🦊 🦊 🦊
“ALLY!” a familiar voice called.
Upon arriving at the castle, Princess Julietta Cotarini came out to meet me, grinning from ear to ear.
“Julie!” I cried.
We embraced each other tightly.
Ah, how perfect. This tiny princess fits perfectly in my arms.
“I’ve missed you,” Julietta said.
“I’ve missed you too,” I replied. “Congrats on your engagement.”
“Heh, thanks. We’ll be sisters-in-law soon enough. Oh, and hearing you call me ‘Julie’ made my heart burst with joy. I wonder why.” Julietta wore an adorable smile while blushing faintly.
Ugh, she’s too cute for words.
Right before the break, Julietta asked me to start calling her “Julie.” Since we rarely addressed Lauris as a prince, Julietta wanted the same treatment. Though I’d been reluctant to address neighboring royalty by a nickname, Cita had done so without hesitation. As a result, everyone started calling her Julie.
“Everyone else arrived earlier,” Julietta said. “They’re waiting inside. Let’s go see them now.”
Still beaming, Julietta led me by the hand. I couldn’t stop grinning myself. Everything she did was so cute.
“Dorky smile alert,” Custode mumbled telepathically from the top of my head.
Seriously? Gross. I hurriedly wiped my mouth with my sleeve. Okay, I don’t think Julie noticed. Are some of Em’s weird habits starting to rub off on me? I’ve gotta learn to control myself.
“Ally’s here, everyone,” Julietta announced.
When I entered the room, the usual suspects were already having tea.
“Ally!” Cita and Cia cried in unison.
The twins’ full names were Felicita and Felicia Camprani. They were the daughters of Marquis Camprani.
“You’re late,” Oreste said while waving to me. “I’ve been bored senseless without my sparring partner.”
Oreste was the son of Marquis Rodarte. Despite being enormous, he still lost to me in all our sparring matches. Hey, don’t blame me for being such a badass.
Rosario—son of Duke Marchetti—smirked. “She was probably stuffing her face at the food stalls before coming here.”
Wait, how did he know?
Second Prince Lauris Bartis stood up and met my eye. “You finally made it, Ally.”
It had only been a few days since we last met, but somehow, he seemed more mature and masculine.
“Congrats on the engagement,” I said. “You’re looking like a real man now.”
Lauris chuckled sentimentally. “Thanks. I don’t know why, but hearing that from you feels pretty moving.”
Without thinking, I threw my arms around him. He hugged me back just as tightly. This happiness was only possible because of multiple time loops. As that thought overwhelmed me, everyone beamed at us.
“Good thing Prince Embert isn’t here,” Cia said with a laugh.
After sharing our heartfelt emotions, everyone relaxed with a cup of tea. Meanwhile, Custode gobbled down sweets in my lap. I couldn’t help but be amazed. Hadn’t he just eaten a week’s worth of food in town?
“Does anyone want to do anything before the festival?” Lauris asked.
“Of course,” I answered immediately.
Despite being a small country, Bragioga thrived due to its unique attraction. It was one of the reasons I’d brought Custode with me.
“I’m going to register at the guild and explore the dungeon,” I announced.
Everyone sighed at my enthusiastic words.
“I saw that one coming,” Rosario said.
The others nodded in agreement.
That’s right. Bragioga was home to its very own dungeon. Furthermore, it changed significantly at periodic intervals. Each time the dungeon transformed, the final boss and treasure chests changed as well. As a result, many powerful adventurers gathered in Bragioga, which stimulated the economy. Personally, I was itching to explore it for myself.
“I’m all for you going, but have you told Prince Embert yet?” Cita asked.
Her words caused me to shudder.
Cia rolled her eyes. “That’s a no, then?”
“W-Well,” I responded. “He would just stop me from going if I told him, right?”
Alternatively, he might suggest coming along, but I couldn’t let the crown prince risk his life for my sake.
“I understand how you feel, Ally, but you need to tell him,” Lauris said. “Things could get ugly if he finds out. Worst-case scenario, he might place you under lock and key.”
Good point. Lauris knows his brother better than anyone.
“If he’s going to forbid me from going, I might as well sneak out and let him scold me later!” I exclaimed. “Ask for forgiveness, not permission, right?”
Everyone’s eyes widened in the middle of my shouting.
“What?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
They weren’t reacting to me. Everyone had frozen in fear because of something behind me. Thus, I turned around to get a better look.
Oh boy. I’m never gonna see the light of day again, am I?
A grinning Embert stood in the doorway behind me. My brother stood behind him, an uncomfortable smile on his lips.
“Shall I prepare a giant birdcage for you, Ally?” Embert asked.
“Eek!” I yelped.
As Embert approached me, still grinning, a bone-chilling terror overcame me. I wouldn’t have been able to move even if I wanted to.
“S-Save me, Custode,” I squeaked.
“Sorry, but I can’t get there fast enough,” the dragon replied.
At some point, he’d gotten off my lap.
Embert grabbed my shoulders. “So, you were planning to visit the dungeon without me?”
“Y-You’re so busy, after all,” I stammered. “I-I couldn’t ask you to come with me, r-right?”
Cold sweat dripped down my back.
“You needn’t show that level of consideration to your fiancé,” Embert said.
His smile didn’t falter the whole time. I couldn’t misspeak here. Otherwise, he might seriously place me behind bars.
“I-In that case, would you like to come with me?” I asked.
Embert chuckled. “Of course. That’s what I like to hear.”
I let out a deep sigh upon seeing his delighted smile.
Phew. I somehow kept my freedom.