretly?”

“No, Caesar. We can’t do it secretly from the start. How about just inviting her? Your Highness?”

“Hush!”

Charles sternly opened his eyes and pointed his finger at the palace guards, then raised it to his mouth.

Separately from getting approval for an invitation, wouldn’t that make it less thrilling?

“Evan, Caesar. You two might leak the information. Let’s move together.”

“…What?”

“…What?”

The kids were bewildered by the princess’s solemn order.

Seeing those children, Charles’s plump cheeks rose satisfactorily as if he were preparing a new prank.

Although no one knew what he was thinking, he was indeed the golden boy of the imperial family, inheriting the blood of generations of pranksters.

And the child excited about the secret mission was not only Charles.

Roy suddenly stood up, extending his small hand.

“Alright, tonight, Sparrow Expedition! Let’s go!”

Since they were the Sparrow Class, chirp chirp.