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I finished a satisfying meal.

I never thought I’d get to eat Dongpa-yuk in England.

It seems it was true after all that they can cook dishes from all over the world.

While eating, I vented my dissatisfaction with the cafeteria at the Clock Tower, which is on a completely different level from the food at this mansion.

“Honestly, I eat there just to survive, the food is really bad.”

“Yeah, I didn’t like it either.”

“But earlier, Ms. Lin Hazel said the cafeteria food is famous for being delicious and tried to take me there. She must be trying to torment me.”

“…There’s such a bad kid? Even Hazel?”

Oops.

The conversation somehow turned into something that might reach the Demon King.

No matter how bad Lin was for trying to feed me tasteless food, if it gets to the Demon King’s ears, things might escalate.

“That’s not the point, the problem is lunch from now on… I can’t go out every time.”

Then Butler Grundael came in with a teapot.

“Then how about I pack you a lunch box for you to eat every day?”

“Huh? Really?”

It was a tempting offer that made my heart flutter.

It seems that if someone offers to prepare delicious food for me, I’ll follow them no matter who they are.

Original Jeong Gyeoul was a very dangerous kid.

It seems like if a villain tried to kidnap her with food, they’d succeed every time.

In my past life, I only repeated the act of eating to survive.

I was far from being a gourmet.

I wasn’t bad with directions, nor was I a gourmet.

I wasn’t overly emotional, nor narcissistic.

All these changes came after entering Jeong Gyeoul’s body.

It feels like my soul and Jeong Gyeoul’s body are gradually synchronizing.

At this rate, I might really become a child.

“If you have a menu you’d like, I can prepare that for you.”

“No! The food here is all delicious, so anything you pack is fine, even the menu from breakfast.”

“Then I’ll leave it to the chef’s choice for the day.”

“Thank you!”

I’ll definitely earn a lot of money later and have my own personal chef.

“Shall we get ready to go out?”

“Buckingham?”

“Huh? How did you know? It was supposed to be a surprise.”

“Grandpa told me.”

“…Typical of a bald person to have a loose mouth.”

Once, while talking with the family, there was a story about eating at Buckingham Palace.

I was really envious then, so maybe that’s why he prepared this surprise.

‘…Am I being too self-centered?’

Actually, maybe he’s just taking me along as an extra to a meeting between the Demon King and the Queen because they’re close.

It seems like my narcissism is developing in real-time.

“Anyway, let’s get ready. Gyeoul, did you bring the dress?”

“Yeah, of course I did.”

…?

The nightmare I almost experienced on Lee Ha-yoon’s birthday party day was coming back to life.

“Why the dress?”

“Gyeoul… Are you going to meet the Queen in a tracksuit? You’re even more out there than Ha-yul.”

“That’s not it, I have the suit Hayan wore on her birthday party day.”

“But you’ve grown since then, it won’t fit, right?”

“Is that so…?”

Then just buy a new one, what’s the problem?

“We can just go out and buy one.”

“Did you leave money?”

….

I was momentarily stunned.

Eun-chae’s words were that much of a strong attack.

Asking if I left money.

Come to think of it, I’ve become less hesitant about spending the Demon King’s money.

Before, I was deeply moved and grateful when the Demon King spent money on me.

But at some point, I started taking it for granted.

Was I always this shameless?

“I’m sorry.”

“…Hey, you know I was joking, right Gyeoul?”

Receiving the apology with a serious expression, Eun-chae’s pupils wavered.

I was hit by the stone you threw as a joke and snapped out of it.

Kang-woo, who had been watching from the side, intervened.

“Hey Yoo Eun-chae! What are you saying to the kid!”

“No, you agreed too…”

“Wh-when did I? I never did that? You’re really a bad kid, huh?”

“…Ha-yul!”

“Sister, I didn’t see you like that, you’re so cold?”

“You said to do it!”

“I, I never did that?”

Kang-woo and Ha-yul both avoid my eyes.

These guys, don’t tell me…

“Gyeoul, I’m sorry! I tried to stop them, but those two insisted on making you wear a dress…”

“…”

Stop them? I bet you were the most excited to suggest it.

“Ah, I’ll never make you wear a dress again!”

“Okay.”

Thanks to that, I was able to escape the nightmare of dresses, but my already attacked mentality couldn’t be restored.

“Just wear anything, it’s fine because we’re close with her. She doesn’t like formalities.”

“…Is that sister Queen Elizabeth VI?”

“Yeah, don’t worry and dress comfortably.”

I heard they were close.

So they were like siblings.

Demon King, Queen. Both are kings after all…

By the way, is there any part-time job suitable for a 9-year-old girl?

