A Transmigrated Princess's Guide To A Fluffy Royal Life!
Chapter 20: Déjà vu

Chapter 20: Déjà vu

A ripple of murmurs swept the nobles.

Evelisse clutched Snugglewuff tighter. ’What does that mean?’

The Mage walked forward, voice firm. "That wasn’t ordinary air. It had elemental resonance. The pup has latent magical energy."

Fluffy floated beside her, tail stiff. "Okay... plot twist!"

The choir’s voices faded into an awkward silence.

"May I examine him, Your Majesty?" the Mage asked, bowing toward the Queen.

Seraphina gave a calm, lovely smile—but her eyes were sharp. "With Evelisse’s permission."

All eyes turned.

Evelisse felt the weight of attention. She gave a slow nod. "Okay. Just... be gentle."

The Mage extended both palms. Snugglewuff blinked at him but didn’t move.

A warm light shimmered between his hands as it washed over the pup’s fur.

"Fascinating," the Mage breathed. "This creature has an internal mana core. Dormant, untouched, natural. Not learned—innate."

"Like a mage?" Evelisse asked.

"Similar. But older. Wilder. It’s as if he was born with it."

More murmurs.

Fluffy looked scandalized. "Wait... do we have a magical puppy on our hands? How did I not detect that quickly?!"

Above them, the Light Crystal embedded in the archway pulsed. Brightly.

The Mage frowned. "It’s reacting to him."

Seraphina stepped closer. "Princess, where did you find Snugglewuff?"

Evelisse swallowed. She looked down at the soft weight in her arms.

"I didn’t find him. Mother did."

Seraphina stepped forward. "He was abandoned at a noble’s manor in Draylen."

The Royal Mage looked at Seraphina. "We need to investigate this further, My Queen. This blessing ceremony may have awakened something ancient."

Seraphina opened her mouth, about saying something—but Evelisse suddenly remembered.

The pouch.

She reached into her sash, fingers trembling.

’I almost forgot this.’

Fluffy eyed the velvet. "Maybe now’s the time for whatever Cheeky Marcus gave you."

She stepped back. Untied the silver thread.

Inside was a stone. Smooth. Pale blue. Etched with faint glowing runes.

The moment she touched it, warmth spread through her like sunlight.

’It’s like... being hugged from the inside.’

A memory stirred—Marcus’s eyes. The way he’d looked at Snugglewuff.

She scanned the crowd. There—leaning against a pillar, Marcus gave her a cheeky wink.

Then made a slow, rolling gesture with his finger.

Evelisse squinted. ’What the hell does that mean?’

Fluffy gasped. "Ohh. That cheeky—"

’What is it?’

"I’ll tell you later. But remember when I said childhood sweethearts—"

’Fluffy!’

"I’m just saying!"

’You’ve got to be kidding me.’

"I’m never kidding."

Evelisse made a face. ’That’s not a memory I want to revisit!’

"It’s important! Come on, just try it!"

Evelisse sighed.

Held the stone close.

The Light Crystal above them suddenly blazed.

The Mage shouted, "Princess! Step back! It’s—"

Too late.

A pulse of light exploded.

Sound vanished.

The world bent—like space itself curled inward.

And suddenly—

She was back.

Same angle.

Same dress.

Same choir note still echoing.

But something had changed.

Time had reversed. Or paused. Or glitched?

Fluffy hovered before her, blinking slowly. "...What the fluff just happened?"

Evelisse’s thoughts stuttered.

’What the fucking hell just happened?!’

She clutched Snugglewuff closer, her fingers trembling slightly. The warmth of the puppy against her chest grounded her as her wide eyes took in the eerily familiar garden.

The petals were still falling. The choir still humming that same opening note. Nothing looked out of place—but she knew it had changed.

’Or did it just rewind?’

She locked eyes with Fluffy. ’What were you saying earlier before you got distracted by your matchmaking nonsense?’

Fluffy blinked again, whirring softly as it hovered like a buffering hologram. "Oh. Right! That! Sorry, I got sidetracked by your eternal resistance to romance. Anyway, I was about to say—I think Marcus might have awakened a dormant mage ability."

’Wait—what?!’

"Yeah," Fluffy said, bobbing slightly. "I didn’t catch it earlier, but when he made that little spiral gesture—classic time rune signal. My guess? He has precognition. Maybe about 30 minutes ahead. He likely saw the magical sneeze disaster about to happen and used the rune to send you back."

’He knew it would go wrong?’ Evelisse’s eyes widened.

"Yup. And he must’ve known Snugglewuff’s sneeze would trigger attention you’re clearly not ready for."

Evelisse stared blankly at the crowd, still replaying the chaos in her head.

’Okay, so I have a magical puppy with sneeze magic, a brother who might be a time seer, and a ceremony about to go haywire again. Great.’

She breathed in sharply. ’I need to stop Snugglewuff from sneezing. What do I have... Wait. The magical item shop!’

