I narrowed my eyes.

“It’s clear that at some point, someone will catch it and take it away. Seeing that there’s no writing on the outer envelope.”

But if I disappear like this, it will surely raise suspicion.

After sneakily taking it, I worried that once it’s discovered later, I’ll become more vigilant. What should I do? While contemplating, a large hand embraced me suddenly.

“Here you are, Marian.”

It was Hadel. Hadel, holding my armpits like scolding an unruly puppy, looked at me, held my gaze, and spoke rhythmically.

“We need to tailor the clothes. How can you run away like this?”

“Bark! Bark!”

You’re really welcome today! I vigorously moved my hands and feet, pointing to the envelope on the floor. Hadel, who seemed determined not to let go until I apologized, bowed his head and picked up the letter.

“Is this… a letter?”

“Bark! Bark! Bark! Bark!”

I can’t speak, so there’s this discomfort again. I gestured and kicked hard, trying to convey to Hadel that there was something suspicious about the postal carriage.

Fortunately, Hadel, who understood my intentions, immediately ordered his subordinate who was nearby.

“…Stop that carriage, don’t let it move.”

“What? But it’s the postal carriage.”

“They say we need to examine the wheels. Definitely stop it for today.”

“Yes, understood.”

Although the subordinate was hesitant, he ran off to take action according to Hadel’s orders. I breathed a sigh of relief. Hadel, who realized that the problem was resolved, came up to me with the letter.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? What kind of letter is this?”

Returning to the room, I kissed Hadel, transforming quickly back into a human appearance. Then, I informed Hadel of the astonishing fact I had just learned.

“Regular reports are being sent to the New Year’s Prince.”

“The birds? Reports?”

Hadel was quite surprised to learn that his younger sibling, who had been driven out to the distant north, was even receiving reports about him.

Lost in thought for a while, he stroked his chin and mumbled.

“I thought they would be watching. Because they know too much about the North. But…”

Hadel quickly tore open the envelope. The letter inside looked short at first glance. Having read it through, Hadel asked, seemingly bewildered.

“This is a report about you, Marian?”

“That’s right.”

I also received the letter and read it.

“Fortunately, there’s nothing significant in the contents.”

I had worried that there might be something like, ‘The cursed princess of the Grand Castle who turns into a jokjevi,’ but fortunately, the letter contained none of that.

The letter said:

“I’ve been watching for a long time, but I’ve never met a woman with pink hair.”

“Indeed, returning to the jokjevi form seems to be the answer.”

Thanks to not frequently showing the appearance of a human, I maintained a serious expression.
“I overheard their conversation, and usually, Hadel reports about your mana and health. Recently, it seems he has been ordered to submit more reports.”

“Is that about you?”

“It seems so.”

Upon my words, Hadel made an expression that he couldn’t understand at all.

“…Why on earth would the birds be interested in you?”

“I don’t know.”

I’m the one who wants to ask. Why do they react so sensitively to me, whether I’m a jokjevi or a human?

“It makes sense when I’m a jokjevi, as they noticed the fact that I absorb mana, but what’s the problem when I’m human?”

Could it be that they know that the jokjevi and I are the same person?

A shiver ran down my spine at the mere thought.

“No way…”

No one in this world knows Princess Marian with pink hair. There is no one who can be associated with her, seeing the white jokjevi that absorbs flames.

If such a person existed…

“At least it means that someone who spent the same era with me is alive.”

Coincidentally, the New Year’s Prince resembled someone who fought alongside me in the war. A man with clean silver hair and blue eyes.

“Espen.”

The mastermind who caused mana explosion in the last battle, eventually taking away my life.

“I’m alive, so Espen might be alive too.”

For a moment, I thought that, but I quickly shook my head. It’s not easy to say I survived perfectly. Espen was no different; his heart was definitely shattered, and a mana explosion occurred.

“Then why?”

Though resembling Espen, it wasn’t him, but once I concluded that, the situation became a labyrinth again. Hadel, with a puzzled tone, asked.

“Have you ever met the birds?”

“I have no idea.”

Whether I met them once or if they had a face completely different from Espen’s. It felt uncomfortable either way.

Raising my head, I noticed Hadel had a serious expression as well. I forced a smile and tapped Hadel’s shoulder.

“Why like that?”

“Marian.”

Hadel hugged me tightly, seeming anxious.

It was natural for Hadel, who had everything taken away by the birds until now, to be uneasy. I simply patted Hadel’s back reassuringly.

Inside the letter envelope, I replaced the letter with one written in a different script.