TVSI 02

Chapter 20

As cliché as it sounded, I almost thought it had all been a dream.

Could the massacre of my family by nineteen-year-old Emil have merely been a nightmare from the previous night?

But I quickly shook my head.

No matter how much I wanted to believe that, the sensation of a cold blade piercing through my stomach was far too vivid.

Even now, the memory felt painfully real.

What happened?

My trembling legs barely supported me as I stepped onto the floor. Noticing my instability, my nanny, Isana, quickly examined my face.

“My lady, are you alright?”

Isana looked far younger than she had on the day I died.

The wrinkles on her face were faint, and the strands of gray hair that had once been visible were now nearly gone.

“May I check your forehead? You don’t seem to have a fever.”

“N-No, I’m okay. I just had a bad dream.”

“You look pale. What kind of dream could possibly have frightened you this much? If you’re still unsettled, should I prepare some warm milk for you?”

“Yes, please.”

As soon as Isana left for the kitchen, I staggered toward the mirror.

Where had my seventeen-year-old self gone?

Instead, a small child stood before me, cheeks still soft with baby fat.

Back when I was older, I had grown my hair out, but now it only barely reached past my shoulders.

Ivory-colored hair, neatly parted and free of curls, gleamed softly with healthy shine.

Bright crimson eyes stared back at me, unable to hide their confusion.

There’s no mistake. This is real.

I had no idea how I had returned to the past.

Regression? Something like that should have been impossible.

Then suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

I knew someone who had gone back in time.

My mother.

Could Mom have regressed too?

It was possible.

I hadn’t seen my parents die myself, but Emil had admitted with his own lips that he had killed them.

Emil.

The moment his name crossed my mind, complicated emotions surged through me.

At the same time, questions followed.

What reason could he possibly have had to destroy my family?

Despite such a horrific event, the mansion had been eerily quiet.

The servants must have all been killed too.

“Urgh…”

It was horrifying enough to make me nauseous.

Even as I covered my mouth, the thick scent of blood from that night seemed to linger in my nose.

Had the madness that plagued the villainess finally awakened in Emil?

The Emil I saw then was nothing like the boy I knew.

The Emil I knew would never have done something like that.

What did he mean by living like puppets?

At present, the most likely explanation was that Emil had inherited the madness of the villainess, Robelin.

But the most important thing right now is this—even if I returned to the past, the same tragedy could happen again.

Just as my mother had hidden the truth about her twelve regressions from my father, I too had concealed the memories of my previous life.

I was afraid they would think I was strange.

Afraid that the family I had only just gained would abandon me someday.

Or distance themselves from me.

That fear had always lingered beneath my happiness.

On my fifteenth birthday, I had finally confessed my secret to my mother.

“Actually… I remember the life I lived before I was born.”

My mother had been startled for a moment.

Then she comforted me and confessed her own secret.

“Just like my daughter, you really are like me. The truth is… I’ve turned back time several times too.”

Until then, I had merely thought I had gained a family.

But at that moment, it truly felt like I had found one.

People who would understand me no matter who I was.

People who would accept me completely.

I couldn’t lose that peace again.

I knew too well what would happen if I let things repeat themselves.

First, I need to find out why Emil killed my family.

Once I had calmed down a little, I sank into a soft chair just as Isana returned.

“It’s a bit hot, my lady.”

“I’ll drink it slowly. Thank you.”

As I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, my wildly racing heart gradually settled.

“If you feel feverish or unwell, please tell me. His Excellency can cancel all the invitations if necessary.”

“Invitations?”

Come to think of it, I had forgotten.

I didn’t even know today’s date.

“Tomorrow is your birthday banquet, but your health is far more important.”

I had been about to ask anyway, but thanks to her explanation, I realized my current age.

Ten years old.

My tenth birthday banquet.

Coincidentally—

The very day Emil first appeared in public.

“We already sent an invitation to Young Master Calixte, but even if we postpone the event, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Draping a shawl over my shoulders, Isana smiled proudly at the color returning to my face.

“You look much better now. What a relief.”

“The milk helped. And I’m not sick, so there’s no need to cancel the banquet.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I pretend to be sick when I’m not, that would just be lying.”

The party had to happen.

That was how Emil would come.

Sooner or later, I would be entangled with him again.

I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

“What’s wrong with pretending a little? If my lady wishes it, His Excellency would cancel everything without hesitation.”

That’s true…

Father had always shown affection in countless ways.

Even if it were fake illness, a single word from me would make him abandon all his plans.

The shock of my family’s massacre and my regression still hadn’t fully faded, but by the time I finished my milk, the trembling had eased.

“It’ll soon be breakfast time. Since it’s chilly today, I’ll prepare a thicker dress for you.”

After checking my empty cup, Isana instructed a maid to prepare washing water.

With her help, I washed, changed clothes, and had my hair carefully brushed before finally being guided to the dining room.

I carefully sat down so the folds of my pale gray dress wouldn’t wrinkle.

Across the round table, my mother gently smiled.

“Did you sleep well?”

I should have nodded like usual.

But the moment I saw her face, the image of bloodied footprints trailing through the hallway flashed in my mind.

No matter how much it hurt to remember, I couldn’t erase it.

Since I had already shown signs of distress, she would probably hear about my condition from Isana anyway.

More importantly—

Since I had regressed right after dying, perhaps my mother, who had experienced countless regressions herself, had too.

Did Mom regress as well?

I only answered after her expression shifted from confusion to concern.

“I had a bad dream, but I’m okay now. In the dream… you and Dad died in an accident and left me behind. I was really scared. But after seeing your face, I realized it was just a dream.”

If my mother had regressed too, she would understand the hidden meaning behind my words.

But her response was different.

“Do you want a hug, sweetheart?”

I flinched, almost refusing.

Then I walked into her arms.

“Your father and I are strong, so don’t worry. People say dreams mean the opposite, don’t they? You’re not feeling pressured about the birthday banquet, are you?”

“No.”

“If you want, we can cancel it. You can always tell me if you’re uncomfortable.”

Contrary to my expectations, there was no sign that my mother had regressed like me.

Still—

It was a relief.

Her warmth felt so comforting that I almost wondered if everything had truly been a dream.

Maybe I just wanted to deny my memories.

Or perhaps I needed someone to lean on.

“Is your mood bad because of the dream?”

“…Is it obvious?”

“You’ve always been the type to endure things alone. If it were because of the banquet, we could simply cancel it. But dreams aren’t something your mother can erase. Instead, shall we take a walk after breakfast to help you feel better?”

Her gentle voice made me smile faintly.

“Okay.”

I’ll continue Part 2 (father arriving, birthday preparation, and Bell preparing to meet ten-year-old Emil again) in the next message.