What is regression? Does it mean turning back time?

Anyway, her husband had returned by turning back time. That is, he was the same person who had mistreated her for four years, confined her to a tower, and cut off her food.

Then Kaella’s fate was as good as sealed. He would doubt her anyway, and it was a relationship that had already ended conclusively. Even if she put herself in his shoes, if Kaella were Peon, there would be no reason to trust her.

But why?

‘Has my acting improved?’

Is that why he’s been enduring until now, and acting completely differently from before the regression? Kaella recalled the last time she saw Peon.

His face, turning pale, was full of shock and denial. After denying it, what eventually spread was fear. The fear that it couldn’t be. If that was acting, then Peon was an excellent actor.

That taciturn man, acting?

A crumpled malice that wanted to scratch with raised nails stirred. Knowing it was nonsense, she denied that Peon wasn’t sincere.

What if he’s genuinely sorry now? Does everything disappear if he’s sorry? Does it make things okay? She wasn’t okay at all.

She had given up on everything. There was nothing she hoped for. But when the man holding Kaella’s leash showed such a weak appearance and cried out, when he acted as if out of his mind, even the fragile her instinctively knew this was an opportunity.

Now she could hurt him. It wouldn’t be as much as she had been hurt, but she could inflict a little wound momentarily. So she did it. She blurted out the secret she had been keeping like a knife.

I’m pregnant.

A child. A being so small and faint it was hard to even call it a child. But not knowing what to call it, she just called it a child like others did.

She realized too late, had no strength to care for it, and had nothing to share, so it quietly left the world with her. How strange. She had returned and Peon had returned, but why hadn’t the child returned?

There was a time when she wanted to have a child. Her father had passed away, and her husband was another man’s man, so she wanted to have a family for herself, the lonely one. It was a very selfish thought.

As if a child would want a mother like her. It would be better to sleep quietly than to return to such a frightening mother who would choose death without hesitation even now.

In fact, that was about all she had thought about the child.

At that time, she tried somehow to let them know there was a child, but when she realized there was no one guarding outside or coming to visit, she couldn’t think more as she suffered from fear, resignation, and pain. There was no future to draw with the child anyway.

After regressing, she easily forgot as she was busy being shocked, adapting, and enduring. Some say they keep it in their hearts for life, but maybe she’s just not good enough.

Remembering just to hurt Peon. It was a hundred times better that the child didn’t return. By the way, was that man hurt? Kaella let go of just that much thought and bowed her head deeply.

‘He must have been surprised.’

Peon even stuttered at that time, shaking his head.

“I can’t… kill… you…”

He denied it. With eyes wide open, he shook his head with an expression full of shock and astonishment.

“Why?”

Kaella tilted her head.

“You said it doesn’t matter whether I live or die.”

That expression changed in an instant. Somehow, Kaella thought Peon’s expression at that time looked like he was about to burst into tears. Like a child who had committed too great a wrong and didn’t know what to do, he looked like he was about to cry.

“I did?”

She nodded her head kindly.

“Yes.”

And watching his bloodshot purple eyes change again, she was sure he remembered. Kaella didn’t know, but the dragon’s memories were cruel.

They became too vivid, recalling exactly the memories he had just forgotten at that moment. The memory of when he couldn’t use any of the suppressed inherited abilities, couldn’t distinguish heaven and earth, and easily fell for evil magic, remaining human forever.

Rain. You are a person who has no meaning to me.

It would have been better not to remember the voice mixed with sighs and irritation.

Does the life of a passing insect have any meaning? It’s just unpleasant. So whether you live or die, you can’t attract my attention, so don’t bother with useless acts.

Why did she hear such words then? Ah, yes. It was when the duchess, who couldn’t adapt to Lucenford, finally went out to perform her duties after being seriously ill, and got hurt. She heard similar words even when her leg was broken.

The more Kaella tried, the harsher Peon’s words became. When you speak, it becomes a habit, or it becomes the truth. That’s how Kaella became a passing insect.

“Then since it’s a meaningless death, isn’t it easy?”

You were so moral and righteous, weren’t you? Kaella unknowingly tore at Peon with parting lips.

“It’s easier for you to kill than to save, isn’t it?”

She clawed and hit. Now, after dying once, she hated the man who prostrated himself in apology and said he would gladly accept any punishment. She hated him so much she wanted to hurt him just the same.

