Chapter 2

It had been a long time since I’d walked to the dining room.

I never imagined I’d be walking down this hallway again.

When I stopped in front of the door, the servants bowed deeply. After announcing my arrival, they opened it for me.

A familiar scene unfolded before my eyes.

At the far end of the long dining table sat two people.

The first person I looked at was my father, the Marquis Bartoli, seated at the head of the table.

He looked so young.

So healthy.

For a moment, my breath caught in my throat.

Why hadn’t I thought of this?

If I had returned…

Then Father must have returned as well.

My thoughts became tangled, but thanks to years of etiquette training, I found myself greeting him automatically.

“You’re late.”

Father frowned as he spoke.

As if even scolding me further would be more attention than I deserved.

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

I answered politely and took my seat.

I pretended to remain calm, but my hands trembled slightly.

When I looked up, Leonie was sitting across from me.

Leonie ta Bartoli.

Ash-blond hair.

Light green eyes.

A girl who looked exactly like Father.

My younger sister smiled brightly.

“Hello, Sister.”

“…Hello.”

Leonie’s eyes widened.

She clearly hadn’t expected me to answer.

Those emerald-green eyes…

When the future Leonie drove her sword through my heart, they had been the last thing I saw shining through my fading vision.

For an instant, my chest seemed to ache again.

I resisted the urge to press a hand against it.

But the girl before me wasn’t the Leonie who had killed me.

She was nineteen years old.

Young.

Full of life.

A younger sister who carried herself with the confidence of someone who already owned the world.

After traveling back through time, I could finally look objectively at my childhood.

“Pathetic.”

“There’s truly nothing you’re better at than your younger sister.”

“You’re the disgrace of House Bartoli.”

All my life, I feared my father, who despised me.

At the same time, I desperately longed for his love.

But not once—not for a single moment until the day he died of old age—had he ever loved me.

“Live as though you’re already dead.
Don’t become a burden to the family.”

Those were the last words he left me.

Unlike my sisters, I could neither become the next Empress nor prove myself a genius.

I was merely the incapable eldest daughter.

A daughter unworthy of love.

The more Father compared Leonie and me…

The more he favored her…

The more openly he despised me…

The more I hated Leonie.

And Leonie came to hate me in return.

In the end, it was Father who had controlled my entire life.

I only realized that after he died.

By then, however, I had already become like a runaway train racing toward a predetermined destination.

I couldn’t stop.

Only death brought it to an end.

The true cause of everything.

He didn’t deserve to be called Father anymore.

From now on…

He was just that old bastard.

The servants began bringing out dinner.

“Oh, right. Leonie, what brings you home this time?”

The old bastard’s voice, when addressing Leonie, was impossibly gentle.

Leonie responded with exaggerated cuteness.

“Why? Don’t you want me here? Did I come too suddenly?”

“O-Of course not. I know you’re busy. I was simply wondering what brought you back.”

Give me a break.

It was obvious he was worried something had gone wrong between her and the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately for the me of this time…

There was no chance of that.

The Crown Prince had fallen in love with Leonie at first sight, pursued her passionately, and would eventually marry her.

Leonie answered,

“It’s because there’s going to be a ball at the Imperial Palace soon, isn’t there? For Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday.”

The old bastard nodded.

“That’s right. Why?”

“…Do you need another dress? More jewelry?”

“Not exactly…”

Leonie lowered her eyes shyly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The sentimental feelings I’d briefly had upon seeing her again instantly shattered.

She’s just as irritating as ever!

As if she lacked anything!

The Crown Prince practically showered her with gifts!

Besides, House Bartoli was one of the Empire’s most prestigious marquis families.

“When your great-grandmother and grandmother—both future Empresses—were Crown Princesses, they spared no expense preparing for Her Majesty’s birthday celebrations. It’s an excellent opportunity to leave a good impression on the Imperial Family. Tell the butler whatever you need.”

“Father… actually…”

Leonie glanced toward me.

The moment she did…

A terrible premonition struck me.

A distant memory from my previous life resurfaced.

Back then…

Leonie had…

“You know the dress you gave my sister years ago? The engagement gift?”

“Oh, that.”

The old bastard answered casually.

My heart sank.

Three years ago, at my engagement ceremony…

He had given me a dress.

The first.

And the last.

Of course, it wasn’t because he wanted to.

My late grandmother had pressured him into it.

He also needed to save face before the ducal family.

It was never a gift born of affection.

Yet because of that…

It was unimaginably extravagant.

Layers upon layers of deep emerald fabric, almost blue in color.

Intricate gold embroidery.

Hundreds of yellow topazes sewn one by one across the surface until they sparkled like butterflies.

