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Chapter 28
“Your Highness.”
At the earnest call, Lechelle stopped drawing his bow and looked around. Shards of black glass floated thickly in the air. Behind him, he noticed his subordinates with sharp, slashed wounds.
“My apologies.”
With a wave of Lechelle’s hand, the Estella surrounding them quietly disappeared.
His Estella was powerful—but highly susceptible to his emotional state. It wasn’t that happiness weakened it, but if he was deeply consumed by unpleasant emotions, it would manifest uncontrollably.
Recently, Lechelle’s work efficiency had plummeted. Everyone knew that since the Emperor fell ill, the Empress Dowager had delegated full authority to him, resulting in a crushing workload.
However, Lechelle was intelligent, capable, and never complained. He was the kind of person who fulfilled his duties flawlessly, even without supervision.
That’s why this was the first time. His subordinates, unable to bear seeing him so distracted, had suggested a hunting trip to help him clear his head.
Lechelle once again aimed his bow at the deer beyond the forest. The white fur on his cloak fluttered in the breeze.
His blonde hair sparkled under the sunlight. In his equally dazzling golden eyes swirled untamed emotion.
Contrary to assumptions that he was merely exhausted from overwork, Lechelle’s patience was wearing thin for a different reason.
Lilith no longer sought him out.
What did that mean?
Had she abandoned him?
If so, then what had all of this been for?
He couldn’t get those thoughts out of his mind.
He had known from their first meeting that Lilith didn’t see him as anything more than a tool. And that had been fine. He was willing to have his feelings trampled if it meant helping her.
If she lacked the power to achieve her goals, then those with power should help. He had believed that if he reached a higher position, seized greater power, he could help her achieve her will. That he could be her stepping stone.
Yes, he—he alone.
In this vast empire, he alone could take the next throne.
“…Calix.”
As his thoughts circled back, an unpleasant name surfaced.
The same man who had once been so fearful of displeasing him that he barely dared to breathe—had suddenly started to raise his voice. Lechelle didn’t like it.
He hated that the man had taken a place beside her that Lechelle could not, simply because she hadn’t wanted him there.
A tragic past wasn’t unique to Calix. Lechelle had one too. And he had overcome it.
So why—why, from the beginning, had she always paid attention to that man?
Was this just jealousy? Or a deep inferiority complex?
The sound of shattering glass rang in his ears again. Black dust swirled before his eyes.
Lechelle loosed his bowstring. The arrow flew fiercely but missed the deer, embedding itself in a tree.
The startled deer leapt away. He immediately shot another arrow. This one sliced through the air and struck the deer cleanly in the neck.
Hunting motionless prey wasn’t to his taste. Only when something struggled to escape his grasp did it satisfy him to bring it down.
Lilith could never belong to anyone. He had known that for a long time.
But over time, desire grew. If he couldn’t confine her, he wanted to. If he couldn’t possess her, he yearned to.
“Tsk.”
After releasing his bottled-up anger, a wave of emptiness swept over him.
“I’ve gotten… complacent.”
His muttered words weren’t aimed at the deer.
He had realized that the promise he made with Lilith as a child was starting to crumble under the weight of his own greed.
“I suppose it really is time to cool my head.”
If not—he feared he might truly lock her away in a small cage.
The breeze was cool. The sound of flowing water was serene. Green forest stretched skyward, as if reaching for the heavens.
Because of the dense trees, sunlight only trickled in. Though she’d brought a wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, she could’ve easily done without it.
“Milady, look over there!”
From across the little rowboat, Olivia couldn’t contain her excitement. She pointed to a glowing, translucent white deer standing nearby.
“I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Her wide eyes sparkled.
They were at a resort mentioned during Siri’s recent tea party. A vast forest known for its mysterious creatures and beautiful lake—perfect for outings.
After hearing about it, Olivia had clung to her right before heading home and asked her to come along.
If she had received the request in a letter as usual, she would’ve already refused. But she just couldn’t say no to that beaming face.
“I’m always bringing this upon myself,” she thought with a sigh.
Still, seeing Olivia so happy made her feel good too. Olivia had the charm of a true novel’s heroine—pulling everyone toward her. And apparently, that included her as well.
