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Chapter 4
So my sister really had regressed after all.
After confirming the answer I wanted, I grabbed Minabel’s hands and spoke sincerely.
“Bell, I don’t want to run away from this place.”
Anyone would hate losing the place they belong to.
And honestly, if I had to live the same kind of life no matter where I went, then I would rather face things head-on using everything I already have instead of moving somewhere new, meeting new people, discovering their secrets, and suffering over them all over again.
***
First, let’s calmly make a plan.
If I want my peaceful daily life to continue, then the most important thing is making sure this empire does not fall.
And for that, there was something we needed to know first.
“Bell, why did the empire fall in that story?”
“Well, obviously…”
I could roughly guess already. It was probably because the wrong person inherited the throne instead of the one chosen by the prophecy about the “red eyes.”
“Then if the rightful person takes the throne, the empire won’t fall, right?”
“What? That’s very likely, but Tie, whatever you’re planning to do, it’s way too dangerous! I can already tell!”
“If the empire is doomed to collapse anyway, then I think I’d regret it more if I didn’t at least try something.”
With Serphina Unni, who knew the future, and Minabel, who could check everything just by looking above people’s heads, things would definitely become easier.
Unni would obviously help me.
But judging from the pale look on Minabel’s face, I wasn’t sure if she would really be willing to take action herself.
And I didn’t want to be cruel enough to use her guilt about approaching us just to survive.
Maybe it would be better to prove myself through action first.
“First, we need to meet the Third Prince.”
Trying to look bold, I stood up dramatically—
—and immediately staggered.
I could see Elian rushing over from far away.
“Tie, are you okay? Were you outside too long?”
“My lady!”
Considering I had only stood up too quickly, I stayed unsteady for much longer than expected, leaving both Minabel and Elian panicking.
I heard Minabel mutter blankly under her breath.
“Good thing I didn’t tell her her only title is ‘The Sickly Youngest Princess’…”
I already heard that.
***
“Tie!”
The moment my sister heard my condition had worsened, she burst into my room.
Honestly, the rumors were way too exaggerated.
“I’m fine, Unni. I just skipped a meal because I got too caught up talking.”
After calming my sister down, I immediately told her the plan Minabel and I had discussed.
“Unni, don’t be surprised when you hear this. I’m going to make the Third Prince emperor.”
Behind me, Elian and Minabel froze completely.
Apparently they hadn’t expected me to say it so directly.
Meanwhile, my sister calmly lifted her eyes and looked at me without even the slightest sign of shock.
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes. That’s what I want.”
Her calm gaze looked ready to listen to anything I said.
Whoever the Flotie of her previous life had been, she must have done something very right.
“I found out that the Third Prince’s eyes are red.”
I heard Minabel collapse onto the floor behind me.
“How did you find that out?”
“I saw it. The day I asked you about eye colors.”
“Ah… so that’s why you asked me those questions.”
My sister nodded as if she finally understood.
Having family who trusted and supported you without needing proof or logic was truly precious.
“But Tie, you don’t need to step forward and fix this yourself. If you’re worried about the family’s safety, I’ve already prepared everything.”
My sister’s voice was gentle, almost coaxing.
“No, Unni. I want the land where I live to stay peaceful and safe. And… I know you came back through time. I also know why.”
“……”
“I hate the thought of you carrying every burden alone. And more than anything, pretending not to know all this is terrible for my mental and physical health.”
There wasn’t a single lie in that statement.
Whenever I became too stressed, my already weak body only got worse.
Everything hurt more than usual, and even while sleeping, I kept waking up again and again.
Even if I ignored all of this and fled the empire, would I really be safe and happy every day?
No.
I would probably go insane from guilt instead.
“I can’t give up on Rosena without even trying. And there are friends… and people I want to protect. Just like you protect me, there are people here that I want to protect too.”
I looked back and forth between Minabel and Elian, who had both taken care of me after I collapsed.
If I didn’t act, then being perceptive meant nothing.
“That’s why I need your help.”
Because this was impossible alone.
I couldn’t wield a sword.
I couldn’t charm people with eloquence or dominate noble society.
Most of my abilities were below average.
Just like the title “The Sickly Youngest Princess” suggested.
Aside from being a little observant and not hesitating to ask others for help, I really had no strengths worth mentioning.
Still, there was someone standing right in front of me who would willingly reach out a hand if I asked.
Sure enough, my sister stared at me with a conflicted expression before finally sighing deeply.
“Tie… if you’ve already come this far, how could I possibly tell you no?”
“Thank you, Unni.”
In truth, this wasn’t a simple matter.
If House Rosena openly declared support for the Third Prince, we would immediately become the center of a political power struggle.
Even if someone had to take responsibility for this choice, it had to be kept to the minimum possible.
Not House Rosena.
Only Flotie Rosena.
I planned to keep Father and Mother out of this so it could all be dismissed as the reckless behavior of the youngest daughter or a momentary whim.
“Tell me what we should do. Your plan.”
If I failed, the empire would fall.
And if my life was destined to end by poisoning anyway, then maybe this time it was worth risking my life for something meaningful.
Though of course, I had absolutely no intention of throwing my life away carelessly.
“First, we need to persuade His Highness. He lives in a very isolated palace, so with the right gift even the gatekeeper would easily open the door—”
“No.”
At that moment, Minabel suddenly interrupted in a serious tone.
“I can find where the prince is. Tie, you just wait.”
***
Thanks to Minabel’s help, we quickly discovered the Third Prince’s location and decided to move immediately.
To do that, Serphina Unni, Minabel, and I were all currently using disguise magic.
Unni and Minabel looked like guards.
I simply looked like a noble lady with altered hair color.
Together, we appeared to be a noblewoman accompanied by two maids or bodyguards.
“……Let’s walk a little slower. I’m out of breath.”
“Just hold on a bit longer. We’re almost there.”
Minabel pointed toward a shabby building.
“He’s in a place like this? This doesn’t even look like an information guild.”
A sour smell drifted from the run-down building that looked flimsy at first glance.
“It actually is a place information brokers usually use, but apparently nobody came today.”
Even though Minabel knew the rules of this world, she didn’t really pay attention to them.
And I had spent most of my life shut indoors.
The two of us naturally had limits when it came to understanding the world.
But beside us stood someone living her second life.
“The information broker betrayed someone. Or got killed. It’s about time. Some things stay the same even when everything else changes.”
My sister spoke casually while placing a shawl over my shoulders.
“Ah, right… I’ll remember that if I ever regress too. Anyway, it’s good we found him quickly.”
This time, Minabel’s Status Window had been incredibly useful.
Using something called a minimap and tracking skill, she found the Third Prince’s location surprisingly easily.
“That’s not easy at all!”
Minabel tearfully complained that she had spent a huge amount of points.
“Do you have to pay some kind of price for that?”
“Yeah…”
“How do you pay it? If any of my jewelry can help, you can take it. Especially this one. It’s a pink diamond from Rosena’s diamond mine—”
“No, it’s not earned that way… It’s complicated. Anyway, if it helps you, then that’s enough. I can always invent more things later and earn more points…!”
Anyway, just as I reached for the door, my sister moved faster.
“You’ll hurt your hand, Tie. Doors like this are full of splinters.”
“Your hands are important too though…”
Inside, people were shouting loudly.
Some were completely drunk.
Others were grabbing each other by the collar because gambling games had gone bad.
I frowned slightly and pulled my veil tighter over my face.
“Over there.”
Minabel quietly gestured toward the corner.
There sat a silver-haired figure wearing a robe.
Found him.
Lucian Aedvain.
