.Chapter 03.

I Regressed… and Ended Up with a Son

As expected, Leoni frowned.

“And what kind of new tactic is this supposed to be?”

“It’s not a tactic.”

I cleared my throat.

“I just… realized something.”

“I’ve spent all this time blindly chasing after you.”

“You always looked so brilliant.”

“So dazzling.”

“And… I envied you.”

This was the first time in my entire life that I had ever honestly admitted those words:

I envied you.

She must have realized how serious I was.

Leoni, who had been quietly listening, looked slightly different now.

I continued.

“You’re pretty.”

“Not unbelievably gorgeous, but you’re pretty.”

“You’re smart.”

“…Your personality, on the other hand, is awful.”

“Hey.”

Leoni frowned.

“You’re one to talk.”

She grumbled, but she didn’t interrupt me.

So I kept going.

“One day…”

“Well, I started thinking.”

Actually, it had been only moments ago—after regressing.

“But isn’t simply being alive a blessing?”

“If that’s true…”

“Shouldn’t I enjoy that blessing a little more?”

“…What?”

“Maybe…”

“I could just cheer you on.”

“Find what I want to do.”

“And live for my own happiness.”

I added with a playful smile,

“See?”

“Even though you obviously came here today just to make my life miserable, I didn’t get angry.”

“…”

She didn’t even deny the part about coming to make my life miserable.

Well…

She’d already accomplished that.

Feeling refreshed after finally saying everything I’d wanted to say, I scooped up a spoonful of brownie topped with ice cream and put it into my mouth.

Then—

“Ugh!”

I spat it right back out.

Across the table, Leoni nearly jumped out of her chair.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Are you pregnant?”

“As if!”

I shouted before I could stop myself.

The brownie was unbelievably sour…

And salty.

As though someone had deliberately poured vinegar and salt all over it.

Judging by the fact that Leoni looked perfectly fine…

Only mine had been tampered with.

The maid standing across the table from me briefly smirked before quickly composing herself.

I see.

Thinking back…

Around this time, the servants of House Bartoli had split into two factions.

The Lion Faction, who supported Leoni as the future Empress.

And the Lyre Faction, who supported me.

The head maid led the Lion Faction.

The butler tried to remain neutral, though he generally favored me.

These factions had formed when both Leoni and I were candidates to become Crown Princess.

Everything changed after the Crown Prince fell in love with Leoni at first sight.

Father’s favoritism toward her became blatant.

And the more openly he treated me as inferior…

The more subtle the harassment from the Lion Faction servants escalated.

And if I remember correctly…

The head chef who made the desserts belonged to the Lion Faction.

Of course, I could summon him and demand an explanation.

But then it would simply be dismissed as a servant’s “mistake.”

After all, servants deliberately bullying one of the ladies of the house was considered unthinkable.

To insist otherwise would be admitting that I possessed no authority whatsoever.

A noblewoman publicly humiliating a servant over a cooking mistake?

Perfectly possible.

But not appropriate while everyone was already comparing me to my younger sister.

If the butler had been nearby, he would have noticed and handled the situation himself.

Unfortunately…

He’d left to carry out Father’s orders.

Every servant remaining in the room was on Leoni’s side.

In the end, I barely touched my dessert before setting down my spoon.

Leoni, however, wasn’t eating much either.

She looked as though she were seriously considering everything I’d just said.

* * *

When it came time for Leoni to leave…

I did something I’d never once done in my entire life.

I walked her out.

Not just to the front entrance.

I accompanied her all the way to her carriage.

Has she gone insane?

My irritating little sister looked at me with exactly that expression.

The butler and the servants saw her off.

(Father, naturally, couldn’t even be bothered to step outside.)

Just before climbing into the carriage…

Leoni turned around.

“Hey.”

“Sophia.”

Now that Father wasn’t around, she’d gone right back to calling me by name.

Then again…

She always had.

Still…

Today, I could forgive anything.

I’d returned to the past.

A miracle had happened.

And I refused to repeat my previous life.

“What?”

I asked.

Leoni hesitated awkwardly before blurting out,

“You’re pretty too.”

“Not incredibly pretty…”

“But…”

She suddenly tossed a small box at me.

“Huh?”

Before I could react…

The carriage door slammed shut.

The horses started moving.

And she was gone.

* * *

She’s my sister…

But honestly, her personality is so weird.

Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed.

My entire body felt limp.

Just like the first day I’d ever ridden a horse.

I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been.

Then again…

I’d never expected to see both Leoni and the Marquis the moment I returned.

I reached toward my bedside table and picked up the small box she’d thrown at me.

It was a long velvet case.

Lying down, I opened it.

Inside…

Was a necklace.

A silver chain adorned with a large aquamarine.

The gemstone shone a vivid sky blue…

The same color as my eyes.

It was beautiful.

Wait…

I’d received this necklace before my regression as well.

It had arrived among the countless formal birthday gifts exchanged between noble families.

Because I hadn’t known who sent it…

I’d never worn it.

