I went to the Marchioness, who was being detained and questioned, and spoke to her in a calm tone.
"This is all your fault, Rosalia. If you've been foolish, act wisely. You don't want everything to be revealed and your clan destroyed. This is all the Queen's will."
The Marchioness of Wales's piercing eyes lit up at the mention of "Her Majesty the Queen." I saw her clutching her collar, but ultimately she offered no objection. She simply followed the orders, acting as if she were clever.
"Please, for the sake of my son, please help me just this once. You said you needed me, didn't you? If you promise to help me, I'll reveal a crucial secret."
She endured my laughter and pleaded with a pitiful face. It was a cowardly attitude. How pitiful and pathetic to see a woman exploiting someone's desperation to flaunt her arrogance.
"You don't have to tell me, Rosalia. Just wait quietly, and I'll get it out. I don't know when, though."
I couldn't help but laugh. Ah, if only I had become a Princess long ago, I would have locked Erita and this woman in that dark basement instead of Ayla. Neither Rainier nor Ayla would have died. A cold voice muttered behind me.
“...You'll regret it. You can never defeat the Queen. She's a cruel person who uses others' precious things as a weakness to manipulate others.”
“I’m worried about you.”
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh as I opened the interrogation room door. Ted, who had been waiting outside, looked at me with a worried expression.
“Are you very upset? Well, I guess you trusted her.”
Henry, who was standing behind Ted, tilted his head.
“Are you smiling?”
Today was no different from any other morning. I was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee and reading the morning paper when Milia came in. She told me the news.
"The Marchioness of Wales has been sentenced to a workhouse. She will likely be transferred to a slum-level prisoner labor camp."
“I see. How many years?”
“They say it’s been 40 years.”
I wonder if she can fill that period.
The Marchioness, fully aware of her futility against the royal family, pleaded guilty without a fight, perhaps fearing for her life. The nobles, who had suffered massive losses investing in stocks and bonds, blamed the Wales family for everything and hurled harsh criticism. The middle class, who had invested their meager savings in the hope of striking it rich, were equally resentful.
“Is the Rembrandt River warm today?”
As I was recalling the greeting that was popular at the Medea Stock Exchange these days, I heard the maid's voice.
“Your bath is ready, Princess.”
Today was the day I was supposed to spend with Johanna, Daniel, and Barbara, who were on vacation. Daniel, who dreams of becoming a pilot, said he wanted to meet a current pilot. I can already picture Daniel's delight at meeting Johanna. Henry also wanted to meet Johanna, but he looked very disappointed, saying he couldn't join them due to a busy schedule.
"Princess!"
After finishing preparations, I stepped outside the palace gates and saw Daniel standing in front of a long state car, waving. Next to him stood Barbara, dressed in a purple coat. Daniel, now quite tall, was acting quite mature.
“Medea’s star, Princess Diana. Hello?”
Ted and Milia, who had set out together, smiled at Daniel's polite greeting. Wearing a checkered coat, deerstalker hat, and bow tie, Daniel looked like a little detective.
Daniel, who had climbed into the car, held Barbara's and my hands tightly. He asked Barbara, whose father was an Air Force Operations Commander, how to become a pilot. Barbara answered in a gentle tone.
"First of all, you need to grow tall. You need to be a good eater, drink lots of milk, and go to bed early, right?"
“Sister Barbara, Commander Chelsea became the captain because he was the tallest?”
“Of course. He still go to bed early and wake up early.”
"I'm the tallest among my friends. Starting next year, when I go to school, I'll be sitting in the back row."
Our car, escorted by two vehicles in front and behind, was moving slowly. We were joking around about the sun setting and arriving tomorrow, and before we knew it, we arrived in front of the Marriott Hotel, the largest hotel in Medea. Johanna, dressed in formal attire, had arrived ahead of us and was waiting at the entrance, beaming at us.
“Princess Diana, how have you been?”
“Johanna, how have you been?”
I gave her a light hug and exchanged brief greetings. When I introduced Johanna to those who had come with me, Daniel studied her with wide, red eyes. He hesitated, then grabbed my sleeve and whispered in my ear.
