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“Are you okay, Rachel?”

“Ugh… don’t talk to me… I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

After riding the famous ‘Kraken’ at Ludenchia Amusement Park, Sia was calming her trembling heart. Rachel, on the other hand, had turned pale and was on the verge of vomiting.

Wendy, who had been watching them with concern, asked, “Um… are you guys okay?”

“I thought my heart was going to stop… But Wendy, you seem to be handling it better than I expected?”

“Huh?”

“Have you ridden something like this before? You look so used to it…”

“Ah…”

Ludenchia, the Empire’s only amusement park, primarily catered to wealthy nobles. Naturally, it wasn’t a place Wendy, a commoner, would ever have been allowed to visit. In fact, she had never even dreamed of being in such a place.

Now, here she was, shoulder to shoulder with high-ranking nobles, enjoying the amusement park. Everything was new and fascinating to Wendy. The thrilling rides, the unfamiliar snacks, the nobles spending quality time with their families, and even the young nobles who came with their friends—everything was a fresh experience.

It felt like the day she had moved from the countryside to the city.

“I’m not used to it at all. This is my first time at an amusement park, so everything is amazing…”

“Ah, actually, it’s my first time too.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes.”

It was a somewhat unexpected answer. Sia’s Riumin family was one of the prestigious families among the Seven Stars. As a noble of her status, one would have thought she had visited the amusement park multiple times.

Sia smiled bitterly and said, “I just… never had the time to come to places like this with friends. To stay at the top, I had to study almost every day.”

“Top of the class…”

“Don’t even mention it. She was a real workaholic.”

Rachel, who had been on the verge of vomiting, chimed in.

“During exam periods, she would preview and review material non-stop. She was the only one in high school who studied while eating lunch. Well, I wasn’t that bad either… but I pulled all-nighters. I only slept four hours a day, even on regular days.”

“I slept three hours and studied.”

“…I didn’t know that. I thought you were just a workaholic, but you’re actually insane…”

“Goodness…”

Wendy had also pulled all-nighters during exam periods, but Sia had been studying like that every day since high school to maintain her top position. Rachel was left speechless.

“But lately, I’ve been thinking that I might have missed out on a lot. Was it really necessary to be so obsessed with being first? I lived so desperately, but looking back, I can’t remember a single day that stood out.”

Sia smiled faintly as she spoke.

“So, for today, I want to make it a day to remember. This is my punishment for all of you. Give me a day I’ll never forget.”

“Sia…”

Hearing Sia’s heartfelt words, Wendy felt a lump in her throat. Rachel, on the other hand, frowned.

“Ugh… that’s so cringey. I feel like I’m going to throw up again.”

“Rachel, instead of just talking, why don’t you just throw up already? Then you can remember today as the day you threw up at the amusement park.”

“You’re really… insane.”

“By the way, is Luna okay? She looks a bit tired.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Wendy notice Luna standing beside her. She was yawning repeatedly, clearly exhausted.

“Sorry, I stayed up late last night…”

“Do you want to rest for a bit?”

“No, it’s fine. We came all this way, so let’s try everything.”

“Don’t push yourself… Oh, how about we ride that next?”

Sia pointed to a sightseeing train. The small train, powered by magical engineering, took passengers around every corner of the amusement park. Since it allowed people to sit and enjoy the scenery, the line seemed quite long.

“If we ride that, Luna can rest while enjoying the view.”

“Ah… that would be really nice.”

“Ah, the line is long, but luckily Wendy has a VVIP card. Otherwise, we’d have to wait forever.”

“Ahaha… y-yeah…”

Wendy forced an awkward smile. She hadn’t known until Rachel explained it—the card Tristan had lent her was a VVIP card for the amusement park.

According to Rachel, Ludenchia, the amusement park operated by the Ruelberta Family, had special membership cards. Among them, the VVIP card was the highest tier, second only to the single VVVIP card issued exclusively to the head of the Ruelberta Family.

The VVIP card granted the privilege of using the hotel and amusement park facilities “freely.” Naturally, there was no need to wait in line at the amusement park.

The conditions for obtaining a VVIP card were not publicly known, but it was said to be extremely strict—so much so that even relatives of the imperial family had been denied the card.

At first, Wendy had thought it was just a simple admission ticket. But when she saw the faces of the amusement park staff turn pale upon seeing the card, she remembered what had happened at the department store.

She urgently pleaded with the amusement park manager who had rushed over.

“Please, just let me enjoy the amusement park normally.”

So, Wendy had been quietly using only the benefits of the VIP level, which allowed for a fast pass.

But it was already too late to enjoy the park quietly.

