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chapter 01
Birds chirped over the wide town square.
Beneath the clear blue sky, everyone strolling through the plaza wore peaceful, contented expressions.
Then—
“What the hell is this?! Do you want to die?!”
A furious shout shattered the tranquil atmosphere.
The voice belonged to a little boy, no older than seven. His delicate, almost pretty features contrasted sharply with the rage twisting his face as he stamped his feet in frustration.
Before him, a maid in servant’s attire knelt on the ground, desperately begging for forgiveness.
Yet not a single person dared step forward.
The growing commotion caused passersby to stop and watch from a distance.
“Oh dear… Someone should stop him, shouldn’t they?”
A kind-looking middle-aged woman murmured sympathetically.
But who would dare?
The boy was obviously the child of a powerful noble family.
His fine suspenders and tailored shirt were made from expensive cloth, and only someone raised in absolute privilege would dare throw such a loud tantrum in a public square without the slightest concern for others.
That arrogant confidence…
It wasn’t something a person who had grown up watching others’ moods could ever possess.
From the snippets of conversation, it seemed the maid had accidentally stained his clothes.
The mark itself was barely visible, and most people thought his reaction was absurdly excessive.
Even so…
No one spoke.
No one intervened.
Everyone simply looked away.
“That’s Duke Rogato’s son,” someone whispered.
“How could any of us interfere?”
The moment the name Duke Rogato was spoken, even those who had pitied the maid fell silent.
The Duke of Rogato was one of the untouchable nobles of the capital.
In the end…
Everyone abandoned the maid to her fate.
“I-I’m so sorry, Young Master Vincent… I’ll clean it immediately.”
The maid sniffled as she apologized.
But Vincent’s anger only grew.
Finally, the little boy clenched his tiny fist and raised it high.
Small or not, a tightly clenched fist like that would leave bruises.
If it struck her eye…
It could be dangerous.
Yet there was nothing the maid could do.
She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the inevitable blow.
Then—
Footsteps echoed confidently across the square.
Click.
Click.
Click.
They were so steady and fearless that even Vincent lowered his fist and turned toward the sound.
“…What?”
A little girl stood there.
She looked about the same age as Vincent.
Her small lips were pressed together stubbornly, and the pale green eyes fixed on him carried an authority that instinctively made others straighten themselves.
Just meeting her gaze made him feel strangely pressured.
Almost…
As though he were standing before the respected elder of a great family.
It was an aura no child should possess.
Humiliation welled up inside Vincent.
Who does this little brat think she is?!
“Who are you?! Get lost!”
He shoved the girl, intending to knock her aside.
Instead—
Thud.
His own hand stung painfully.
It felt as though he had shoved a solid stone wall.
“What…?”
While Vincent was still trying to hide his bewilderment, the girl finally spoke.
“That’s not allowed.”
“What?”
She seemed to think for a moment.
Then, just like Vincent had done earlier…
She slowly raised her own fist.
It was much smaller than his.
Vincent let out a mocking snort, about to laugh at her.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The girl’s punch shot past him and struck the stone wall behind him.
The massive wall exploded apart as though it had been hit by a siege weapon, chunks of stone flying in every direction.
The girl lowered her fist calmly.
“If you’re bad…”
She looked straight at him.
“…I’ll punish you.”
Vincent fainted on the spot.
The little girl quietly walked away from the scene as though nothing had happened.
“…Going back in time really was worth it.”
She muttered to herself.
* * *
Everything had begun long before Adele returned to the past.
“Even after I die… I’ll curse you forever.”
A man had glared at her with bloodshot eyes as he uttered those final words.
His name was Vincent Rogato.
A traitor who had joined hands with a foreign nation to destroy his own homeland.
And the one who had driven a sword through the neck of the man everyone hated and despised…
…was Adele, the kingdom’s most honored knight.
Vincent had never seemed like someone capable of casting curses.
Yet perhaps…
Perhaps he truly had.
Ever since Vincent’s death, Adele couldn’t stop thinking that.
Otherwise…
Why, out of the countless deaths she had witnessed throughout her life, was that one scene the only one that refused to leave her mind?
She hadn’t even known Vincent personally.
So why him?
While Adele was lost in those thoughts, someone stopped before her and saluted.
One of her subordinates.
What was his name again…?
She struggled to remember, though even his face felt strangely blurry.