"Princess. Noah and her have the same hair color. Are they siblings? Are their personalities similar?"
He was referring to Johanna's high, silver-white hair. I shook my head.
"No, Young Master. It's the Esatian's unique hair color. She's a very kind and affectionate friend. Don't be afraid to say hello."
Daniel, still young, seemed unfamiliar with the people of the fallen Eiland Kingdom. He seemed worried they might pull a mean prank like Noah. Daniel approached cautiously and offered an awkward salute.
“When I grow up, I will become a pilot.”
“It’s an honor to meet such a wonderful pilot of the future.”
Johanna saluted and smiled faintly. Guided by the manager, we headed to the hotel's spacious lounge. While it was customary to leave it empty for royal visits, I had instructed that it wasn't necessary. Instead, only those with confirmed identities were allowed in, so the crowd was small. As soon as we entered, people rose from their seats and bowed to me.
Hotel maids served sumptuous desserts and premium teas for tea time. The tables, covered in pure white tablecloths, were awash in vibrant colors. The people I love, too, were in a variety of beautiful hues. It was a feeling of relaxation I hadn't felt in a long time. The chatter and laughter seemed to slowly wash over me. Barbara told Johanna, her peer, about her love life.
"I confessed to Mr. Ford for the sixth time, but he rejected me again. He said the age gap was too big. No matter what I do, I can't close the gap. Seriously."
"I rejected my lover, Mr. Reynolds, on numerous occasions. I made up all sorts of excuses, but the real reason was that we weren't in a position to date."
Barbara's gray eyes sparkled at Johanna's shy voice.
“You finally accepted it, didn’t you? How did you feel about it?”
“I heard the Princess say that the present is the most important thing.”
Barbara and Johanna both turned their gazes to me. I just smiled awkwardly. I saw Milia, her cheeks slightly flushed, glance at Ted and quickly turn her head away. Barbara, holding the cookie, fussed.
“That’s a really great thing to say.”
I said with an awkward smile.
“Is this what someone who failed miserably at marriage said?”
"Love also fails many times. How is marriage any different? They both have one thing in common: they can be tried again."
“Barbara is so open-minded.”
"Yes. You only live once. As my father said, there's no such thing as failure as long as you're alive. The Princess and Count Rotsilt didn't break up of their own free will, so they must start over..."
Barbara's chattering voice suddenly stopped. It wasn't her own volition that interrupted her. It was the noise filling the spacious lounge.
To be exact, it was an air raid warning.
The sound I heard for the first time in my life made my hair stand on end.
What do you do in this situation? What should I do?
My consciousness began to blur, and my vision went blank. I felt as if I was being consumed by a sinister fantasy. Ted, Millia, and Johanna jumped up, grabbed my arms, and roughly pulled me up. I felt the threads of my sleeves being ripped. I felt like my arm was falling off, but I felt no pain. Millia cried out.
"Princess, there's an air raid! You must leave the hotel and take shelter immediately!"
“Air raid? In Loganfield?”
I muttered, my mind blank, as if in a dream. Bombing the capital of Medea? I'd only imagined a naval invasion for a landing on the mainland, but this was unexpected. And to neutralize Medea's anti-aircraft defenses and advance on the capital. The kind of urban air raids I'd imagined in my history were far in the future. My body trembled, my teeth chattering. I tried to stay calm, grabbing Daniel and Barbara.
"Young Master, Barbara. Don't leave me."
We rushed down the stairs to the third floor.
The third floor was a huddle of people, including guests. The blaring air-raid alarm, the hotel fire alarm, and the screams of those trying to descend to the first floor all mixed together, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
"Princess Medea is here! Everyone, calm down and cooperate!"
Ted shouted to those blocking the entrance, but the already frightened and confused crowd seemed unable to hear. Johanna, Ted, Milia, and the security guards struggled to clear the way, pushing the people stuck in front of the entrance. In the distance, explosions and roars could be heard, and the floor and windows shook. Several fighter jets could be seen hovering in the sky like migratory birds. I stared out the window, staring directly at my own reflection, and reassured myself.
