[Chapter 3] First Confession

I was utterly mesmerized by a flower I had never seen in any media before.

The boy’s pink eyes held an entire universe—one so breathtaking that I found myself lost in it.

And within that universe, I was reflected.

I wasn’t sure how long we had been staring at each other when, suddenly, the boy’s face twisted in displeasure. He shook his head vigorously, slipping free from my grasp.

“…Don’t touch me!”

His eyes sharpened, his eyebrows twitching in agitation. But whether he was angry or not, I couldn’t help but be in awe of his voice.

‘Wow, even his voice is a sweet, delicate tone. He really has everything—looks and voice.’

Clench.

“How insolent.”

My knight, clearly infuriated, tightened his grip. To him, this was just a lowly street rat—a thief who had dared to assault a noble—yet he had the audacity to be defiant.

The boy’s face contorted in pain.

“It’s fine, Sir. Loosen your grip. It was my fault for touching his face without permission.”

As much as I hated to, I had to take a step back.

‘My baby has a trauma with physical contact.’

I took my time observing Leon.

His hair was a mess, covered in grime, but peeking through were strands of soft pink. On his right ear, he wore a rough, unpolished coral-pink gemstone earring.

My favorite character was standing right in front of me. The one I had cherished so fiercely in my past life.

The pain in my shoulder? Completely forgotten.

Pure joy and exhilaration welled up from within me, bursting out like a flower blooming in spring.

I covered my mouth with both hands, trying to contain my overwhelming happiness.

‘I’m meeting my favorite character in real life…!’

I was simply overcome with emotion, struggling to keep my breath steady.

“……?”

Leon’s expression shifted to confusion as he watched me.

‘This is the moment to follow my first resolution.’

“Hello! My name is Nyx Elach. Sorry for touching your chin without permission.”

I smiled as brightly as I could, exuding warmth and kindness.

“……”

Whether my approach had worked or not, the hostility faded from his pink eyes.

“Did you want this necklace?”

Still kneeling, I held up the necklace before him.

“……”

Leon didn’t say a word. He just stared at me.

Snap!

Before I realized what had happened, he had somehow freed himself from the ropes, snatched the necklace, and bolted.

‘Like hell I’m letting you get away.’

“Sir, bring him back.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The chase didn’t last long. Before I knew it, Leon was back on his knees in front of me, firmly restrained by my knight.

I looked down at my favorite character and asked teasingly,

“That was rude of you. Running off without even answering me—where were you trying to go?”

Leon glared at me, like a cornered kitten bristling in fear.

‘He looks like a little pink-furred stray cat.’

I lifted the necklace again, showing it to him.

“I’m just going to touch your neck for a second.”

Carefully, making sure to avoid skin contact as much as possible, I fastened the necklace around his neck.

“There. It’s yours now. And don’t worry—you won’t be taken to the security forces for assaulting a noble.”

“…Why?”

Once again, Leon’s expression twisted, as if he couldn’t understand my actions.

His voice was as sweet as ever, a delicate melody lingering in my ears. It made my heart feel even lighter. Smiling, I answered my beloved character’s question.

“I don’t need the necklace. And I like you.”

At my words, Leon stiffened and immediately began to struggle, as if I had just declared something ominous.

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean that I’m here to torment you.”

I quickly tried to calm him down.

“Lies! Everyone I’ve ever met was the same! You’re no different!”

Leon, overwhelmed with emotion, shouted out all the wounds he had suffered.

I simply watched in silence, my heart aching.

Seeing the exchange, my knight stepped forward and spoke.

“My lady, this boy is ungrateful and disrespectful to nobility. I believe it would be best to hand him over to the security forces.”

“Sir, I appreciate the suggestion, but… haven’t you failed in your duty to protect me twice today?”

“…Pardon?”

My knight looked utterly baffled.

“When he hit my shoulder and when he broke free from the ropes—both times, I could have been in real danger.”

“I-I sincerely apologize!”

“I’m not blaming you. I’m proposing a trade. Let’s call it even.”

“…Excuse me?”

“In return, don’t interfere with what I’m about to do. Just follow my orders. I’m taking this boy home.”

Both my knight and Leon looked completely stunned.

“……!”

“…What?”

Their expressions were priceless—pure bewilderment.

‘Pfft. They’re both so funny and cute.’

I let out a soft laugh and turned to Leon with a gentle smile.

“My favorite.”

The moment the words left my lips, my heart overflowed with warmth.

