The Territory of Tranpia in the Land of Wonder, Wondermare, before the Princess of Traumere arrived in the Dream World…
Four princes who had just left a tea party hosted by Mad Hatter were playing in the crowded streets of the town.
Hearts: “Whoa! Isn’t this awesome Chrono!? Have you ever seen candy this shiny before!?”
Chrono: “Wow…! They’re like stars!”
From behind, Capita and Dormouse quietly watched over the two spirited young princes.
Capita: “Chrono, Hearts… don’t run around so much. Remember, you promised not to leave our sides before we got back to the castle.”
The two showed no signs of stopping their running around, as if they hadn’t even heard Capita’s words.
Dormouse: “Fwa… Looking at how energetic the two of them are… kind of makes us feel like we’re having a good time too huh…”
Capita: “…really? I’m quite interested in where exactly this limitless energy of theirs is coming from.”
During their rousing conversation, Hearts seemed about to disappear into a crowd of people and Capita frowned.
Capita: “Hearts! Oh for goodness sake… I’ll go fetch him. Look after Chrono, Dormouse.”
With that, Capita went to chase after Hearts…-.
Dormouse, having been left behind, squatted down next to Chrono, who at some point had stopped running around and was now just staring into space.
Dormouse: “What are you looking at…?”
Chrono: “Huh? Oh, nothing…”
Dormouse looked in the direction Chrono was looking after he mumbled those words and saw one of the townspeople, a father carrying a child on his back.
Dormouse: “Ah, I see…”
With a relaxed nod, Dormouse bobbed his head and, still crouching down, offered his back to Chrono.
Chrono: “? Dormouse…?”
Dormouse: “Come on, my back is free… do you want to get on?”
Chrono: “…are you sure?”
Dormouse: “Yeah, it’s fine… I carry my little brothers on my back too, so I’m pretty good at it…”
Dormouse gave a warm smile, and the hesitant Chrono brightened at seeing his expression…-.
Chrono: “Thank you so much!”
Delighted, Chrono tightly clung to Dormouse’s back and Dormouse stood with a stagger.
Dormouse: “Haha. My back’s nice and warm now…”
Hearts: “Aaaah! No fair Chrono!”
Chrono and Dormouse looked in the direction of the voice and saw Capita coming back with Hearts, the young prince’s cheeks puffed out in a pout.
Chrono: “Ah-ah-ah, sorry! I’m the only one getting a piggyback ride…”
Hearts: “No, it’s okay! Cause I’ll get one too! Right Capita!?”
Capita: “I don’t feel there is any necessity to doing that. Just now you were running around all over the place after all.”
Hearts: “That was then! This is now!! Right? Right? So it’s fine right~? I won’t take another step from here~”
Saying as much, Hearts crouched down to the ground and, seeing that, Capita let out a heavy sigh.
Capita: “Hah… I have no choice. A child’s words and deeds are a mystery I cannot understand.”
Dormouse: “Haha, hang on tight so you don’t fall…”
Chrono: “Now Hearts and I are piggyback buddies!”
Where there had previously been four shadows, now there were two that slowly walked through the crowded town of Tranpia.
END