“I’m glad we came.”
When she said it with a smile, Olivia nodded energetically.
She took off her cumbersome hat and gazed across the lake. The lush green landscape had a calming effect.
These past few weeks had been peaceful, almost eerily so. With Saint’s schedule delaying magic lessons, she’d done nothing but rest, eat, and play…
It was as if the mysterious threats that once stalked her had completely vanished.
“If I just gain enough strength to protect myself… maybe things could stay like this.”
It might be foolish, but this peaceful daily life was just too good. She couldn’t say the time spent with Olivia and the others hadn’t been joyful.
She’d made more friends. Her image rehabilitation was going smoothly. Maybe—maybe everything could end like this.
…Huh?
She had left Olivia to play on her own, but something felt off. Looking closely, she saw Olivia’s hands trembling slightly.
“Olivia, are you okay?”
When she asked in concern, Olivia turned toward her. Her face was pale—clearly unwell.
“Are you sick?”
“No, no. It’s just…”
She reached out and held Olivia’s hand. It was icy cold.
“When I was little, I almost drowned in this lake…”
Olivia’s gaze dropped as she spoke timidly, trailing off.
“I just suddenly remembered. I’m fine, really!”
She forced a cheerful tone as if nothing were wrong.
“Come to think of it, Olivia did nearly die in this lake due to a magical trap when she was younger…”
So this was the place. She barely remembered that detail.
“Then why did you want to come here?”
“Because it’s so pretty! I really wanted to see it with you, Milady.”
“Still, we should head back. Staying too long might not be good.”
At her firm words, Olivia looked disappointed—perhaps thinking this was goodbye.
“Let’s at least take a walk.”
“Yes!”
Realizing she wasn’t about to be sent home, Olivia perked up again.
She reached for the oar, and the rowboat began to glide slowly toward the shore. As expected from a magic-powered boat, it moved on its own with minimal steering.
Wait…
Her heart suddenly dropped.
If this is the lake Olivia nearly drowned in…
Then this is where I died.
In her second life, she had drowned here—trying to save Olivia, unaware of her identity, and completely out of her depth.
Why hadn’t she remembered immediately? That incident had been so vivid.
This forest was impossible to forget once you saw it. So grand, so vast—no one could easily erase it from memory.
Olivia had remembered after ten years. Meanwhile, she hadn’t even been in this world for a full year.
Why… hadn’t I remembered?
She hadn’t taken time to reflect on the duration of her current possession. And she realized she remembered very little from her previous ones.
Any time she tried to recall—what surfaced were scenes of death, anxiety etched into her soul, and the terror of pain.
Those memories overwhelmed everything else.
…How could I forget something like that?
She’d let herself believe she could live comfortably in this place. But this happiness could very well bring about another death.
Even minor discomfort triggered nightmares. Just thinking about Nox made her tremble.
Because she didn’t mind being around the main characters… because the memories of hanging out with them had been fun… and because this peace was too precious…
She had forgotten.
In a blink, her mood sank all the way to the bottom.
How foolish.
Maybe it was the quiet atmosphere, but she felt lost in introspection.
The boat touched the shore, and Olivia jumped out cheerfully. She turned back with a bright smile and offered her hand.
“Which trail should we take? I checked out three options ahead of time!”
Olivia had clearly put a lot of effort into today.
As she stepped off the boat too, two knights fell in behind them.
But these weren’t guards from her family or from a noble house.
Is this really okay?
Calix had apparently assigned his own men to her.
According to Olivia, Calix and Nox were childhood friends. As a gesture of trust, Calix would sometimes lend his people to Nox—and today was apparently one of those times.
Unsettling…
Why now, of all times, when she and Olivia were alone together? No matter how she looked at it, Calix wasn’t someone to be trusted.
As they headed toward the trail Olivia recommended, a familiar figure appeared from the opposite direction.
Short in stature, walking with confidence, face full of greed—it was Tayn.
She immediately grabbed Olivia’s arm and pulled her behind.
Noticing their gaze, Tayn approached with a wide grin.
“Well, what a coincidence!”
His voice was unmistakably exaggerated.
