A Transmigrated Princess's Guide To A Fluffy Royal Life!-Chapter 61: The Starling Games (II)

Jared groaned. "It’s the same energy as someone petting wild animals and getting away with it."

Lucien folded his arms. "...She’s being watched."

Seraphina blinked. "You noticed too."

They said nothing more.

Round Four: The Charm Duel.

Two children stood face-to-face, attempting to make the other laugh first using *only* polite and princely wit.

Evelisse’s opponent was a boy with freckles and enormous confidence. "Why did the royal baker cry?"

"I don’t know," she said, blinking innocently.

"Because he kneaded the dough too hard!"

Several noble ladies in the crowd politely covered their mouths with gloves.

Evelisse tilted her head, narrowed her eyes, and said with perfect solemnity:

"...That joke was half-baked, my lord. Perhaps next time, try rising to the occasion?"

Then she gave a dainty curtsy and winked.

He snorted.

Laughed.

And fell over.

The bell rang.

"Princess Evelisse wins again!"

The crowd was roaring now.

Lanterns blinked cheerily overhead.

Children began asking to be placed in her teams for the rest of the challenges.

Her tiara? Gleamed with a soft orange-pink glow.

Contentment.

Fluffy finally peeked out from her shoulder. "Are you possessed by a game spirit or just freakishly good at being charming that a trait was unlocked and enhanced?"

’I... don’t know,’ she thought. ’I didn’t try. It just felt... right.’

Fluffy narrowed his eyes. "That’s how it always starts."

She patted Fluffy lightly. ’Don’t be jealous. You can win the next game.’

"I refuse to battle children."

’Convenient excuse.’

Fluffy huffed.

Still, as the games continued, Evelisse found herself laughing, running, climbing tiny enchanted obstacle courses with other nobles her age. Some giggled when they all fell and got back up. Some helped her up when she tripped on invisible pebble-hexes.

And for a little while—

Just a little while—

She wasn’t a princess.

She wasn’t the girl who’d been trapped in a hospital bed in another life. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

She wasn’t the one being watched by shadows.

She was just... her.

And it was perfect.

But perfection never lasted long.

Because at the final bell, when the golden chalice of winner’s water was presented...

A hush fell.

The hush thickened like fog.

The golden chalice shimmered in the sunlight, held aloft by a herald in deep violet robes. Children surrounded the stone platform, their laughter fading into breathless silence. Evelisse stood at the front, one slippered foot forward, heart still thumping from the thrill of winning.

Then she saw him.

A boy stepped into the circle, framed by drifting lantern light. He wore navy-blue royal garb edged with silver, embroidered with threads that shimmered like snow dust. His hair was pitch black, falling gently to the nape of his neck, soft and slightly tousled—as if the wind itself had dared to touch him.

But it was his eyes that silenced everyone.

Silver.

Not pale gray.

Not mist.

Pure silver. Luminescent, strange, and clear, like moonlight trapped in crystal.

It looked—

Like he couldn’t see.

He looked like he’d stepped out of a fairytale. Ethereal. Otherworldly. Beautiful in a way that almost hurt to look at—like a song too perfect to finish.

Girls all around gasped.

One clutched her cheeks. "It’s him!"

Another squealed, "The Prince of Elaris!"

"Oh stars, he’s real!"

Even the boys went quiet.

The boy smiled faintly, silver eyes scanning the crowd until—

They landed on Evelisse.

His gaze didn’t just meet hers. It saw.

Her breath caught. She frowned.

’Why is he staring at me like that?’ she thought. ’Wait... is he blind?’

"He’s not blind," Fluffy murmured from her shoulder, sounding far too amused. "Those are divine-sight eyes. He can see more than you think."

’Perfect,’ Evelisse deadpanned. ’A magical prince with ultra-eyesight here to steal my spotlight.’

"Technically," Fluffy mused, floating just above her ear, "this is a perfect opportunity for a charming young prince to fall for you. Like I predicted during Snugglewuff’s ceremony. Remember, Princess—"

’If he calls me Princess Snugglewhiskers, I’m kicking something.’ Evelisse snorted.

The Prince—escorted by a silver-armored guard and a neat-looking eunuch—stopped beside the King and Queen.

Queen Seraphina raised a hand, surprised. "Caelith?"

The boy bowed his head. "Your Majesty. On behalf of my parents, King Elros and Queen Ailera, I bring warm greetings and the starlight gifts of Elaris."

He held out a small orb of swirling light. It pulsed like a heartbeat.

"Your parents didn’t attend?" Aldric asked, voice neutral.

"They are... delayed at the Sea Summit. I was permitted to attend alone, under supervision."

Lucien stepped forward. "You traveled across borders unaccompanied?"

Caelum turned to him. "Not unguarded, Prince Lucien. Merely... independent."

Jared let out a low whistle. "Charming and bold. He’s twelve, not forty."

"He’s ten," Marcus whispered.

"Even worse," Jared muttered.

Caelith turned to the siblings. "I’ve long wished to meet you. The Seven Stars of the North."

He bowed, one by one, to each brother.

Then, before Evelisse could sneak behind someone taller, he stepped toward her.

Her tiara shifted hue.

To icy blue.

He bent lower—deeper than protocol required.

And he held out his hand.

"I am Prince Caelith of Elaris. And you must be the Princess Evelisse."

She looked at his hand.

Then his silver eyes.

Then his audience.

Her eyes narrowed.

’Absolutely not.’

She curtsied. Politely. Daintily. Like she’d been born wearing glass slippers.

But she did not take his hand.

"It is an honor, Your Highness," she said sweetly. "Though I must humbly request that you forgive me—I have been told my hands are still slightly sticky from the dream-mango ice."

A few nobles chuckled. Caelith’s smile widened slightly.

But he withdrew his hand with no offense, only amusement.

"You are honest," he said. "That is rare."

"And you," Evelisse replied carefully, "are... very sparkly."

Lucien choked behind her. Jared doubled over.

Caelith tilted his head. "Thank you?"

Fluffy snorted. "You savage."

’I didn’t come here to be sparkled at,’ she thought. ’I came here to gain public adoration and not die.’

"Your tiara suits you," Caelith added quietly.

Evelisse smiled. "It glows when I lie."

That caught him off guard.

Their standoff was interrupted by Duchess Marivelle, who announced, "Children! Gather for the rest of the Starling Game!"

Evelisse narrowed her eyes. The Charm Duel had just ended. The chalice was hers.

She couldn’t understand why a prince would join mid game and be allowed to participate so casually.

"He’s allowed," the duchess murmured, hiding her knowing smile. "It’s traditional for foreign royals to engage in a guest match. It’s only fair we accommodate a few exceptions, don’t you think, princess Evelisse?"

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