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Chapter 21
The large glass canister that had once stored sugar in the kitchen was chosen as our time capsule. It was spacious enough, sealed well enough, that even if it were buried underground, it would surely stay intact for a whole year.
Originally, I had planned to open the time capsule in the year I became an adult.
But thinking about it now… that felt too bittersweet.
By then, I would have already vanished from Killian and Adele’s sight.
So I compromised—one year later.
I decided I would open it during my next trip to Dearc, a promise for the future.
I was idly tapping the ground beneath the swing with my foot when Killian and Adele came running toward me, almost as if they were racing each other.
The salty breeze from the sea, the warm sunlight so bright it stung my eyes, the distant sound of waves mixing with the rustling of leaves, the faces of my precious and beautiful friends running toward me… Everything was perfect.
If the whole world could stay like this—no, if only Killian and Adele could go on living—then even if my own breath stopped right now, I’d have no regrets.
“Tia!”
“Did you wait long?”
“No.”
Not at all.
In fact, I almost wish I had.
Most of the time, I feel so happy thinking about how lucky I am to have become friends with my favorite character. But at the same time, because I’m always looking toward the end, I also find every moment tinged with regret.
But this kind of waiting? I’m only grateful for it.
Because they’ll come if I wait. All I have to do is wait.
Someday will come when no matter how much I wait—or even if I wanted to—I won’t be able to see them again.
“Tia?”
Adele’s voice calling me pulled me out of my thoughts, and I quickly smoothed away the bitter expression that had started to form.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah!”
“Me too.”
“Then let’s begin.”
Killian, Adele, and I took turns using a small shovel to dig under the swing’s post. We giggled and laughed the whole time, even though there was nothing particularly funny about the act itself.
We opened the canister and placed the small boxes we had each prepared inside, one by one.
“Let’s put these in too, to decorate it.”
Adele dropped in a few tiny seashells she had picked up while we played at the beach. I gave her a thumbs-up. When I closed the lid, Killian lowered the canister into the hole and covered it with dirt. The way he stomped it down with his feet was oddly skillful, which made us burst into laughter again.
“Let’s mark the date here. Oh, and how about we measure our heights too?”
“I’ll do it.”
At my words, Killian pulled a small dagger from his pocket. As the future strongest swordsman in the world—someone who could handle even the legendary Dangun Sword—Killian carved the date into the swing post as if he were writing with a pen. His writing was already familiar to me from seeing it a few times, neat and precise. Or maybe I should call it sword-writing. Heh.
“Measure me first.”
I pressed my heels firmly against the post, straightened my back, and tucked in my chin.
“We have to measure accurately.”
This might be the first and last time I could beat Adele in height. My future as the shortest one of us was a secret.
After carefully watching my measurement, Adele and Killian took theirs as well. Three little marks, spaced by a finger’s width or a head’s height, lined up neatly in a row.
“Now all that’s left is to exchange the bracelets. Here—this one’s for Killian, this one’s for Adele. I hope you like them.”
I placed the bracelets directly into their hands. The children’s eyes lit up with pure emotion—such transparent feelings I wanted to keep all to myself, to protect fiercely.
“Wow, Tia! It’s so pretty! I’ll wear it every day. I’ll never take it off. Here—this one’s from me. You too.”
“Thanks, Tia. Ahem… You too. I’m not very skilled, so I couldn’t make mine as pretty as yours, but… here.”
Their tone toward each other was a bit frosty, but I was too distracted by the two bracelets in my hands to notice.
What a blessing—my favorite character had personally strung the beads on this bracelet for me.
On my left wrist, I now wore three bracelets—the one I had made, and the ones from Adele and Killian.
The soft clacking sound of the beads bumping together made me feel rich.
In my previous life, I had been jealous of kids who exchanged friendship rings or bracelets. No one ever did that with me. Not that we were in a situation for it to happen anyway.
“Let’s come to Dearc every year from now on. Thank you for being my friends, Killian and Adele.”
This trip was truly perfect from start to finish.
*
After a long carriage ride, my whole body ached. As soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace, we groaned as we climbed down and exchanged brief goodbyes. Killian left for the ducal estate in the imperial carriage I had arranged for him, while Adele left with Marquis Lewendif, who had come in person to pick her up. After seeing my friends off, I headed toward the Princess’s Palace.
