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“Ah.”

Shione stared blankly into the mirror, seeing the image of her past that she had vowed never to return to.

With a sense of despair and self-loathing, she found herself crushed under the weight of her own will to change. She felt like a beast grazing in a pen, hiding in her room every day, just consuming food.

“…That’s a lie.”

She gazed at the mirror for a while longer in disbelief before finally getting to her feet.

“Huh…”

Even the act of standing felt irritating, as her terrible physical condition flooded her mind with negativity.

“Princess Shione, are you alright!”

A familiar voice called from outside, and Shione Shianella remained frozen, her hand resting on the table beside her.

Creeeak!

The old wooden door creaked open, revealing her. She was definitely not someone she could take lightly.

“I heard a loud noise from your room…!”

Shione briefly turned to look at the figure reflected in the mirror, then shut her eyes tightly.

Slowly turning her body to face the intruder, she said, “No… It’s nothing.”

The woman who had cared for her after her father passed away from illness, shortly after Sion was born, had been more than just a maid. She had been her rock for over half of her life.

“Herrel.”

In addition, she was part of this family’s maidservants. Specifically, she was the one who cared for Shione when she lived like a wreck in her room.

“Are you really alright?”

“Really—”

Even when everyone blamed her, she was the only one who had always treated her warmly.

“…It’s nothing.”

But ultimately, even the one she had trusted would secretly hurt her with words more piercing than any other.

With slightly trembling eyes, Shione could not fully meet her gaze as she commanded, “It was just a slip. Please leave.”

“If that’s how you command, Princess Shione… if you need anything, just call me anytime. I will always be on standby.”

Herrel left, bearing a puzzled expression but quietly closing the door behind her.

Shione remained for a long moment, unable to turn away from her door, then finally sat down in the chair before the table where she had leaned.

“What on earth is going on here…?”

Everything was incomprehensible. She was certain she had been fighting to retrieve the arrangements left by the founding head of the elves in the Great Forest.

“Why am I even here? What is this mess?”

Why was the sight before her filled with the stench of her own room?

What happened to her reflection, all matted hair down to her waist, vowing never to return?

“Ray. Where did Ray go…?”

Even Ray, who had been with her, seemed to have vanished.

Everything was utterly chaotic, and she needed a moment to think.

*

“That bastard.”

What will happen if I pass out in such a hectic situation? It’s driving me nuts.

According to Edelin, once absorbing the fragment of Shianella’s soul, the trials she left behind would come forth.

Seeing her lying unmoving, it didn’t seem like she would get up even if I hit her. Based on experience, most who got caught in such trials ended up defenseless, unable to awaken even if an orc tried to crack their skull.

“Orna, since you don’t know, stick close to Shione and try to wake her up. Tania and Elvis, focus on holding out from now on.”

—Myaang!

—…This is annoying. The mana’s so thin I can hardly use magic.

—Sister, no matter how bad it is, don’t talk gently to Dad!

—It’s true, so what? Changsik, instead of spending time arguing, block that side.

Centered on Shione’s protection, Edelin and the Royal Guards began to organize themselves.

“We’ll hold here until the Hero awakens, and until the Grand Elder secures the arrangements!”

With the shouts of the Royal Guards, a magic circle suddenly appeared on the level land, just in time.

Edelin, already at the center of the field, began to spread the magic circle, using her blood as a medium—leaving a long scar on her hand. At last, the guards’ expressions began to brighten.

‘A spell using the precious blood of a High Elf.’

Regardless of the situation, the moment the great magic is completed, I thought I could escape this hellish endurance, let out a small sigh, and entered battle.

The bow’s greatest advantage over the sword is its range. But now, the sword was more convenient for handling the enemies closing in.

Without hesitation, I drew my sword, beheading foes and firing arrows.

And in that moment, amidst the most peaceful contemplation, was a small spirit.

“Myaaa.”

