* * *

What kind of situation is this?

Reibella made a puzzled expression as she reflexively ate the soup that approached her lips.

And for good reason.

“Come on, say ah.”

The person taking care of her was none other than Royan, the one and only prickly boy in this world.

“Hurry, Reibella.”

He was not only carefully feeding her soup so it wouldn’t spill around her mouth, but also calling her name in an incredibly gentle voice.

……Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Seeing her puzzled expression, Royan put down the spoon and stared at Reibella. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he said—

“I’m sorry.”

An apology.

“……Huh?”

What did I just hear?

“I’m sorry. For bullying you all this time.”

No, is what I’m hearing right now real?

She doubted everything in the world, wondering if the words coming from Royan’s mouth—who had been like a hateful three-year-old—were genuine.

‘That’ Royan lowered his eyebrow tails and made an apologetic expression. It seemed what she heard wasn’t an auditory hallucination.

With his body slightly bowed and his round head somehow dejected as he leaned forward, he looked like a puppy.

Reibella raised her hand and patted his head. His well-groomed, soft silver hair touched her palm and became messily disheveled.

“……B, Brother, you’re really something.”

“……Brother?”

“Of course, brother. You’ve become a Vicheravali, and I’m three years older than you.”

His attitude of emphasizing each syllable of ‘brother’ seemed like he wanted to be called that way.

Should I do it?

“This older brother will make sure you don’t get hurt from now on. I’ll train hard in swordsmanship.”

“You already worked hard. Training alone at night too. Over there, behind that big tree.”

“……You knew?”

“Of course. I saw clearly how hard you were working. A genius who works hard will get stronger day by day, right? I told you I was certain. You will become a great swordsman, Royan.”

At Reibella’s praise, Royan seemed a bit embarrassed, lowering his gaze slightly and smiling. That smile was very natural.

It was then.

“Reibella.”

The Duke of Vicheravali entered the room. What was surprising was that despite his arrival, Royan’s expression remained comfortable as if nothing was wrong. Not only that.

“You’ve arrived.”

He was even greeting him.

“……Royan?”

Is the little boy in front of me really Royan?

Seeing her pupils trembling in shock, Royan smiled showing his teeth. That sight made her even more bewildered.

No way. No way. No way?

“……Did you reconcile?”

Sweet potato rich man, did you make up?

At Reibella’s question, Royan rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward expression. Then he answered shyly.

“You, you wanted it.”

Is Royan the type of person who would readily comply with what someone else wants?

Somehow it seemed like there was a different reason, but that wasn’t the important issue. What mattered was only the fact that the two had reconciled.

Reibella hugged Royan with a bright smile.

“Well done. Royan.”

And then she smiled at the Duke.

With a heart that said, ‘How did you reconcile with your son with that destructive way of speaking? You’re truly admirable.’

After a wave of overwhelming joy passed, Reibella released her arms from around Royan’s neck and examined his face again.

‘His expression really seems fine.’

If he had opened up and talked with the Duke of Vicheravali, he would have heard the truth about his mother by now. If he knew that the culprit was the ‘Emperor,’ Royan might have been very confused.

Because he liked the princess.

While he cherished the princess more than anyone else in this world, it turned out she was the daughter of his enemy.

Certainly, it could have been a painful truth for Royan.

“Are you okay?”

When she asked Royan, he nodded readily. Then he made eye contact with the Duke of Vicheravali, even exchanging glances.

Not with the venomous gaze of before, but with eyes strengthened by trust.

‘That’s good.’

As the thing she had wished for so much was happening before her eyes, a soft smile formed on Reibella’s lips as well.

‘I can leave without regrets now.’

Because these two people had now escaped from the clutches of that damn Emperor. They would no longer hurt each other due to misunderstandings.

Thinking about it that way should have made her feel relieved. But she couldn’t understand why her chest was aching.

* * *

After that, Reibella had to stay in bed for a full week.

Although her body was very healthy thanks to the priest’s treatment, the Duke of Vicheravali, Royan, and the servants all banded together to prevent Reibella from leaving her bed.

Charlotte in particular was extremely protective,

‘Miss. Cotton candy is finished once it melts. It can’t go back to being the same cotton candy as before.’

As if she truly believed a person could melt like cotton candy, she was overprotective. Her intensity was so formidable that it was as bewildering as when she first learned Charlotte was an assassin.

For this reason, Reibella had no choice but to lie in bed, tightly wrapped in blankets. What was somewhat strange was that the time wasn’t particularly boring or difficult.

‘Are you alright.’

The visits from the Duke of Vicheravali, who showed a peculiar attitude that was both blunt and kind.

‘Reibella! B, Brother is here.’

Royan, who was shy but craved to be called brother.

‘Miss. I secretly came while running 100 laps around the training ground…… haa.’

Cleo, who would sneak out while being punished and get scolded.

‘Miss. Please allow me to protect you now.’

Aiden, who came every day declaring he wanted to protect her, who was nothing special.

‘Miss. There’s no poison in this food. I’ve tasted it first, so I’m certain.’

Charlotte, who sensed and worried about her even though she had hidden the fact that she was still wary of food.

‘Miss. You look so cute today. You must feel stuffy staying in bed all day? Wearing pretty pajamas will make you feel better!’

‘We heard that Miss likes to look at flowers, so the Duke told us to decorate nicely. How is it?’

‘Miss!’

And the servants who treated her kindly.

She could feel everyone’s affectionate hearts.

It was truly surprising every day. How could they be so kind to her? In the main setting of a healing story, she had only been the nation’s scapegoat.

Why was this family, known as villains, with narratives of misfortune piled up until they eventually disappeared from history, embracing her so warmly? Why was this the only place that regarded her as ‘Reibella’ rather than ‘Felicity’?

They wouldn’t know that it was so sweet that she had to try very hard every day, every day to hold herself together as her heart kept wanting to melt.

And the fact that she sincerely wished this world wasn’t inside a novel.

‘But reality is reality.’

The moments that were only sweet like candy in her mouth disappeared in an instant, and suddenly reality crashed back into Reibella’s sight.

‘The merchant group leaves tomorrow.’

Late at night with the moon high in the sky.

Sitting by the window where moonlight poured in, Reibella slowly looked around. There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t familiar.

From when she came to the Vicheravali mansion until today. She had been almost everywhere.

‘Royan. Let’s go over there!’

‘Charlotte. What is that statue?’

‘Royan! Where are you hiding!’

The big tree where she always secretly watched over Royan and the bench where she sat quietly enjoying the breeze. The tree maze at the edge of the garden where Royan often ran away from her. The pond with big fish and the large fountain she frequently visited because it was refreshing.

Reibella knew what would happen to that beautiful scenery in the future.

The fountain would be filled with bright red blood, spewing red water, and the beautiful statue in the main building would collapse with a sharp sword stuck in it.

The white roses blooming beautifully in the flower garden would be stained with blood, and then die from lack of care.

This scenery she loved all foretold a sad future.

‘It will be different now.’

Since Royan and the Duke of Vicheravali had become close, it wouldn’t go that far.

Now that Royan had changed, he could wisely mediate between Vicheravali and the imperial family, leading the future to happiness.

Surely, it would be a world where everyone is happy and peaceful.

……Then, would there be a place for ‘Reibella Felicity’ in that world?