EVHE 79

Chapter 79

The soft sensation of downy fluff wrapped my whole body in warmth. Below my neck it was almost too warm, but the exposed cheeks kept being brushed by cold wind.

I curled up my knees and tucked in my toes. I pulled what I assumed was a blanket all the way up to my chin, but it didn’t help.

“Ugh, so cold…”

The window of the room must have been wide open.

The air was far too chilly for autumn. A little longer and I felt like I might get frostbite.

“Elly… close the window for me…”

My muffled voice came out groggy. Since she came into my room every morning to quietly tidy things up, I assumed she would be here today too and asked.

But no reply came. The cold wind continued to blow.

“Elly?”

Was it not morning but dawn? I couldn’t even be sure if the sun was up.

“Ell—”

I stopped mid-call. A sudden thought struck me like lightning.

And I shot up from the bed. Rubbing my sleep-blurred eyes furiously, I forced myself to look around.

The arrangement of objects was slightly different, but it was a space so familiar it was sickening.

I touched my face with my fingertips, then checked my body for any injuries.

My clothes were still just plain pajamas. Nothing felt sore or out of place.

Shockingly, I was perfectly fine. Almost unbelievably so.

“Haah…”

As soon as I realized that, a deep sigh escaped me.

The last thing I remembered was the battle at Ponz. I had collapsed, unable to even defend myself, against that unpleasant priest’s attack.

“Another restart?”

I flopped back onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

“All the effort I put in…?”

The futility was enough to drive me mad.

I had managed to improve my relationship with Calix, who at first gave the worst impression. Things with Saint were a little shaky, but maybe it had just been a misunderstanding.

Even with Lechelle, I had gotten along decently, and I was close enough with Lake to share my worries. I had gone through many incidents but had also gained a bit of strength to overcome them.

And yet, in an instant, all of those efforts and results had crumbled away.

I had just started to think my life was finally going right. Why, why now?!

The injustice made me want to jump and scream.

And what about that letter?

I looked around the bed for Olivia’s letter that should never have been here. I searched the table and even the drawers, but the letter was nowhere.

If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve read it then.

When I boarded Tain’s carriage, finding out where we were headed had been more important, so I hadn’t thought to read the letter.

Protecting my life had been more urgent than discovering Olivia’s secrets.

Then I recalled what the priest, Floodran, had said to me.

That everything I had taken originally belonged to Olivia…

Was he referring to Estella, which had manifested suddenly at the Hunting Festival? Or was it because I had saved Calix?

But Olivia also stole my narrative.

There were still unresolved things with Saint too.

But at this point, all those worries were meaningless.

Anyway, the fact is, I died again…

As that truth returned to me, my lips immediately pouted in gloom.

It must be because I meddled too much in the story, right?

Which meant Flood, the one adjusting the flow of the world, had certainly erased me.

“This time I’ll really keep a low profile.”

It was the same conclusion I had reached before, but now I meant it.

Having felt the painful consequence of interfering with fate, I vowed to stay alert no matter what.

Should I just run away from the Empire altogether this time?

I had feared leaving behind the image of a villainess, thinking Nox would eventually try to eliminate me. But that was probably a mistaken judgment.

If I truly did nothing at all, he would surely pay me no attention.

After all, Nox was someone who only cared if Olivia was involved.

First, I need to figure out when exactly this is.

Forcing my sluggish body upright, I flung open the window beside the bed.

“No wonder it felt too cold for autumn.”

Outside was the desolation of winter. Flowering trees stood bare, evergreens rose proudly as if unbothered.

The lawn of the garden, always lush green, was blanketed with white snow. Under the sun, the winter sky gleamed like a clear pond, reflecting shining white clouds.

“Mmm…”

I carefully climbed out of bed. The plush fur carpet felt soft under my feet.

My reflection in the mirror looked no different than before the restart. I didn’t appear younger, nor older.

The fourth possession had also started in winter… could I have returned to that point?

That might actually be better. If this was around the same period as before, it would be easier to predict future events.

Lost deep in thought, I was suddenly brought back by the growl of my stomach.

“…I’m hungry.”

It was as if I hadn’t eaten in days. Unable to bear it, I pulled the bell-cord beside the bed.

“You called, my lady?”

Sure enough, like in the old days when everyone waited outside Lillith’s room, less than ten seconds passed before a maid entered.

She bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, waiting for my command. She didn’t meet my eyes, and her every movement was crisp and efficient.

The stiff atmosphere felt like walking on thin ice. Only then did it finally sink in that I had truly gone back.

But the maid’s drooping eyes and navy-colored hair were familiar.

Elly?

When I had possessed Lillith the fourth time, Elly hadn’t been at the estate yet. She had only entered two weeks later as a night maid.

Then this must be later than that time.

I tilted my head in confusion, but hunger kept me from asking further.

“Could you bring breakfast to my room?”

At those words, Elly flinched visibly. She briefly raised her head to glance at me, then quickly lowered her gaze again.

“Y-yes, I’ll bring it right away.”

And she darted out of the room.

I quietly watched her hasty retreat as if being chased.

…Something’s strange.

If she had only just entered the household, she wouldn’t be that quick or skilled.

To be honest, her early performance had been far from impressive.

Which means she must have been here at least a few months already.

When my last possession had started, it was late winter. Two weeks later Elly had arrived. It would take her months to become accustomed to her work.

Since winter only lasts three months, for it to be this deep into winter again…

The more facts I pieced together, the heavier my unease grew.

Does that mean a whole year has passed since then?

The conclusion hit me like an explosion in my head.

“…Wasn’t Lillith executed in summer?”

She had died in a season overflowing with greenery, so unfitting for a blood-soaked execution ground. Not just any summer, but the beginning of summer.

Which meant—

“My life… there’s only a few months left.”

It was far too short a time to begin anything new. A more hopeless ending could hardly exist.

While I was drowning in despair, the bedroom door opened carefully. At once, the aroma of delicious food filled the room.

“Thank you.”

Elly brought in breakfast, and out of habit I thanked her. It was certainly something Lillith would never have done, but I had no room to fuss over details.

It was a steaming soup, perfect for a cold winter’s day. Normally I would have drooled instantly, but now my appetite was gone, leaving me numb.

Wearing a blank doll-like expression, I scooped a small spoonful and ate. The soup was far too delicious for such a maddening situation.

“This is nice…”

Warmth spread through my body that had been chilled by the cold wind. My gloomy mood eased a little.

“M-my lady.”

Elly, who had been quietly watching from the side, finally spoke.

“Mm? What is it? It’s really tasty.”

I assumed she was worried I might spill the soup, so I hurried to praise it. After all, if I had restarted, I needed to get along with the maids again.

“M-my lady…”

But that wasn’t what Elly meant. Her voice trembled thinly, as if soaked through with tears.

Only then did I look at her directly. Her eyes were brimming with tears.

“W-wait, Elly.”

Startled, I grabbed her arm. She began to sob outright.

“Why are you crying? Tell me.”

I set the tray on the table and spoke soothingly.

Could she have an allergy to the soup I didn’t know about? Or was it because she hadn’t eaten in so long?

This was the first time I’d ever seen Elly like this, and I was flustered.

“M-my lady, y-you’ve… returned. My lady!”

With that tearful cry, Elly suddenly rushed at the bed. She threw her arms around me and broke down in loud sobs.

…Wait.

As I unconsciously embraced her back, one thought arose.

Returned…?

At that one word, the heart that had gone utterly limp began to beat again.