A few days passed. Rellia woke up in her crisp, dry blanket.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a cute rabbit doll. Even without a single person to look after her, Rellia didn't feel lacking at all.
It was thanks to several reasons.
First and foremost, she had realized her past life. Without that, she wouldn't have been as composed as she was now. She would probably have been bawling like a child.
Another reason was thanks to the food she had secretly gathered bit by bit from the temple. If she ate sparingly, it was enough to last through the remaining winter.
And the last reason was this very rabbit doll.
'I'm glad I insisted on buying dolls.'
She liked that even when she was alone, it felt like her friends were with her.
"Did you sleep well? It was a bit cold, though."
Rellia bolted up, tidied her blankets, and washed herself.
The weather was overcast, looking like it would snow. If she held on just a little longer, winter would end.
And right before spring arrived...
'Crown Prince Leo will die, and the Emperor will change.'
Crown Prince Leo would die from steadily drinking poison administered by Emperor Laidios's closest confidant.
The Emperor would be enraged by that fact and try to find the culprit... but before he could even find the criminal, Perseus's soldiers would storm the imperial palace.
'It's going to be a huge mess...'
Rellia gazed at the peaceful scenery outside the window.
Honestly, she wanted to run away from the imperial palace right this moment, but she couldn't.
It was dangerous for a mere ten-year-old girl to wander the streets. Finding a guardian to protect her until she became an adult was also difficult...
'Let's wait quietly until the Emperor changes and things calm down.'
Actually, she had intended to find the secret cottage as soon as she arrived here, but she gave up on that idea.
During the past few days of going out to gather branches in the forest, she had confirmed that there were soldiers watching her.
'I was going to get food from there...'
It seemed best not to do anything suspicious until spring came.
After all, if she moved around unnecessarily now, she might end up being suspected by the Emperor and killed.
Rellia sat at her desk, picked up her fountain pen, and took out a blank sheet of paper she had brought from the temple.
'After Crown Prince Leo dies, I won't even be able to send letters.'
She should write diligently until then.
The letters exchanged over the past few days since arriving here were hidden away. Actually, burning them would be safer... but she couldn't bring herself to do that.
'When they hear the news of my death, they'll be sad...'
This was the issue that troubled Rellia the most mentally.
But to save Crown Prince Leo... that was already beyond her hands. If she revealed the truth, she would vomit blood and die.
Guilt washed over her, making her suffer. After all, she had deceived her friends for three years.
'If they find out I lied about my gender and age, they'll think I'm terrible.'
She wouldn't even be able to remain as friends. They would tremble with betrayal and hate her.
'...Let's just leave it as a good memory instead.'
Rellia finished her pondering and began writing the letter.
Hey guys, are you up? None of you are sleeping in late, right? Not like babies?
It looks like it'll snow here soon. The weather is cloudy... I just had breakfast. The attendants brought it to my room.
Returning to the main palace, I think it's nice that I can eat tastier food. The bed is more comfortable too. Especially since I can't hear you guys making noise, it's incredibly peaceful.
If you knew how big and comfortable my bed is, you'd be surprised. And is everyone keeping their rabbit dolls safe?
Perhaps because they'd been exchanging letters since the day she arrived? Even though they were far apart, she could almost hear her friends' voices.
She waited a while, but it seemed no one had checked their letters yet.
'Still too early for those childish kids to wake up. Tsk...'
When the time came, they would all check and send replies, so should she get to work for now?
Rellia put down her pen and rolled up her sleeves.
The sky looked ominous. She needed to gather more firewood before the snow came.
'Wow... it's incredibly cold.'
Rellia wandered the nearby forest and gathered branches all day long. She missed the warm and comfortable life at the temple.
'If possible, it would've been nice to stay there for about 10 years.'
As she piled up the branches she had gathered inside the house, Rellia thought.
'Now I'm truly alone.'
The maids who occasionally looked after her were gone now.
Because Emperor Laidios had killed them all.
So she had to keep her wits about her.
She felt both resentful and pitiful about her situation, but thinking such thoughts wouldn't help.
'I need to make a plan.'
First, after spring came and the Emperor changed, she would have to steal food from the cottage.
Emperor Perseus wouldn't particularly care even if he knew of her existence, anyway.
'At least he won't kill me.'
She knew that through the original work. That was fortunate at least. Honestly, Emperor Laidios was more dangerous than Emperor Perseus.
And next...
'I need to avoid catching Uriana and her brothers' attention as much as possible.'
She had absolutely no desire to recite "I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess" a hundred times like in the original work.
As long as she didn't get caught by those brother-fools, her life would be much more comfortable.
And when the time was right, she would use the magical tools stolen from the cottage to escape the imperial palace.
'If I stay here, I'll be used.'
In the original work, she died falling into a pond so it came to nothing, but if she had survived, she would definitely have been forced to marry someone.
'Still, since I'm royalty... they'd try to find use for me even as a political marriage.'
Her clenched fists automatically tightened with strength.
'Emperor Perseus... that man hates me. He won't give me a normal husband.'
In fact, even in the novel, the candidates mentioned as husbands were all either old men or strange ones. Once she became an adult, she would have been married off like being sold.
'Who would agree to such a marriage? I'll never do it.'
The goal was clear. Only the method was uncertain.
'I'll leave this place before I become an adult.'
That night, just as Rellia predicted, heavy snow began to fall.
'I'm glad I gathered firewood in advance.'
Seeing the firewood piled high in the first-floor living room, her heart felt naturally full. Even if snow piled as high as her height, she wouldn't have to worry for a while.
It was fortunate that the maids who used to look after her had connected water pipes from the main palace.
Even though it was made with magical power, seeing the water trickle out made her sigh, but being able to use warm water was something to be grateful for.
After washing and sitting at her desk, she saw the replies from her friends. The moment she saw them, her heart started pounding wildly.
Rellia read through the letters, cherishing each and every letter.
Oscar: Leo, you're really diligent. I'm relieved to hear you're doing well. I'm doing well too. I was worried, but I don't have nightmares like before. It's all thanks to the doll Leo gave me.
Calix: Aren't you worried about someone seeing that doll? Just imagining it makes me want to die of embarrassment. I hid it under my pillow.
Griffith: Don't forget that I'm the one who bought you that doll.
Romeo: Everyone seems to be doing well? I guess I'm the only one annoyed. I'm sick and bored to death. Life at the temple was more fun and enjoyable. By the way, how about we gather first among ourselves and go subdue the Magic Dragon? Sounds like it'd be fun, doesn't it?
Rellia read those short messages again, and again, and again.
Through the gaps in the shabby door came cold air, but her heart was warm. No, it was burning hot.
Rellia wiped away the tears that kept welling up as she climbed into bed. She would write replies tomorrow.
However, unlike going to bed early, Rellia couldn't fall asleep for a long while.
Through the window glass, bright moonlight was visible. And around it, countless stars were gathered closely together.
It seemed like she was the only lonely one in this world.