Chapter 1

It's been a while, this is Wani.

The story of the little person in your castle is about to begin. Please enjoy it! ♪

In a certain world, there was a king.

This king, with hair and eyes that shone like the sun, played with monsters, connected the earth and humans, and spread much happiness throughout the world.

The king, who connected forests with magic, nourished the land and promised abundance. People called him the Golden King, out of respect and admiration, for the light that seemed to dwell within him.

In the world of Arcadia, the Golden King created the country of Frontier and roamed the skies of the world. Occasionally, a human with the same light as him was born among his bloodline, and they could use the same power as the first Golden King.

Following the example of the first, the Golden Kings roamed the world.

However, with the passage of time, they were forgotten, and people destroyed the forests that the Golden King had connected.

As a result, the land lost its magic, magic declined, civilization regressed, and an ominous atmosphere spread across the turbulent world.

In that turbulent world, there was only one place that maintained an unshakable history and properly preserved the forests: Frontier, the last country to inherit magic in the world.

Now, as countries strive to reclaim magic and fend off attacks from neighboring countries across the sea, Frontier observes the world.

In the midst of this, a new Golden King is born, involving the world, challenging the gods, and creating a new era.

In one body, there were two souls. One of them was a reincarnated person from Earth.

She ran through the castle and flew around the world, earning the nickname "little person."

The little person, who overcame various difficulties and claimed victory, was a borrowed soul from Earth.

She was an activator sent to Arcadia to correct the world's distortion.

When the world returned to its proper form, she had to return to Earth.

However, the gods, who felt great gratitude towards her, promised her a life as she wished in the next world.

And she chose to return to the family in Arcadia and continue her life.

The gods accepted this and reincarnated the little person as the child of her adoptive parents in Arcadia.

The legend of the little person, which ended without anyone knowing in her previous life.

The legend of the Golden King, who laid the foundation for magic in the new era of Arcadia, began without even the little person knowing it.

On the birthday of the twins born into the Drago family,

The little person, whose memories were unsealed, rejoiced at the continuation of her life.

Her family and close friends celebrated the return of their beloved daughter.

However, it was also the beginning of a new secret.

"This is top secret."

The young girl sat on Drago's lap, raised her index finger, and declared with a serious face, while the five adults nodded solemnly.

Romain, with his light beige hair tied back and pale blue eyes, had an elegant and noble demeanor, and a faint smile played on his lips.

"If the Golden King has returned, it won't be without consequences. It's best to keep it a secret among the five of us here."

Dolphin, who had gray hair and sky-blue eyes, and a sturdy, powerful build that clearly marked him as a warrior, asked Romain with a probing look.

"Shouldn't we inform His Majesty?"

"Why?"

Romain stared at Dolphin with a serious face and a dark smile, sending a chill down Dolphin's spine, which he suppressed with determination.

"You don't know, but as soon as she became Fatima, my brother became completely infatuated with her. He dotes on her so much, it's as if she's his everything."

Romain chuckled and whispered, emitting a bubbling something.

Fatima, the princess who was possessed by Chihiro in the past, was on the verge of death due to her complex and bizarre circumstances. Chihiro awakened and lived as a street urchin. Eventually, her soul, which had been caught in the net of salvation, returned to her original body, and she is now doted upon by her parents in the royal palace.

Good for you, Fatima.

The little person, lost in thought, heard Romain's low, whispering voice.

"Why should we inform my brother, who is so content with Fatima, about Chihiro's return? It's not like it concerns her anymore, now that she's no longer the king's child."

There must be something on his mind. Dolphin, facing Romain, could only nod rapidly.

"But, even if she's called the Golden King, Chihiro is truly my child. If anything happens, I'll leave the royal palace for real this time."

Drago said this decisively.

He was the adoptive father of Fatima, who was possessed by Chihiro. He picked up the little person, who had become a street urchin for no reason, and raised her with love. He had deep brown hair and dark green eyes, and a bushy beard that he often rubbed against Chihiro, still holding her tightly.

He looked like a bear from the forest.

"True, we can live without being here."

Sakura, who held Chihiro on her lap, agreed.

She was the former princess of the now-defunct Kilfan Empire, a country founded by a Japanese transfer. Despite the complex and bizarre life she led, she married Drago wholeheartedly.

This surprised the little person.

But, with two parents who were more reliable than anyone else, she felt incredibly supported.

The two of them declared firmly, protecting the smiling little girl.

Romain nodded in agreement.

"Of course. Rather, if the king allows it, I'd want her to escape immediately. I won't let Chihiro suffer anymore; I'll protect her resolutely."

Romain's unexpected words.

The four of them looked at each other in surprise.

They didn't know how much Romain regretted.

His sleep was restless, and even when he did sleep, he was plagued by nightmares.

He always felt as if he could hear Chihiro's voice from somewhere, unconsciously searching to see if she was crying.

The guilt of burdening such a small child with the fate of the world.

He couldn't let her do anything childlike. He should have let her play more freely and innocently.

Involving her in the palace's affairs, burdening her with Frontier's responsibilities, and even facing the gods directly.

It was said that she nearly fell into the abyss. What a terrible story.