'Wake up.'
I shook my head, staring at my own incongruous appearance. Now that the bombing has begun, if the building collapses, everyone will die. I picked up a chair and hurled it at the edge of the glass window. The sound of the glass shattering drew everyone's attention.
“We have to jump from the third floor! We’ll all die if we stay here!”
There's no way there's an underground shelter here, so the right thing to do is jump down and escape to the nearest basement. There's also no fire escape rope. I tied several tablecloths together and held them up as an example.
“Make a rope like this to ride down! There’s no time!”
Barbara, Johanna, and Milia began weaving tablecloths and curtains into ropes. A few others, who had been in a state of confusion, came to their senses and began tying curtains with us. Ted kicked the remaining glass away, and Milia let the rope hang down, shouting.
“Princess, go down first!”
“Young Master first. Children must go down first.”
Daniel, terrified, grabbed my arm and trembled. Someone needed to carry him down, but my arms weren't strong enough to carry him. There was no time to hesitate. I gave Ted instructions.
“Sir Ted, please take Prince Hessen down with you.”
He lifted Daniel into his arms and placed him in the arms of Johanna, who was standing next to him, and spoke in a firm tone.
"For now, I will follow the spirit of chivalry. Lieutenant Ostrik, please hurry and escort the Prince of Hessen down. And please take good care of Princess Diana."
"Princess..."
Johanna's blue eyes sparkled. I urged her on, securing her and Daniel's bodies tightly. She, too, seemed to understand that the longer it took, the more dangerous it would become, so she immediately carried Daniel down. The wind blew and swayed, but seeing her land safely, I grabbed Barbara's arm.
“Barbara, you go down first. Can you do it?”
“I can only go down if the Princess does. I am the general’s daughter, after all.”
Barbara smiled brightly and put a handkerchief in my hand.
“You have to hold on tight and go down because your hand will hurt.”
I had to get down so the rest could too. With every second counting, we couldn't afford to squabble over who would go down first. I held onto the rope woven from the tablecloth, my handkerchief still in my hand.
“Barbara, come down right now.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Even though it was only three stories high, it felt quite high, and it was quite frightening. The hot wind blew my skirt in a chaotic manner. In the distance, I could see buildings that had been bombed and collapsed, and black smoke was rising everywhere. It was hard to breathe. My ears hurt, and it was scary. Is this a war? It was terrifying. Goosebumps appeared on my skin, sending chills down my spine.
“See you later, Princess.”
Ted smiled at me, who was slightly frightened. I stared into his gray eyes without saying a word. Seeing those kind, curved eyes, I felt a strange sense of relief.
“Everyone, be careful.”
Looking over Ted's broad shoulders, Milia nodded at me as if to tell me not to worry.
“What is going on...”
I closed my eyes tightly and leaped forward. The descent was instantaneous. Johanna, who had already descended, approached me, holding Daniel in her arms. Daniel held Johanna's neck tightly, burying his face in her chest. There were faint tear stains on her chest. Johanna grabbed my arm and pulled.
“We need to go down to the nearest culvert.”
I followed her, turning my head toward Barbara and the rest of the group. They were letting the children and the elderly down first. The same was true of those who had been trying to get out first just a moment ago.
“I will follow the spirit of chivalry.”
Before I knew it, I stood there. Milia, who was supporting an old man with a cane, shouted at me.
“Princess! Don’t worry about us and go quickly!”
An ominous current enveloped my body, making my hair stand on end. I looked up at the hotel's rooftop and froze. A massive bomber hovered above the hotel building. It looked like a giant sailing ship in the sky. I could even read the emblem and service number painted on its stern.
“F-34...”
It's a Frogen aircraft. It resembles the massive bombing warplanes from the World Wars of my world's history. The scenes of the city bombings also seem like black-and-white photographs from books, only colored in. It feels like time has stopped.
My body froze in the overwhelming fear I felt for the first time. Everything felt unreal. Could this be a dream? There's no way I could actually see this. My thoughts were frozen, and I muttered with a blank expression.
“Oh, I was too far ahead.”
