An immense amount of snow had fallen.
It was enough that she couldn't even open the door. As if that wasn't enough, more heavy snow poured down before the previous snow could melt.
Thanks to that, Leria was isolated in the tower for a while, unable to go outside.
She filled her stomach with the sweet snacks brought from the temple and used the firewood sparingly.
She couldn't even go out to gather branches, so it was a tedious time. Leria sat at her desk all day, just waiting for the time to send letters to her friends.
If it were up to her, she would send messages without stopping, but wouldn't it be strange for the Crown Prince to sit at his desk all day?
She didn't want to plant unnecessary suspicions in her friends' minds for no reason.
She felt sorry for deceiving them, but if she was going to deceive them, she should do it properly. For Leria, that was the greatest courtesy she could show to her friends.
Thus time passed, and around when the piled snow had completely melted...
While out gathering branches, Leria realized that the knights who had been watching her had all disappeared.
Emboldened by this, she gradually expanded her range of activity. Still, just in case, she didn't go too far. It could be dangerous.
Chirp chirp chirp.
That day, she was struggling to move a ladder and picking tree fruits that served as winter food for birds.
'Now I won't be needing firewood soon.'
Seeing the weather gradually warm up, she should be happy, but for Leria, it was the opposite.
In fact, the person in Auraria Imperial City who worried most about Crown Prince Leo might not be the Emperor, but Leria.
Because the day the Crown Prince dies is the day contact with her friends ends.
Leria brought the fruits to the tower and lingered near the main castle just in case.
'Surely not....'
The atmosphere of the servants going to and from the main castle was unusual. Every one of them was moving hurriedly with serious expressions.
"Crown Prince His Highness... the culprit...."
"His Majesty personally sent High Minister... to prison... how could someone he trusted so...."
"To think he would pass so easily...."
Hiding and listening to the servants' conversation, Leria was startled and covered her mouth with both hands.
Then she hurriedly ran back to the tower as if fleeing.
'Crown Prince Leo must have already died...!'
As soon as she returned to the tower, Leria went to her desk. Letters exchanged with friends were piled up.
'What should I do? To think he's already died....'
Leria paced anxiously around the desk.
'Is there no way to let the kids know something?'
If they were to hear the tragic news of his death like this, they would be sad.
"......"
Leria sat at her desk and agonized for hours on end. No matter how much she thought, no good method came to mind.
'If I reveal the truth myself, I'll die. But if someone notices....'
Leria thought of two people among her four friends who might be quick to notice. Griffith and Romeo were not as slow as the other two, so they might figure it out.
If so....
Leria did not sleep a wink that day and sat at her desk the entire time.
And around when dawn was breaking.
Suddenly, an enormous noise came from outside the window.
Boom! Boom...!
Along with the sound of something exploding, a horn sounded.
Surprised by the noise, she looked outside and saw smoke rising from the direction of the main castle. Blazing flames were also visible.
'Surely Emperor Perseus hasn't already invaded?'
If so, soldiers would surely rush toward this tower where Leria was.
Leria made her decision, took out a new sheet of paper, and held her fountain pen. There was no more time to hesitate.
She had written countless sentences in her head, but in the end, what she wrote was just one phrase.
Leria Auraria
Her real name.
Surely someone would notice. At least one person.
Leria removed the magic stone from the fountain pen, then hid it together with the letter tightly beneath the wooden floor. Then she went into the wardrobe, curled up, and covered her ears.
She had pretended to be mature in front of her friends, but in the end, Leria was only a ten-year-old child. The banging sounds pressing in from outside made it difficult to think normally. Her heart pounded violently.
The sounds of soldiers engaging in battle continued for two days.