“You just need to make one meaningless cut with your sword. You’re good at it, aren’t you?”

You would turn away and forget. You would have turned away and completely forgotten after abandoning me in the tower. What’s so difficult about not doing it? It’s Lucenford, which is hell for her but pleasant for him, isn’t it? If you’re not going to trust anyway, why not just pull it forward and finish the punishment early? Why?

‘Why won’t you kill me?’

You’re a cruel person. Are you saying I should suffer as much as possible and then die?

Anyone watching would think he was truly sorry for Kaella and absolutely couldn’t do it, as he shook his head several times and stepped back, but then he disappeared without a trace. As if fainting and collapsing, he fell over and evaporated.

It was quite surprising, but since regression had happened, it seemed plausible that a person could suddenly disappear.

It would be a bit troublesome if the people of Lucenford later questioned her about where the duke was. Either way, everyone would end up hating and detesting Kaella, so thinking that the end was death, even the troublesome thoughts disappeared.

This was just the kind of relationship Peon and Kaella had. Too much had already happened for any kind of affection to grow, and it was a relationship where only one person had fallen to the bottom unilaterally. Peon probably had his circumstances and reasons, but it wasn’t Kaella’s business to know.

At one time, she had harbored the utterly ordinary hope that if this was a new Peon, if this was a new world, things might be different.

Why did she place even a moment’s hope in Peon? She knew it would end up the same, and she was prepared for death even then.

She wrapped herself in the blanket and curled up. Peon had always surrounded her with maids and knights to prevent her from doing anything rash. And then he disappeared, refusing to kill Kaella.

‘It’s just a waste of time anyway.’

It was the inefficient act that Peon so despised.

He’ll end up killing Kaella someday anyway, so why struggle so hard not to do it? After regressing, his eyes were never covered in black even once, so is that why? What was that black thing? Was it evil magic? No, it wasn’t Kaella’s business to know.

What did she care about Peon’s circumstances? Kaella tried to stop repeating the same thoughts over and over as she closed her eyes.

Ding ding ding ding ding!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out. Kaella furrowed her brow. As the duchess, she knew well what that sound meant. The trumpet sound would follow soon.

Bwoooong!

Right. Just like that. It was the familiar battle alert in Lucenford.

When foreigners infiltrated nearby or the minions of the evil dragon rampaged, they would ring bells, beat drums, and blow trumpets to signal the knights to immediately engage in battle and civilians to evacuate.

It hasn’t been long since the foreigners invaded, so this time it must be the evil dragon Gassalan. Well, it’s only natural since the evil dragon’s territory is not far from Lucenford.

Either way, it would be more convenient for the duchess to stay cooped up in her room and out of sight. Kaella remained motionless with her eyes tightly shut. No one would come looking for her anyway.

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

No, there was someone. Knocking on the bedroom door, Lord Renard was desperately calling for Kaella.

“Your Grace, it’s Renard! I’m sorry, but it’s an urgent matter!”

Cecil, who had been with Kaella due to the duke’s orders, glanced at the pile of blankets Kaella had wrapped herself in before getting up from her seat.

Unlike Kaella, Cecil knew nothing about Lucenford and was still startled by the loud bell and trumpet sounds. She had to at least find out what was going on.

“Cecil. Give me my shawl over there.”

But a very big sigh was heard from under the blanket, and Kaella emerged, fumbling with the covers. She reached out her hand to Cecil while roughly combing her messy hair with her fingers. Cecil quickly draped the shawl over her shoulders.

“Tell Lord Renard to come in.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

As soon as the door opened, Lord Renard hurriedly entered and bowed.

“Your Grace, the evil dragon is moving. It’s greatly agitated, but we don’t know where His Grace the Duke is.”

It was a big problem that there was no commander. Lord Renard looked at Kaella with a what-should-we-do expression while catching his breath.

“Is Lord Wilberk in command?”

“Yes, Your Grace. But it’s only temporary. You know.”

Lord Renard couldn’t hide his troubled expression. In the duke’s absence, the duchess held all authority. No matter how much the duchess was recuperating after a major incident, she still had to make all the decisions for now.

Could the duchess, who knew nothing about war, handle this?

“Has the battle started?”

“Not yet. But it will soon.”

“Are you looking for where His Grace is?”

“We’re searching discreetly, but since several people haven’t seen him since last night…”

Lord Renard, Lord Wilberk, and Secretary Regen had just confirmed this morning that only the duchess was in the duke’s bedroom and were in the process of looking for the duke.