I think I’d feel better if I could at least contribute to living expenses.

***

Today, the palace was unusually noisy.

“Hurry up and move! They’ll be here soon!”

“Yes!”

Today is the day Demon King Jeong Ha-yul’s party visits the palace.

They are very close friends with the Queen and benefactors of England.

There must be no neglect in their reception.

The staff’s movements resembled those seen in the military when a division commander visits or in a school when an education superintendent visits.

“VIP entering.”

“Understood.”

Upon receiving the guard’s notice, the staff lined up at the entrance.

At the same time, the door opened, revealing the Demon King’s party.

“Hello…”

As the staff greeted them.

Bang—

The door closed again.

Seeing the lined-up staff, Jeong Gyeoul, without realizing it, used telekinesis to close the door.

“…You said she dislikes formalities, that it’s a casual setting so just wearing a tracksuit is fine.”

Of course, Jeong Gyeoul wasn’t wearing a tracksuit, but she was dressed more casually than expected.

After glancing at her outfit, she started glaring at Jeong Ha-yul.

“Yeah, it’s not an official event or a gathering of nobles, so this is a casual setting.”

“…”

“By the way, your telekinesis has improved a lot? It’s much faster, you must be practicing hard.”

“That’s not the point… Does this outfit suit me?”

“It’s fine.”

Jeong Ha-yul opened the closed door and went in.

“Hello.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, hello.”

Jeong Ha-yul, Kang-woo, and Eun-chae greeted lightly with nods.

Jeong Gyeoul, still not used to this, bowed deeply to each person.

Despite her cute appearance, the staff maintained their composure without faltering.

“Let’s stop and go, Gyeoul, it’ll be dawn if we keep greeting.”

“Huh? Okay.”

Grabbing Jeong Gyeoul’s hand, they walked down the corridor with familiar ease.

“Where are we going?”

“To a pretty place called the White Drawing Room.”

Jeong Ha-yul was heading to the reception room.

Specifically, the most magnificent one, [The White Drawing Room.]

Originally a room where the Queen or Royal Family conducts official events or receptions.

But the Demon King and Queen always met here because they found it the most beautiful.

When the Demon King’s party arrived at the White Drawing Room.

A young Queen and a little kid were already sitting there.

“Sister, I’m here.”

At Jeong Ha-yul’s greeting, the seated woman slowly turned her head.

“You’re here?”

“Sister, how do you get more beautiful every time I see you?”

“Thank you. It seems to be for standing by your side.”

“Still haven’t fixed that cheesy way of speaking?”

“I’ve lived like this all my life, it’s not easy to change.”

After the Demon King and Queen exchanged greetings, they greeted the rest of the party.

“Welcome, you must have had a hard time coming all this way.”

“Not at all.”

Kang-woo and Eun-chae also exchanged light greetings with the Queen.

“So you’re Gyeoul.”

The moment Jeong Gyeoul and the Queen’s eyes met.

Something beyond a shiver ran up to the top of her head.

It was a feeling Jeong Gyeoul had never felt before.

Awe? Emotion? An indescribable mix of feelings flooded in.

She’s more beautiful than Jeong Ha-yul, but that’s not all there is to her.

Her golden eyes are overwhelming. Jeong Gyeoul, meeting the Queen’s gaze now, felt as if her soul itself was being purified.

Those eyes that seem to see everything.

It felt like standing naked before the Queen.

Her palm brushed Jeong Gyeoul’s cheek.

“It’s not the first time.”

It’s not the first time.

The Queen’s words to Jeong Gyeoul.

At first, she didn’t understand what was being said.

But looking into those eyes, it made sense.

‘That person realized I’m living a second life.’

Flustered and unable to say anything, Jeong Ha-yul stepped in.

“What do you mean? Not the first time?”

“It means it’s not the first time seeing someone as beautiful as me, I saw you before me.”

Her lips curled up ever so slightly.

Looking at Jeong Gyeoul, she slowly blinked like a cat.

For some reason, that series of actions felt like saying, I’ll keep your secret.

‘This is…the Queen…’

Even if it’s the Demon King.

I can’t understand how Kang-woo and Eun-chae can stand so comfortably.

The Queen felt like she wasn’t human.

Jeong Gyeoul suddenly remembered the conversation she had with Jeong Ha-yul.

-If you open all 365, it feels like you transcend races. I want to be an ordinary human.

With her mouth slightly open, she looked at the Queen, who slowly blinked again.

Now it’s your turn to keep my secret.

Just by looking into her eyes, I don’t know how it’s possible.

But Jeong Gyeoul definitely felt like she was having a conversation with the Queen.

 

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