“…Favorite? What are you talking about? That’s not my name.”

“Then will you tell me your name?”

Of course, I already knew it. But he had yet to introduce himself to me.

“…Why would I?”

“Alright then. I’ll just keep calling you my favorite.”

“…….”

‘So cute. My baby.’

Leon had no comeback. His face twitched slightly before he sulked in silence. It was adorable.

“I want to take you with me.”

“…Why? I’m a bad person, just like the knight said.”

“Truly bad people don’t admit they’re bad.”

“…….”

“Leon, I can give you something far better than that necklace.”

His pink eyes wavered. Seeing the shift, I pressed on.

“You won’t have to steal to survive anymore. You won’t have to endure hunger, suffer in a collapsing shack, feel the scorching heat or the cold rain with no shelter.”

“…….”

“You won’t have to cover yourself in filth just to keep disgusting people from reaching for you.”

With every word, the emotions in his eyes rippled, like a single drop of water sending waves across the surface.

A faint sheen of moisture began to form in his pink irises.

Savoring the moment, I extended my hand.

“So, Leon. Come with me.”

“…Why…?”

“Because I want to make this little stray kitten happy. I know I can take good care of you.”

I spoke with all my heart, never taking my eyes off him.

But suddenly, his gaze hardened.

“…Lies. I don’t believe you! You’re just mocking me! I’m not going!”

Leon flatly rejected my offer, his eyes filled with distrust.

‘…I failed my third resolution.’

Getting rejected by my favorite character stung.

Had I expected too much?

“…Alright, I understand. I’ll keep coming back until you can believe me.”

“…What?”

Leon looked startled, as if he had expected me to get angry.

“I’ll come back when the Founding Festival begins, my favorite.”

With that, I signaled for my knight to release him.

“My lady—”

“It’s fine now. Sir, let him go.”

My voice came out subdued, weighed down by disappointment.

“You remember my name, don’t you? Nyx Elach. I’ll see you next time.”

“…….”

With a gentle smile, I bid Leon farewell. Then, my knight and I slowly turned and walked away.

We made our way back toward the slums’ entrance, where the carriage was waiting.

For a while, there was only silence behind us—until I heard the faint sound of hurried footsteps.

Tap, tap, tap.

‘…So, he was watching.’

My words had definitely reached him.

Reassured, I kept moving forward.

‘That’s right. There will be plenty more chances.’

* * *

“How are you feeling today, my daughter?”

Early the next morning. Inside a moving carriage.

My father, Pater Elach, the Marquis of Elach, spoke to me.

I guess he had noticed how sulky I had been during dinner last night after returning to the townhouse.

Since tomorrow marked the start of the Founding Festival, he had suggested that I accompany him to the Imperial Palace. Of course, I had accepted immediately. And now, here I was, on my way to the palace.

Putting on my best sweet voice, I responded playfully.

“Thanks to you, I’m feeling great, father~”

‘There’s no better survival skill than good social charm. Yep, yep.’

The marquis chuckled, clearly pleased with my answer.

“I’m glad to hear that. But, Nyx, calling me Father sounds too distant. Call me Dad instead.”

His golden eyes, identical to mine, looked a little dejected.

For a man as strong and imposing as him—built like a black panther, with sharp features and a towering frame—to look sad because of me… it made me feel a little guilty.

‘Well… I’m part of The Iron-Walled Princess world now. I should embrace it.’

I moved across the carriage and threw my arms around him.

“Okay… Dad.”

The marquis flinched slightly at my sudden action, but before long, he wrapped me in a firm embrace.

‘So warm. So comforting.’

Despite his fearsome and charismatic exterior, he smelled pleasantly warm and familiar. A refined, soothing scent enveloped me.

Snuggle, snuggle.

Wanting to enjoy it a little more, I burrowed deeper into his arms. Noticing this, he held me even tighter.

‘I love that I’m thirteen years old in this world. I love that I can act spoiled without it being weird.’

In my past life, as Lee Seoyeon, life had been tough. My parents divorced when I was young, and I was raised by my mother. Money was always tight, and she was constantly busy trying to make ends meet. I had to handle most things on my own. There wasn’t enough love to go around.

I had denied it, but in truth… I had been lonely.

‘I’m really grateful I ended up inside The Iron-Walled Princess.’

I got to meet my favorite character. I had Meril, a great dad, and even the head maid, butler, and all the people of House Elach, who had been nothing but kind to me.

‘I need to savor this moment. No regrets.’