Chapter 3
"T-these!"
"They're your absolute favorite shoes, Your Highness!"
Behind Romi, who was grinning without the slightest idea of what Riena was thinking, several ladies-in-waiting came running toward them while clutching the skirts of their dresses.
"L-ladies...?"
The moment Riena saw their familiar faces, her feet froze, and she stopped in place.
These were the ladies-in-waiting who had been permanently banned from entering the Imperial Palace because they had tried to protect the blind princess.
Among them was a graceful woman with silver hair and blue eyes.
The moment Riena saw her face, her eyes grew hot with tears.
Countess Sertua!
Memories of the time she had spent with the countess in her previous life, along with the memory of her death, came rushing back.
Riena lowered her head and desperately held back her tears.
Isn't this dream a little too cruel? If you show me all these people, I won't want to die or even wake up from this dream anymore.
Seeing the faces she had missed so terribly awakened a desire she had secretly buried deep within herself.
...I want to live.
Even if the path ahead of her was soaked in blood.
Because I won't let the same things happen again.
Her small, pale hand tightened around the skirt of her dress.
But the ladies-in-waiting, who knew nothing about what she was thinking, were too busy catching their breath, their faces pale from running.
"Y-Your Highness! Haa... Hah... You can't just... Haa! Wander around... all by yourself...!"
They began scolding her before they had even managed to catch their breath.
Hearing their continued heavy breathing made Riena feel increasingly guilty.
She waved her little hands frantically in the air.
"Catch your breath before you speak! Breathe first!"
The ladies glanced at her as though to say, If you're so worried about us, why did you go wandering off alone in the first place?
Nevertheless, they eventually managed to steady their breathing.
"Your Highness, it's dangerous for you to wander around alone! We know we may be lacking in many ways, but please allow us to stay by your side. All right?"
"What do you mean, lacking? Don't say things like that."
Riena shook her head, puffing out her chubby little cheeks.
The ladies-in-waiting who had been scolding her suddenly fell silent, their gazes fixed on her face.
How could anyone possibly continue scolding her after seeing those soft, fair cheeks?
When everything suddenly grew quiet, Riena raised her head to examine the ladies' expressions.
As though they had all agreed beforehand, the women clasped their hands neatly against their chests and opened their mouths in admiration.
"W-what's wrong with everyone?"
"Ahh... You're just so cu...!"
One of the ladies hurriedly covered her mouth, leaving only her wide, flustered eyes visible.
Calling an Imperial Princess cute was considered disrespectful.
Countess Sertua, who had been watching the exchange, cleared her throat and calmly stepped forward.
"Your Highness, you are truly noble."
"Y-yes! Truly noble, Your Highness...!"
Only then did the other ladies-in-waiting hurriedly join in.
Watching them, Riena found it difficult to hold back her laughter and broke into a bright smile.
"What's that supposed to mean? Why are you suddenly calling me noble?"
"W-we're glad you took it so well! Hahaha...."
"Let's all go together!"
"Your Highness, where are we going this time?"
"I'm going to the Empress's Palace to see Mother."
Lifting the skirts of her dress with her tiny hands, Riena began hurrying away with quick little steps.
The ladies-in-waiting stared in disbelief at how quickly she could move on such short, adorable legs.
Then they prepared themselves to start running again.
The occasional sound of turning pages was the only noise filling the spacious office.
The Empress was naturally a woman of few words, and her only hobbies were reading and taking walks in the garden.
It was no wonder her office was always so quiet.
"Your Majesty, would you care for something to eat?"
"I'm fine."
Because of her reserved nature and a temperament as sharp as a blade, a heavy silence always hung over the Empress's Palace.
Some nobles even complained of insomnia whenever they had an audience with her scheduled for the following day.
Those with particularly weak nerves were said to take medicine to help them sleep.
That alone was enough to show how intimidating she could be.
Because of her personality, members of the Emperor's faction often described the Empress as a wooden statue or a block of ice.
But nobles were always talking about something or other, so the Empress paid them no attention.
Knock, knock.
A pair of golden eyes, identical to Riena's, calmly turned toward the office door.
Her gaze was so intimidating that anyone watching might have thought the door itself had committed some terrible offense.
"Her Highness the Imperial Princess has arrived."
The sharpness in her eyes immediately melted away, and they curved into delighted crescents.
"Mother!"
"My goodness. Haven't I told you not to run around like that?"
Riena came bounding toward her and threw herself into her arms.
The Empress effortlessly lifted the little princess and settled her on her lap.
"Now, let's see. I trust my princess has finished all her studies for today before coming out to play?"
"Mother...."
"A-are you crying...? Someone, come here!"
The Empress looked ready to summon every servant and lady-in-waiting assigned to the Imperial Princess.
Riena hurriedly shook her head.
"Nothing happened! I was taking a walk in the garden, and some dust got into my eyes. That's all!"
It was a surprisingly long and detailed explanation for someone her age.
Seeing Riena trying so hard to explain something so insignificant was utterly adorable.
"All right. Come a little closer, then. I'll blow the dust away for you."
Chernuier smiled affectionately.
The aide who had been watching the exchange also broke into a broad smile as he looked at the mother and daughter.
As the Empress gently blew toward her eye, Riena's clear, champagne-colored irises trembled faintly.
"Does that feel better?"
