Alicia pondered what words to speak first as she looked at Marisa, who bowed her head toward her.

She was extremely cautious in choosing her first words, as any statement seemed likely to reveal her true intentions.

However, Alicia’s deliberation could not continue for long.

She was short on time.

She had sent Mina away under the pretext of teaching her how to make apple pie in an attempt to buy time, but there was no telling when or how the situation might change and the two would return.

“Marisa.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I need your help.”

This is what Alicia chose.

To simply ask for help, without hiding anything.

She regretted having to play her hand, but time was more precious.

“Help is unnecessary. I will simply follow your orders.”

“Can you cover the eyes of Amy and Mina for a while?”

“Pardon?”

“And I need your clothes.”

“…Your Highness, are you planning to slip out of the imperial palace unnoticed?”

Though she wasn’t one to use her wits cunningly so it didn’t show much, Marisa was clever and quick-witted.

Marisa lowered her voice to ask, seeming to have figured out what Alicia was trying to do from just a few words.

Alicia nodded with satisfaction at Marisa’s perceptiveness.

“Just for a few hours.”

“Bringing clothes is easy. But covering Mrs. Campbell’s eyes will be difficult.”

“Of course, I’ll help you with your task. You just need to say one thing to Amy: ‘The Princess is sleeping.'”

The method to slip out of the palace was simple, just a bit cumbersome in preparation.

She just needed to say she was taking a long nap and not to be disturbed, leaving only Marisa in the room.

As long as she said not to enter before closing the bedroom door, Amy and Mina wouldn’t open it unless something major happened.

It was a method made simple by Marisa’s presence.

“Wouldn’t it be more helpful for Your Highness’s movements if we inform Mrs. Campbell?”

“Amy worries too much.”

There was no way Amy would agree to her secretly slipping out of the palace without any guarding knights.

Knowing this, Alicia shook her head firmly. After pondering for a moment, Marisa nodded.

“When do you plan to move?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Then, could you delay your plans for two or three days?”

“Why?”

“I’d like Mrs. Campbell to personally confirm your long nap at least once or twice.”

Alicia nodded, seeing that her choice was not wrong as she watched Marisa suggest a way to eliminate any suspicion Amy might have.

“Alright, I’ll do that.”

“Shall I bring the clothes here?”

“Can you bring them without anyone knowing?”

“Yes, I can.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“I’ll prepare clothes that won’t stand out.”

Having gained Marisa’s help more easily than expected, Alicia handed her a small pouch she had prepared in advance.

Momentarily surprised by the pouch that fell onto her hands, Marisa bowed her head in gratitude without even checking its contents.

No other words were necessary.

Having simply resolved several issues she had been pondering, Alicia rose from her seat and walked back to the bedroom.

She planned to start showing Amy her long naps from today.

“I trust you know what to say when Amy comes.”

“I hope you have pleasant dreams.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

It was Marisa who closed the door after Alicia entered the bedroom.

Marisa smiled as she alternately looked at the small pouch in her hand and the bracelet on her wrist, while listening to the slow footsteps moving inside the bedroom with her back to the door.

Two days after Alicia handed Marisa the small pouch containing gold coins.

Alicia returned to her bedroom, using fatigue as an excuse, and changed into her nightclothes with Mina’s help.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t call a physician?”

“I’m just tired, that’s all.”

Alicia lightly waved her hand at Amy’s worried words as she climbed onto the bed and pulled up the covers.

As Amy sighed as if helpless, Mina, who had carefully drawn the curtains to block out the sunlight, approached and tugged at her sleeve.

“Let Her Highness sleep for now, Mrs. Campbell. We can call a physician after she wakes up if needed. Her rest is the priority now.”

“I know, but…”

“Marisa will keep watch well, so today you need to teach me how to make meat pie.”

Having gained confidence after successfully making apple pie, Mina was learning a few simple baking recipes from Amy during the times Alicia took long naps.

Amy, who had agreed to Mina’s request partly because Alicia had recommended it and partly because she didn’t mind passing on her skills, looked at her mistress who had already prepared to sleep, wondering if this was really alright.

“Your Highness, I’ll call a physician when you wake up. Don’t try to stop me on that.”

“Okay.”

“Then… we’ll take our leave. Marisa, guard Her Highness’s bedroom well.”

“Yes, Mrs. Campbell.”

After Amy and Mina left the bedroom, treading lightly so as not to disturb Alicia’s sleep, Marisa closed the bedroom door quietly and listened for sounds outside.

