I looked at her with a puzzled expression at the sudden conversation, she nodded vigorously.

“Yes! You’re amazing, Reibella. Just by existing, you make people happy.”

What is she talking about?

It was none other than the princess who made people happy just by existing. Having watched her from close by, she knew better than anyone about her influence.

‘Is she joking?’

What did she mean by calling her an idol? She was already suspicious about why the princess showed such favor towards her, and now this added to her confusion.

Reibella Felicity wasn’t even a character that appeared in the original novel. In fact, she could hardly be considered an extra. Yet to be praised as an idol by the protagonist princess was nonsensical.

As she stared with a truly uncomprehending expression, the princess smiled softly.

“You know. I’ve known you for a long time.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Since I’m in the palace, I could hear news that others couldn’t. So I heard a lot about you too, Reibella.”

What kind of news……?

When Reibella made a face full of questions, she continued.

“I heard that you’re really smart and amazing. That you’re good at everything and know everything.”

“Who would say such nonsense?”

Are they sane? Who would tell such nonsense to this world’s only god?

The princess spoke like she’s sharing a secret only she knew, almost whispering.

“Everyone did. You’re a Felicity, right?”

“That family is ruined though.”

“Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that Reibella is Reibella, right? I’ve always admired you, Reibella.”

With those words, the princess’s eyes deepened as if recalling something. A smile formed on her lips, but somehow it seemed tinged with bitterness.

It was truly nonsensical. But on the other hand, if these words were sincere, she could understand why the princess had been so favorable towards her all this time.

Of course, that didn’t eliminate all questions. Who had told the princess about her in the first place? A spy who had infiltrated the Felicity family? Or was it her father, Duke Felicity?

‘Who could they be to use the expression “everyone”?’

Yet the ladies at the tea party had acted as if they were learning about what kind of child she was for the first time, despite the family having kept her hidden.

But before she could probe further, the princess changed the subject.

“Was the festival fun?”

“Festival?”

“Yes. The festival we went to a few days ago. How was it?”

The princess was acting quite strange today. After all that talk about idols and such, she suddenly brought up the festival that has already passed.

But without showing her suspicion, Reibella answered sincerely.

“Well, I felt lonely at first when we got separated, Your Highness, but I enjoyed watching people. How about you?”

“It wasn’t fun being apart from you, Reibella. I wanted to enjoy it together.”

Ah. Though she had answered truthfully, it seemed to be the wrong answer. Reibella immediately tried to salvage the situation.

“We’ll have many more opportunities in the future, so we can go see it together then!”

“Really? Then there’s a ‘Flower Festival’ in a few days, want to go? I heard it’s really pretty to see at night.”

Why does this country have so many festivals? How does the country even function like this?

Though complaints welled up, Reibella nodded readily to avoid upsetting the princess who was being friendly to her after a long time. There would be many knights following them like last time anyway. It should be fine.

And several days later, on a moonlit night, when she discovered the princess waving at her window outside her quarters, Reibella came to deeply regret this decision. 

* * * 

 “Reibella!”

“……Your Highness?”

Reibella wore a bewildered expression as she looked at the princess wearing a pitch-black robe.

It was a moonlit night. She had definitely heard from the head maid an hour ago that the princess had gone to bed. So why was the princess who should be sleeping waving at her from outside the window?

Moreover, the princess’s hair and eye color had both turned brown.

A sliver of unease ran down Reibella’s spine.

“How did you come here at this hour?”

“I have my ways.”

The princess’s face was full of mischief as she smiled proudly.

After shrugging her shoulders high, she grabbed Reibella’s hand and pulled.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“The festival! We promised, remember? That we’d go together.”

“Now?”

At this dark hour?

Reibella leaned her upper body out the window and looked around. There was no one. Not a single person.

“Don’t tell me it’s just going to be Your Highness and me?”

“Yes!”

Good heavens.

“Wouldn’t today be a bit…… We could go during the day with the guard knights……”

“It’s fine! I’ve gone out at night many times. Come on, I brought medicine for you, Reibella.”

With those words, the princess pulled out a small medicine bottle from her chest. It was the magic potion that changed hair color, which she had taken before when going out with the princess.

The princess handed over the medicine along with the black robe she was holding in her other hand. Proudly, as if to say she had prepared all this for her.

“…… You, you prepared everything.”

“Yes, didn’t I do well?”

Though it was quite disconcerting that she had prepared everything without any warning, thinking about it, this was the princess’s true nature. Even in the novel, after regression, she would secretly come and go outside, saying she wanted to live her own life away from the palace.

“Let’s hurry. Okay?”

This isn’t right.

Really, I shouldn’t do this.

‘The Emperor must have assigned guards, so it should be fine…… right?’

Seeing the princess’s face full of expectation, she simply couldn’t refuse. Swallowing a sigh, Reibella reluctantly stepped on the chair and climbed over the windowsill.

That night, the two small girls who could barely reach the windowsill escaped the palace together. 

 * * *

 The moment they arrived at the festival venue, Reibella could understand why the princess had insisted on coming at night.

The streets that had been crowded with people during the previous festival had transformed into something gorgeous and beautiful. The streets were filled with colorful flowers, and the street lighting also created a mysterious atmosphere with flower-shaped lanterns that changed colors moment by moment.

Flower-shaped decorations were everywhere the eye could see, and people had flowers in their hair too, making it seem as if fragrant scents were wafting through the air just by looking.

“It was good to come, right?”

Reibella nodded automatically at the princess’s question. Indeed, she had never seen such a spectacular sight before.

“But what kind of festival is this? Is it some kind of flower commemoration day?”

“Ah. That.”

The princess giggled at Reibella’s question.

“I once grew flowers as a gift for Dad. When he found out I grew them myself, he was so happy that he designated it as a festival. The flower I grew then was that one……”

The princess explained in detail about what flowers she had grown at what age, and how the Emperor had reacted. While talking about it, joy, satisfaction, and pride overflowed from the princess’s face.

“That’s a meaningful day. It deserves to be designated as a festival.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. Thanks to it, Miss, you remember the details of that day so clearly.”

“Are you calling me ‘Miss’? I told you you could call me by my name.”

“How could I do that?”

Before leaving the palace, the princess had suggested, ‘Call me by my name outside, it’s dangerous.’ But Reibella couldn’t do it.

Surely there must be the Emperor’s shadows following them even now.

How could she possibly call the princess by name when she knew perfectly well that the moment she did, that information would reach the Emperor’s ears?

“You’re so stubborn, Reibella.”

“Yes. I suppose I am.”

The princess burst out laughing at Reibella’s ready admission.

“But I like it. I like being outside together even more.”

“Yes, me too.”

“Let’s make happy memories today.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The princess held Reibella’s hand tightly while looking around again. Then, as if hearing something, she urgently pulled Reibella’s hand.

“They’re releasing flower lanterns by the river right now! Let’s go see!”

The excited princess led Reibella forward. It was quite adorable how she tried to act like a big sister, saying she knew the area well from coming out often and to just trust her.

At the river they arrived at, just as the princess had said, beautifully folded paper flower lanterns were floating along with the current.

The sight of the large river filled with flower lanterns was as beautiful as the Milky Way in the night sky.

“Should we make one too?”

“We can make them ourselves?”

“Yes. Over there……”

When she turned her head to where the princess was pointing, she could see people lined up waiting. Since they were already here, it would be nice to make and release a flower lantern. Just as she was about to move to get in line, she lost hold of the princess’s hand in the suddenly surging crowd.