The cold feeling on my cheek sent shivers down my spine.


    It looks like our naive mother doesnt really know whats going on


    Its not just surface wounds that count, right?


    The finger on my cheek traveled upwards and stopped at my ear. I could probably shake it off if I wantedNo, it would probably be difficult to deal with both sisters. But the scary thing was that Rania wasnt the type to stop at breaking bones in a couple of ces.


    What are you nning now!


    Oh my, youre hurting my feelings. If others heard your words, theyd think that I was trying to hurt you.


    Her light chuckle echoed around us.


    She looked at me, my mouth closed tightly, and gestured to Reba.


    Reba, hurry and bring all the snacks you can find in the kitchen. Our one and only mother even left the estate because she wanted to eat sweets so badly, so we should make sure she eats them all to thest bite.


    Are you sure Unni?


    If youre so curious, do you want me to stuff you first?


    N-no!


    At Ranias narrowed eyes, Reba leaped up from her position.


    Whether from fear of excitement, she quickly opened the door and kicked aside the mard ducks that were in the way.


    When did these things get here! Hurry and get lost! Heh, these animals seem to have a lot of loyalty.


    QUACK QUACK!


    Stop it! Stop kicking them!


    AhahIts probably not the time for Mother to be worrying for them.


    Rania pointed outside as she moved my head back to its original spot.


    I couldnt stand it any longer and rolled up my sleeves, but the confrontation didntst long.


    Looks like youre frustrated but if you move that smart mouth of yours one more timeWhat are you doing, Reba!


    U-unni.


    I told you to go ande back from the kitchen, but just how many steps have you taken to make such a fuss?


    That, thats


    Reba gestured hurriedly as if asking her sister toe outside.


    Seeing how she neither yelled or threw a temper but seemed genuinely stupefied, Rania had no choice but to step out.


    .Just know that youre lucky this time.


    She looked at me straight in the eyes and walked away, her steps echoing off the floor.


    Just what is going on.


    Rania had an annoyed look on her face as she approached and pushed aside her younger sister before stiffening in shock.


    Oh, Oh my God!


    Rania looked like she couldnt believe what she was seeing.


    I never thought she would be able to make such an expression.


    She wore an expression of shock and confusion mixed with an underlying hint of happiness.


    U-ugh.


    At the two sisters who were too dazed to care about me, I slowly raised my body.


    In the direction of Ranias gaze, a light was shining at the other side of theke.


    As I remembered what that ce was, the corners of my lips lifted up.


    Huh.


    Looks like my luck was actually pretty good.


    Quickly, Selene. Whats going on?


    That is, its that the emperor has arrived at the Winter Pce!


    *p p*


    The excited Selenes voice was the loudest its ever been. My hands shook as I heard her words while applying silver herb leaves to her wound made when Reba kicked the ducks earlier.


    Are you sure of this?


    Of course! The only people who have the authority to light up that pce are the emperor and the empress!


    It could be someone else from the royal family. I mean, youve said there are seven brothers.


    Thats not possible. All three pirs have been lit. This indicates that the emperor has arrived. Two for the Grand Duke, and for the rest of the royal family, only the one in the middle will light up.


    She pointed towards the ball of light in the distance.


    Though it wasnt extremely clear because it was daytime, I could still make out three mes trailing towards the sky.


    It looked as if made of some sort of fire magic.


    Why did the emperore visit? Its the first time after thete emperors visit years ago! I really wonder whats going on!


    Well.


    Wasnt it obvious.


    My smile was full of meaning.


    If the extremely busy emperor hade all the way here, he must be searching for something.


    Hes been at the warfront this whole time so why all of a sud-Ah!


    Just stay still for a bit. I told you to stay put and hide so why did you run out at the very front.


    But were all loyal to you. We were afraid youd get hurt while facing against the two sisters by yourself.


    So what. One more mard duck attacking wouldve done something?


    Though I said that, I was actually very grateful.


    What did it matter if doing that didnt help me.


    My heart warmed at their useless good intentions after living as an orphan who had grown up with no one by her side.


    But it looks like the twodies wont be able to bother us for now, right? Since all their attention will be on the emperor.


    You arent afraid, Selene? Last time youd tremble at the slightest mention of him.


    The emperor probably wont visit humble people like me anyway. And Rania will definitely block all paths to theke. She does that for all her other esteemed guests.


    WellYeah, thats true.


    Though theke inhabitants didnt pose any threats since they had been turned into mostly harmless animals, Rania took every precaution. People generally ignored this area as a remote ce, but when guests came shepletely sectioned off theke.


    And so when she finished showing me off to her guests or making me sign documents, shed banish me back to the prison-likeke.


    What perfect timing. I was afraid of what would happen if the situation made a turn for the worse.


    Youre right. It was perfect timing.


    Your Ladyship seems to be in a good mood?


    As though shed just regained her senses, she looked at me searchingly. I set her down in theke and slowly walked around.


    Of course I am. Why wouldnt I be.


    It was really difficult to get this perfect timing.


    I hadnt only escaped Ranias wrath.


    Whatever the reason for his visit, seeing that Haniels big brother came himself, there was no need to expend further effort.


    Whats there to be concerned about? I just have to return her to him!


    Hello, Your Majesty. Your delivery package has arrived.


    If I just handed the princess to him with my own two hands, he wouldnt have to go around looking for Loam or the whatever missing magician brother.


    I didnt like the thought of meeting that infamous tyrant, but there wasnt any other way.


    I wouldnt need to risk my life to go to the city, and I wouldnt need to stand in lines to eat at famous shops.


    If I returned the lost princess, this would all be over, no wait


    I wasnt sure if that would be the end.


    Hmm, wouldnt it be good to receive something.


    What was that, Your Ladyship?


    Selene, you should wait too. Well be getting some bonuses if we y this well.


    It seemed like Reba roughly tying and dragging me away had never happened as a happy song burst from my slender neck.


    No matter how cruel he was, he wouldnt ignore his sisters savior, would he?


    I wasnt expecting much, but maybe theke would be returned to me under my name.


    We are honored, Your Excellency, I am happy with staying by thiske. I met the beautiful Princess Haniel in this ce and only ask to be able to treasure my precious memories made with her at this ce.


    I already thought of all the words I would say to the Emperor.


    Of course, he wouldnt be able to sympathize with animals, so making him believe the white swan was really Haniel was the problem, but I thought of a way to solve that too.


    I can just say I saw everything happen, right!


    Without having to exin every little detail, I would just need to say I saw Loam turn Haniel into a swan. Wouldnt that make the white swan the princess?


    I was the perfect middleman for this.


    After ying as Ranias puppet for so long, I could pull off the idental witness act better than anyone else.


    Of course, maybe Loam actually didnt cast the magic himself


    Well, so what. If its a false usation, hell show himself.


    He was a person who needed to be caught anyways, it would be a relief if he showed up that way.


    And with the Emperors capabilities, even if he didnt catch Loam, he could at least catch the magician who did this.


    The responsibilities and emotionalmitment that came with being our precious Haniels temporary guardian were now over.


    Yeah.


    But strangely, I didnt feel relieved.


    I knew the reason my chest stung the way it did, but I ignored it and put my foot down even more firmly.


    It has been a long time since ourst meeting, Duchess.


    Lady Melloe.


    A goose at the edge of theke bowed her head. As expected of an etiquette teacher, her overwhelming dignity belied her old age and thin frame.


    I did not expect Your Ladyship to visit this old person. I thought you werent fond of me.


    There is no such thing.


    Though that was the exact reason I didnt visit her earlier, I didnt let go of my elegant smile. I needed to gain Lady Melloes hard-to-earn approval.