—Where did you find that?
—Oh, this?—Chocorina moved her arms, trying to show the size of the garment she was wearing— I found it in Dad's office. It looked pretty dirty, but I wanted to try it on. I've never seen clothes like this before.
What Chocorina had on was a distinctive jacket that Beatrice immediately recognized. It was the old attire of her former contractor.
—It's a little big, but… it fits me, right? The colors are so vibrant! Plus, it's really comfortable—Chocorina admitted as she admired her new outfit.
—A little big? It covers almost your entire body, actually.
—Isn't that a good thing? This way, I won't be cold—she replied seriously. She usually wore dresses and light clothing, never anything as warm as this jacket, even in winter.
The fabric and softness of the jacket were a completely new sensation for her.
Beatrice just shook her head. Sometimes, she wondered what exactly went through the mind of this child, who was destined to be the future Queen of Lugunica.
—Betty never thought she'd see something like this again.
Chocorina spun around, showing off her new outfit. Would her father be upset? If he was, she'd have to use her puppy-dog eyes to appease his anger.
She didn't like using that technique, but if necessary, she would.
—What is this strange symbol?—she pointed to a design on the jacket that she didn't recognize—It looks like some sticks joined together…
—Betty's contractor said it was a symbol that represented his family. "Natsuki," I suppose.
Chocorina was speechless for a moment. Her natural surname was "Natsuki," but she had never met any relatives, like uncles or grandparents.
On her mother's side, she didn't have a surname at all.
This made her feel a little sad. She briefly recalled the names of her grandparents, Kenichi and Naoko. They were names her father had mentioned during his many storytelling nights, describing them as great people and excellent parents.
The little princess had always liked the sparkle in her father's eyes whenever he talked about her grandparents. However, she never knew what had happened to them. Why didn't they visit their granddaughter? Had something happened to them? Lacking answers, Chocorina briefly believed her grandparents had already left this world.
But apparently, that wasn't the case...
Otherwise, why hadn't her father mentioned anything about it? Did he think she wouldn't be able to handle the news?
Whenever she thought about "Natsuki," there was an ocean of unanswered questions. She knew that only a handful of families had their own surname, usually belonging to powerful houses with significant political influence.
But the "Natsuki" name didn't even appear in any records she was aware of, which raised more questions than answers.
Who exactly was Subaru "Natsuki"?
—Chocorina?—Beatrice asked, noticing the young elf lost in thought.
—Beako, Dad was from a small island, wasn't he?
—Betty has heard that so many times it's tiring to respond.
—Ja-Japan? I think that's what it was called.
A small nation called Japan—that's what her father had told her thousands of times. But for her, something just didn't add up.
She sharpened her gaze and headed for her father's study. It was time to clear up all the gaps and inconsistencies she'd been wondering about for so long.
—Beako! I'll be back soon!
—You're leaving Betty alone again, in fact!
The princess didn't reply as she dashed down the halls at full speed. It was time to find answers, no matter what.
- - - - - - - - - -
—To think Dad would leave right now...—she muttered. Her luck couldn't have been worse.
Chocorina flipped through one of the book's pages as she furiously scanned its contents. She had spent an hour searching for something—anything—about her family, some story or mention in the records. But after hours of effort, she hadn't found a single useful clue.
Where the hell did "Natsuki" even come from?
—There's nothing here either!—she slammed one of the books shut in frustration, lowering her gaze in exhaustion.
Who on earth was her father? Some kind of being from another world?
The number of books she'd reviewed had surpassed the overwhelming total of three. To some, that might not seem like much, but for Chocorina, it was an incredible achievement.
Most of them recounted the history of Lugunica and its most influential families. Unsurprisingly, the name "Natsuki" didn't appear anywhere.
She was considering giving up on her mission. Searching for answers on her own was proving far more complicated than it seemed.
Should she just ask Beako directly? Why hadn't she thought of that from the start?
Her father and Beatrice could easily lie to her, though, and she hated lies more than anything. So, she decided to stick with her initial plan.
But... how? Where else could she search?
