Ahin replies as if he’s reading my mind.

  “It’s called the white empire because most of the buildings are all white.”


  Oh, that’s what he meant. Actually, I asked him what the country was like.

  Saying that it’s a white empire because the buildings were all white didn’t really answer my question. What’s this awkward feeling again? I never asked about the appearance…… but I couldn’t point that out to him when we’re not that close…… I would just let it go.

  “Oh, right! I heard you’ll be named the next emperor.”


  I said it without thinking, and Ahin stopped right there. After seeing his expression, I realized that I said something wrong. Did I say something careless? I didn’t mean anything by it.

  “I’m sorry…… I shouldn’t have said that.”


  I couldn’t take back what I had already said even with an apology. W-what should I do about it?

  I should have just said nothing. Ah, this was bad. I ended up making a huge mistake while trying to lighten up this awkward mood. Ahin soon shook his head as if he finally realized how flustered I had been.

  “It’s alright.”


  What did he mean by that? I really messed up just now. I bit my lips because I was so sorry to him. Ahin smiled while staring at my face.

  “You’re…… a very genuine person, Princess.”


  “Huh?”


  Did I just get praised by a 10-year-old kid?

  I was not happy just because this boy complimented me! It sort of felt a bit like he was brushing me off. Great, now I was getting the cold shoulder from a 10-year-old…… Of course, he didn’t exactly blow me off. It just felt that way.

  Well, it was true…… I was a rather genuine person.

  Ahin started walking down the hall again. I bit my lip while following him. Although I was the one who made a mistake…… it seemed like Ahin didn’t really mind…… or maybe he did…… oh well, here goes nothing.

  “Say, what do your stigmata look like?”


  Still, this awkwardness was too heavy for me. I needed to break this awkward silence. When I asked with a smile, Ahin looked back at me for a moment. I smiled awkwardly because it seemed like he couldn’t understand why I would be curious about that based on his facial expression.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m just curious……”


  “It looks like wings.”


  “Wings?”


  I thought he wouldn’t tell me, but he did.