As the repeated cycles of death continued, a chilling thought would occasionally creep into my mind.
What if this was the final regression? What if this death became my true and final end? These vague concerns lingered incessantly.
Though these worries were unwarranted, there was no denying that every time the ability to turn back time activated, it brought an inevitable sense of unease.
The ability of infinite regression exacted no apparent toll on me. I could rewind time endlessly, returning as often as I wished to the moments preceding my demise.
Yet, this made me worry that this power might suddenly vanish at any moment.
You could say it’s like a candle that anyone capricious enough could blow out at a moment’s notice.
Perhaps it wasn’t the power itself I feared, but rather the very act of death. Each time I faced death, I felt something within me gradually erode.
“Huff…”
I gasped for breath and abruptly rose, closing my eyes tightly as my breathing grew rough. I repeated deep breaths, slowly regaining control.
When I opened my eyes, the princess was there, gazing at me.
Splattered blood on her cheeks, her white dress now half-drenched in red. She wiped her bloody hands while smiling faintly—a sight that seemed almost eerie.
“Are you alright?”
“…Yes.”
As she spoke, the princess extended her hand. I grasped her blood-streaked hand, and with great effort, slowly rose to my feet. My legs trembled, but leaning on her, I managed to take a tentative step.
“Here, take this.”
The princess handed me a roughly shaped blade. Its unique design resembled teeth or bristles, and there were magical engravings on the hilt. It was the knife that had belonged to the assassin who had killed me.
“What should I do with this?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it yours? Didn’t you claim it yourself, Miss Adelle?”
The princess spoke as if it were obvious. For some reason, her casual attitude gave me the creeps, and I instinctively averted my gaze.
She didn’t seem to notice my discomfort and instead gripped my hand firmly.
Her smile as she placed the knife into my hand felt strangely alien. The chill of her hand sent an involuntary shiver through mine.
“What do you think? Aren’t you one step closer to the truth?”
“…Is this the truth?”
“Yes. Though it’s merely a small part of it.”
The Emperor’s hand—according to her, those assassins were mere puppets of the royal family. Servants of the crown, manufactured killing machines deployed to eliminate those plotting treason.
This reality seemed distant and hard to grasp. That such beings existed and served the royal family was difficult to imagine. Still, I couldn’t refute it, having witnessed them firsthand.
My conflicted emotions must have shown on my face, as the princess spoke up.
“I understand. I’ve been there too.”
“You… how did you learn about them?”
“Hmm…”
She paused thoughtfully. Finally, looking at my trembling hands, she sighed before speaking.
“I possess a unique ability.”
The ability to read people’s hearts.
The princess’ eyes flashed. Not metaphorically—actual golden light seemed to radiate from her irises.
“Can… you read mine too?”
“Ahaha. Unfortunately, I can’t read Adelle’s heart.”
Seeing her genuine expression, a chill ran down my spine. The ability to read people’s hearts—was that really possible?
Thinking back, my friend had once mentioned, slightly regretfully, that the princess didn’t have much significance in the original story.
Could it be that was why? Perhaps due to her ability to read hearts.
And yet, she showed no particular response, seemingly unable to read my own thoughts.
“Ah, were you testing me just now?”
Her words startled me momentarily. I wondered if her claim of not being able to read my heart was a lie, but the princess shook her head.
“I already told you. I can’t read Adelle’s heart.”
“Then how…?”
“Adelle’s face is simply too honest right now.”
I looked down slightly, embarrassed.
Though my trembling had decreased since earlier, my hands were still shaking. I recalled my friend mentioning how I always wore my emotions plainly on my face during moments of unease.
To calm myself, I bit my lower lip tightly.
My previously dizzying head began to cool down.
“Hmm, you seem a bit better.”
“…What exactly is ‘The Emperor’s Hand’?”
Instead of answering my question, the princess stood from her chair. She approached the bloodied corpse leaning against the bookshelf and grabbed its neck, lifting it effortlessly despite its apparent weight.
“These are the weakest of the Emperor’s puppets.”
“Weakest?”
Considering how they had simply shattered my defenses and mindlessly tried to kill me…
As if to counter my thoughts, the princess began choking the corpse. There was a crackling sound, and the body collapsed, beginning to disintegrate into golden particles starting from the head.
“One might call them the pawns in a chess game—perhaps even less significant.”
“The royal family…?”
