Not long after that day, the carriages of the Märchen and Lewendiff households arrived simultaneously at the princess’s palace gate. As if by mutual agreement, they delivered the baedong that the transformed princess had personally chosen.
Inside the carriages were Prince Killian Märchen and Adelaide, the recently returned daughter of Marquess Lewendiff. Despite concerns that the novelty might wear off, Celestia called them every other day, consistently spending time in their company.
When the carriage doors swung open, two seven-year-old children stepped down onto the palace grounds with the help of attendants—and barely nodded at each other in greeting as they met.
“Killian! Adelaide! Welcome!”
Despite numerous meetings, the two still showed no sign of bonding—yet whenever it came to Princess Celestia, they always greeted her warmly.
Approaching them briskly, Celestia said with mock exasperation:
“I told you two to say hello! Do it properly, both of you!”
“Hello… ahem… Adelaide.”
“Ahem… Killian, hi…”
“Great! Come on now!”
Celestia grabbed Killian’s arm with her right and Adelaide’s with her left, striding off in high spirits—beaming with delight and pride.
“Shall we try something together today? How about you, Adelaide?”
“I’d like that, Your Highness.”
Adelaide—with her bright platinum hair adorned with a delicate hair corsage—twirled a strand shyly as she answered.
“Good! Let’s change first. Liz—have Sir Briven prepare today’s lesson for both of us!”
“Are you sure, Young Lady?”
As always, Liz worried about Adelaide before me. Understandable: Adelaide had only recently left the orphanage and still recovered from malnutrition. Luckily, healthy like her father, there was no sickness—but sword training could be strenuous.
“I’m okay. I’m with Princess Celestia.”
Despite knowing all this, I offered Adelaide the class anyway, hoping it would relieve stress from adapting to her new life, and also I looked forward to seeing the knight she had become in disguise. But most importantly, I wanted to spend more time with Killian.
Something felt… awkward between the two of them.
Ten meetings in—and they still didn’t greet each other unless prompted. Yet they spoke easily to me. At seven, kids usually bond fast—but not them, despite being the protagonists of the original story! I decided to play matchmaker.
After dressing, Adelaide grabbed my hand tightly as we walked to the indoor practice yard. Shy as she was, it was cute—she had her own charm.
How will she ever turn into such a girl-crush figure later?
I swallowed my question and reassured Adelaide:
“You don’t need to push yourself. If it’s hard, just say so.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I… I think I can do it. Killian’s doing it too.”
“What determination! But Adelaide—remember you have that incredible divine power. Don’t push more than you can.”
I walked in with a secret smile. When we arrived, Sir Briven placed down his sword and greeted us. Killian finished preparing his wooden sword and joined us shortly after.
“Princess Celestia. Lady Adelaide.”
“Sir Briven—it’s been a while. Liz told you?”
He nodded. Because of me, he’s been keeping extra juice at the practice yard and nudging me to visit more often. I think I truly became the bridge of love.
Much better than being a villain.
Sir Briven looked concerned:
“Are you certain? Swordsmanship isn’t easy… and you’re still young.”
“I may not match Killian, but I’m quite athletic. And Adelaide wants to try too. Right?”
Adelaide looked up at me and answered:
“Yes! Of course!”
Killian exhaled softly.
Oops—Celestia, notice: they’re making eye contact. Am I about to interrupt their awkward bonding?
Wait, did they actually get a bit closer?
Quickly we moved to center court. Briven followed:
“You look confident. Shall we begin? I’ve prepared smaller wooden swords.”
Killian and Adelaide exchanged glances and then stood at either side of me. I intervened before Briven began:
“Killian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go on and practice—haven’t you learned enough basics?”
Killian hesitated, and looked disappointed.
“Don’t just stand there—go show us what you’ve got.”
After a blessing from me, he nodded, and began solo practice. Adelaide and I lifted our swords too.
“First, let’s learn the basic stance.”
Sir Briven guided us step by step, kindly and clearly.
“You have excellent posture, Your Highness!”
“Thanks!”
“You’re doing well too, Lady Adelaide. Try extending your arm a bit more. Yes, just like that?”
“This is… harder than it looks.”
Adelaide struggled—understandable. Her muscles had yet to adapt.
I briefly worried wondering if it was too much—but the session was so much fun I almost felt guilty.
Everything felt familiar—sword technique and taekwondo were so similar. My past life as a national taekwondo athlete came flooding back. At this pace—maybe I could become a sword expert myself?
I followed Sir Briven’s instruction diligently, hoping to earn a sustainable life somehow.
Sir Briven discovered unexpected talent in me and extended the lesson well beyond expected time.
“Let’s conclude here for today.”
“Whew, that was so fun! Thanks, Sir Briven!”
“I truly believe Your Highness is gifted at swordsmanship.”
I drank the fruit juice Liz served just in time, returned the sword to Briven, and gathered Adelaide.
“You did well too?”
“Of course! Lady Adelaide still needs a bit more strength, but she’ll get there—don’t worry.”
“Well done, Adelaide!”
Her expression became shy—but she kept glancing toward Killian, training alone.
“Would you like to watch closer?”
“N-no, I’m fine, Your Highness.”
Yet she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
And why wouldn’t she—he was so radiant in motion.
Killian’s posture had improved measurably. His movements had become fluid and controlled—so mature, you’d never guess he’s seven. Rough but refined, just as I’d always imagined.
I watched with Adelaide until hunger struck.
“Killian! Let’s go. I’m hungry!”
I waved vigorously—and he looked at Sir Briven. With his nod, Killian set down his sword, bowed to Briven, then dashed over to me—sweet aroma among the warm air.
“Let’s go—dessert, strawberry tart?”
“Sure! Yes, Princess.”
“I’d like that, Princess.”
Adelaide smiled timidly at me, while Killian blushed and looked away. At that sight, I exhaled an enormous sigh of relief.
At this pace, we just might get a nice ending after all.