She knew the main library only housed books on magic and other areas unrelated to her focus. She'd thought she might find something in her father's study, but that had been in vain.
Then, an idea popped into her head.
—The other library…
The castle had many rooms and halls serving various purposes. There was the main hall, the kitchen, the bedrooms, the main library, the dining room, the throne room…
But among them all, there was a place she'd never been to. In fact, she wasn't even sure it was real: the rumored existence of another library, one that held confidential archives.
She'd heard whispers about such a place a few times but had never directly asked her father about it.
But even if it existed, how would she get there?
She had no idea.
—Isn't it rude to go through your father's things, princess?—Frozen in place, her body refused to move as she felt a voice whisper in her ear.
She recognized it as belonging to an adult woman standing very close—too close.
—Good morning, Chocorina-sama.
—Petra-san…
—Yes, that's me, at your service,—she replied, maintaining perfect composure. The air around her radiated seriousness and commitment to her duties.
The slender woman stood behind her, her eyes fixed on the little princess, who looked as though she'd just seen a ghost.
Something about Chocorina's attire caught Petra's attention—it reminded her of a certain black-haired boy she deeply admired.
—It's not what you think! I was just studying!
—And what exactly were you studying in the King's office?
Chocorina couldn't think of an excuse. Maybe Petra could help her? She had nothing to lose by trying.
—Petra-oneesan,—Petra was taken aback by the term; it had been a long time since Chocorina had called her that—do you know anything about Dad's origins?
—About Suba… the King?
—Yes! It's all so strange! Why isn't there anything about the "Natsuki" name?!
The senior maid paused for a few moments, considering how to respond. She didn't know much about the past or the parents of the man she considered her "hero," but one thing she did know was that he would never be able to see them again.
—Chocorina-sama… I—
—Wait!—she raised her hand to interrupt—Please don't call me Chocorina-sama. You know I don't like formalities from those I care about.
—Alright…—Petra sighed before continuing—Chocorina, I don't know much about Subaru-sama's past. I met him when he came to the village over a decade ago.
—The village?
—Arlam Village. It's where I was born and where I met Subaru-sama, Emilia-sama, and the other residents of the mansion.
Chocorina noticed a happy smile spreading across the maid's lips. It seemed those memories brought her a unique joy.
—And so, Dad…?
—He came as a special guest of Emilia-sama.
—A guest? Oh, right. I remember something about that… Mom always said Dad saved her life,—she reflected, recalling her mother's stories.
Petra began to recall something significant, something Subaru had once mentioned to the Emilia camp.
—Now that I think about it… His Majesty mentioned coming from "beyond the waterfall."
—What?—Chocorina's words caught in her throat. Her father came from beyond the waterfall?
It was public knowledge that stories existed about people claiming to come from beyond the waterfall. Almost all of them turned out to be frauds trying to take advantage of others.
But this was her father. How could she not believe him? If it were true, it would explain many of his strange ideas and the primary reason there were no records of the "Natsuki" family.
It was all starting to make sense now—her father was from somewhere far beyond Lugunica.
—If you want to know more, I suggest you ask your father directly.
—That's exactly what I'll do. Thank you so much, Petra-oneesan!—Petra bowed as Chocorina raised her arms, stretching them toward her.
She was asking for a hug.
Petra smiled softly and moved closer, embracing the young princess. How could she refuse? It was impossible.
—I'm sorry I can't give you anything better for helping me. What if I ask Dad to give you a raise?—she suggested, still hugging her mentor.
—Fuh, fufufu,—Petra couldn't help but let out a soft laugh—A princess shouldn't offer rewards so carelessly.
—Oh, come on… You've helped me so much. You teach me manners, help me when I'm in trouble, and I consider you my mentor… I don't know how to repay you.
—It's unnecessary. I don't work at the castle for money,—the maid confessed with a smile—I do it because it's what I want to do.
—What you want to do…
Chocorina didn't know much about the relationship between her father and her mentor. However, she was certain that Petra admired Subaru—perhaps excessively.
That admiration was probably the reason Petra worked so diligently in the castle, even though she was a successful seamstress.
