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Chapter 48
The moment I heard my name spilling from those lips, I wanted to scream.
Evan Taylors!
Evan Taylors was covering my mouth.
I was only seven years old—there was no way I could break free from his grasp just by struggling.
Did he knock Maya unconscious too…?
“You.”
His low voice brushed my ear from behind, laced with murderous intent.
It felt as though he could strangle me at any moment.
It was far too cold and mature a tone to come from a boy his age.
“…Who are you?”
You just called my name—why are you asking who I am?!
No matter how righteous the original story’s protagonist might be, right now he was nothing more than someone threatening me!
I sank my teeth into Evan’s arm as hard as I could.
Go away, go away!
And then—
[You have prematurely achieved a meeting with the “Lost 28th Regression.”]
A blue window flared before my eyes.
[An unexpected event has occurred.]
[Measuring event level.]
[This event has been classified as ‘Unique.’]
[※ Event does not correspond with the user’s level.]
It was the same type of message that had appeared when I was once ambushed by those cursed by Kaisa.
And more windows kept appearing one after another.
[The causality of the “Lost 28th Regression” does not operate.]
[The abilities of the “Lost 28th Regression” are sealed.]
[Forcing the “Lost 28th Regression” into Awakening.]
I didn’t understand what any of it meant.
Was it saying… that Evan Taylors was the “Lost 28th Regression”?
“….”
Evan’s movements froze, his gaze locked on me.
And then, from his hand, a brilliant blue aura began to rise.
It flared, growing in an instant from a faint spark into a blazing flame that radiated undeniable threat.
Alarmed, I instinctively activated a skill.
[Skill ‘Black Dominion (SS/LV.1)’ activated.]
The clash between the pure azure light and the black dominion detonated like an explosion, shattering all the windows in my room.
Crash!
Shards rained down, glittering in the moonlight.
“….”
I managed to wrench myself free from Evan’s grip but landed hard on the floor, pain shooting up my back.
Evan stood rigid, his face unreadable, his hand still glowing with that azure flame. And yet… I didn’t feel like he meant to strike me with it.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to his own hand, his eyes trembling.
“…This is—”
I couldn’t read his expression, couldn’t guess what thoughts whirled in his mind.
“How do you…?”
Why was he staring at his own power with such a shaken look?
“Milady!”
The door burst open soon after the windows shattered, Robin and the maids rushing in.
The light in Evan’s hand faded. He lowered his arm without resistance, his head bowed.
“Milady! Are you all right?”
“Milady!”
“Oh heavens—Lady Maya!”
The maids fussed around me, while the head maid quickly stepped in to shield me.
Robin, however, drew his blade and leveled it at Evan.
“What is the meaning of this!”
The floor was strewn with broken glass, Maya lay unconscious, and I was on the ground—of course they would see it as me being attacked.
“Seize Evan Taylors at once!”
And indeed, he had attacked me. More importantly, Evan was someone who should never have been in my room to begin with.
“….”
But Evan gave no excuses, offered no denial. He only looked at me with dark, turbulent eyes, lips shaping silent words—
Who… are you?
He seemed about to speak further, but closed his mouth again.
My heart thundered.
Moments later, soldiers entered and dragged him away in chains.
Robin knelt before me.
“What happened, milady?”
I shook my head faintly, my eyes following Evan’s retreating back.
[The title “Lost 28th Regression” has changed to “28th Regression.”]
[Causality adjustments applied in accordance with the new title.]
[5. Evan Taylors
Title: 28th Regression
Causality: 8%]
The character information screen updated. Evan Taylors now bore a title—and a causality value.
—The world is filled with endless ruin, and I was left alone. This was the twenty-seventh time.
The words from the diary I’d torn out of The Head of House Taylors flashed in my mind.
If “28th Regression” was real, then had the world truly perished twenty-seven times already?
“….”
Two days ago, beneath heavy falling snow, Evan was thrown into the underground prison.
Normally, taking a hostage and imprisoning them was strictly forbidden—unless, like this, they were caught red-handed.
That evening, dressed in my dinner gown, I let out a small sigh.
“Milady, you don’t look well.”
