“My legs hurt.”

“Your Highness, the Imperial Princess. Are you alright?”

“Mm, I’m fine.”

“Perhaps it would be best to rest for a moment.”

At Nadia’s complaint, the governess-lady-in-waiting spoke. When the lady-in-waiting signaled to the entourage following behind, everyone stopped, and the break began.

Sitting on a mat spread under the cool shade of a tree, Nadia was flanked by her escort knights and several ladies-in-waiting. They were the ones now serving Nadia, the newly appointed Imperial Princess.

‘We walked too long, so my legs hurt.’

The ladies-in-waiting draped a garment over Nadia, and as she sipped the strawberry juice handed by the governess, Nadia surveyed her surroundings.

The palace complex where the tombs of former emperors were densely clustered. The old architectural style was faithfully recreated, making it a very antiquated building. Admiring its grandeur anew, Nadia also took a big bite of an apple pie.

“Mmmph. So good.”

Since becoming a princess, she didn’t know much else, but she was so happy she could eat tons of delicious desserts. Of course, there were times when her mom nagged about getting cavities, but being on a field trip like this, there was no mother to interfere, so it was practically unlimited.

‘The palace patissier’s desserts. Truly a dream-like taste.’

The palace patissier was exceptionally skilled. The custard pudding he made, the sour pies with various berries, and the sweet juices.

But among them, Nadia’s favorite was the apple pie.

‘It’s refreshing. And moist. So delicious. What more could I want in life!’

Except it was too tiring and cold.

At least for today.

“Why a field trip all of a sudden? I hate field trips.”

It was a chilly winter. True, spring was gradually approaching, but it would likely take a while for the spring pushing in from the south to break through the gates of the imperial capital. As if proving it, the trees were frozen, with snowflakes clinging to each branch.

Moreover, because the surroundings had been cleared to build the palaces, the wind felt particularly cold here. The fiercely blowing wind gradually cooled the apple pie they had brought wrapped in cloth.

‘Hmph, apple pie is best when it’s warm.’

Fortunately, after finishing the strawberry juice, the governess gave her a cup of warm cocoa. It became even sweeter with seven bean-sized marshmallows.

“Oooh. But it’s still cold, so cold.”

“As you have become a princess, knowing the history of your ancestors is very important, Your Highness.”

“Hmph, that talk again. Then mom and dad should have come too.”

“Their Majesties have already been and gone from here long ago. It is simply that Your Highness’s turn came later.”

‘I want to go home.’

She tried hard to appeal that she wanted to go back to the imperial palace, but it was a tactic that didn’t work at all on the governess, who was as rigid as an old tree. Eventually, getting up again, Nadia entered the palace. Having seen all the ruins in the garden, it was now time to study the portraits and achievements of each emperor inside the palace.

“Shall we go inside? It will be warmer inside.”

“Couldn’t we have eaten inside from the start?”

“Having your meal here is according to etiquette.”

“Tsk, where is that a rule?”

“It is etiquette, Your Highness.”

“Araahh…”

Eventually, after walking a bit more, her legs hurt and she whined, and she ended up being carried by a soldier. Nadia recalled another man who had once picked her up.

‘Dad.’

She rolled the unfamiliar-sounding title around in her mouth. A name she still lacked the courage to pronounce. But it was slowly circling. A change was gradually happening, but she herself seemed unwilling to acknowledge it, acting bratty and forgetting about it.

‘But Uncle Cain is still the best.’

Honestly, she understood why her mom had chosen her dad, but she still wished more that things had worked out with Uncle Cain. Uncle Cain was always gentle, incredibly handsome, and his hair was pink. He was also the person who had let her hold Pink Bear.

Since coming to the imperial palace, she had been so busy with swordsmanship training that she even forgot to ask someone to buy her a Pink Bear doll. Swordplay was fun too, but she also wanted a Pink Bear doll. But who should she pester?

Mom? Or…

‘Da…d?’