Flapping its tiny wings, the Cotton Puff hovered before Shione’s sleeping face, displaying a steady flight.

“Hew.”

Orna, looking at Shione with a face of pity, pondered how to awaken her.

“Myaang!”

The first idea came to mind!

Orna approached Shione’s sleeping face, lifting its small, fluffy paw.

Whap!

Even after slapping her cheek, Shione didn’t budge.

“Keh…”

Orna thought.

This isn’t enough… Ah, maybe a little more wind?

So with a bit of mana, it conjured a slight breeze to slap Shione again.

Whap!

But still, she didn’t wake. Frustrated, Orna puffed up its cotton and began to vent its anger.

Whap whap!

Whap whap whap whap!!

“Keheng!”

Finally, the sulking Cotton Puff clung to Shione’s face and bit her cheek.

“Hmph…”

The offended Cotton Puff was decidedly displeased with Shione.

Wake up, darn it! Not waking up at all.

Friendship privileges revoked.

*

“…Ugh!?”

While quietly covering her face with her hands, lost in thought, Shione suddenly felt a sharp pain on her right cheek and jolted her head up.

Looking puzzled, she rubbed her cheek and sighed.

“Somehow, this is…”

One thing she could guess.

Unless it was that, such a reversal of time wouldn’t happen.

She could somewhat grasp the situation, but had no idea what she needed to do to escape this place.

Shione glanced around again and whispered.

“Shall I look around?”

…Embarrassingly, moving around felt heavy and difficult, so she focused her attention on a thick encyclopedia where a bookmark was set.

She opened the thick dictionary that held the bookmark.

The words she read there were not about familiar plants but a series of descriptions she had always desired.

“Oh?”

Shione slowly began to read the lines.

“Return to your weakest self, transform the past. At times, learn to be cold and merciless, at other times understand and tolerate to deepen your essence. Never allow yourself to grow weak.”

“But your current memories will gradually fade into a hazy mist. Eventually, you will blend into this world.”

“If, within this curse, you do not lose your will and change your past for the coming future, a small demon will appear at the end.”

“Descendant who accepts my trial. You shall eagerly seek and slay the small demon.”

“Once you slay the demon, you will gain the arrangements I left according to your desires.”

She comprehended the situation enough.

Twisting and turning the past, if she found the demon hidden here, it would be her victory.

But the problem was.

“Blend into this world…?”

It seemed that time would not yield and show her the past she longed for easily.

The increasingly detestable past her image, the prevailing negativity surrounding her would, unbeknownst to her, gradually consume her.

So, Shione hurriedly sat at her desk, searching for blank paper and a fountain pen.

From now on, what would happen was unpredictable. There was no telling how the situation would go sideways or how quickly her memories would fade.

While her memories were still sharp, she aimed to document her experiences and sense of purpose.

With confident strokes, Shione wrote.

It started with her daily life that began changing after meeting Ray, the broken engagement, the return. And after years of genuine conversation with her sister, the hardships she encountered upon ascending to the throne. Alongside the long period spent at the castle walls facing off against demons.

She documented the significant turning points in her life, using the most diverse expressions she could muster, ensuring that whenever she read, she could reflect on her past.

“The most important thing.”

With a quiet whisper, she wrote the name of her partner who had quietly guided and accompanied her through it all.

“Ray.”

Having uttered his name, she called out to Herrel, waiting just outside the door, doing her best to keep her tone as emotionless as possible.

“Herrel.”

“Did you call?”

“How old am I this year, and what day is today?”

“Uh…? Why so suddenly—”

“What’s the answer?”

“…This year your Highness will turn nineteen, and today is January 27th.”

“That’s enough. Go out.”

Herrel exited in a daze, clearly confused by the sudden questions.

No matter what Herrel thought or felt, Shione simply clicked her tongue with a serious expression and whispered.

Her birthday was March 30th.

“Two months left.”

It would be two months until her meeting with Ray in this world.

 

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