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Chapter 01
The Unfortunate Princess Lilibel
In a corner of the Gutenberg Kingdom, blessed with abundant water and greenery, the first princess, Lilibel, quietly tended to the herbs in the small garden of a modest palace.
“Phew… I wonder if this is enough…?”
After picking the herbs and placing them into a basket, she glanced toward the distant fountain.
She had begun caring for the herbs by imitating what her mother used to do.
She seemed to remember being taught directly as a child, but that person was no longer here.
All that remained were a few old books on herbs and some picture books meant for young children.
There was no one to give her new books, no one to teach her, and so Lilibel lived alone in this secluded palace, quietly and sadly.
Even as a princess, there was little for her to do beyond tending to herbs.
As she gazed absentmindedly at the fountain, the clear water reflected the sunlight and sparkled.
To cool herself, she leaned forward to touch the water. In that instant, the stone beneath her feet wobbled, and her body pitched forward.
“Kyah!”
The water rushed toward her face. The cold shock enveloped her entire body, and her vision blurred.
She struggled, but her body would not obey. Water filled her throat, and consciousness began to fade—yet perhaps… it didn’t matter anymore.
There was no one to worry about her. Even if Lilibel died here, no one would be troubled.
Relaxing her body completely, she sank slowly into the fountain as if being drawn in.
“──!”
The voice of someone calling her could no longer reach her ears.
Somehow, perhaps by sheer luck, someone rescued her from the fountain, but her body was thoroughly chilled, and Lilibel caught a severe cold.
From then on, a high fever raged as if she teetered on the edge between life and death.
During that time, there was hardly anyone to nurse her; Princess Lilibel was entirely alone.
And in truth… that had always been the case.
