What is the first thing you think of when it comes to an amusement park?
Fun?
Games?
Cheerful music?
Cute, friendly mascots who always give you a hug?
Or many other things.
However, I promise you that here, everything operates in reverse.
It was now 10 a.m., about an hour and a half after the princess and I entered the amusement park.
And everyone was looking down on me and keeping their distance. I even felt that some people were laughing at us.
Honestly, who wouldn't laugh at someone dressed in black like they were attending a funeral walking into an amusement park? Especially when I was grinning like an idiot and Janeus kept hiding her face beneath the shadow of that strange umbrella.
"Do you want some ice cream? There's an exclusive flavor over there that all the kids love."
"No."
"There's a pile of really cute teddy bears over there. Do you want—"
"No."
"Oh, there's a rather unusual flower garden there. It's very popular. Do you want—"
"Quiet."
I rubbed my tired face and looked at the girl who had not changed her expression or gaze even once since we arrived.
That was why I believed Janeus was both similar to me and yet not the same kind of person as me.
She observed everything, concealing her intentions and true emotions behind flawless facial control without a single weak angle.
She was clever and calculating as well. It was just that… she was still only a small child.
Since entering the amusement park, she had not played at any attraction. She simply walked around everywhere, circling the place in a loop.
This park was divided into four main areas. The place where I was currently standing was the northern zone, the largest entrance and the section for families and gentle entertainment.
The area we had entered from was the southern zone, the section for thrill rides.
The western zone was for teenagers, mainly slightly violent but entertaining games and luck based games with prizes.
Finally, the eastern zone was for dining and parties, also where the cinema and resting activities were located. There was also a small bar there.
I was not entirely sure why she was observing so much. Was she planning to escape from me here and surveying the terrain?
"I know you are worried and afraid of me. I mean, you have reasons to be afraid. But I do not think I intend to harm you. This is a crowded place, and no matter who I am, bringing you here just to threaten you would never be a good idea."
At those words, Janeus's shoulders trembled slightly, and her face darkened a bit. Realizing how tactless I had been, I turned away.
"Uh… it seems this flower is about to wither. Why hasn't the staff watered it?"
I gave a foolish smile and picked up the flower pot, intending to find a faucet to break this awkward atmosphere, when suddenly a slender hand rested on my shoulder.
"Give it here."
I turned around and saw Janeus looking at me with a tired face tinged with faint annoyance.
Snap.
A finger snap echoed from her. Immediately after, her eyes lit up with a brilliant golden glow, beautiful like a dragon's.
The flower in my hands gradually regained vitality, blooming with splendid petals as if an old dying person had bathed in a spring of youth.
"So it's a Strawflower."
I muttered. Janeus looked at me as if I were a country bumpkin. It seemed I had said something foolish.
"Anyway, thank you."
I smiled and placed the pot back. She looked at my hands and added,
"I also have a flower garden behind my mansion."
Janeus spoke suddenly. That was not what I had expected. I looked up at her beautiful face, eyes wide.
"It was enchanted with a special kind of magic. A magic that keeps the garden from ever withering as long as the one who cast it is still alive. It even retains any trace of mana its master leaves behind."
As she spoke, she walked toward a stone bench. Even though this was a park for children and teenagers, the mere act of her placing her hand on her lap created an oddly aristocratic scene.
"They are like sunflowers, always turning toward where their master is. And even if the master dies, as long as some of the master's mana remains in this world, they will continue to follow it."
I sat down beside her, a cigarette poised in my hand.
"But when I awoke, I felt disconnected from the garden. I thought perhaps the enemy's mana was too strong and suppressed mine, or that the room you kept me in blocked my mana."
It was not just a room. It was that entire modern rental house.
"But when I went outside, I tried every way to determine my position, the time, and even the flow of my mana. Then I had to accept one thing. It was not that I was not close enough or that I was too late. The royal family had eradicated everything in that garden. Two weeks were enough to find everything I left behind and burn the garden, though it was not yet time to announce my death."
"…Why are you telling me this?"
I covered my face, sighed, then looked up at Janeus's expressionless face.
"…I only wish to say two things. First, I am now a stranger, no longer a princess, merely someone without a name. You can do nothing with that. Second, the king must be preparing for a storm, which is why he arranged my death."
She stood up and walked toward a tea shop, a place where girls often liked to check in at One Party.
Understanding her meaning, I followed, pulled out a chair for her, ordered the two most expensive teas on the menu, then returned to my seat.
"…I also wish to ask you two things. Why did you bring me here, and why do you still keep me when I no longer even have proof that I am a princess?"
I picked up the menu, intending to order more, then suddenly realized I knew nothing about tea, and cakes were too sweet for me.
"Well, what is wrong with inviting someone out to thank them for helping you? Besides, whether you are still a princess or not no longer matters."
"Helping?"
Janeus looked at me in surprise. I simply rolled up my sleeve, revealing my thin yet rosy hand.
"You did not know you helped me regain a living body? It is wonderful. I can taste beer and cigarettes again, though they are also turning me into a zombie once more…"
I coughed lightly. This tea was somewhat bitter. They should add more sugar, just a few spoons.
"As for the second question, I am sorry, but you will understand soon. In return, since you told me that short story of yours, why don't I tell you something unrelated about myself?"
Janeus glanced at me. There was no emotion in her eyes, yet it felt like a well fed lion watching a passing antelope.
"Ah… well…"
I hesitated for several minutes before reluctantly pulling something rushed and strange from my mind.