“Guide me to the watchtower.”

“Are you going yourself?”

Kaella sighed. It was obvious what she could do.

“I should at least be there until His Grace arrives.”

Maybe in this life, she could die in war. Anyway, she had to drag her heavy body and move reluctantly. Lord Renard looked at the duchess, who had just barely woken up after sleeping like the dead for a month, with a very anxious face.

“I should go.”

He finally squeezed his eyes shut.

“Then it would be better if you changed clothes.”

“Alright.”

She put on the clothes Cecil hurriedly provided and went with Lord Renard’s escort.

Working until the brink of death was as natural as breathing, so Kaella didn’t dare think of shirking her duties to others because she was tired and in pain. She had to work no matter what, even if her body was falling apart.

“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me.”

“If His Grace is not present, isn’t it the law that I should naturally come to Your Grace?”

That’s true, but the Lord Renard that Kaella remembered was someone who showed contempt beyond anger towards Kaella.

How could you betray His Grace, he would fume at her. It was quite interesting and strange that such a person would come looking for Kaella as if it were natural, even in this situation.

As they approached the watchtower, the sound of bells and trumpets grew louder. The soldiers were flustered when the frail duchess appeared instead of the duke they were used to seeing, but Kaella silently climbed up onto the castle wall.

If that’s what needs to be done, you just have to do it. She was used to receiving looks that questioned ‘Why are you here?’, so it didn’t matter.

Kwang!

Lightning and thunder were striking furiously in the blackened northeastern sky.

“That’s the evil dragon’s territory.”

Kaella knew that too. She searched her memories.

‘I don’t think this has ever happened before…’

Usually, monsters would pop out, or spirits would advance to this point. That’s all Kaella knew. The duchess was never supposed to be involved in matters of war.

Anyway, as far as she knew, there should have been an attack by now.

Just looking at the anxious expressions of the knights preparing for the attack, she could tell they were thinking the same thing. But instead of an attack, only an eerie sound like a dragon wailing could be heard from far away.

The forests and mountain ranges covering the evil dragon’s territory shook. Lightning struck and thunder cracked incessantly, tearing the sky.

“Now it’s really going berserk.”

Lord Renard barely muttered with a pale expression. No, it’s not going berserk, that’s the sound of crying in agony. It was the sound of wailing as if the heart was being wrung out, gasping and sobbing as if the liver was melting.

“Your Grace, it would be better for you to go inside. This is the first time we’ve seen something like this.”

This won’t do. Lord Renard had a duty to protect the duchess. In her current state as duchess, she didn’t seem capable of handling this.

If a knight said so, the duchess who knew nothing about combat should naturally follow, but Kaella first asked in a lowered voice.

“What about the search for His Grace?”

“There’s still no news. However, what’s worrying is that His Grace often goes around that area alone…”

He was worried that Peon might have been caught up in it. Kaella, who knew well how Peon had disappeared, unknowingly bit her lip and looked towards the border adjoining the evil dragon’s territory where Peon was said to frequent.

“Anyway, please go inside, Your Grace. I will look for His Grace the Duke.”

The evil dragon was crying. Somehow, Kaella felt as if that cry was grabbing and pulling her. As if capturing her and dragging her somewhere, it kept catching in her ears, her heart, and her whole body, pulling at her.

“…Alright.”

Kaella nodded and went back down from the castle wall. While the distant, piercing cry of the evil dragon was merely madness that invoked fear in people’s ears, even if it sounded special only to her ears, there was nothing she could do.

Life was already overwhelming, so should she go comfort the evil dragon too? What if her intuition or feeling was wrong? Would she be crushed to death by the evil dragon? Or burned to death by its hot flames?

Lord Renard quickly escorted Kaella to the castle entrance, then asked for her understanding and ran to the castle wall. He too couldn’t leave his post in Peon’s absence. It was the first time Peon had neglected his duties since becoming the Duke of Lucenford.

“Oh my, how frightening.”

Even the castle staff shuddered and hid themselves. In the middle of the empty castle hall, Kaella alone heard the dragon’s wailing. It was a sound that struck the bones and crushed the heart. It was begging to be heard.

‘Ah…, really.’

That’s why I asked to be killed quickly. Kaella had to fulfill her duty in place of her absent husband. She sighed and turned her barely recovering body.