—In any case, thank you so much!—she broke the hug and dashed out of the room. She needed to find her father and interrogate him thoroughly. Even if he tried to lie about his origins, the little elf would be careful to catch those deceptions.
She wanted to know the whole truth.
—Oh… By the way, Petra-oneesan,—she turned her head to the maid, who had begun tidying the study—do you know anything about another library in the castle?
—Another library…—Petra placed a finger on her chin—No, I don't know of such a place existing in the castle.
If Petra didn't know about it, then for Chocorina, it simply didn't exist. As one of the castle's main maids, Petra knew every room and hall like the back of her hand.
—Alright, see you later!—the loud slam of the door marked the departure of Lugunica's future queen.
- - - - - - - - - -
—The Subaru of Betty is from another world, I suppose.
—From another world... That's incredible! Why didn't he tell me that directly?!
—Why would he need to explain himself to you? Subaru is your father, after all.
—Are you two ignoring me?—the voice of the young man reached their ears—Ahh... My daughter and my adorable Beako avoid my existence. It's so depressing.
Subaru was somewhat surprised by the flood of questions his daughter had asked him. How curious could this child be? She even found his old tracksuit, which he used to wear almost every day during their first months in this new world.
The sight of his daughter wearing that jacket amused him greatly. She looked absolutely adorable, and how much he wished he had a camera right now to immortalize the moment.
—Chocorina, you look super cute in that outfit—he glanced at her—Maybe we should make one tailored to your size...
—Uh... That's not necessary, Dad. I just wanted to try it. Now that I think about it, it's too suffocating.
—Suffocating? Well, I guess it's normal for someone who's not used to wearing them...
Subaru sighed, feeling a bit disheartened. It was a shame Chocorina couldn't enjoy wearing Earth-style clothing. Now that he thought about it, the clothing of this world tended to be quite formal and strange to his taste, especially among noble families.
—So... What's your world like, Dad?
—Uh? My world? It's nothing spectacular, Chocorina—Subaru scratched his head. It had been a long time since he talked to anyone about his old life—Alright, let's see... It's a round planet called Earth.
—Earth? Like the dirt we step on?—She arched her eyebrows in confusion. What kind of name was that? Dirt was... dirt—Wait... Round? But... How?!
Chocorina's head was spinning. Her father's world was round? How did people not fall off? Was this another one of his lies?
—That's because the Earth has something called "gravity."
—Beako, we have that here too...—Subaru refuted. Otherwise, how would things fall?
—Ugh, I don't get it at all...—Chocorina lowered her head, still trying to process how living on a sphere was even possible without falling off—Tell me something simpler! Like, for example, food.
—Food? Hmm... I guess chocolate would be a good option—Subaru thought about his answer. Usually, chocolate was something most kids loved. If he could replicate it, his daughter would probably love it too.
There was just one small problem.
The only way he knew how to make it was using cacao, a fruit that didn't exist here...
—Chocolete?
—Unfortunately, Betty has to tell you it's impossible to replicate. A fruit like cacao, the origin of chocolate, doesn't exist here.
—Beako wanted to try it too, and now she's disappointed?—Subaru joked—Of course! All kids love chocolate!
—Betty is not a child, I suppose!
—Relax, your beloved ex-contractor will find a way to replicate it!
—I'm not a child!
As the argument between the two continued, Chocorina tried to imagine what such a food would look like. Would it be round? Square?
She couldn't know and would probably never have the privilege of tasting one. It was truly a shame; it sounded so exciting to her.
—Alright, I have to go!—Subaru announced as he stood up. He had taken a short break to deal with his daughter's concerns, but as much as he wanted to stay, he couldn't leave all the work to his wife.
—So soon?—Chocorina lowered her gaze—Uh... I wish you could stay a little longer...
—You know I can't do that—Oh, how it pained Subaru to say that. He slowly approached the silver-haired girl and gently patted her head—We can continue our conversation later. Beako, make sure she doesn't get into trouble.
—Make sure she doesn't get into trouble? That's ironic coming from you, Subaru.