She heard the sound of a few maids bustling about, then leaving the room following Amy and Mina.

After confirming that the remaining maids in the room were chatting in low voices far from the bedroom, Marisa walked to the bedside and spoke in a small voice.

“It’s time to move, Your Highness.”

“Has everyone left?”

“A few remain outside the bedroom as a precaution, but there’s no one who would disturb Your Highness’s deep sleep.”

Alicia opened her eyes at Marisa’s words and quickly got out of bed.

From now on, she needed to move swiftly.

Alicia took off her nightgown and, with Marisa’s help, changed into the clothes she had brought. She let out a small exclamation of surprise.

Although she had thought their height and build were similar by eye, it was amazing how well the clothes fit, as if tailored for her.

“These don’t seem to be clothes you’ve worn.”

“…No matter what, I couldn’t give Your Highness clothes I’ve worn.”

Alicia tilted her head, looking at Marisa who seemed to hesitate before answering. She then stood in front of the mirror to make a final check of her appearance.

As she put on the shoes Marisa offered her, Alicia nodded with satisfaction as she scanned her reflection in the mirror.

“Please put this on.”

Finally, Alicia draped the robe Marisa handed her over her shoulders and hid her hair inside the hood, as if completing all preparations. She took a short deep breath.

It was her first outing in a very long time, so she felt slightly nervous, but if everything went according to plan, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

After mentally reviewing the route to House Anderson, Alicia looked at Marisa with a momentarily hesitant expression.

“I’ll step out briefly to fetch a water jug.”

The sharp-witted Marisa bowed her head first and left the bedroom.

Alicia, who had briefly considered whether to show her the secret passage, left a small thank you that Marisa couldn’t hear for neatly resolving her dilemma, then carefully opened the wardrobe door to avoid making any noise.

Alicia entered the secret passage, taking care not to leave any traces of use. She searched for the flint and lamp that her past self had used.

How long had she walked with unfamiliar hands barely managing to light the lamp?

Finally, the end of the long, dark path came into view.

Opening the wooden door that was stiff from lack of oiling, she entered a worn-out space that visibly lacked human touch even at a glance.

It was a storage shed near the imperial hunting grounds, a place rarely visited by people.

‘Should I learn how to oil doors before coming next time?’

Thinking she might have had similar thoughts in the past, Alicia closed the door she had opened using her whole body. After meticulously erasing any traces of her visit, she carefully slipped out of the storage shed.

Being near the imperial hunting grounds that only opened for spring banquets, there shouldn’t be people passing by, but it was never bad to be cautious.

The forest, bursting with new sprouts, had a different kind of bustle compared to the human world.

Alicia, who had been briefly enjoying the scenery while walking the mountain path, pressed down her hood that had nearly been blown off by the wind.

She had arrived at the first place she needed to visit after leaving the secret passage.

“I’d like to borrow a horse.”

It was the stable responsible for the imperial horses.

A normal person would have treated someone suddenly appearing and trying to borrow an imperial horse as a madman or handed them over to the guards, but the person in charge of the stable was an old man who had been handling imperial affairs for a long time.

Knowing that young members of the imperial family often enjoyed such outings, he pointed to a horse without saying much, even after seeing Alicia’s face.

It was the gentle horse that Alicia had always relied on whenever she visited this place.

Alicia lightly patted the horse’s neck as it shook its mane and whinnied, seemingly happy to see her after a long time. She then took hold of the reins.

As the horse left the stable, following Alicia’s lead, the old man approached silently and secured a saddle on the horse’s back.

“Thank you, sir.”

As Alicia mounted the horse and expressed her gratitude, the old man nodded lightly.

Receiving a send-off from the mute old man, Alicia quickly rode down the mountain path. She then tied and hid the horse on the outskirts of the town before moving into the town center, avoiding people’s eyes.

She could see people conversing in consistently excited voices, perhaps still caught up in the lingering mood of the long festival.

It was a completely different sight from the faces of people she had last seen before her regression.

‘Back then, everyone had gloomy faces…’

Fallen imperial authority, an incompetent emperor, and a grand duke manipulating such an emperor with his fingertips.

It would have been difficult to smile in a situation where war could break out at any moment.

But the people didn’t abandon her until the very end.

Alicia lowered her head like a sinner, recalling the faces of those who had cheered her name and blessed her even with faces that looked about to cry.

She felt guilty and ashamed, unable to muster the courage to walk among those people with her head held high.