Who knew what kind of rumors that might start?

So…

Leoni was the one who gave it to me?

She came all the way here to make my life miserable…

Yet she’d also prepared a birthday gift?

Suspicious, I even tested it for poison.

Nothing.

No reaction at all.

Just then…

Something soft and fluffy brushed against my feet.

“Popo!”

I sat bolt upright.

Popo.

My pet white fox.

With fluffy white fur…

Tiny black eyes…

And an irresistibly adorable face.

He rubbed his head affectionately against my ankle before standing on his hind legs, whining for me to pick him up.

I lifted him into my arms and stroked his fur.

Popo happily nuzzled against me.

Goodness…

How could I have forgotten about Popo?

Especially during this period…

He’d practically been my reason for living.

Bessie entered the room and smiled as she watched him.

“I suppose it’s because Young Master Arnold gave him to you.”

“Lord Popo really adores you, Miss.”

“Ah…”

“Arnold…”

My fiancé.

The second son of a ducal family.

A man I’d become engaged to purely for political reasons.

Arnold wasn’t exactly a wonderful fiancé.

Still…

He cared enough about appearances.

Although he never personally wished me a happy birthday…

Every year he faithfully sent me a birthday gift.

One of those gifts…

Had been Popo.

And Popo…

That’s right.

A few months later…

He died after eating poison.

He’d licked some tea from my cup.

According to the physician…

The poison accumulated slowly inside a human body, destroying it over time without obvious symptoms.

But to animals…

It was immediately fatal.

Of course…

Leoni had been behind it.

The day Popo died…

I cried even harder than I had when my fiancé died.

But now…

Popo was alive.

Healthy.

Warm in my arms.

I gently stroked his face.

“You’re such a sweet little fox.”

Bessie gasped.

“Oh, Miss!”

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s a fox through and through!”

“He only wags his tail and acts cute when you’re around.”

“The moment you’re gone, trying to feed him turns into a full-scale war!”

I laughed.

“What an exaggeration.”

Just then—

Tap.

Tap.

Something pecked at the window.

“Coo! Coo!”

It was a snow-white pigeon.

My breath caught.

That pigeon…

It belonged to the assassination guild I frequently hired.

A terrible feeling settled over me.

Bessie opened the window.

The pigeon immediately flew over and landed beside me.

A tiny note was tied to its leg.

The message was written in code.

After decoding it, it read:

[“Lion” located. Elimination scheduled.]

“…!”

“Oh no.”

I shot to my feet.

Around this time…

I had already hired assassins to kill Leoni the moment she left the Imperial Palace.

And now…

She was heading back there…

Completely unaware.

Beside me, Bessie clapped excitedly.

“Miss, you’re incredible!”

“I heard everything outside the dining room!”

“Your acting was amazing!”

“You made Lady Leoni let her guard down before striking from behind, didn’t you?”

“No!”

“…Huh?”

There wasn’t time to explain.

I immediately shouted for the leader of the assassination guild.

“Bambi!”

“Bambi!”

I knew he probably wouldn’t answer.

He wasn’t by my side anymore.

Right now…

He was probably on his way to kill my sister.

Seriously…

Could this regression timing have been any worse?

I’d only just returned.

How was I supposed to remember every assassination request I’d made years ago?

No.

I couldn’t let this happen.

If Leoni died now…

I’d become nothing more than a lying older sister in her eyes.

I’d swallowed every ounce of my pride—

For the first time in my life…

Including my previous one…

I’d confessed my true feelings to that infuriating little sister.

I refused to let her believe that even that had been part of some elaborate scheme.

“Miss!”

“Where are you going?”

“To ride a horse!”

I was already halfway out the door when Bessie shouted after me.

“W-What?!”

“But, Miss…”

“You can’t ride horses!”

The twenty-one-year-old Sophia couldn’t.

But the Sophia from the future had learned.

The carriage wouldn’t be traveling very fast.

If I rode at full speed…

I might catch up.

Bambi knew my face.

If I reached him…

Surely I could stop the assassination.

Not a second could be wasted.

I sprinted toward the stables.

It was late evening.

Neither the stablemaster nor the servants were around.

I rushed inside and grabbed the first horse I saw.

The horse, which had been sleeping with its legs tucked beneath it, whinnied in surprise.

“Sorry…”

“Thunderroot.”

“It’s an emergency.”

I soothed the horse while climbing onto its back.

Whether its name was actually Thunderroot…

I had no idea.

The horse unfolded its legs and stood.

Only then did I realize something important.

I was still wearing my white chemise.

My nightgown.

Thankfully it wasn’t see-through.

But to keep my seat, I had to grip the horse tightly with both thighs.

That meant I had no choice but to gather the skirt behind me.

My indoor slippers dangled loosely from my feet.

My bare legs were completely exposed.

If anyone sees me…

They’re definitely going to think I’m insane.

But I had already traveled back through time.

There wasn’t much left for me to fear.

I gently pressed my heels against the horse’s sides.

“Thunderroot…”

“Let’s go!”