I walked down the hallway with Princess Ferris' hand in mine. It's fortunate that it's already before the start of the birthday party and there aren't many people there. Because if you see Princess Ferris in this form, it looks like I did it.

　We stop at some distance from where we were earlier.

''Princess Ferris. Let's treat that arm injury first.

...arm?

　Maybe you hadn't noticed?

'Yes. I don't want this blue bruise to stay there.

　Saying that, I use the water magic heel. Okay, the color is slowly coming back.

"Princess Ferris. Are you feeling any pain?

I'll be fine.

　Are you sure you're okay with the way you've been looking down?　I peek down.

'Are you sure you're okay, Princess Ferris?'

　then

Heeee!

　 What's really going on?

'Oh, I'm sorry. I just remembered something from the past and I couldn't help but...

'No, that's fine, sir, but what's going on?'

....

No, it's okay if you don't want to tell me.

"...well. I'll tell you because you're not entirely innocent either.

　Why am I not a part of this?

Let's go somewhere more comfortable. I think it's this way...

　You're more familiar with the palace than I am. Contrary to what I did earlier, I walked along with Princess Ferris taking my hand. After a few minutes or so of going outside and so on.

Let's do it here.

Oh, I didn't know there were trees this big.

　There was a large tree growing there, about six meters high and four meters in circumference around the trunk.

This tree, you see, is a tree that blooms in the middle of the cold and warm seasons. When the tree blooms, it is full of beautiful pink flowers. According to a rumor, it is inhabited by a spirit.

　Princess Ferris speaks so happily. Could that be........

'The name is called Surisier, and it's been around since this kingdom was established. The only thing the lore says is the name and that it should remain as it is, according to Lady Alexia.

　Definitely cherry blossoms!　I don't know what kind, but it must be.

Come on, let's sit down.

　Ah!　I'll just sit there.

Princess Ferris. If you sit down like that, your clothes.

It's okay. Come on, sit down.

　Princess Ferris says this and taps the ground next to her. I also sit next to Princess Ferris.

''The reason I said you're involved is because your sister Alexia is also involved.

Alexia?

'Yes. Because that's the story I'm going to tell you now about why I fell in love with your sister Alexia.

　With that, Princess Ferris began to speak.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　That was a hot day five years ago. Every five years the Nanor Kingdom and the Beast Nation of Worst have a big meeting to review and renew the contents of the alliance.

　They usually have meetings as well, but that meeting is the only one that is so big that all the bureaucrats, the military, and others have to deal with it.

　We change places every five years, and that was the year we did it at our worst.

　Of course, a meeting that big couldn't be finished in a day or two; it was a meeting that lasted nearly a week. Even though everyone would be present, of course the kids wouldn't be there. On the Nanor side, Prince Albert, the older prince, attended, while Prince Alex and his sister Marina waited in the kingdom with the queens. Big sister Alexia, who was 9 years old at the time, seemed to have followed them.

　I played with Alexia and Fergus every day, but basically all they did was fight, which was no fun for me as I wasn't really interested in martial arts at the time.

　No one was interested in fighting with me, so I snuck out of the castle on a spur of the moment basis. Then someone would leave me alone, I thought at the time. Looking back, I really feel like a child.

　I went into town through a secret passage known only to royalty. It wasn't a prosperous place in the middle of the city; it was a little dark, out of sight and out of mind.

　But I couldn't get over the excitement of being able to explore it alone at the time, so I just kept going.

　After a few hours of walking around, I was so tired that I decided to go home and started walking back the way I came, but I was only five years old at the time and had no idea where I was and got lost.

　I tried not to cry, but as I was going along, I saw men standing in front of me with sickening smiles on their faces.

'What's going on here, little girl?'

Hehehe. A man this neatly dressed must be a nobleman for sure.

'And if she's this cute, she'll fetch a pretty penny if you sell her as a slave!

　I was too afraid to move. But the guys are not going to wait for me.

"Come on, girl, you're going to be great with us.

'Hyah!　How much would this thing fetch if I sold it?

I think that's pretty good.

No, no, no, don't come here!

　I started to cry, but there was no way he was going to listen to me like that. I regretted it. This is what happened because I wasn't in the castle like my father and mother said. This happened because I wasn't with Sister Alexia and Brother Fergus. I just apologized in my mind.

'Come on!'

　When the man tried to grab my hand, I was too afraid to look at him. But then a ray of wind blew through me. I couldn't get a hold of it any time soon, so I opened my eyes and there it was.

