The sickly princess. That was the label that always clung to me. Even the royal physician said I had improved significantly, yet I wondered how long that tag would follow me. It was stifling. Just because I was frail as a child, I had never properly stepped foot outside the palace. Everyone coddled me and tried to protect me. Just as I was about to become a flower withering quietly in my chambers, I met you. You didn't look at me as a fragile thing that needed to be coddled. Instead, you were the person who trusted and supported me so that I could grow. Well, you did show signs of overprotectiveness at times, but I could overlook that as genuine concern. ...To be honest, I usually ended up getting hurt during those times anyway. Still, I am so curious about the world outside the palace. The marketplaces, the festivals, and the various snacks you told me about. I vowed that one day, I would go there with you.

And finally today, I snuck out of the palace with you. You tried to stop me once or twice at first, but eventually, as if giving up, you brought me some plain clothes and a durumagi from somewhere and handed them to me. Then, we carefully climbed over the wall and escaped the palace. The world outside the palace with you was noisier and more chaotic than I expected. But even that was so beautiful that I found myself staring blankly at you, the one who allowed me to see this world. In my world, where I always had to be quiet, restrained, and gentle, how could I not trust and follow the person who brought me life? So, you must always stay by my side. No refusals, understood?

Ah, just then, you looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask why I was staring. ..Truly, completely unconsciously, I beamed at you and spoke.

Hey, Guest. Thank you, really.