She looked visibly weaker than before from crying so much. At this rate, she might collapse before meeting her mother.

“Your mom will definitely come looking for you. Don’t worry.”

“……”

“So um, big sister will tell you an interesting story until your mom comes.”

So Reibella decided to tell the story that had captivated the children’s hearts at the princess’s tea party.

Reibella took out the princess’s pin that she had been carefully holding in one hand. And she began the story.

“Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful and lovely princess……” 

 * * *

 “And then?”

The child with bright sparkling eyes asked Reibella. Next to the child sat another unfamiliar boy, and beside him, other unfamiliar children were lined up sitting.

‘……How did this happen?’

When she first started the story, there were only Reibella and the lost child around.

But as the child stopped crying and started laughing and clapping, neighborhood children walking around started gathering one by one, and then even street children wearing shabby clothes, who seemed to make a living by begging, flocked to this place.

Behind them, people who appeared to be the children’s parents were standing at a distance.

It was crowded. With people. Like they were watching a performance.

Is this okay?

‘If they find out about Felicity, won’t I get trampled by these people……’

Even in the palace under the princess’s protection, there were still people who despised her terribly. The outside would be worse, not better.

Reibella touched her hair just in case. Her hair was still brown.

‘Since I don’t know when the medicine will wear off, I should finish quickly.’

Reibella quickly began wrapping up the fairy tale she had unfolded. As the story progressed, the children’s eyes sparkled and exclamations burst forth.

“……And so the princess who returned with the prince received lots of love from his parents and lived happily ever after!”

“Waaah!”

Cheers erupted from everyone as the story ended. Then the children who were digesting the story began pouring out their curiosities.

“Did the princess who came back with a dot on her face become happy?”

“Stupid! Of course she’s happy since the first prince she met died! He tried to kill the princess.”

The story had gotten longer because she was flustered by the growing crowd, and before she knew it, she had eagerly inserted soap opera elements, making it unclear whether this was a fairy tale or a soap opera, but anyway, it was fortunate that everyone enjoyed it.

As she stretched and turned her head, she saw the child who had been the reason for starting this story. Next to her was an adult who looked just like the child, holding her hand tightly.

While she was talking with the people, it seemed she had found her family.

‘That’s a relief.’

As she felt relieved, she looked for the princess who might have returned, but the princess was still nowhere to be seen. It seemed she would have to return to the palace on her own.

Having made her decision, Reibella stood up. And as she tried to take a step, she couldn’t move forward. It was because of the children surrounding her.

The children seemed to be expecting something more from her as they looked at her. That they wanted to play together. That they wanted to spend more time together.

Though she thought about refusing, the sun was still bright in the sky, and it seemed okay to spend a little more time here.

There was also a melody coming from somewhere just then.

“Shall we dance?”

When Reibella held out her small hand and took one child’s hand, the children started following like threaded beads.

At the same time, smiles bloomed fully on the children’s and Reibella’s faces. 

 * * *

 “My, what an interesting person.”

Michelle, watching Reibella from afar, muttered softly. The princess standing beside her was also blankly staring at the heartwarming scene unfolding before her eyes.

“Like at the tea party, she seems quite skilled at gaining people’s goodwill.”

“Right? Reibella is amazing.”

The princess, who had seemed a bit stiff, showed pure goodwill with a gentle smile. Michelle couldn’t understand that at all.

“Your Highness. This isn’t something to be so happy about.”

“Huh? Why?”

When the princess tilted her head, Michelle sighed.

As she looked at the princess…

The princess was an incredibly lovable being whenever she met her. Just by being there quietly, she gathered people’s smiles and accumulated happiness.

Moreover, she was clever and intelligent, making it impossible not to love her.

But…….

Michelle’s gaze turned beyond the princess’s shoulder.

There was a girl dancing in a circle with numerous children.

She heard it was the same at the tea party. She instantly soothed crying noble children and earned their smiles.

Though she hadn’t seen it personally since she couldn’t attend, it probably wasn’t much different from the scene before her eyes now.

Just watching made smiles spread, creating an atmosphere that made one want to join in.

But that was quite dangerous.

“Your Highness cherishes that child.”

“Yes, she’s amazing.”

Looking at the princess smiling innocently without knowing anything, Michelle made a resolution.

To protect the princess who only saw this world as beautiful.

“Please remember just one thing, Your Highness. That there must always be only one sun.”

That the sun is precious because there is only one.

She hoped the princess wouldn’t forget. 

 * * *

 “Reibella.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When Reibella responded to the princess’s call and raised her head, the princess was quietly gazing at her through the window. She seemed to be on her way to lessons, as she had thick books in her arms.

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

When Reibella asked, she shook her head. Then, as if wanting to say something, her lips moved slightly before saying “It’s nothing.” and withdrawing her gaze again.

Her shoulders drooped powerlessly as she walked away.

‘……What’s going on?’

Several days had passed since returning from the festival. The princess had been a bit strange since then.

‘Did I do something wrong that day?’

Reibella briefly recalled the events of that day.

After playing with the children for a while, she carefully slipped away while everyone was distracted by the festival atmosphere and reported herself to the capital guard.

When maid Julia Hampton came to pick her up after hearing the news, Reibella asked her to tell the princess that she was returning to the palace.

And when the princess returned shortly after, Reibella apologized directly.

‘I was worried.’

‘I’m sorry. Because I accidentally lost sight of Your Highness…… Were you very worried?’

‘Yes. But it’s okay. Because Reibella returned safely. Now go rest.’

‘What about dinner?’

‘Well. I ate various things outside so I’m not thinking about it.’

That was the last time. Then she excused herself saying she would wait in her room in case the princess wanted to eat dinner or have snacks.

Nothing had happened to the princess, and she had returned the cherished pin that same day, so there shouldn’t have been any major problems.

But somehow from the next day, the princess’s attitude became a bit strange.

Should she say the look in her eyes when dealing with her was slightly different from before? Though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what, one thing was certain.

That something had gone wrong.

It wasn’t just Reibella, the person concerned, who felt this; other maids also started to notice.

Though no one picked fights like before, everyone’s attitude became stiff following the princess.

Actually, this situation was more familiar so it wasn’t upsetting, but it was true that she became anxious.

If she had really done something terribly wrong without knowing it and fallen out of the princess’s favor, and if the emperor ordered to dispose of Reibella who had served her purpose by the princess’s side…

What should she do then?

Haah, Reibella sighed while twisting her pink hair. 

 * * *

 “What’s the matter.”

As if responding to her deep sigh, the red-eyed boy asked Reibella.

Reibella muttered while resting her chin on her hand and looking absently through the window.

“I think I understand why the king’s women go crazy.”

“……What?”

“When the person approaches it’s one thing, but when they distance themselves without reason and you can’t ask directly because they’re royalty, I think that’s why they get frustrated. Anyway, people should find someone who only looks at their own person properly.”

Reibella, who had been muttering to herself, belatedly looked at him with an ‘oops’ expression. The boy was looking at her with somewhat bewildered eyes.

Reibella blinked and met his eyes with a brazen expression. Then, feeling somehow dejected, she laughed softly.

“What did you do today?”