“Curious?”
She wiped the blood from her hands and questioned me. I shook my head. Honestly, she wasn’t about to tell me much even if I nodded.
‘The princess isn’t on my side.’
Regaining some clarity, this reality became clear. The princess had no intention of cooperating with me. Had she wanted to, she would’ve helped me before the assassin killed me. It wasn’t until I’d defeated the assassin myself that she finally intervened.
Perhaps this was a test. A test to see if I truly could defy the royal family.
I wasn’t about to ask for help from someone who was testing me—and certainly not someone who had left me to die.
“Interesting. Most people nod.”
“…May I leave now?”
“Of course. You’ve worked hard today.”
The princess readily agreed. Attempting to rise, I placed my hand on the desk, but my legs gave out, and I sat back down.
It seemed my body had relaxed too much, letting my strength ebb away.
“Irina.”
“Yes.”
The maid I’d seen before emerged from behind the bookshelf. Unlike her previously ordinary appearance, her skirt now concealed various weapons, and her overall demeanor was colder.
“Please escort Miss Adelle.”
“It shall be done.”
Her red eyes.
They resembled the eyes of the Emperor’s Hand I had encountered. Could it be that she too was one of the royal family’s puppets?
‘I can’t tell.’
It was overwhelming.
For now, however, it was best to follow her lead.
Leaning on the maid, I began to walk slowly. Just as I reached the door, the princess’ quiet voice called out.
“I’ll be expecting your next performance.”
It was a response I didn’t want to hear.
*
I collapsed onto my bed, every fiber of my body aching and tired.
Perhaps because I had met death not too long ago, my heightened senses refused to settle. The pain of the blade piercing my head lingered.
Knock, knock.
“Come in, Lily.”
At my voice, Lily cautiously opened the door and entered. Noticing my exhaustion, she approached with a concerned expression.
“Adelle…”
“…Lily.”
I tried to sit up to greet her, but even lifting a finger felt impossible. Lily shook her head as if to say it wasn’t necessary.
“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately.”
“I haven’t been.”
“No, you have.”
Lily’s firm reply rendered me speechless.
Despite her usual clumsy and naive nature, during moments like this, she displayed surprising maturity.
That must be why she was the only one from the mansion who remained on my side.
“You are pushing yourself, Adelle.”
There was no denying her words. For the past few days, I had overworked myself. I spent entire nights scavenging through the library of the duke’s mansion, searching every book, then extended my search to the palace library.
There, I died three times. With the princess’s help, it was manageable, but without her, I could only imagine how much worse it might have been. There were certainly more than ten corpses around her.
Now, looking back, Lily was right.
“…You’re correct.”
I had been too fixated on Abel’s betrayal of the royal family, and possibly the overwhelming fear that came with challenging the rulers of such a grand empire.
This fear had driven my restlessness, leading me to overwork myself.
“Adelle.”
Lily, sitting beside me, softly stroked my forehead. Her hands were ice-cold—or perhaps my forehead was feverish.
“Just because you walk fast doesn’t mean you can finish everything quickly.”
For some reason, there was a comforting calm in her icy touch.
“I trusted you because you approached me slowly and steadily.”
Had I really done so?
In the early stages of our encounter, I had acted hastily, trying desperately to make allies in the mansion. That had led me nowhere, with no one siding with me.
But by contrast, when I calmed down and approached her patiently, Lily eventually became my ally. Others who were originally hostile toward me had gradually begun to accept the changes in me, Adelle.
“Don’t rush.”
Because if you do, it’ll lead to nothing.
Lily added this with a gentle nod.
She was right. Being rash wouldn’t reveal the secrets of the palace any sooner.
“…Thank you, Lily.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing.”
When I patted her head, she smiled brightly, bringing a smile to my lips as well.
“By the way, the duke sent you a gift.”
“Hmm?”
Lily pointed to something on the vanity. Sitting up, I saw a glass diffuser and a note beside it.
[You’ve seemed exhausted lately, so I prepared a diffuser to help you sleep. It’s better to take care of yourself before worrying about others.]
The handwriting, though seemingly casual, showed genuine concern. Was it a response to the note I had received when he draped his coat over me?
I couldn’t help but smile.
The diffuser was clearly a magical item, not something easily obtainable.
“…I should thank him later.”
Even if he didn’t seem to show it, he really did have a considerate side.