'Aren't you embarrassed to have a grown man around a little girl?

　Sister Alexia stood there, holding a two-sword sword.

''Another beautiful girl!　Sell this one.

We're going to have some luck!

Hm!　You lowlifes. Ferris, stay back!

Hi, hi!

　It was one-sided from there. If Sister Alexia-sama swung her sword, her arms would fly and if she shot her magic, the men would be blown away. I could see the dazzling sight of Big Sister Alexia's fighting back then.

　And after a little while Brother Fergus and the gendarmerie arrived and the situation was settled.

　When I returned to the castle, I found your father's thunderbolt waiting for me. But then I remember being hugged so tightly.

　But what I remembered more clearly was Sister Alexia's fighting back. Even when I closed my eyes and did something, I could still see it in my mind's eye. That figure was a goddess to me. From that time on, I was in love with Big Sister Alexia.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

So, that's why you were shaking earlier.

They knew it was you. 'I knew it. After the incident, I couldn't go near any man except for your father and brother. I've been able to talk to them recently, but I still can't do that under pressure. My body shakes.

　Princess Ferris starts to tremble again, as if she remembers the scene from earlier and the old days.

　I couldn't stand to see her in such a weak state. The Princess of Ferris, in my mind, is a cheerful and energetic girl because of the fact that the first time we met. How do I get over this?

'Before I left, I asked your sister how she knew where I was. And what do you think she said?　He grinned and made a mean face and said, 'Because I've done the same thing before! I laughed so much that I couldn't help but laugh.

　Princess Ferris speaks so happily. You really like Alexia, don't you?

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get carried away by myself.

No, I'm totally fine.

Thanks. So, now that we're talking, I'm remembering something.

What is it?

'How could sister Alexia have forgotten her promise to me?

　You're talking about marriage?

'When we were leaving after the meeting, I asked Sister Alexia, 'How can I be with Sister Alexia! I said. In my mind I meant to include marriage, but what do you think your sister Alexia answered?

I don't know.

Hmm, think about it. Sister Alexia said, 'If you want to fight with me, you must be strong enough to beat me. Then I said, 'Then come to the Worst if I win! And my sister just replied, 'Okay,' she said.
　I was so excited at the time that I didn't realize it, but now that I've cooled down and thought about it, I think sister Alexia wants me to fight with her. It's so funny. I can't believe I was wrong all along...
　
　Princess Ferris laughs at that. But her heart.

What do you mean, "What?　Why are you crying? I'm about to laugh. Why. Why won't you stop....

　I was crying. That's what she wanted. You didn't have to hold back. And so I make a spell.

The Earthenware Earthwall.

What?

'Your voice won't leak out inside these walls, and you won't be able to see it from outside. I'll leave it outside too, so do what you want. It's made to be so fragile that it would collapse if you hit it from the inside.

　With that, I walk out.

　A few minutes later.

　Bang!

　........You don't have to hit me that vigorously to make me collapse.

'Are you okay?'

Yeah. Thank you.

　Princess Ferris smiles as she says that. You're crying so much that your eyes are swollen.

Princess Ferris. Don't move, please. Heels.

　When I used the heel, yes. We're back to normal.

"It's all right, Princess Ferris.

　I smile too. Then.

Yeah. Thanks.

　He turned over again. Are you still not feeling well?

Do you still remember?

　I looked into his face.

'Uh-uh!　I'm fine!　It's okay!

　And then he leaves me in a hurry. He's so angry that he's red in the face. He hates me so much. Oh well. Let's get back to it.

"Princess Ferris. Let's go back to your room. We've been worried sick and tired of you.

'Yeah, okay. But first, can I have a word?

What is it?

Well, you see, it's not...

　What is it?　He squirmed.

'I hadn't apologised to you yet. I'm sorry I made a mistake and hit you!

　Then he bows his head. Huh?　Didn't I say I was sorry?

You apologized in your room earlier, didn't you?

'That's what your father told me to do. I mean it now. I'm so sorry.

That's enough. I've accepted Princess Ferris' apology.

Yeah, and thanks for helping me out earlier!

　I knew Princess Ferris had to be this cheerful.

It's what she deserves. Now, everyone is waiting for you. Let's go back.

Yeah, let's go, Ray...!

　After being told that, Princess Ferris pulls my hand away and walks away. ........Huh?　I feel like this is the first time you've ever called me by my name and I'm sure you don't like me.

　Oh, well.