Meanwhile, the young knight beamed excitedly.
“Commander! I heard you’re finally being granted your own territory today!”
“…That’s right.”
“Man, I’m so jealous.”
Jealous?
What exactly was there to envy?
Even looking into the subordinate’s sparkling, admiring eyes, Adele felt absolutely nothing.
Receiving a reward…
It somehow seemed meaningless.
“Want it instead?”
“…Huh? Hahaha! You’re joking!”
I’m not.
“Have you decided what you’ll call your estate?”
At that moment…
The color of Vincent’s hair flashed across her mind.
“…Gray.”
“Adele Gray? Isn’t that a little too simple?”
Leaving her chuckling subordinate behind, Adele headed toward the audience chamber to meet the king.
Today marked exactly one year since the war had ended.
Although Adele had contributed more than anyone else to the kingdom’s victory, her rewards had been delayed because of Vincent.
The war had lasted two long years, leaving the kingdom slow to recover.
Even so…
Its people had persevered.
Just yesterday, the final dam had been restored.
If the heavens granted favorable weather, the harvest would flourish, and everyone would finally be able to live in peace.
A peaceful life…
What does that even feel like?
When she entered the audience chamber, the king and queen sat together upon their thrones.
Even Adele, who cared little for appearances, had to admit they looked perfectly matched.
If life were a novel…
Surely those two would be its protagonists.
The queen possessed flowing golden hair, brilliant blue eyes that seemed to hold all the light in the world, and rosy cheeks like blooming petals.
One year ago…
She had also been Vincent’s first love.
And his only love.
The same Vincent whom Adele had killed with her own hands.
Damn… I’m thinking about Vincent again…
Just then, the king spoke.
He had once been Vincent’s longtime romantic rival.
“Why that expression? Surely you know why I summoned you.”
His captivating smile had won the hearts of countless people—
And earned Vincent’s hatred.
Please… stop making me think about Vincent…
Adele gave her head a slight shake and answered.
“I know.”
“Good. So then, what do you intend to do with the vast territory I’m granting you?”
“I plan to retire.”
“And spend the rest of my life quietly managing the estate.”
Silence swept through the hall.
The queen was the first to react.
Tears welled in her eyes as she hurried down from the throne and grasped Adele’s rough hands with her own soft, delicate ones.
“No.”
“My proud friend…”
“Please don’t leave me.”
Friend?
Since when had they become friends?
Adele couldn’t remember.
Although…
Now that she thought about it…
Maybe they had?
Something feels… off.
“What will I do without Sir Adele?”
“The kingdom only enjoys peace because of everything you’ve done.”
“There are no enemies left to threaten this peace.”
“I don’t think I’m needed anymore.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
The king joined in.
“Our dear friend has a bright future ahead.”
“And you’d simply throw it all away?”
Friend?
Since when had she and the king become friends?
No matter how hard she searched her memories…
She wasn’t particularly close to either of them.
…Or was I?
In the end, unable to withstand the combined persuasion of the king and queen—who stubbornly insisted they were close friends—
Adele left the audience chamber without ever having the chance to present the resignation letter she had prepared.
* * *
Another year passed.
Yet Vincent’s ghost continued to haunt Adele’s thoughts.
Why can’t I stop thinking about Vincent Rogato?
Unable to endure the mystery any longer, she headed to the Royal Library’s archive dedicated to noble families.
Surely there would be records of Vincent’s life there.
Perhaps she could even discover whether he had truly been capable of placing a curse.
Once she found a solution…
She intended to rid herself of thoughts of that infuriating man forever.
“Oh my! Sir Knight!”
“It’s an honor to meet you!”
The librarian recognized Adele immediately and greeted her enthusiastically.
By now, she had grown accustomed to receiving this sort of welcome wherever she went.
“I’d like to see the records on Vincent Rogato.”
The moment Vincent’s name was spoken…
The librarian’s face turned pale.
She clearly wondered why the kingdom’s greatest hero wanted information on the traitor who had nearly brought disaster upon the nation.
“It’s classified.”
Too lazy to explain, Adele answered in a low voice.
The librarian’s cheeks flushed slightly.
She nodded repeatedly with wide eyes.
“O-Of course.”
Following the librarian’s guidance, Adele was led to a section where the records of the House of Rogato were neatly organized upon the shelves.