There was a whistling sound like firecrackers going off overhead.
"This is all your fault, Rosalia. If you've been foolish, act wisely. You don't want everything to be revealed and your clan destroyed. This is all the Queen's will."
The Marchioness of Wales's piercing eyes lit up at the mention of "Her Majesty the Queen." I saw her clutching her collar, but ultimately she offered no objection. She simply followed the orders, acting as if she were clever.
"Please, for the sake of my son, please help me just this once. You said you needed me, didn't you? If you promise to help me, I'll reveal a crucial secret."
She endured my laughter and pleaded with a pitiful face. It was a cowardly attitude. How pitiful and pathetic to see a woman exploiting someone's desperation to flaunt her arrogance.
"You don't have to tell me, Rosalia. Just wait quietly, and I'll get it out. I don't know when, though."
I couldn't help but laugh. Ah, if only I had become a Princess long ago, I would have locked Erita and this woman in that dark basement instead of Ayla. Neither Rainier nor Ayla would have died. A cold voice muttered behind me.
“...You'll regret it. You can never defeat the Queen. She's a cruel person who uses others' precious things as a weakness to manipulate others.”
“I’m worried about you.”
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh as I opened the interrogation room door. Ted, who had been waiting outside, looked at me with a worried expression.
“Are you very upset? Well, I guess you trusted her.”
Henry, who was standing behind Ted, tilted his head.
“Are you smiling?”
***
Today was no different from any other morning. I was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee and reading the morning paper when Milia came in. She told me the news.
"The Marchioness of Wales has been sentenced to a workhouse. She will likely be transferred to a slum-level prisoner labor camp."
“I see. How many years?”
“They say it’s been 40 years.”
I wonder if she can fill that period.
The Marchioness, fully aware of her futility against the royal family, pleaded guilty without a fight, perhaps fearing for her life. The nobles, who had suffered massive losses investing in stocks and bonds, blamed the Wales family for everything and hurled harsh criticism. The middle class, who had invested their meager savings in the hope of striking it rich, were equally resentful.
“Is the Rembrandt River warm today?”
As I was recalling the greeting that was popular at the Medea Stock Exchange these days, I heard the maid's voice.
“Your bath is ready, Princess.”
Today was the day I was supposed to spend with Johanna, Daniel, and Barbara, who were on vacation. Daniel, who dreams of becoming a pilot, said he wanted to meet a current pilot. I can already picture Daniel's delight at meeting Johanna. Henry also wanted to meet Johanna, but he looked very disappointed, saying he couldn't join them due to a busy schedule.
"Princess!"
After finishing preparations, I stepped outside the palace gates and saw Daniel standing in front of a long state car, waving. Next to him stood Barbara, dressed in a purple coat. Daniel, now quite tall, was acting quite mature.
“Medea’s star, Princess Diana. Hello?”
Ted and Milia, who had set out together, smiled at Daniel's polite greeting. Wearing a checkered coat, deerstalker hat, and bow tie, Daniel looked like a little detective.
Daniel, who had climbed into the car, held Barbara's and my hands tightly. He asked Barbara, whose father was an Air Force Operations Commander, how to become a pilot. Barbara answered in a gentle tone.
"First of all, you need to grow tall. You need to be a good eater, drink lots of milk, and go to bed early, right?"
“Sister Barbara, Commander Chelsea became the captain because he was the tallest?”
“Of course. He still go to bed early and wake up early.”
"I'm the tallest among my friends. Starting next year, when I go to school, I'll be sitting in the back row."
Our car, escorted by two vehicles in front and behind, was moving slowly. We were joking around about the sun setting and arriving tomorrow, and before we knew it, we arrived in front of the Marriott Hotel, the largest hotel in Medea. Johanna, dressed in formal attire, had arrived ahead of us and was waiting at the entrance, beaming at us.
“Princess Diana, how have you been?”
“Johanna, how have you been?”
I gave her a light hug and exchanged brief greetings. When I introduced Johanna to those who had come with me, Daniel studied her with wide, red eyes. He hesitated, then grabbed my sleeve and whispered in my ear.
