Episode 16
Back when he was at his peak level of craziness, Rosa and I used to sigh together, saying it was such a waste that someone with eyes that color was *that* insane.
Now I realize… we were right.
*‘Of course. There’s no way I could communicate with this lunatic…’*
I kept shaking the flower insistently.
“Th–these pink eyes like Ikaruz’s—where else are you gonna find eyes like this? The prettiest and also—”
“Aah…”
I stopped mid-sentence at Icarus’ strange sigh.
*‘If I hit the wrong nerve and the crazy guy snaps, that’ll be bad…’*
I decided it was best to talk less.
He slowly lowered the knee he still had raised and sank down even further.
“So, you mean… you are giving this flower to me?”
I barely managed a nod, and the faintest hint of a smile appeared on his lips.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Truly…”
Hah. Good. Crisis averted…
But judging by his expression, he looks like he’s about to go full psycho again.
*‘How can someone lose their mind over one single flower?’*
Shaking my head, I walked over and tucked the flower into the small pocket on the chest of his dark uniform.
A lone flower stood out starkly against the pitch-black uniform.
*‘Seeing it like this… it really is the same shade as his eyes.’*
Even kneeling with both knees on the floor, he was still taller than I was.
I awkwardly looked up at him and pointed toward the bed.
“Beepbeepie… the bird. From last time… thank you. Ikaruz saved him.”
“Ah, that bird…”
But when Icarus looked over, Beepbeepie turned around with clear annoyance.
*‘What’s *his* problem now…’*
As if Icarus would even consider him more than dust on the bed.
Icarus shifted his gaze back to me and spoke.
“I’m glad I could be of help, Little Highness.”
His overly formal words made me even more embarrassed.
Just as Icarus stood, Gabriella returned.
Spotting the pink flower on Icarus’ chest, she smiled softly.
Icarus only gave her a polite glance before leaving the room.
“Well done, Your Highness,” Gabriella praised.
And thus began a peaceful day at the detached palace.
—
Meanwhile, Rosa seemed to have started a silent war with Beepbeepie and me.
When I went to the main palace the next day, Rosa was not napping as usual.
She didn’t speak or do anything noticeable, but the way her bright red eyes glared at us held even deeper resentment than before.
*‘Her plan to beg her mother and get the cat back must’ve failed.’*
The moment our eyes met, I snapped my head away.
It’s not that I’m scared of poop, but if I sit still in front of Rosa, I really do become a doormat.
*‘You have no idea how long it took me to learn that lesson…’*
I will never—absolutely never—forget what Rosa taught me.
When I ignored her deliberately, I heard her sharp little breaths behind me.
*‘Go ahead and be mad.’*
Either way, the cat isn’t coming back.
I calmly patted Beepbeepie’s head, but Rosa was already in Gabriella’s arms.
*‘Shame.’*
If Rosa saw Beepbeepie answer questions, she might faint from jealousy.
Soon Gabriella quietly walked away, and Rosa’s angry huffing faded with her.
*‘What are you gonna do, get mad?’*
You’re four years old. Same as me.
It was amazing—and also so very Rosa—that a four-year-old could hold a grudge from yesterday this hard.
*‘Yep, that’s Rosa.’*
A little while later, Beatrice came to wake me.
“Your Highness, did you sleep well?”
I stretched, pretending I had just woken up.
“Yawn… Morning, Twitz.”
Beatrice winked playfully.
“You delivered the gift to the knight safely, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“The flower! He’s wearing it on his chest!”
He still has it?
Thinking of the wilted pink flower, I couldn’t help but snort.
Before it shriveled completely, I should probably pick a new one.
—
When we went to the audience chamber to greet the Queen, I heard her gasp from inside.
“All of these are medicinal ingredients?”
Marquis Hestia replied with a quiet chuckle.
“Yes, Your Majesty. My son kept insisting that it was his loyal duty, and urged me nonstop. That’s why I had to enter the palace so early in the morning.”
“You mean Gray? How thoughtful. I must meet that boy separately sometime.”