“Will you be going to see His Majesty?”
“Yes, after I change clothes.”
I could really use an iced Americano right now… but that was a lost cause.
While changing, I munched on some almond chocolates Liz, ever quick-witted, had handed me. It had only been two weeks, but putting on a dress again felt uncomfortably restrictive.
“Wow… Pretty, but seriously uncomfortable. I think I’ve gained weight. My stomach feels tight.”
“You’ll have to endure it for today, Your Highness. I’ll have all your dresses altered. Just hold out until tomorrow.”
Liz tied the ribbon at my back with careful precision.
“Where’s Dad’s gift?”
“Oh! Here. This is what you meant, right?”
“Yes! As expected, Liz, your sense is the best!”
“‘Sense’? What’s that? Is it an insult?”
“Heh. No, Liz, not an insult. A compliment!”
“Hm.”
Her lips curved downward like a dumpling, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“It really is a compliment.”
“Well… I’ll believe you, I guess.”
Her words were mockingly arrogant, but I didn’t mind. I knew better than anyone how much affection Liz had for me. She was my type.
“Let’s go, Liz. Dad must be waiting.”
“Yes. I’ve already sent word. Just head to his office.”
I followed Liz down the vast carpeted hallway. I remembered thinking how unnecessarily wide it was, perfect for getting lost in. But now, feeling at home here, I must have truly accepted this place as my own. I didn’t want to get sentimental, so I cracked a joke instead.
“Oh, what a surprise—he’s actually working?”
“His Majesty is a wise ruler, after all.”
If Liz said so, it must be true—she wasn’t the type to flatter.
I guess even in the original story, he’d been good at everything except parenting. His authority was strong, the Empire prospered. There had been some racial tensions, but Killian had handled those.
“His parenting was… well, a total disaster.”
“Not at all. The fact that Your Highness is aware of it means he succeeded.”
“Liz, you—!”
“Oh! Sorry!”
When I stopped in my tracks, Liz clapped her hands over her mouth in an exaggerated gesture. Total act. But I didn’t mind.
“You’ve got good eyes and insight. That’s a real compliment this time. You believe me, right?”
“Heh… yes, I believe you.”
I held out my hand, and she clasped it tightly. Her face was delicate and pretty, but her hands were a little rough, which made me feel oddly protective.
“See you later, Your Highness.”
“Mm. Go rest. I’ll make my way back on my own.”
When we reached my father’s office, I sent Liz away. She must be tired too.
“I can handle it myself.”
Even when I told her to rest, she always had to… ahem, well—she never listened the first time.
“Go on, rest. You’ve got dark circles. Sir Briven will be shocked you look like a panda.”
“Panda? What’s that? Your Highness, why do you keep using words I’ve never heard before lately?”
“Go. Quickly. Go!”
“Yes, yes.”
The steward opened the door.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness is here.”
“Dad!”
“Tia! You’re back safe—wait a moment.”
Dad rubbed his eyes, sniffling.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“My eyes got all inflamed from not seeing you for so long.”
“Liar.”
No fun at all.
I shook my head, and he finally sat properly, looking at me with a dazzling smile and open arms.
“It means I missed you, my daughter.”
“I missed you a little bit too.”
“What? Steward! Call the royal physician!”
“Dad! If you keep that up, I won’t give you your gift. I mean it! You’re not funny!”
“My heart’s just pounding too hard from hearing you say that.”
He hugged me tight, chuckling without any trace of royal dignity.
Seeing him like this suddenly made my chest ache. How hurt would he be when he found out I wasn’t his real daughter? In the original story, this plot point was never even fully resolved, so I didn’t know all the details. I always thought it was just a device to isolate Celestia and remove her cleanly without loose ends.
In Dearc, I could stay blissfully cheerful. But back in the capital, my mind was already buzzing with things to think about.
“Tia? What are you thinking about? What about my gift?”
He flicked my nose lightly.
“Oh! Right! Here. Tell me if you don’t like it.”
“Oh? And if I don’t?”
“I’ll throw it away. Or maybe burn it.”
“No playing with fire, Tia. And as if I could dislike a gift from you.”
Ugh. Now I feel like crying again.