To have such a tumultuous life in just two years?

She deserves to live the rest of her life calmly and peacefully. He truly believes this.

"She doesn't need to be near the royal palace. She should play, learn, eat, and sleep like a child her age. She should be protected by adults. ...We truly did wrong."

Holding Chihiro's hands, Romain's guilt turned him into a porcupine, which the others could understand.

"That's right. Frontier has overcome its crisis. Let's live happily from now on."

Smiled Drago and Sakura.

"Then, please appoint me as her personal guard again. I will dedicate my sword to you for life."

Dolphin, kneeling, offered his sword with a sincere gaze.

Chihiro shook her head frantically.

"No, Dolphin is a marquis's son, right? Isn't it beneath him to be a countess's guard?"

"I'm the second son. I need to become a knight and live independently. Please take me in, Chihiro-sama."

Ah, that's right.

Chihiro, nodding in agreement with Dolphin's gentle smile, understood.

Only the eldest son can inherit the title. So, Dolphin would either leave home or live in a room and help his family.

Or he could marry for political reasons to unite families.

"Can we hire Dolphin, Dad?"

Looking up timidly, her beloved daughter received a nod from Drago.

"Since we live on the royal palace grounds, we don't need to hire such people, but given our status, having ten or twenty guards wouldn't be unusual. Dolphin is the right choice, and we welcome him."

Even without a fief, Drago, as a count, receives a substantial annual salary.

It's enough to live in the noble district and have dozens of servants.

It's just that Drago, with his commoner-like nature, is indifferent to such things.

Relieved, Chihiro was about to take Dolphin's sword when a loud knocking sound came from the front door.

Naya, the capable butler, went to answer but froze.

Kicking Naya aside, a familiar giant bee entered.

"Melda?!"

*My king!*

Melda, with black hair and emerald eyes, but with genuine golden magic, stared at the little girl in Drago's arms.

Her golden magic, unlike the powerful surge of the past, now glowed quietly like a flame within, illuminating the surroundings with a warm, gentle light, like a lantern.

*I couldn't believe it... But these eyes felt you. Welcome back, my king.*

Melda's golden eyes resonated with Chihiro's golden thumb, faintly glowing.

Caressing her eyes, Chihiro smiled fondly.

"Welcome back, Melda. You survived. That's great."

*Yes, yes, my king.*

From Melda's trembling shadow, a black and yellow striped snake and a palm-sized frog leaped out, familiarly wrapping around the little person's arms and shoulders.

"Mi-chan, Maku-ta!"

More bees followed Melda.

One of the bees hovered in the room and stuck to Chihiro's shoulder, pressing its head against her.

"Pochi-chan, are you doing well?"

The little girl, dancing with the monsters, brought a surge of nostalgia to the adults, who hadn't seen this in a long time.

Drago, already in tears, stood speechless.

Unlike the adults, the only child, the older twin, with hair like Drago's and eyes like Sakura's, opened his eyes wide in terror and screamed.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Clutching Sakura's chest, he let out a piercing scream, trembling.

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

"Oh, oh, it's okay, it's okay?"

Sakura, holding the crying and inconsolable Chihaya, hurriedly went upstairs.

Watching this, Chihiro sucked her thumb thoughtfully.

The little girl, sucking her thumb unconsciously, tilted her head adorably, making the men's mouths curl up.

"Does the older brother not get along with monsters?"

Chihiro, with teary eyes, looked disappointed, and Romain and the others had troubled expressions.

"Maybe Mi-chan and Maku-ta are okay?"

They are a bit larger, but still normal-sized. However...

The bee on Chihiro's shoulder is about half her size.

"Pochi-chan might be too much. Maybe he'll get used to it eventually, but for now, he can stay in the forest or hide in the eaves or overhangs where Chihaya can't see him."

Pochi-chan's face, which had been stuck to Chihiro's shoulder, froze in shock.

His utterly despairing expression made Romain and the others feel both sorry and warmly amused.

Monsters really have expressive faces. Or rather, their presence colors the atmosphere of the room.

What to do...

Sucking her thumb, Chihiro had an idea.

"Maybe having more of them would be better?"

The little person, looking up brightly, confused the adults.

No, wouldn't that just double the fear?

Ignoring the adults' silent conversation, Chihiro asked Melda to send more bees.

There are no bees in the current royal palace.

Without the Golden King, they have no reason to be there.

So, Chihaya doesn't know that bees used to soar over the royal palace and has never seen them.

Romain would explain to the king, keeping Chihiro's return a secret, and tell him that Melda is sending bees as a gift to Drago's children.

Since bees had continued to gather at the Drago residence even after Chihiro's disappearance, the king readily agreed without any questions.

From here, the little person's monster friendship campaign begins.

Chihaya, who will undoubtedly have nightmares tonight, deserves our prayers.

Here's to Chihaya, the older brother, who will face trials from the start.

It's almost as if this situation foreshadows his future life.

Well, things will work out as they should, though.

This story, which I considered as a side story, I decided to make it the prologue to connect it with the main story.

I hope you'll enjoy the new story of the little person to the end.

That's all from Wani.