“If I said I wanted to see Evan, would His Grace be angry?”
“…The Duke? I can’t say he wouldn’t.”
Evan had broken into my chambers, knocked out Maya, and threatened me—so different from the boy I’d imagined when reading the books that I’d been left bewildered.
I even felt a flicker of resentment toward him.
And yet, I couldn’t deny—Evan was still someone worth speaking to.
“Most are just glad His Grace didn’t have him executed on the spot.”
Ricardo had been merciless toward Evan Taylors.
Voices within the family had argued that, as heir of House Taylors, he shouldn’t be treated so harshly. But Ricardo’s black flames silenced them all instantly.
“To trespass into milady’s chambers—just as one would expect from the sinister heir of Taylors.”
Even under brutal interrogation, Evan had refused to speak.
They said even veteran inquisitors, accustomed to the vilest of criminals, had thrown up their hands in defeat.
“…Just what is happening…”
I sighed softly, then made my way to the dining room.
My chest felt unbearably heavy.
“….”
When I entered, Ricardo Winchester was already seated.
For a fleeting moment, an image from The Secret of the Blue Hawk flashed before me—Evan, grown, plunging a blade into Ricardo’s chest. I flinched.
Ricardo’s sharp green eyes noticed.
“Are you uncomfortable?” His voice was low.
I shook my head quickly.
“N-no…”
“If anything troubles you, tell me at once.”
“Yes.”
He seemed unusually attentive to me tonight.
I sat, my place already prepared. Gleaming silver cutlery and dishes far too lavish filled the table.
The meal began in silence.
Clink, clatter—the sounds of slicing meat, of cutlery set down, rang unnaturally loud in my ears.
I couldn’t tell if I was dining… or being punished.
“You have something to say, don’t you?”
Ricardo’s voice broke the silence. Startled, I dropped my spoon.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking the floor echoed like a sentence of fate.
Still… I have to say it.
I knew Evan’s imprisonment wasn’t about me—it was a political move.
In the original, the feud between House Taylors and House Winchester had been fierce.
So even if I had no right to speak…
“Evan didn’t try to kill me!”
The words burst from my lips.
Ricardo’s vivid green eyes snapped to me, cold and sharp. My heart hammered as violently as when I had once begged for Evan’s quarters to be relocated.
“So.”
His voice was calm, low, and terrifying.
“Are you saying I should release him?”
My pulse thundered in my ears.
“…No.” I steadied my breath.
“It felt like he wanted to say something. I heard he isn’t recognized by the Duke of Chenoa. Maybe he thought I was in a similar situation.”
“….”
“I’m lacking as a noble daughter myself.”
I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I’d seen visions of the world’s destruction and wanted to question Evan about them. So I lied.
Ricardo studied me for a long time, his brows furrowing as if displeased.
Still, I pressed on.
“While he’s here, he must have realized—Shasha is weak, nothing but a burden—”
“Anyone who dares say such a thing, I’ll kill them.”
“…W-what?”
The words slipped out like ice, cutting me off.
Did he just… say he’d kill them?
“You think you and that boy are alike? Don’t be absurd.”
Ricardo’s cold voice pressed down on me as I froze.
“You’re saying Evan Taylors snuck into your chambers because he wanted to be your confidant?”
His brows knitted in scorn, as if the very thought was ridiculous.
Had I misspoken?
For a moment I was speechless, but then I tried to recover.
“N-not exactly, but…”
Yes, whatever else he was, Evan’s act had been a grave offense—an outright hostile move, impossible to condone.
Neither Heilon nor Arcada would argue otherwise.
There was no chance he’d simply be released.
At worst, they might cancel the hostage exchange altogether and prepare for war…
“I… I’d like to see Evan again.”
I knew how foolish it sounded.
But if I wanted to speak with him, I needed Ricardo’s permission.
“Please. I want to meet him once more. Maybe I can learn something that will help the family.”
…The words tumbled out before I could stop myself.
I braced myself, heart pounding, and waited for Ricardo’s judgment.
He set down his cutlery, eyes fixed on me for a long, heavy moment.
At last, his lips moved.
