IBVM 02

Chapter 02

“…Gass—Miss, I told you not to sleep with your eyes open.”

Every time my body was shaken, my head throbbed. I pressed a hand hard against it.

What? My head? My hand?

How strange. My neck had just been severed by a blade—so why did my head ache like this?

“Cassion?”

“Cassioooon? What kind of novel character is Cassion now? Miss! I told you not to read novels before going to sleep.”

When I called the name of the person I had seen just before dying, a familiar yet youthful voice scolded me.

What is going on?

Clutching my head, I tried to gather my senses.

“Today is the day Count Kolkos is to be appointed as your guardian. How can you be so out of it on such an important day?”

The nagging continued.

Guardian. Royal palace. Count Kolkos… and the nagging voice—Zenith!

A bolt of lightning seemed to strike my mind. I sprang up and ran to the mirror.

My hand instinctively went to my neck. The neck that had been cleanly severed by a scythe was smooth, without even a scar. The grimy, miserable figure I had before dying was gone. Instead, a fair-skinned, adorable child stared back at me from the mirror.

“Zenith, how old am I right now?”

“Miss, are you feeling unwell? How old are you? You’re thirteen, of course.”

I was back. Back in the past—at age thirteen. Goosebumps rose all over my body. I clapped both hands over my gaping mouth.

“I’m back! I really came back, Zenith!”

I threw my arms around her.

“Oh my, Miss?”

Startled by the sudden hug, Zenith hesitated before hugging me back.

So that legend was true? Salvation meant turning one’s life back in time?

Questions piled up, but I ignored them. Now that I was alive again, the reason didn’t matter.

In that instant, I set my goal for this life.

The revenge you said you’d give me in hell—I’ll carry it out in this life.

And—

Crown Prince Cassion, this time, it’s my turn to save you.

I thought of Cassion, who had come all the way to the execution grounds to help me.

Though he was said to be dead, he was still a prince. And yet, he had stood by my side, someone accused of treason.

What had happened to him after my execution? There was no way his fate had been kind.

Compared to the trivial compassion I had given him, Cassion had given me far more than I deserved.

Joy at returning, relief at being alive, and hope for revenge surged together, and tears poured down my face.

“Miss? Did you have a nightmare?”

Zenith fidgeted beside me. I didn’t even try to hold back my sobs.

I wished everything I’d been through had been just a nightmare, but the boiling emotions in my chest proved it wasn’t a dream.

So now, it was time for revenge.

A week had already passed since I came back in time.

Enjoying the warm sunlight falling across my face, I wriggled beneath the covers. Bright sunlight streamed in through the window.

A cozy blanket scented faintly of lavender, roses arranged in a vase on the table—this room was so familiar that calling it familiar felt oddly redundant.

The comfort of familiarity wrapped around me. I wanted to sleep more, but I sat up.

“Cassion.”

Ever since I realized I’d regressed, he hadn’t left my thoughts.

That last moment was just too intense.

He had come to the execution grounds, throwing everything away, just because he’d helped me once. The capital, the royal palace—he must have hated them.

I wonder if he’s living well. I’m thirteen now, and he’s two years younger than me, so he must be eleven.

Thinking of his age left a bitter taste in my mouth. There was no way he could honestly be said to be living well.

His childhood had been miserable. A prince ignored by the king was bound to have a wretched life—but Cassion’s body was weak as well.

He was so thin he looked like nothing but skin and bones, much smaller than other children his age. His clothes and hygiene were terrible, too. The memory of his filthy appearance flashed through my mind.

As if that weren’t enough, there had even been someone who bullied him.

That bastard, Dason.

Thinking of the first prince who had driven me to my death, curses followed automatically.

“Miss, Count Kolkos has come to see you. Are you going to refuse to meet him again today?”

Zenith’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

Ever since I regressed, Count Kolkos had visited several times. Each time, I’d sent him away with one excuse or another.

I glanced at the date. It seemed I should meet him today.

“Tell him to wait.”

I slowly climbed out of bed.

Would I be able to suppress my anger when I saw Count Kolkos? That seemed doubtful.

“Don’t be so pathetic—just die already. The more you struggle, the more you disgrace the Irenber family. You don’t need to worry about the family. This Count Kolkos will become the head and lead it well.”

The words Count Kolkos had spat when he came all the way to the prison resurfaced in my mind. He’d pretended to love me, acting as though he were making some great sacrifice for my sake—only to reveal his true colors the moment I was imprisoned.

My imprisonment had probably been his doing as well. The man I’d trusted with my safety simply because we were blood-related was a snake, trying to swallow both me and the family whole.