Wendy had already noticed.

Even before entering the amusement park, there were people lurking around them.

They were likely the Imperial Guard, here to protect the Emperor, Luna. Though they were dressed in plain clothes and blended into the crowd, Wendy could tell. Their gazes were all fixed on Luna. It was thanks to the heightened senses she had gained from her training with Blanshe.

Luna, the one being protected, seemed completely accustomed to this situation.

It suddenly hit Wendy that Luna was truly the Emperor of this country.

While at the university, which had tight security, she hadn’t realized it, but now that they were out, it was clear that someone in Luna’s position would naturally be surrounded by many protectors.

Wendy was now at the amusement park with such a person, as if they were friends.

‘Friends…’

Wendy had thought of Luna as the first friend she had made at the entrance ceremony.

But that was before she heard those words.

-All my approaches to you were intentional.

Until she heard that, Wendy had believed they were friends.

Wendy glanced at Luna’s face.

Now that she knew Luna was the Emperor, her tired face seemed dignified and mature. Thinking about it, Luna hadn’t smiled even once since revealing her true identity.

Was it all an act?

Wendy remembered Luna’s warm smile.

She remembered the courage Luna had shown by speaking to her first.

She remembered the kindness Luna had shown when she first spoke to Wendy at school.

But…

-Let me reintroduce myself. I am ‘Lucy’ Meikhael. The Emperor who rules the ‘day’ of this country.

She wasn’t the kind ‘Luna’ Wendy had known.

She was Lucy Meikhael, the Emperor who ruled the day of the Empire.

A noble so high that someone like Wendy, a commoner, couldn’t possibly speak to her.

Let alone be friends… it was absurd.

Someone like me…

*Sniff*

Thinking this, Wendy suddenly felt like crying.

“Wendy? Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes! S-Something just got in my eye…!”

Wendy quickly wiped her tears.

She couldn’t show such a pitiful appearance in front of Her Majesty.

After wiping her tears, Wendy found herself standing in front of the sightseeing train. Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed they had arrived.

“Let me see… where does it hurt?”

“N-No, it’s fine! I think it’s out now!”

“No, let me take a look.”

Pretending to check Wendy’s eye, Sia whispered quietly.

‘Did you fight with Luna?’

‘!’

Wendy was so startled she almost shouted.

‘N-No! We didn’t fight!’

‘Oh, come on. Do you think I wouldn’t notice? You’ve been awkward all day.’

‘W-Well…’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll set up a reconciliation for you.’

‘W-Wait a minute!’

Sia grinned and pushed Wendy toward Luna.

“Looks like the train seats two people. I’ll ride with Rachel, so Wendy, you ride with Luna.”

“Huh?!”

Hearing this, Rachel flared up.

“Hey! What’s wrong with me? You should be grateful, you jerk!”

“Come on, it’s our turn. Let’s get on.”

“Ow! Don’t pinch me! That hurts!”

Sia pinched Rachel’s arm and got into the front car of the train, winking at Wendy as she did.

And so, Wendy was left alone with Luna.

Sia had tried to be considerate, but it was unnecessary. The two of them hadn’t actually fought.

“Is there a problem, guests?”

Seeing the two standing still, the train attendant tilted his head and asked.

“Ah, no! S-Shall we go…?”

“…Sure.”

Finally seated on the train, the two didn’t exchange a single word. The train started moving in awkward silence.

*Creak*

The train’s wheels rolled along, making a sound.

Only then did Luna, who had been silent, open her mouth.

“Wendy.”

“Y-Yes?! Your Maj—”

“Don’t call me Your Majesty.”

“……”

“…Just call me Luna, like usual. Well, technically, it’s Lucy.”

Wendy, who had been as silent as a clam, finally opened her mouth at Luna’s words.

“L-Luna…”

“That’s right.”

Luna nodded in satisfaction.

The train was approaching the first course: the cave.

“Did you hate me?”

“N-No! Not at all!”

“Be honest. We were friends, even if only for a short while.”

Luna’s face softened as she spoke.

It was the face of someone who had truly seen Wendy as a friend.

Seeing that, Wendy shook her head vigorously.

“N-No…! I don’t hate you!”

“……”

“I don’t resent you, Luna! Even if you said you approached me intentionally…! There must have been some reason, right?”

“A reason… Well, Wendy. Do you know something?”

“Huh…?”

In response to Wendy’s desperate denial, the Emperor, Lucy Meikhael, calmly uttered a cruel statement.

“‘I’ plan to kill the Count you serve… Tristan.”

The thick darkness of the cave swallowed the two.

 

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