Chapter 65: Act 1 – The Burning City
Commonly known as Axidor.
When I first came across this novel, I thought it was simply a romance fantasy.
About a modern-day protagonist who reincarnates as the so-called “evil female lead” and changes those around her to avoid her impending bad ending—a truly common take in the genre.
However, there were two distinct differences setting this novel apart from typical evil-protagonist romance fantasies.
First, the protagonist knows next to nothing about the original story.
At most, she knows the evil female lead is executed and some settings relayed by a friend who read the book.
Second, the protagonist wields the unfair power of infinite regression.
Save points are randomly generated, and she can return to these points either willingly or upon dying.
At first glance, it may seem like a story where the protagonist wreaks havoc, but it was anything but.
“It was a tragedy.”
Even before becoming the evil female lead, she was marked as one and was compelled to take any actions to survive.
Processes like death or torture became all too common in her experience.
When I reflect on it now, I wonder what drove the author to subject the protagonist to such torment.
Knock.
I was lost in thought when the sound of knocking came from the office door.
“Enter.”
The door slowly opened, and an elderly butler appeared.
His snow-white hair, weathered face, and yet sharp gaze defied his frail appearance.
His name is Alan, a butler in the Hardenberg Dukedom who served us since my childhood.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
“Speak freely. There’s no need to hesitate.”
At my words, Alan paused briefly before speaking.
“Lady Estelle, the Countess, has arrived.”
“…Is that so?”
Has it already reached that point in the original story?
Not really—it’s been nearly 20 years since I reincarnated as the male protagonist.
As I paused in thought, Alan spoke up.
“What are your orders?”
“Let her in once I have finished dealing with business.”
“Understood, Duke Hardenberg.”
Alan bowed his head and closed the door behind him. I looked at his retreating back and turned my gaze to the papers on my desk.
“So many…”
In the past, I found it quite a struggle to handle even a single document.
Back then, I was merely 7 years old when my father—well, the man I called father—locked me in a room for a couple of days without food simply as a form of “discipline.”
The memory now leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
No matter that my mother passed away in childbirth, how could one so cruelly mistreat their own child?
And it didn’t stop at confinement—training under the guise of discipline often nearly killed me.
I can’t forget the feeling of facing death each time.
“Hmm…”
Without the memories from my past life, I might have gone mad from the abuse.
The original Duke Hardenberg was practically Yandere, bordering on insanity.
Honestly, I can’t even confidently say I haven’t gone mad myself.
Most people with mental illnesses don’t realize they’re ill, after all.
‘Pointless thoughts.’
The approach of that part of the story has made me unduly sentimental.
Putting idle thoughts to the side, I returned to the piles of documents on my desk, finally leaning back in my chair.
The seat support is a bit uncomfortable, but I remembered the chair from my previous life was far more comfortable by comparison.
Even the finest chairs here fail to meet my standards.
It was during this reverie that I sensed movement at the door of my office.
Knock.
The sound of knocking brought a smirk to my face. Did he calculate the time it would take me to finish my work? Alan truly is an excellent butler.
“Come in.”
Alan entered, bowing slightly.
“Have you completed your work?”
“Yes. What about Lady Estelle?”
“She waits in the reception room.”
“Tell her she may enter.”
“Very well, my Lord.”
With that, Alan bowed again and departed.
‘So, this is where it begins.’
For the protagonist, who has already suffered through numerous tragic twists and turns.
In the story, the protagonist, desperate to escape the fate the plot has laid out for her, seeks an alliance with the Duke of Hardenberg—a character often referred to as the villain.
In the original work, the Duke of Hardenberg grants an audience with the notorious “evil female lead” out of intrigue.
Through information gathered through multiple loops of time regression and the unique qualities of her own family, the protagonist catches his interest.
Ultimately, through negotiation, the protagonist secures a contract marriage with Abel.
The usual cliché of a contract marriage in romance fantasies.
After this, the protagonist gains a foothold in the story’s world, leading to an engaging mix of satisfying twists of fate and romantic developments.
Of course, this was all temporary before the tragedy resumed.
The readers complained bitterly, but the tragedy continued regardless.
‘…Tiresome, I suppose.’
Though a tragic tale, its writing strength was commendable, and I read it through to the very end.
Looking back, finishing the story, with all its harshness, was a stroke of genius—had I not, I might’ve fallen victim to the same tragic fate as the protagonist.
Knock.
“Lady Estelle has arrived.”
‘This is it—the true beginning.’
“How many times now?”
I can barely remember anymore. No matter what I do, my end remains unchanged.
Even if I befriend the protagonist, in one way or another, I am crushed by her followers or the Crown Prince.
Even if I turn to other male characters in the original story, their disdain is palpable.
The aristocratic world is far more cutthroat than imagined—once shunned by society, opportunities vanish completely.
Even as the Countess, there is no second chance.
After countless loops, the only thing left to me is enough magical prowess to protect myself.
Ambushes, poisonings, kidnappings—all these dangers have driven me to improve my abilities.
If the save points generated at random moments don’t cooperate, it’s back to square one.
“Lord Hardenberg requests you wait until his business concludes.”
“I understand.”
This treatment, which would normally seem rude among nobles, is tolerable when the recipient is a Duke and the visitor a mere Countess.
Besides, I came without prior notice, so I have no moral high ground on manners.
‘Still, the decor is stunning.’
Be it the silver chandeliers, the lavish wallpaper, or chairs cushioned with magic, even these modest comforts are treasures to me.
On the wall hang the portraits of the heads of the Hardenberg family.
One, in particular, caught my eye.
Silver hair, gray eyes, an unmistakable scar across his face, dressed in fine attire.
Certainly, this was Abel Hardenberg, the master antagonist who pushed the protagonist to the brink of ruin.
‘And here I am, seeking his help.’
Like throwing myself into the mouth of a tiger, even armed with my regression ability and knowledge, he is far from someone to underestimate.
I swallowed hard with tension when Alan addressed me.
“Please follow me. The Duke’s work will soon be finished.”
Adjusting my breath as best I could, I rose from my seat. Alan adjusted his pace to match mine while leading the way to the Duke’s office.
The opulent corridors passed me in a blur as my focus was on the approaching moment of truth.
How could I resist the tension knowing he may be the key to altering my tragic endings?
How long did we walk? Finally stopping before an elegant wooden door, Alan raised his hand and knocked.
Knock.
“Lady Estelle has arrived.”
The office remained silent after Alan’s announcement. Perhaps he had left the room to toy with me—a thought not far-fetched, considering my reputation as the so-called evil female lead.
Just as various ominous thoughts ran through my mind, a voice finally answered from within.
“Let her in.”
The door opened, and I stepped inside cautiously.
The sight that greeted me was a room full of classic furnishings made from dark wood. At the center, a man sat in a chair behind an old-fashioned desk.
Silver hair, gray eyes.
A gaze sharp enough to cut steel and a chilling aura surrounded this individual. His beauty transcended the human form.
The image before me, far surpassing even the portrait’s depiction, left me momentarily entranced.
“…What are you doing?”
Abel’s voice, edged with irritation, snapped me back to reality.
I quickly collected myself and spoke, “I apologize for my rudeness. It is a pleasure to meet you, Duke Hardenberg.”
“That will do. I wasn’t really criticizing, so no need to worry.”
“I thank you for your leniency.”
“So, what brings you here?”
‘This is it.’
I must win him over, no matter the cost. To achieve that, I’m ready to use my regression abilities hundreds of times if necessary.