—Dad always lies to me about his home, and now I'm mad—She puffed her cheeks in protest. She was tired of always being lied to about important things. After all, she had the right to know!
—A tantrum? Oh! What should I do?!
—Betty thinks Subaru is being overly protective, I suppose.
—I agree with Beako!—Chocorina supported her. It was true she liked being pampered, but that didn't justify hiding information from her. After all... she was the princess, wasn't she?!
—Alright, alright—Subaru relented—Come here, I'll tell you a super important secret, okay?
—A super important secret?—Those words sparked the young elf's interest. Was it a dark castle secret? A personal one?
Moving her feet toward Subaru, Chocorina advanced with curious eyes. She needed to know this secret.
When they were face to face, Subaru smiled.
- - - - - - - - - -
—And exactly why are we going so far? Betty already feels tired, I suppose.
—It's a punishment for not helping me when my father started to torture me.
—You call that torture?
—I almost wet myself!—Chocorina unconsciously folded her legs, the terrifying moment still etched into her body.
Her father could sometimes take his "torture" with tickles a little too far.
The princess of Lugunica barely managed to escape her father's clutches to catch her breath and regain her senses. In the end, she never got to hear the mysterious secret her father had promised to tell her... if it even existed.
—They only let me go this far from the castle on the condition that I take you with me! So, let's spend the day together, okay?
—It can't be helped. Betty will have to comply with the whims of her cruel contractor.
The two girls walked hand in hand along the long path. Their destination was a shop Chocorina had seen some time ago; its products had piqued her interest, and she decided she would visit it personally next time.
The spirit and the elf arrived at the shop's entrance. Beatrice was the first to speak, her face puzzled.
—What is this place, in fact?—Beatrice couldn't recall ever being in a place like this before.
—Doesn't it look interesting? It seems like a pretty mysterious and magical place, doesn't it?
—Betty has a bad feeling about this—she wrinkled her nose as she observed the eerie shop. At first glance, it was obvious the shop wasn't trustworthy at all.
Ignoring the expressions her spirit made, Chocorina charged into the establishment with a confident look.
A few seconds later, inside the shop, the creaking of floorboards and strange sounds emanated from the darkness that enveloped the place.
—Hello... Is anyone there...?
She squinted, searching for the shop's owner. Beside her, Beatrice still wore a cautious expression, remaining on high alert.
—It's you... What are you doing here?
—Ahhh!
A scream of terror escaped her lips as she stepped back. The surprise had caught her off guard. She retreated several steps, utterly shocked.
—C-Celia!—Chocorina quickly regained her composure, locking eyes with the girl in front of her—Is this your shop?!
—Don't be silly. I'm too young to own a shop, idiot.
The cold response left her lips as she stared at Chocorina. It seemed her mood wasn't the best, and her attitude toward Chocorina hadn't changed at all.
—That's enough! Who do you think you are to insult Betty's contractor?!
—Beako!—Chocorina had to squeeze Beatrice's hand tightly when she noticed the spirit was preparing to attack with magic. She didn't want to start a fight that could end with someone getting hurt.
Beatrice immediately understood her contractor's intentions. The great spirit was deeply upset by the girl's cold and insulting demeanor; she wouldn't forgive anyone who demeaned or insulted someone precious to her.
—Show some respect for the princess of this kingdom, I suppose!
—Ah...—Neither of the girls present could read Celia's expression. For a moment, she seemed pale after receiving the sudden news.
Her green eyes examined the princess, searching for information. Brown eyes, pointed ears, skin as white as snow...
She always considered herself highly observant, but realizing how foolish she had been for not noticing something so obvious, she began to question her own ability.
—Beako! She didn't mean it that way!
—Betty's contractor is too kind! I won't let anyone demean you, I suppose!
Chocorina's attempt to calm her spirit was interrupted by a loud thud on the floor. Her brown eyes turned toward the source of the sound, where she saw Celia kneeling on the ground.
She was in a position resembling a "dogeza," something her father had shown her a few times.
—I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry—Celia repeated the words like a spell—Please, don't take reprisals against my family. I'm the only one at fault. Please, please.