[♡ Affection Points Remaining: 851♡]

"Fluffy," she whispered mentally. ’I want to make a request. I need an anti-sneeze item for Snugglewuff. Something strong enough to prevent any more magical sneezes for 48 hours. Just until I can figure this out... or find Marcus again.’

Fluffy choked on laughter. "You’re seriously about to spend hundreds of affection points to stop a puppy from sneezing?"

’Yes!’ Evelisse snapped internally. ’My pride, the kingdom’s food, and possibly our family’s reputation are at stake!’

Fluffy hovered dramatically. "Request received. Processing now."

[Request submitted: Anti-Sneeze Magical Item]

[Analyzing request... Validating parameters... Matching item from database...]

Ding!

[Item Found: Whisperroot Elixir Patch]

[Type: Temporary Enchantment - Immunization]

[Effect: Temporarily suppresses all involuntary magical discharges—sneezes, hiccups, etc. Puppy-safe. Lavender scented.]

[Cost:

♡ Personal Request Fee: 5 Affection Points

♡ Item Cost: -20 Affection Points

♡ Duration (48 hours) = 96 Affection Points

♡ Total Deduction: 121 Affection Points

♡ Affection Points Remaining: 730♡]

"Would Your Highness like the enchanted syringe delivery, enchanted biscuit option, or wearable patch?" Fluffy asked in a mock-formal tone.

’Patch. I don’t want Snugglewuff thinking he’s getting stabbed.’

The item materialized with a shimmer—a tiny, puppy-sized patch shaped like a biscuit, infused with golden threads.

Evelisse gave Snugglewuff a reassuring smile. "Okay, buddy. Time to be sneeze-proof."

She gently attached the patch to his shoulder, and it glowed briefly before vanishing into his fur.

Snugglewuff blinked once. Then licked its hand.

"It’s working," Fluffy whispered, floating in tight circles.

Evelisse leaned back. ’At least now we won’t cause another incident... probably.’

She didn’t have time to ponder longer.

The ceremony around her was still moving like before—like a puppet show she’d already watched. She could even hear the exact same sentence the Queen had spoken last time. Everything was lining up perfectly.

But this time... she was watching it all with new eyes.

She watched the priest step forward, exactly as he had before.

This time, she slowed her steps, suspicious. Her gaze narrowed. ’You look innocent, priest, but I’m watching you like a hawk.’

The petals around her feet felt too familiar. She walked slower.

The hush fell.

She stopped in front of the dais and turned to the crowd.

She held Snugglewuff aloft again, heart pounding.

The same words came to her lips. Embarrassing. Cringe-worthy. But she couldn’t diverge too hard. Not now.

"Today," Evelisse said solemnly, "I name thee Snugglewuff. Fluffiest of companions. Boldest of barkers. Biscuit enthusiast."

’Why am I still saying this line?! Ugh. But I can’t mess with the pattern too much. Not yet.’

A quiet bark came from Snugglewuff.

Evelisse shut her eyes tight.

Nothing happened.

No wind.

No mana pulse.

No marzipan crash.

Only applause.

She cracked open one eye.

The marzipan sculpture stood proud.

’Phew!’

The choir kept singing.

The Royal Mage didn’t move.

Snugglewuff wagged his tail like a tiny loaf of pure innocence.

Relief swept through her like a gust of spring.

Then she caught sight of Marcus.

He stood near the side, applauding lazily, but there was a satisfied tilt to his smirk—one meant only for her.

Not at the applause. Not at her speech.

At the successful timeline fix.

She almost burst out laughing.

’He knows.’

"Beautifully said, darling. Now—" she raised her voice, "—shall we head to the buffet before Jared eats all the candied pears?"

Laughter bubbled across the nobles.

Jared, halfway to the dessert table, yelped. "Hey! I was only sampling!"

Tables covered in gold-rimmed dishes and layered sweets waited near the edge of the garden. Guests moved toward them like bees to honey.

Evelisse took a moment, choosing instead to sit on her tiny golden throne, Snugglewuff curled in her lap.

She stroked his fur absently, head buzzing with what just happened.

’I’m the only one who remembers. Me, Fluffy... and Marcus, maybe. Everything else reset like a loop. No one suspects a thing. He changed everything. Just with a pouch. I need to ask him how he knew, just to be sure.’

And maybe... ask how far his ability could go.

Snugglewuff licked its thumb, then sneezed softly.

But nothing exploded.

Fluffy twirled above her. "See? Crisis averted. I give your time loop debut an 8.5 out of 10."

Evelisse smiled weakly. ’Let’s just keep it from hitting sequel territory.’

Just as she closed her eyes for a second—

She heard it.

A hushed voice from behind the velvet dais.

"My Queen," whispered Lady Irelia.

Seraphina turned slightly. "Yes?"

"The King has returned. He’s requesting a private audience with you."

Evelisse’s eyes widened.

’Wait... the King... uhhh... my father is back?!’