The only luxury I had ever allowed myself.

I had spent my entire life living frugally—desperately trying to earn Father’s approval and prove I could become a worthy Empress.

“It’s more than someone like you deserves.
Remember that, and know your place.”

“Y-Yes.
I will.
Thank you… Father.”

To me…

That dress had been the only proof that perhaps, despite everything…

The Marquis still loved me.

And now Leonie spoke of it so casually.

“Since there’s already such a beautiful dress, wouldn’t buying another one be unnecessary? Her Majesty is known for being frugal. I think she’d appreciate it more if I simply altered an existing dress instead of making a new one. Besides… Sister has never even worn it.”

No.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t worn it.

I couldn’t.

I loved it too much.

It was too precious.

You knew that, Leonie ta Bartoli.

Besides…

Leonie was shorter than I was.

If the dress were altered to fit her…

I would never be able to wear it.

Once shortened, it couldn’t truly be restored.

A younger sister taking away her elder sister’s engagement gift.

It was absurd.

Ordinarily…

Father should have reprimanded her.

But I already knew he wouldn’t.

Exactly as I remembered…

He nodded warmly.

“You’re right, Leonie.

How would you like it altered?

Shall I call someone immediately?”

“Oh, Father.

If the Imperial Palace maids do the alterations, people will hear that the future Crown Princess is modest and thrifty.

Please send it directly to the palace.”

“I see.

That’s an excellent idea.”

He called over the butler waiting nearby.

“Have one of the maids bring the dress out.

Send it to the Imperial Palace immediately so Leonie can receive it when she returns.”

“At once, my lord.”

Everything happened before I had even opened my mouth.

The butler briefly looked at me with apologetic eyes.

Only for a moment.

Then he simply carried out his orders.

Leonie smiled sweetly at the old bastard.

“Thank you, Father.

I’m so happy.”

Then she turned toward me with a smiling gaze.

“Thank you for giving me the dress, Sister.

I’ll treasure it.”

While I sat there speechless…

The old bastard smiled proudly.

“What a kind girl.”

Of course…

He wasn’t talking about me.

He was praising Leonie for taking it away.

I slowly inhaled…

And exhaled.

It’s okay, Sophia.

You can endure this.

In my previous life…

I hadn’t.

I was so heartbroken that tears streamed down my face on the spot.

I couldn’t even get angry.

I was simply too wronged to speak.

The old bastard clicked his tongue.

“And you’re supposed to be the eldest daughter?”

Leonie pretended to apologize.

“Sister, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I just thought you’d do this much for me. Besides… I think the dress suits me better than you…”

She only twisted the knife deeper.

Soon afterward…

I was dismissed from the dinner table.

Even now, remembering it made my blood boil.

But the important thing was this:

I had never possessed the right to refuse in the first place.

So…

Instead of crying…

I smiled warmly at my younger sister.

“What are you thanking me for, Leonie?

Doing this much for my little sister is only natural.

If you’d liked my dress so much, you should’ve told me sooner.

I’m sure it’ll suit you far better than it ever suited me.”

Leonie’s eyes went wide.

So did the maids nervously watching from the corner.

They had probably expected me to throw a tantrum.

Or at least burst into tears.

But compared to everything I’d suffered before returning…

This was nothing.

If it meant changing my fate…

I could endure far worse than this.

* * *

Fortunately…

The old bastard never stayed for dessert.

Which meant…

Dessert would be just Leonie and me.

The perfect opportunity to say what I truly wanted.

The rich chocolate brownies topped with ice cream were entirely Leonie’s favorite.

I stared silently at the dessert without complaining, organizing my thoughts.

Once I’d made up my mind, I picked up my fork.

Our eyes met.

Leonie hadn’t taken a single bite.

What’s gotten into her?

That brownie addict usually attacked her dessert the instant the tea arrived.

Don’t tell me…

Was she actually waiting for me?

Just as a tiny spark of hope appeared…

Leonie asked bluntly,

“Did you poison it?”

“…What?!”

“I don’t think you’d be careless enough to make it obvious, but…”

She reached into her pocket.

And pulled out…

A silver spoon.

Seriously?!

Ignoring my dumbfounded expression, the infuriating girl dipped the silver spoon into the tea, rubbed it along the rim of the teacup, then poked the ice cream and the brownie as well.

Only after confirming the silver hadn’t changed color did she finally take a bite.

How ridiculously thorough.

It was enough to make my blood pressure rise.

Calm down.

Be patient.

I had only just returned today.

And I had things I needed to accomplish.

Taking a slow breath, I spoke calmly.

“I’m giving up on becoming Empress.”