Disturbed.
That was Chocorina's reaction to the scene. She was frightened and unsettled by the words coming from someone she wanted to make her friend.
She couldn't understand the reason for such apparent submission. Was it fear of royalty? Celia's expression and attitude had changed drastically upon learning she was a princess.
Had she had bad experiences with the nobility?
—I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Anything, I'll do anything. I beg you, please don't harm them, don't hurt my fami...
—Celia, please, stop already!—Chocorina couldn't take it anymore. What was happening? Watching her beg for her life as if she were going to harm her or her family—I won't do anything to you!
She immediately approached her and took one of her hands to stop the disturbing act. In doing so, she noticed something that made her feel even worse.
Celia was trembling. Trembling violently.
—Celia...—Her green eyes looked somewhat dim. The anxious gaze and trembling body told Chocorina that she was far from okay—Calm down, Celia...
—Haa... Ahhh...
—Beako! Help me!
Beatrice had also been left somewhat stunned by the entire scene. The sudden shift in the girl's behavior was unexpected. One moment, she was cold and distant; the next, she was pleading for her life and the safety of her family.
She would have to apologize to Chocorina later...
- - - - - - - - - -
—In moments like these... I wish I had a friend...
Silence reigned in her room. She lay on her bed, dressed in her sleepwear, reflecting on the events of her day.
She felt utterly terrible. Since the incident with Celia, she hadn't exchanged a single word with Beatrice and opted not to tell her parents to avoid worrying them.
Although, they had probably noticed their daughter acting strangely during dinner.
But that wasn't her only concern. The scene she had with Celia left her deeply worried.
Chocorina wanted to be Celia's friend, longing to laugh with her and spend time together. Of course, setting aside social classes, which rarely mattered to her.
However, Celia's reaction upon learning she was part of the royal family made her doubt whether they could even greet each other. It was all so crushing for her.
Was this the price of belonging to noble blood? She was aware of her responsibilities as a future ruler and always gave her best to meet her parents' expectations.
But sometimes... Just sometimes...
She wished for a normal life... Like all those children living in the city.
That line of thought felt simply selfish... Very selfish.
Who was she to refuse her duty as part of the royal family? Those selfish thoughts seemed to belong to the mind of a child...
Ah... after all, I am one, aren't I? I'm a child...
In the eyes of others, she had barely learned to walk on her own. She hadn't achieved anything remarkable, let alone anything to feel proud of.
She loved her parents, but even she knew she couldn't rely on them forever. She couldn't solve all her problems by going to them.
She had to do it herself.
—I have to talk to Beako...
She could no longer keep up the "silent treatment" with her spirit; after all, it wasn't her fault at all.
It's not too late yet; if I go quickly, I might find her in the main library...
Her feet touched the cold floor, and at that moment, her steps felt heavy. Very heavy.
—Huh?—What was happening? She wasn't carrying anything heavy, but her body felt that way. The thin, cozy fabric of her pajamas had no weight to it.
Then what was that force keeping her on the ground?
Before she could think of anything else, a sharp pain engulfed her body. The burning sensation pierced her chest, bringing her to her knees.
—Ah! Ah! Gwaah!—she began to whimper loudly. She had never experienced pain to this extent, and her body certainly couldn't handle it.
The pain didn't subside; it only grew stronger with each passing second.
More and more...
—AAAAH!—she began to roll on the floor, not knowing what to do.
It hurts... It hurts... It hurts so much...
Her hand reached for her chest, trying to soothe her aching body. However, none of it was enough...
—AAAAAAAAH!
She started crying loudly, terrified...
She felt like she was dying...
—DAD! MOM! BEAKOOOO!
There was nothing physical attacking her... But she could feel it. She felt something sharp piercing her body.
—Chocorina! What's happening?!—After seconds of screaming, a saving voice reached her ears.
—A-a-a...
Unfortunately, those were the last words she managed to utter.
Everything went dark, and the pain finally ceased. Completely unaware of what was happening around her, Natsuki Chocorina had experienced for the first time a taste of death...