She closed her eyes and imagined asking the two for a Pink Bear doll, but concluded she was worried she’d look like a childish kid.

‘Ugh, it’s not easy. This whole princess thing.’

If it was her reluctant dad, he’d probably buy it without question, but to do that, she felt she’d have to call him ‘dad,’ and she just didn’t want to push it. Ugh, it’s hard, so hard. This is exactly when having Uncle Cain would be perfect!

“These are portraits of the previous emperors.”

While Nadia was lost in such thoughts, the lesson continued. An elderly scholar followed her around, explaining in detail the portraits of the former emperors, their names, and their achievements. Honestly, there were many difficult words, so it sounded familiar but she didn’t really understand. Thinking that studying was probably just like this, Nadia nodded as if she understood.

“Ah, I see.”

And there was a man watching Nadia from the side.

Then, the moment his eyes met Nadia’s, the man smiled and approached.

“Tsk, an intruder!”

Everyone made a commotion, taking defensive stances toward the man approaching the princess, but the person in question was composed.

“Nadia, it’s been a long time.”

And Nadia stared at the man with wide eyes. Was this a dream?

Rubbing her eyes frantically with her small hands, the man before her was indeed him.

Nadia uttered, as if entranced.

“Uncle.”

“……”

“Uncle… Cain…?”

***

“It’s about time Nadia was returning. Why is there still no word?”

“That’s… we aren’t sure either. Shall we check if perhaps there was an accident on the way?”

After the negotiations with Amadeus concluded, a minor commotion broke out in the central palace. It was after Amadeus had returned home.

It was because Princess Nadia had not yet returned, even though it was clearly time.

Finding this strange, Arthur personally stepped in. Nadia’s head tutor said he would inquire about the deputy tutor’s whereabouts, but Arthur shook his head.

“Let’s wait a bit first.”

And thanks to quick-footed attendants, this news soon reached Rosie as well. Resting in her quarters, Rosie made a startled gesture upon hearing the news.

“What? Nadia still hasn’t returned?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It was decided to wait a bit first, but he said he would investigate if there is any further delay.”

Just then.

“Your Majesty, it is reported that the Princess has returned.”

***

“Why were you so late?”

Rosie asked for the reason, but no one answered. The one who finally spoke was Nadia’s governess-lady-in-waiting.

“It’s… there was a meeting with an acquaintance of Her Highness.”

“An acquaintance? Explain in detail. Quickly.”

“Well, you see…”

As the head lady-in-waiting seemed to agonize over whether to say it, the one who stepped forward was Nadia, who had returned late.

“…I met Uncle Cain.”

And Rosie looked at Nadia in surprise.

“What did he say?”

“Uncle gave me this and left…”

What Nadia showed was a pink-tinted bear doll.

***

With the news of Nadia’s return, the brief commotion soon subsided. However, regarding the reason for the delay, it was as if everyone had made a pact to remain silent. Fortunately, Arthur wasn’t the type to persistently dig for reasons, but Rosie, who knew everything, was merely troubled by the feeling of deceiving him.

‘How strange.’

Rosie thought as she watched the sleeping Nadia.

‘Why would Cain appear? There, of all places.’

It didn’t make sense that Cain went to see Nadia. Cain, who should have come to see her and Arthur today, was absent, and she hadn’t been able to ask Amadeus the reason because she was wary of Arthur’s reaction. Who would have thought he went to see her daughter, Nadia?

Rosie was astonished and simultaneously fell into an inexplicable, complicated emotion.

Above all, the doll he had left for her daughter was enchanted with voice magic. If you pressed its belly firmly, this sound came out:

-Thank goodness. Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.

And if you pressed it five times, another voice followed:

-Be well. Be well. Be well.

Perhaps because she pressed it too many times, puzzled, the doll crackled and stopped speaking. Rosie blankly stared out the window.

The diamond ring on her ring finger reflected the moonlight palely.

Seeing this, the sword, which had slept all day and was now awake, approached and spoke to her.

-Master, you look deep in thought.