He was a cunning-looking man. He put down bread and drinks while speaking in a sly tone.

“Well, look who’s awake? Our precious little ones.”

“Who are you?”

The princess asked while hiding Reibella behind her. The man smirked at her appearance, which was like a rabbit perking up its ears.

“Acting quite haughty for a princess, aren’t we?”

“I’m asking you. Who are you? Why did you kidnap us?”

“What good would knowing do?”

“You wouldn’t have done this without knowing who I am. I am this country’s princess.”

“So what? What’s so special about being just a princess?”

Watching him respond as if it was absurd, Reibella had a truly surprising realization.

Wow, there are people in this world who hate the princess too.

And one more thing.

‘This person has a grudge against the Emperor.’

There was no reason for an imperial citizen to hate the princess. That’s how the story was set up. If anyone had hostility towards her, it must be because of the Emperor.

Still, seeing him bring food for the princess, it was clear he had no intention of killing her yet, and he clearly planned to make some demands to the Emperor using the princess.

“Little one, just stay still, hmm? If you just quietly eat what you’re given, I won’t get angry.”

“Really, if we stay still, you’ll let us live?”

“Yes. Of course. This big brother always keeps his promises.”

Snicker snicker.

“So you’ll stay quiet until someone comes to get you? Hmm?”

“Who’s coming to get me?”

“Well? Your Dad?”

His voice was sharp when mentioning the Emperor. Noticing this, the princess shot back sharply.

“What are you planning to do to Dad?”

“What could you do even if you knew what I’m planning?”

“I asked first!”

“Ah, what a nasty temper this little one has. Should I gag you?”

When he snapped along with a sigh, the princess bit her lip. He showed a sinister smile.

“That’s right. Stay quiet while you’re being treated like a person, little one.”

Snickering, he waved his hand and left through the door again.

As the creaking sounds grew distant, and finally there was a thud of the door closing, the princess immediately grabbed Reibella’s hand.

“Let’s escape.”

The princess’s voice and expression were firm.

“Reibella, they’re going to kill us.”

No, that’s wrong. They won’t kill us.

“We need to get out of here to be safe. You, me, and my Dad too.”

“……”

“I don’t know what they’re planning, but staying here will be dangerous. So we need to leave.”

“I think we should just stay……”

The conversation now confirmed it. That staying still would be more helpful right now.

“That person’s behavior is suspicious. So we should observe the situation……”

But the princess seemed to think differently.

“If you won’t go, I’ll go alone, Reibella.”

She seemed to think that if she stayed here, even the Emperor would be in danger.

If it were her usual self, she would know that their words were just provocations. But perhaps because it involved family, she couldn’t stay calm.

Sigh.

“Alright. I’ll trust Your Highness.”

If she couldn’t be stopped, it would be better to go together. Even if something happened, if they could buy time until the Emperor arrived, their chances of survival would be higher.

When the resigned Reibella nodded, the princess removed the object covering the hole. And when she widened the gap with all her might, a hole big enough for one child to pass through appeared.

“I’ll go first.”

“No, let me check the surroundings first……”

She tried to stop the princess, but it was after she had already squeezed her body into the gap. Having no choice but to help the princess get out, Reibella checked the surroundings before covering the gap and slowly slipping out.

And as expected.

“Little ones? Didn’t I tell you to stay still?”

That sly fellow was guarding outside.

“I knew this would happen.”

The man said while stroking his chin.

“I thought something was strange when the snappy little one didn’t ask to be let go even once.”

“……Let go!”

The princess caught by him was struggling to be released. But he held her firmly while saying fiercely.

“Didn’t I say nothing would happen if you stayed still?”

He tried to grab her nape as if to make an example of her.

At that moment, Reibella stepped forward.

“Let her go.”

“Why? You want to die instead?”

“I was the one who persuaded Her Highness. I told her we should quickly get away because your eyes looked dirty.”

“Hey.”

“So take your dirty hands off Her Highness.”

When she spoke as if warning him, he laughed. Then he let go of the princess and approached. And immediately pushed her with his hand.

“You’re quite cheeky, little one. It wouldn’t matter if you died right now.”

“……”

“Hmm? Miss Pink Hair.”

Before Reibella could get up again, she signaled to the princess with her eyes.

Saying she would hold him back, so hurry and run away.

Quickly, now’s the chance.

If she ran away, Reibella planned to hold the man back. She needed to block him even for a moment to create a chance for the princess to escape.

If she could at least get the princess out, they would come back to rescue her, so it should be fine.

But either not catching her signal or not understanding it, the princess just held a stone with her mouth shut tight. As if she was going to attack him.

‘No, that’s not it……!’

Then we’ll both get caught again, you fool.

She should at least stay still, why was she so desperate to provoke him?

Before she could finish the thought, the princess threw the stone at the man.

Reibella finally threw her body at the man to stop the princess’s reckless act. And as she hit her head on the stone the princess threw, she fell.

Blood flowed from her head. Her vision was spinning.

“Reibella!”

Looking at the princess who approached in shock, Reibella used her last strength to grip her hand tightly.

And she mumbled quietly.

“Please, trust His Majesty……”

Please, just wait and trust him. You protagonist.

With those final words, pitch darkness came.

And when she regained consciousness again, she was in a narrow wooden box.

How much time had passed?

“Found her!”

The scene she had been waiting for was unfolding.

Reibella desperately tried to make her location known by screaming. Here. I’m here. But the only sounds that came out were muffled “Mmph!” “Mmph mmph!”

‘That bastard.’

It seemed they had gagged her while she was unconscious. Moreover, her hands were tied so she couldn’t move properly. Her body was so uncomfortable. It felt suffocating, as if she had been stuffed into a small box.

Fortunately, she could hear the sound of people rushing in. So she thought if she could just make some noise, somehow let them know she was here, she would be rescued.

But that was an illusion.

Thump thump. She banged on the box to show she was there, but it was drowned out by the princess’s crying.

Mmph mmph, she called out to show she was here, but it was covered by the princess’s louder crying.

“Let’s go back. Home.”

Though she struggled with all her might to show her presence, it was just pointless movement.

In the end, no one noticed her as the sounds of people grew distant.

‘……Damn this extra life.’

As Reibella lamented her situation, she was left completely alone. 

 * * *

 A palace no different from ruins under the moonlight.

At the window of the silent palace where not even a presence could be felt, a black-haired boy was leaning obliquely again today.

His red eyes were intently scanning the letter placed on the desk.

Having read it countless times, the edges of the paper were already worn and curled, and there were small creases where his hands had touched.

Despite reading it until it was worn, the boy still couldn’t understand the meaning contained in the note.

He thought about the girl who left him the letter.

‘Let’s be happy together.’

‘What would you like to do later?’

She had always talked to him about happiness and the future. She was the only one who spoke of hope. But the contents of this letter overturned all of that.

‘So I hope you volunteer to go to the battlefield.’ That was the point.

‘Do you want me to die?’

The letter detailed her powerlessness and apologies for only being able to think this way, while hoping he would go to the current war. Yet the words telling him to go to the battlefield were so firm, they felt cold.

Why was she talking about participating in the war?

Currently, news was coming in that fierce battles were taking place on the battlefield. It was because the Allied Nations were fighting bloody battles with the Empire with all their might, trying to press their advantage in the early stages.

Every day brought news of someone’s death. If not that, then information kept arriving at the imperial palace about someone deserting and fleeing from the battlefield.

Telling him to go to such a place…

‘Could she be the Emperor’s spy?’