Hello, it’s Hikari-chan.

Before I knew it, I had turned four years old.

Huh, what about the second princess’s birthday celebration?

Haha, I was asleep the whole time, so I don’t remember anything.

It’s pretty harsh to expect a one-year-old little girl to stay awake through an entire celebration.

Since then, I’ve been raised while being doted on by my parents, and before I knew it, the third prince’s birthday celebration was right in front of me.

Apparently, the third prince is one year older than me, and as a count’s daughter, I’m naturally a candidate for engagement.

Seriously… how did this happen?

“Okaashama…”

I look up at my mother with anxious eyes.

As if she senses something, she hugs me and says one thing.

“You’re adorable, Hikari. Hikari is the cutest of them all!”

“…”

That’s not it! I don’t want to go!

Why does a former high school boy have to attend a five-year-old prince’s birthday celebration?

And in the form of a little girl?

This is just humiliating in so many ways!

And yet, both my mind and body are that of a four-year-old girl now, and just those words alone make me feel reassured.

“…I’ll do my best”

I don’t even know what I’m trying my best at, but for now, I just try to psych myself up—suddenly, bang, the door swings open, and there stands my father with wild eyes.

“Hikari! Ahh, how adorable you are, Hikari!”

My father dramatically drops to one knee and carefully touches me as if I were something fragile.

“Otōshama! Does it suit me?”

I spin around once on the spot.

“Ahh, Hikari! It suits you very well! You look just like your mother!”

“Thank you very much, Otōshama!”

Honestly, as a guy, there’s no such thing as a dress I’d want to wear, but for some reason, I was drawn to the same yellow dress as my mother, so I followed my instincts and chose it.

Since I don’t understand the usual tropes of noble lady stories, it’s probably safest to just blend in with the group of noble girls and go “kyaa kyaa” with them.

'Sigh… why am I even worrying about this…'

Damn it, if that goddess had properly reincarnated me, I wouldn’t be going through this.

For now, I’ll just go into this celebration with the mindset that as long as I get through today, that’s all that matters.

* * *

“Everyone, thank you for coming today to celebrate my son ‘Leon Oristina’s’ birthday!”

A man wearing an unmistakably royal crown and a red mantle raises his voice to lead the gathering.

The small boy standing beside him must be that “Leon-something” he just mentioned.

Whoa, a blonde pretty boy kid.

“…Okaashama”

“It’s alright, Hikari. You’re the cutest of them all.”

“…”

If I just thought that kid looked cool, I might be beyond saving.

I seriously might need to die once.

Well, I already did die, and this is what I ended up as.

While I was writhing in agony internally like that, His Majesty the King’s speech had ended, and the place quickly became lively with young noble boys and girls.

“Hikari, go on ahead.”

“Yes!”

In my previous life, I barely had any friends and was socially awkward, but now I can’t wait.

This is the mindset of a four-year-old, there’s no such thing as social anxiety.

I let go of my mother’s hand and slowly walk into the crowd.

“Who are you?”

“I am Hikari!”

Even though I was suddenly spoken to, I can respond without getting flustered.

What amazing communication skills a four-year-old has! The me from my previous life would be crying right now.

“I am Aria!”

We both exchange a formal, lady-like greeting and smile.

She’s a girl with beautiful sky-blue hair. She’s really cute!

“Hey Hikari-chan, let’s go greet Leon-sama!”

“Eh, Aria-chan!”

Before I can say anything, Aria-chan grabs my hand, and we walk together to the crowd surrounding the third prince.

“I can’t see very well, can you?”

“No.”

Looks like we both arrived a bit too late.

Well, I don’t mind, but Aria-chan looks really disappointed.

“Hello everyone, I’m Leon!”

As he gives a simple greeting to the crowd of noble girls, high-pitched cheers of “Kyaa!!” echo out.

And then—““Kyaa!””

Both Aria-chan and I let out the same kind of scream.

'Huh? I screamed? Me? At this pretty boy kid?'

I can’t believe my own actions, and I freeze with a completely serious expression.

And in that moment—my eyes meet with the third prince’s, even though I should have been buried in the crowd.