"Princess. Noah and her have the same hair color. Are they siblings? Are their personalities similar?"
He was referring to Johanna's high, silver-white hair. I shook my head.
"No, Young Master. It's the Esatian's unique hair color. She's a very kind and affectionate friend. Don't be afraid to say hello."
Daniel, still young, seemed unfamiliar with the people of the fallen Eiland Kingdom. He seemed worried they might pull a mean prank like Noah. Daniel approached cautiously and offered an awkward salute.
“When I grow up, I will become a pilot.”
“It’s an honor to meet such a wonderful pilot of the future.”
Johanna saluted and smiled faintly. Guided by the manager, we headed to the hotel's spacious lounge. While it was customary to leave it empty for royal visits, I had instructed that it wasn't necessary. Instead, only those with confirmed identities were allowed in, so the crowd was small. As soon as we entered, people rose from their seats and bowed to me.
Hotel maids served sumptuous desserts and premium teas for tea time. The tables, covered in pure white tablecloths, were awash in vibrant colors. The people I love, too, were in a variety of beautiful hues. It was a feeling of relaxation I hadn't felt in a long time. The chatter and laughter seemed to slowly wash over me. Barbara told Johanna, her peer, about her love life.
"I confessed to Mr. Ford for the sixth time, but he rejected me again. He said the age gap was too big. No matter what I do, I can't close the gap. Seriously."
"I rejected my lover, Mr. Reynolds, on numerous occasions. I made up all sorts of excuses, but the real reason was that we weren't in a position to date."
Barbara's gray eyes sparkled at Johanna's shy voice.
“You finally accepted it, didn’t you? How did you feel about it?”
“I heard the Princess say that the present is the most important thing.”
Barbara and Johanna both turned their gazes to me. I just smiled awkwardly. I saw Milia, her cheeks slightly flushed, glance at Ted and quickly turn her head away. Barbara, holding the cookie, fussed.
“That’s a really great thing to say.”
I said with an awkward smile.
“Is this what someone who failed miserably at marriage said?”
"Love also fails many times. How is marriage any different? They both have one thing in common: they can be tried again."
“Barbara is so open-minded.”
"Yes. You only live once. As my father said, there's no such thing as failure as long as you're alive. The Princess and Count Rotsilt didn't break up of their own free will, so they must start over..."
Barbara's chattering voice suddenly stopped. It wasn't her own volition that interrupted her. It was the noise filling the spacious lounge.
To be exact, it was an air raid warning.
***
The sound I heard for the first time in my life made my hair stand on end.
What do you do in this situation? What should I do?
My consciousness began to blur, and my vision went blank. I felt as if I was being consumed by a sinister fantasy. Ted, Millia, and Johanna jumped up, grabbed my arms, and roughly pulled me up. I felt the threads of my sleeves being ripped. I felt like my arm was falling off, but I felt no pain. Millia cried out.
"Princess, there's an air raid! You must leave the hotel and take shelter immediately!"
“Air raid? In Loganfield?”
I muttered, my mind blank, as if in a dream. Bombing the capital of Medea? I'd only imagined a naval invasion for a landing on the mainland, but this was unexpected. And to neutralize Medea's anti-aircraft defenses and advance on the capital. The kind of urban air raids I'd imagined in my history were far in the future. My body trembled, my teeth chattering. I tried to stay calm, grabbing Daniel and Barbara.
"Young Master, Barbara. Don't leave me."
We rushed down the stairs to the third floor.
The third floor was a huddle of people, including guests. The blaring air-raid alarm, the hotel fire alarm, and the screams of those trying to descend to the first floor all mixed together, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
"Princess Medea is here! Everyone, calm down and cooperate!"
Ted shouted to those blocking the entrance, but the already frightened and confused crowd seemed unable to hear. Johanna, Ted, Milia, and the security guards struggled to clear the way, pushing the people stuck in front of the entrance. In the distance, explosions and roars could be heard, and the floor and windows shook. Several fighter jets could be seen hovering in the sky like migratory birds. I stared out the window, staring directly at my own reflection, and reassured myself.
'Wake up.'
