I found the child at the Candy Store on the seventh floor of XX Mall.
"Mm."
"She's fine."
"She stayed in the Candy Store making candy."
"She got so caught up playing that she forgot to contact me."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for the trouble."
The girl with slanted ponytail thanked the police officer repeatedly and apologized as well.
"...All right."
The girl with slanted ponytail nodded. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"I'll also make sure to educate her properly."
"I won't let the same thing happen again."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for your effort."
"Goodbye."
The girl with slanted ponytail put away her phone.
She let out a quiet breath.
Then she looked at the little girl.
The little girl looked sheepish.
Her eyes darted around.
The girl with slanted ponytail put her hands on her hips.
"Princess."
"Have you forgotten the rules for being a princess?"
Now that everything had been settled, the girl with slanted ponytail began lecturing the child again.
"How can a princess break her word?"
"Who was it that promised me just a moment ago that she wouldn't run off?"
"Who promised me she wouldn't leave without saying a word?"
"And who disappeared the very next moment?"
"Who was it?"
"Princess."
The girl with slanted ponytail raised her voice. "Can you tell me?"
The little girl grew embarrassed again.
She also looked somewhat aggrieved.
She twisted her fingers together.
Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally spoke. "I... I didn't want to either..."
The little girl truly hadn't intended to leave at first.
Who would have thought...
"That old man was just too scary!"
The little girl protested her innocence.
"If he was so scary, why did you go over to him?"
The girl