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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Letters in the Snow
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A few days later, Lellia woke up under a fluffy duvet.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the cute rabbit doll. Even though there was no one to look after her, Lellia didn't feel the least bit lonely.
There were several reasons for this.
First, she had remembered her past life. If not for that, she wouldn't have been so composed. She probably would have been bawling like a child.
Another reason was the food she had secretly gathered and brought from the temple. If she ate sparingly, it would be enough to last the rest of the winter.
And the final reason was the rabbit doll.
'I'm glad I suggested we buy the dolls.'
Even though she was alone, it felt like her friends were with her, which was nice.
“I slept well. It was a little cold, though.”
Lellia jumped out of bed, made it, and washed up.
The overcast sky suggested it would snow soon. If she could just hold on a little longer, winter would be over.
And just before spring arrived...
'Crown Prince Leo will die, and the emperor will change.'
Crown Prince Leo was being steadily poisoned by one of Emperor Raidios's closest aides and was destined to die.
The emperor would be enraged by this and try to find the culprit... but before he could, Perseus's soldiers would storm the imperial palace.
'It's going to be absolute chaos...'
Lellia gazed at the peaceful scenery outside her window.
Honestly, she wanted to flee the imperial palace immediately, but she couldn't.
Wandering the streets in the body of a mere ten-year-old girl was dangerous. It would also be difficult to find a guardian to protect her until she came of age...
'I'll just wait quietly until the emperor changes and things calm down.'
In truth, she had planned to find the secret cabin as soon as she arrived, but she'd given up on the idea.
While gathering firewood in the forest over the past few days, she had confirmed that soldiers were watching her.
'I was going to get food from there...'
It seemed best not to do anything suspicious until spring arrived.
If she made a move now, she might arouse the emperor's suspicion and end up dead.
Lellia sat at her desk, picked up a fountain pen, and took out a blank sheet of paper she had brought from the temple.
'Once Crown Prince Leo dies, I won't be able to send letters anymore.'
I have to write as much as I can until then.
She had carefully hidden the letters they had exchanged over the past few days. It would be safer to burn them, but... she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
'They'll be sad when they hear I've died...'
This was the issue that weighed most heavily on Lellia's mind.
But trying to save Crown Prince Leo... that was already out of her hands. And if she revealed the truth, she would vomit blood and die.
Guilt washed over her. After all, she had deceived her friends for three years.
'If they find out I lied about my gender and my age, they'll think I'm horrible.'
She wouldn't even be able to remain their friend. They would tremble with betrayal and hate her.
'...It's better to just leave them with good memories.'
Having made up her mind, Lellia began to write.
Hey guys, are you up? You're not all sleeping in, are you? Like babies?
It looks like it's going to snow here soon. The weather is gloomy... I just had breakfast. The servants brought it to my room.
It's nice being back at the main palace because I get to eat better food. My bed is more comfortable, too. And it's especially peaceful without you guys making a racket.
You'd be surprised if you knew how big and comfy my bed is. And you all still have your rabbit dolls, right?
Was it because they had been exchanging letters ever since she arrived? Even though they were far apart, she could almost hear her friends' voices.
She waited a moment, but it seemed none of them had checked the letter yet.
'It's too early for immature children to be awake. Tsk...'
They would all check and reply when the time was right. For now, she might as well get to work.
Lellia put down her pen and rolled up her sleeves.
The sky looked ominous. She needed to gather more firewood before it started to snow.
'Wow... it's freezing.'
Lellia spent the whole day wandering the nearby forest, gathering branches. She missed the warm, comfortable life of the temple.
'It would've been nice if they'd let me stay for another ten years.'
Lellia thought to herself as she stacked a large armful of branches inside the house.
'Now, I'm truly alone.'
The maids who had occasionally looked after her were gone.
Emperor Raidios had killed them all.
So she had to keep her wits about her.
She felt resentful and pathetic about her situation, but dwelling on such thoughts wouldn't help.
'I need to make a plan.'
First, after spring comes and the emperor changes, she had to steal the food from the cabin.
Emperor Perseus would know of her existence but wouldn't pay her much mind anyway.
'At least he won't kill me.'
She knew that from the original story. That was a relief. Honestly, Emperor Raidios was more dangerous than Emperor Perseus.
And after that...
'I have to avoid catching the eye of Yuriana and her brothers as much as possible.'
She had no desire whatsoever to repeat 'I'm sorry, Princess' a hundred times like in the original story.
Life would be much more comfortable as long as she didn't get caught by those doting fools.
Then, when the time was right, she would use the magical tools stolen from the cabin to escape the imperial palace.
'If I stay here, I'll just be used.'
In the original story, that plan was thwarted because she drowned in a pond, but if she had survived, she would have certainly been forced to marry someone.
'Since I'm royalty... they'd probably try to find a use for me through a political marriage.'
Her fists clenched involuntarily.
'Emperor Perseus... he hates me. There's no way he'd set me up with a normal husband.'
In the novel, the candidates mentioned were all old or strange men. She would have been married off as soon as she came of age.
'Who does he think would agree to a marriage like that? I never will.'
The goal was clear. Only the method was uncertain.
'I'm getting out of here before I become an adult.'
That night, just as Lellia had predicted, heavy snow began to fall.
'I'm glad I gathered firewood in advance.'
Seeing the firewood stacked high in the first-floor living room made her feel secure. There was enough to last for a while, even if the snow piled up as high as she was tall.
Thankfully, the maids who used to look after her had connected a water pipe from the main palace.
The water, though created by magic, only came out in a trickle, which made her sigh, but at least she had access to warm water.
After washing up, she sat at her desk and saw the replies from her friends. Her heart pounded the moment she saw them.
Lellia savored every single word as she read their letters.
Oscar: Leo, you're so diligent. I'm relieved to hear you're doing well. I'm doing well, too. I was worried, but I haven't been having nightmares like before. It's all thanks to the doll you gave me.
Calix: Aren't you guys worried someone will see the dolls? Just imagining it is so embarrassing I could die. I hid mine under my pillow.
Griffith: I hope you haven't forgotten that I was the one who bought you that doll.
Romeo: Looks like everyone's doing fine. Am I the only one who's annoyed? I'm so bored I could die. I had more fun at the temple. So, how about we get together and go hunt the Mad Dragon? Doesn't that sound fun?
Lellia read the short messages again, and again, and again.
A cold draft seeped through the cracks of the shabby door, but her heart felt warm. No, it was burning.
Lellia fought back the tears welling in her eyes and climbed into bed. She would reply tomorrow.
But despite going to bed early, Lellia couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Through the windowpane, she could see the bright moonlight. And around it, countless stars were clustered together.
It felt as if she were the only lonely person in the world.