I shook my head, staring at my own incongruous appearance. Now that the bombing has begun, if the building collapses, everyone will die. I picked up a chair and hurled it at the edge of the glass window. The sound of the glass shattering drew everyone's attention.
“We have to jump from the third floor! We’ll all die if we stay here!”
There's no way there's an underground shelter here, so the right thing to do is jump down and escape to the nearest basement. There's also no fire escape rope. I tied several tablecloths together and held them up as an example.
“Make a rope like this to ride down! There’s no time!”
Barbara, Johanna, and Milia began weaving tablecloths and curtains into ropes. A few others, who had been in a state of confusion, came to their senses and began tying curtains with us. Ted kicked the remaining glass away, and Milia let the rope hang down, shouting.
“Princess, go down first!”
“Young Master first. Children must go down first.”
Daniel, terrified, grabbed my arm and trembled. Someone needed to carry him down, but my arms weren't strong enough to carry him. There was no time to hesitate. I gave Ted instructions.
“Sir Ted, please take Prince Hessen down with you.”
He lifted Daniel into his arms and placed him in the arms of Johanna, who was standing next to him, and spoke in a firm tone.
"For now, I will follow the spirit of chivalry. Lieutenant Ostrik, please hurry and escort the Prince of Hessen down. And please take good care of Princess Diana."
"Princess..."
Johanna's blue eyes sparkled. I urged her on, securing her and Daniel's bodies tightly. She, too, seemed to understand that the longer it took, the more dangerous it would become, so she immediately carried Daniel down. The wind blew and swayed, but seeing her land safely, I grabbed Barbara's arm.
“Barbara, you go down first. Can you do it?”
“I can only go down if the Princess does. I am the general’s daughter, after all.”
Barbara smiled brightly and put a handkerchief in my hand.
“You have to hold on tight and go down because your hand will hurt.”
I had to get down so the rest could too. With every second counting, we couldn't afford to squabble over who would go down first. I held onto the rope woven from the tablecloth, my handkerchief still in my hand.
“Barbara, come down right now.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Even though it was only three stories high, it felt quite high, and it was quite frightening. The hot wind blew my skirt in a chaotic manner. In the distance, I could see buildings that had been bombed and collapsed, and black smoke was rising everywhere. It was hard to breathe. My ears hurt, and it was scary. Is this a war? It was terrifying. Goosebumps appeared on my skin, sending chills down my spine.
“See you later, Princess.”
Ted smiled at me, who was slightly frightened. I stared into his gray eyes without saying a word. Seeing those kind, curved eyes, I felt a strange sense of relief.
“Everyone, be careful.”
Looking over Ted's broad shoulders, Milia nodded at me as if to tell me not to worry.
“What is going on...”
I closed my eyes tightly and leaped forward. The descent was instantaneous. Johanna, who had already descended, approached me, holding Daniel in her arms. Daniel held Johanna's neck tightly, burying his face in her chest. There were faint tear stains on her chest. Johanna grabbed my arm and pulled.
“We need to go down to the nearest culvert.”
I followed her, turning my head toward Barbara and the rest of the group. They were letting the children and the elderly down first. The same was true of those who had been trying to get out first just a moment ago.
“I will follow the spirit of chivalry.”
Before I knew it, I stood there. Milia, who was supporting an old man with a cane, shouted at me.
“Princess! Don’t worry about us and go quickly!”
An ominous current enveloped my body, making my hair stand on end. I looked up at the hotel's rooftop and froze. A massive bomber hovered above the hotel building. It looked like a giant sailing ship in the sky. I could even read the emblem and service number painted on its stern.
“F-34...”
It's a Frogen aircraft. It resembles the massive bombing warplanes from the World Wars of my world's history. The scenes of the city bombings also seem like black-and-white photographs from books, only colored in. It feels like time has stopped.
My body froze in the overwhelming fear I felt for the first time. Everything felt unreal. Could this be a dream? There's no way I could actually see this. My thoughts were frozen, and I muttered with a blank expression.
“Oh, I was too far ahead.”
There was a whistling sound like firecrackers going off overhead.
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