“He will be delighted, Your Majesty.”
Beatrice hesitated nervously at the door, but the situation was clear.
*‘He really begged for this after seeing my wrist the other day…’*
Gray must’ve persuaded his father to send medicine.
I tapped Beatrice on the shoulder, signaling we should enter.
She swallowed nervously and resumed walking.
The royal guards announced:
“Her Highness the Princess enters!”
As Beatrice set me down, I ran toward my mother cheerfully.
“Mom!”
“Oh, my daughter’s here!”
The Queen beamed, then added:
“Marquis Hestia brought medicinal ingredients. Apparently his son was terribly worried about you.”
“Thank you, Marquis.”
I lifted my skirt slightly in a polite greeting, making the nobles laugh.
“It is Hestia’s honor, Your Highness.”
The Marquis raised his voice proudly toward the Queen.
“No wonder my son is smitten. The princess bows so gracefully already. You must be proud, Your Majesty.”
“You think so too?”
Mother grinned, full of pride.
I only sneered internally and looked over the boxes of medicine.
There were five or more large crates—big enough for Rosa and me to lie inside together.
*‘The scratches from the cat are gone already. So why so many…?’*
Seeing my puzzled expression, the Marquis explained:
“Ah, our family’s trade company recently formed a contract with the Rebo Company of the Empire. They are the most renowned medicinal traders on the continent.”
Something felt eerily familiar.
Inside each crate were bottles—powders, pills, dried herbs.
“So these are all medicines? For when someone is hurt?”
“Such a clever little princess…”
The Marquis knelt in front of me, smiling kindly.
“Most are. But what’s in this crate is different.”
He opened the smallest crate, and Mother suddenly stood up, startled.
“Marquis, the princess is still young.”
Looking apologetic, the Marquis rose and bowed.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I simply thought—since she is so brilliant—that it might be good for her to know the dangers beforehand. I overstepped.”
Mother smiled warmly.
“No, that’s not what I meant. Hestia’s loyalty is engraved in my heart.”
But while they exchanged polite words, I couldn’t look away from the opened crate.
Because in the very front, inside a small glass bottle—
—was a dried herb I had seen and touched all my life.
*Siarael.*
A poison plant I only recognized right before I died.
Mother’s voice sounded far away.
“Marquis, will you stay for breakfast?”
Beatrice carried me to the dining hall.
Even seated, I couldn’t shake the memory of Siarael.
The imperial crown prince’s voice echoed in my ears from my past life:
> “Siarael grows on Mount Momi in the northern region of Habiv. Its scent resembles the herb Mercure, but if it touches skin, it burns like acid. It’s a deadly poison.”
I remember every word.
*‘How could I ever forget the shock of learning that?’*
I once wondered how seven-year-old Rosa got her hands on imperial poison.
That tiny, fragile thread of hope crumbled.
Rosa didn’t struggle to obtain it.
*Gray would’ve helped her.*
I recalled Gray’s intelligent blue eyes observing my wound.
*‘Then… in the past, did Gray give her that plant knowingly?’*
Was he willing to give Rosa anything she asked for, even back then?
*‘…No. That’s too much speculation.’*
Remembering Gray blushing sweetly, I shook my head.
*‘What he did before no longer matters.’*
He promised to be my friend now, and persuaded his father to send all these medicinal supplies because he worried about me.
*‘No one can hurt me anymore.’*
But faced with the greatest terror of my previous life, self-assurance could not calm the dread.
My vision blurred. A ringing filled my ears.
My hand trembled around the fork.
I tried to spear a piece of fruit, but missed—fork clattering onto the plate.
Mother looked at me.
“…Princess?”
I needed to say I was fine, pick up the fork again, but—
“Icarus!”
Mother called his name, and the next moment he was behind me, lifting me into his arms.
“Ikaruz…”
Protect me.
*‘Mother, please protect me.’*
*‘Gray, don’t hurt me.’*
I repeated the words desperately in my mind, but nothing left my lips.
Darkness swallowed my vision.