No—leech. No, parasite fits better.

The parasite of my life.

Cursing him inwardly, I finished getting ready.

“You said he came because of the guardian issue?”

“Yes. The appointment that was supposed to happen last week was postponed.”

On the very first day after regressing, the first thing I did was suspend the guardian appointment. It threw the household into chaos. People came to ask me why.

I’d simply kept my mouth shut. I hadn’t yet thought about what would happen if I didn’t appoint Count Kolkos as my guardian.

I hated the guardian system itself.

The guardian system existed to protect both the family and its sole remaining heir if that heir was a minor.

Until the heir came of age and officially became the head of the family, the guardian would exercise the head’s authority in their stead.

In short, the guardian was both the minor head’s protector and the family’s true leader.

That was why the selection process was so strict. Some families even fought secret battles just to become guardians.

And yet Count Kolkos had been able to become one without any opposition—because I had fully supported him.

Back then, I really thought he cared about me. I had no idea he was planning to devour all my wealth and power.

Foolish past me—reflect on yourself!

Though the system was created with good intentions, it had many problems.

I grumbled inwardly.

Ugh, I just don’t want to appoint a guardian at all. There’s no guarantee anyone else would be better than Count Kolkos. I’d do a better job as head myself. Isn’t there some way around this? What a worthless law.

As my expression darkened, Zenith spoke gently.

“Miss, try not to worry too much. There may be pressure to appoint a guardian, but they won’t be able to do anything without your consent.”

Noticing my distaste for Count Kolkos, Zenith tried to comfort me.

She looked to the future optimistically—but if I didn’t act, Count Kolkos would naturally become my guardian.

Since I’d rather see the sky fall than make him my guardian, I needed to deal with him first.

No more dragging this out. Let’s put an end to it today.

I gave my outfit one last check and spoke to Zenith as I opened the door.

“Let’s go, Zenith.”

I would make it absolutely clear to the count that I was no longer the same person I used to be.

“It’s been a while, my niece.”

Tall and thin, with a face slick with oil, Count Kolkos greeted me with a broad smile.

Dressed in extravagant finery, he looked like a peacock drenched in water—overdone, yet pitiful.

According to what I’d learned after regressing, Count Kolkos’s financial situation was a mess.

He was greedy for money and business, but lacked any real skill.

Considering his finances, the famous designer clothes he wore and the more than ten rings on his fingers should have been far beyond his means.

And yet there he was, flaunting them. It wasn’t hard to guess what he’d been bragging about.

So he’s been telling people he’s become my guardian. Or at least that it’s certain he will.

Even the mere possibility of becoming the Irenber family’s guardian would change how banks treated him.

The thought of him selling the family name made irritation boil up.

Should I just turn around and leave? Do I really need to deal with him? Looking at that face any longer might make me throw up.

As I thought that, the count approached.

“I heard you’d been ill—your cheeks have gotten so thin. How pitiful.”

He spread his arms wide, trying to hug me. I stepped back. In the past, I would have thrown myself into his arms without hesitation. Count Kolkos’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t seem to be feeling well. Shall I come back another time?”

Swallowing the urge to tell him to get out, I jerked my chin toward the sofa. It would be better to finish this quickly and rest.

“Please, sit. I had something to say, and you came at just the right time.”

“Very well. We do have much to discuss. Hahaha.”

After being turned away so many times, Count Kolkos was delighted by even that small invitation. He sat across from me, smiling broadly.

“Shall I speak first, or would you like to, Uncle?”

“Speak about what?”

“You came because you had business, didn’t you? Or am I mistaken?”

“Not exactly. I heard you were very ill, so I came out of concern.”

Without even batting an eye, Count Kolkos lied.

There’s not a shred of sincerity in that.

The greed hidden in his drooping eyebrows and artificially carved wrinkles was now painfully obvious.

Why hadn’t I noticed before?

I let myself be swayed by fake comfort handed out like charity.

How foolish I’d been. Once again, I gave my past self a failing grade.

“If you have nothing to say, then I suppose I’ll speak.”

The count nodded, signaling for me to go on.

Even the way he straightened his posture as if to listen attentively was disgusting. I wondered if he could maintain that benevolent expression after hearing what I had to say. Enunciating clearly, I declared:

“I am withdrawing my plan to appoint you as my guardian.”

“W-What did you say?”

Count Kolkos’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.

He was so shocked that even his half-lifted backside twitched. I repeated myself clearly, once more.

“You cannot be my guardian.”

His eyes shattered in disbelief.

Were my eyes like that when he’d come to the prison and told me to die? A shiver ran through me at the thrill of revenge.