The Princess Who Saw the Fall of Her Homeland Strives to Change Fate by Becoming the Cold Prince's Bride! - Chapter 11

“Wha—!? Wait a minute, are you…?”

So many unbelievable things had happened, but suddenly, Elze recalled a memory from her past.

That’s right… It was something she had read in a book with her older brother and sister long ago—

“Are you a spirit!?”

Spirits were mysterious beings, different from both humans and animals.

Some said they were messengers of the gods, while others believed they were the embodiment of nature’s power, but no one truly knew their real identity.

Their existence was rare, almost like a legend whose truth could not be confirmed.

But Elze remembered clearly.

In one of the books she had read, there was a spirit in the form of a cat with wings—just like this little rabbit.

“Hm… Maybe I am?”

“…You don’t know yourself?”

“Nope. When I woke up, I was just here.”

“I see…”

The little rabbit spirit rubbed against Elze as she managed to sit up.

As she stroked its soft fur, she asked,

“…Do you have a family?”

“I don’t know…”

“I see… Then, do you have a place to go—?”

“……”

Seeing the rabbit suddenly droop in sadness, Elze quickly spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Then, why don’t you come with me!? I’m alone too!”

“Really!?”

At her words, the rabbit perked up its ears excitedly.

Its honest reaction made Elze chuckle.

“Yes, if we’re together, we won’t be lonely.”

For Elze, having someone to talk to in this unfamiliar land was a great relief.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Elze.”

“Elze?”

“Yes, that’s right. And you are…?”

“…I don’t know my name.”

“I see… In that case…”

Lifting up the fluffy little body, an idea struck Elze.

“Chiffon! How about the name Chiffon?”

The pure white, fluffy spirit reminded her of a chiffon cake covered in fresh cream—one of her favorites.

When she told the rabbit, it happily flapped its small wings.

“Chiffon! From today, I’m Chiffon!”

“Fufu, I’m glad you like it, Chiffon.”

As she hugged it gently, she felt its warmth.

“You know, I’m looking for someone. I don’t know where they are, but…”

“Hm… Chiffon was looking for someone too.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah, but… I don’t know who. Or where they are…”

Chiffon hopped down from Elze’s arms and looked around curiously.

“Maybe they’re that way!”

“Ah, wait!”

Chiffon suddenly dashed off, and Elze hurried to follow.

(Is Chiffon really a spirit? Why is a spirit in the Ernstahl Palace? And… who are they looking for?)

There were still so many unanswered questions.

But since she had no idea where Richard was either, for now, she decided to follow Chiffon.

The small rabbit hopped lightly, moving farther and farther away from the palace, heading towards a deserted area.

Before long, the edge of the island came into view, and the surface of the clear blue lake spread before her eyes.

And then, when Elze reached the island’s edge—

“…What is this?”

It must have once been a building. But now, only its ruins remained.

It was completely collapsed, its original form lost beyond recognition.

The elegant Ernstahl Palace was the total opposite of this place—it was a scene of utter ruin, as if from another world.

“What is this place…? Hey, Chiffon, do you—Chiffon?”

When she called its name, Chiffon hurriedly pressed close to her feet.

“This place… is scary…”

Chiffon seemed to find the atmosphere frightening.

To reassure the little spirit, Elze lifted it into her arms.

“It’s okay, I’m here. But the person you’re looking for isn’t—”

Carefully stepping around the ruins, Elze suddenly stopped.

…There was someone there.

A single figure stood alone, staring at the collapsed building.

Elze couldn’t take her eyes off them.

(No way… Why is he…?)

As if sensing her gaze, the person slowly turned toward her.

His platinum blonde hair shone under the sunlight, his features as perfect as a doll’s.

His ice-cold blue eyes betrayed no emotion.

At that moment, the vision from her “Future Sight” ability flashed through Elze’s mind—

(Richard…!)

The reaper who would one day kill Elze and bring destruction to Maglier was standing right before her.